State College Spikes

State College Spikes
State College Spikes
Founded in 1958 ; State College, Pennsylvania ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	Collegiate summer (2021–present)
Previous classes	Class A Short Season (1958–2020)
League	MLB Draft League (2021–present)
Previous leagues	New York–Penn League (1958–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team	Unaffiliated (2021–present)
Previous teams	St. Louis Cardinals (2013–2020); Pittsburgh Pirates (2007–2012); St. Louis Cardinals (1981–2006); Philadelphia Phillies (1972–1977); Minnesota Twins (1967–1971); New York Mets (1962–1966); New York Yankees (1958–1961);
Minor league titles
League titles (9)	1962; 1964; 1966; 1967; 1970; 1973; 1994; 2014; 2016;
Division titles (4)	2016; 2014; 2013; 1992;
Team data
Name	State College Spikes (2006–present); New Jersey Cardinals (1994–2005); Glens Falls Redbirds (1993); Hamilton Redbirds (1988–1992); Erie Cardinals (1981–1987); Auburn Americans (1980); Auburn Red Stars (1979); Auburn Sunsets (1978); Auburn Phillies (1972–1977); Auburn Twins (1967–1971); Auburn Mets (1962–1966); Auburn Yankees (1958–1961);
Colors	Navy blue, cardinal, old gold, yellow;
Mascots	Ike the Spike & Nook Monster
Ballpark	Medlar Field at Lubrano Park (2006–present)
Previous parks	Skylands Park (1994–2005); East Field (1993); Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium (1988–1992); Ainsworth Field (1981–1987); Falcon Park (1958–1980);
Owner(s)/; Operator(s)	State College Professional Baseball LP
General manager	Scott Walker
Manager	Dave Trembley

The State College Spikes are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in State College, Pennsylvania, and play their home games at Medlar Field on the campus of Pennsylvania State University.

The team was founded in 1958 in Auburn, New York, as an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Through its first two decades, the team's affiliation passed through the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies. In 1978, however, the team was left without a Major League Baseball (MLB) parent club. Auburn fielded independent teams in the New York–Penn League—with new nicknames each year—until 1980. Erie-area businessmen Dave Masi and Joe Castelli propped up the franchise for the 1980 season, then moved it to Erie, as the Erie Cardinals, reflecting the new affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals. That affiliation lasted for 25 years, with three further relocations—to Hamilton, Ontario as the Hamilton Redbirds, Glens Falls, New York as the Glens Falls Redbirds and to Augusta, New Jersey as the New Jersey Cardinals.

The team settled in its current location in the State College area in 2006 and became known as the State College Spikes. After one season with the St. Louis Cardinals in State College, the Spikes ended their affiliation and became the new Class A Short Season affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, starting in 2007 and ending in 2012. The Spikes, once again, switched affiliations back to the Cardinals from 2013 to 2020. In conjunction with MLB's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season, the team left Minor League Baseball and became part of the MLB Draft League, which serves as a showcase for draft-eligible players.^[1]

^ "Mahoning Valley Scrappers Retain Affiliation With Major League Baseball in New MLB Draft League". Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Minor League Baseball. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.

[1] "Mahoning Valley Scrappers Retain Affiliation With Major League Baseball in New MLB Draft League". Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Minor League Baseball. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.

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