Buffalo Bisons

The Buffalo Bisons passed the all-time minor league baseball record for tickets sold Friday night against the Omaha Royals in a game won by Omaha, 7-5. A sellout crowd of 19,500 gave the Bisons a total of 1,061,319 tickets sold. The Louisville Redbirds set the old mark with 1,052,438 in 1983. The Bisons have based their attendance figures on tickets sold, which is the guideline used by the American Assn., according to Randy Mobley, administrator of the triple-A league.

The National Park Service calls it "Natural Regulation": If you leave Yellowstone Park's buffalo alone, they will reproduce to the carrying capacity of the land, and no more. Nature will reduce the numbers. Nature is doing its best this year. Heavy snow and thick sheets of ice have caused unprecedented numbers of buffalo to wander off to greener pastures--nay, any pastures--outside the park.

The American Assn.'s Buffalo Bisons will affiliate itself with the Cleveland Indians next season, the minor league team announced. Bisons' owner Robert E. Rich Jr. announced the arrangement at a news conference with Dan O'Brien, Cleveland's senior vice president for baseball administration. "Bob Rich stopped in on a trip back from California to Buffalo and we had a great evening," O'Brien said.

No matter that the travel guides to this city are filled with pictures and maps to bridges, restaurants and cable cars. As Martin Dias sees it, it is bison that provide that special extra draw. Yes, bison. They have roamed the far western end of Golden Gate Park, otherwise known for its fine museums and lush gardens, for more than a century. "All the tour buses come by," said Dias, motioning as a bus of sightseers slowed.

The American Assn. Buffalo Bisons, with the help of the city's new downtown baseball stadium, have attracted a franchise-record number of fans in just 34 home dates. The Bisons, who have their sights set on obtaining a future major league franchise, have drawn 507,834 fans to date at 19,500-seat Pilot Field. A crowd of 13,657 watched the Bisons lose, 4-2, to the Tidewater Tides Wednesday afternoon, but break the old Buffalo baseball season attendance mark of 497,760 set last year.

Steve Howe pitched five shutout innings as the Oklahoma City 89ers beat the Buffalo Bisons, 6-2, Thursday night in an American Assn. game. Howe (2-2) yielded 4 hits while striking out 4 and walking 1. At Arlington, Tex., officials of the Texas Rangers said Howe may soon be in the team's bullpen, after his three-week stay in the Triple-A league. "He's getting the necessary track record," General Manager Tom Grieve said. "He's been there a couple weeks, spent the necessary time. He's close.

The Buffalo Bisons are trying to become the first minor-league team to draw at least a million fans in back-to-back seasons. But owner Bob Rich Jr., said they're not getting any help from the schedule-makers or the weatherman. "We have 16 (home) games in April. That's going to put us a little bit more behind the eight-ball," Rich said prior to Wednesday's season-opener. "I think we'll have a better shot after we get through April of knowing if the million is do-able." The Bisons' American Association opener against the Louisville Redbirds illustrated Rich's concerns.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Buffalo Bisons, their triple A affiliate, say they have renewed their player development contract for the 1989 season. The Bisons, of the American Assn., are entering their second season as a Pirate affiliate. Buffalo finished third in the American Assn.'s Eastern Division in 1988 with a 72-70 record, 17 games behind the Indianapolis Indians. The Bisons set a minor league attendance record by drawing 1.

The National Park Service calls it "Natural Regulation": If you leave Yellowstone Park's buffalo alone, they will reproduce to the carrying capacity of the land, and no more. Nature will reduce the numbers. Nature is doing its best this year. Heavy snow and thick sheets of ice have caused unprecedented numbers of buffalo to wander off to greener pastures--nay, any pastures--outside the park.

The Buffalo Bisons are trying to become the first minor-league team to draw at least a million fans in back-to-back seasons. But owner Bob Rich Jr., said they're not getting any help from the schedule-makers or the weatherman. "We have 16 (home) games in April. That's going to put us a little bit more behind the eight-ball," Rich said prior to Wednesday's season-opener. "I think we'll have a better shot after we get through April of knowing if the million is do-able." The Bisons' American Association opener against the Louisville Redbirds illustrated Rich's concerns.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Buffalo Bisons, their triple A affiliate, say they have renewed their player development contract for the 1989 season. The Bisons, of the American Assn., are entering their second season as a Pirate affiliate. Buffalo finished third in the American Assn.'s Eastern Division in 1988 with a 72-70 record, 17 games behind the Indianapolis Indians. The Bisons set a minor league attendance record by drawing 1.

The Buffalo Bisons passed the all-time minor league baseball record for tickets sold Friday night against the Omaha Royals in a game won by Omaha, 7-5. A sellout crowd of 19,500 gave the Bisons a total of 1,061,319 tickets sold. The Louisville Redbirds set the old mark with 1,052,438 in 1983. The Bisons have based their attendance figures on tickets sold, which is the guideline used by the American Assn., according to Randy Mobley, administrator of the triple-A league.

The American Assn. Buffalo Bisons, with the help of the city's new downtown baseball stadium, have attracted a franchise-record number of fans in just 34 home dates. The Bisons, who have their sights set on obtaining a future major league franchise, have drawn 507,834 fans to date at 19,500-seat Pilot Field. A crowd of 13,657 watched the Bisons lose, 4-2, to the Tidewater Tides Wednesday afternoon, but break the old Buffalo baseball season attendance mark of 497,760 set last year.

Steve Howe pitched five shutout innings as the Oklahoma City 89ers beat the Buffalo Bisons, 6-2, Thursday night in an American Assn. game. Howe (2-2) yielded 4 hits while striking out 4 and walking 1. At Arlington, Tex., officials of the Texas Rangers said Howe may soon be in the team's bullpen, after his three-week stay in the Triple-A league. "He's getting the necessary track record," General Manager Tom Grieve said. "He's been there a couple weeks, spent the necessary time. He's close.

No matter that the travel guides to this city are filled with pictures and maps to bridges, restaurants and cable cars. As Martin Dias sees it, it is bison that provide that special extra draw. Yes, bison. They have roamed the far western end of Golden Gate Park, otherwise known for its fine museums and lush gardens, for more than a century. "All the tour buses come by," said Dias, motioning as a bus of sightseers slowed.

Rocky Bridges, who has been a player, coach and manager in the major and minor leagues during a 40-year baseball career, was named manager of the Buffalo Bisons of the American Assn.

The American Assn.'s Buffalo Bisons will affiliate itself with the Cleveland Indians next season, the minor league team announced. Bisons' owner Robert E. Rich Jr. announced the arrangement at a news conference with Dan O'Brien, Cleveland's senior vice president for baseball administration. "Bob Rich stopped in on a trip back from California to Buffalo and we had a great evening," O'Brien said.