Syracuse Chiefs Jerseys-Help Indentifying Players?

[cjw]

Hello baseball fans. Could I pls ask for your help identifying the players that may have worn the following jerseys for the Toronto Blue Jays minor league clug -The Syracuse Chiefs (now SkyChiefs)? Any assistance would be appreciated.

The first is a 1978, powder blue jersey...#31........and the second is a dark blue mesh, 1992 pullover, #26. Pls see the attached pics:

[both-teams-played-hard]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-SYRACUSE-CHIEFS-SCORECARD-FOUR-PHOTOS_W0QQitemZ140047208953QQihZ004QQcategoryZ244 41QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If I were you, I'd jump on this eBay auction.
Danny Ainge played on the '78 Chiefs. Don't know if he wore #31?

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9688/chiefsaingery3.jpg

[ironmanfan]

A suggestion would be to check eBay for any sellers offering a program from either of those two seasons and purchase them OR ask the seller if he/she could tell who wore those specific numbers by looking at the scorepage. I've done this a couple relative to older Rochester Red Wing jerseys & bats and its worked out perfectly.

[cjw]

That is good advice..thanks. I have tried to pinpoint these players this way, but haven't had any luck. Have purchased a few home and away programs from both years and have not seen either jersey # listed.

[kingjammy24]

chris,

i'd also hop on these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8731092582

rudy.

[ahuff]

Have you tried contacting the team?

Here is a list of front office staff with e-mails and phone numbers. Some minor league teams have been helpful with me, in the past.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/about/page.jsp?ymd=20060209&content_id=41111&vkey=about_t552&fext=.jsp&sid=t552

[cjw]

Thanks for the tips and contact info! I appreciate it!

[cjw]

I think I have a lead....a contact has emailed me that a 1978 Chiefs program indicates the Jack Baker (1B) wore 31 for the team.

The basebal cube site mentions a Jack Baker, and the dates seem to coincide, but his stint with Syracuse isn't mentioned.


Position: 1B Full Name: Jack Edward Baker Born: May 4, 1950 (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/birthdays.asp?M=5&D=4) Place: Birmingham,Alabama (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/cities/B/birmingham-AL.shtml) Height: 6-5 Weight: 225 Bats: R Throws: R High School: unknown College: Auburn University (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/teams/team_20071.shtml)

Transactions:
Drafted - Selected by Pittsburgh Pirates (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/teams/draft/pittsburgh-pirates-1969.shtml) in 19th Round (440th overall) of 1969 (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/1969/Round-19-1.shtml) amateur entry draft (June-Reg) ... Selected by Boston Red Sox (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/teams/draft/boston-red-sox-1971.shtml) in 26th Round (597th overall) of 1971 (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/1971/Round-26-1.shtml) amateur entry draft (June-Reg) Dec 9,1977 - Traded by Red Sox to Indians for Garry Hancock.

Major League Debut:
Saturday September 11,1976 (Age: 26)

Last Major League Game:
Wednesday June 8,1977 (Age: 27)

[cjw]

Thanks for the leads!

I just spoke with Mr.Tex Simone - Executive Vice President/COO of the team and he confirmed that Jack Baker did indeed wear # 31 for the team in 1978...and was a home run hitter that was also in the Red Sox organization. Interestingly, Mr. Simone remembers him as an outfielder (not as a first baseman as referenced by the Baseball Cube) that converted to become a pitcher!

The 1992 #26 jersey was worn by either (or perhaps both) Bob MacDonald (RHP) who played for the big club in 1992 appreared in 27 games for the Jays (the year they won the first of consecutive WS) and/or Anthony Ward (LHP).

[cjw]

An update on the #31, 1978 Syracuse jersey....

Through a GUU member who is friends with Jack Baker and his brother, we were able to agree on a deal to get this jersey back to Jack. Thanks for the info Brad!

chris

[fanofjerseys]

Thanks to Chris as I was able to help get the jersey back to Jack Baker who wore the jersey in 1978 for the Syracuse Chiefs. His brother will be giving the jersey back to Jack for Christmas. The family is much appreciative.

Please don't hesitate in working with Chris (cjw) on any transactions (buying or selling) as he was wonderful to deal with and very professional.

Thanks again.
Brad

[cjw]

Hi Brad...hope that you see this. Any chance that you could speak to Jack with regards to the 1978 programs I sent along with the jersey? I found another 1978 Syracuse gamer (a home white) with # 11, and I wanted to see if the programs identified the player? Thanks!

[fanofjerseys]

Chris:

I saw your post. I sent a message to his brother. Jack is currently out of town but his brother will check with him when he gets back.

Thanks,
Brad

[cjw]

thanks Brad!

[fanofjerseys]

Chris:

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. Jack was out of town a little longer than I expected. I heard from Jack's brother Bob this morning.

He said Jack checked both roster inserts that you sent him and neither one had a player listed who wore #11. Bob did say that Jack did not join Syracuse in 1978 until the last part of June. So it would be possible that the jersey was worn by a player before he arrived but perhaps not later in the year while Jack was with the team.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Thanks,
Brad

[cjw]

Thanks Brad! I appreciate the assistance. have a great weekend sir! chris

[cjw]

I rec'd a 1978 program from ebay today and the insert listed a pitcher, Jeff Byrd as #11 that year. He didn't have the best time at AAA, going 0-3 in 7 games with a 8.13 era. No better than his stint in the Show with innaugral year Jays (1977) - as he went 2-13 in 17 games. Oh, well...nice jersey and it may be as close as I get to a 1977 jays gamer.

[Bullsfan1981]

Hi,
Does anyone know what number Danny Ainge wore in 1979 or able to contact someone that would? I know that he wore #2 on the Blue Jays but all of his cards and pics i could find did not list his jersey number. I came in contact with someone who claims to have a 1979 game worn jersey of his (not #2) but want to make sure the #is correct before buying. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks