Batavia Muckdogs - #11 Paul Vasquez (2007)

In April 2008, the Rochester Business Journal announced that the "Rochester Red Wings began their 2008 season this week in partnership with the Batavia Muckdogs, with the teams sharing resources in marketing, sales and concessions."  As part of the deal, for each year that Rochester Community Baseball managed the Muckdogs, they'd acquire 5% equity in the eventual sale of the team.  Another part of the deal saw the Muckdogs play two games at Frontier Field, home of the Red Wings, that summer.  While hosting Batavia early in what became a New York-Penn League championship season, a Muckdogs team store was set up in the old firehouse integrated into the left field corner.  As #11 was my number my last year playing organized ball, and I still thought I should be wearing extra large shirts (hard to beat the 90s out of me), I chose this one.

Paul Vasquez was an undrafted catcher out of Auburn-Montgomery who hung in there for three seasons in the Cardinals system.  If he was really 5'10"-160, this must have fit like a blanket (I'm 5'11"-180).  Promoted to Quad Cities the following year, Paul hit a ton and earned another promotion to Palm Beach where it appears he hit the wall offensively.  After a 2009 season with a nearly ten-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio and a rehab stint in the Gulf Coast League, Paul hung them up for good.

As there was no name on the back, it's possible this jersey was worn in seasons prior to 2007.  The jersey is in pretty good shape, which jives with 31 games of use, so perhaps it wasn't used for multiple seasons.  There are no sleeve patches or tagging beyond the manufacturer tag.  This is the first jersey profiled for a team no longer part of professional baseball.  Major League Baseball took control of the minor leagues in 2001 and discontinued all short-season leagues.  An apparent reincarnation of the team has since joined the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

Details:

• Manufacturer - Rawlings
• Size - XL
• Date Acquired - 6/20/2008
• Authentic Game Worn - 100% Polyester
• Two-color Twill Script/Numbers
• No Sleeve Patch
• Worn in 2007, possibly earlier