We were wondering when the Muckdogs would make their appearance in the Holland Land Office Museum's countdown of the Twenty-Five Things that Made Genesee County Famous. Well, they've made it. They broke the top ten. They come in at No. 9.
So we all know why we here in Genesee County love the Muckdogs—and we loved them all the more after the brought home the league title this summer. But how do the 'Dawgs make Genesee County famous?
Here's Pat Weissend, director of the Holland Land Office Museum:
Although Batavia is one of the smallest cities in America to have a Minor League franchise, the team consistently ranks near the top of the merchandise sold list. More than 100 Little League and softball teams across the country use Muckdogs as their team name.
Not to mention the world champs:
Many major leaguers began their professional careers in Batavia including World Series champions and current members of the Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Kyle Kendrick, Ryan Madson and JA Happ. National media outlets visited Batavia in 1998 when Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams played left field for the team. Some of the early Batavia greats were Jack Tighe, Dick Fowler, Manny Sanguillen and Doc Ellis. Clarence (Cito) Gaston led Batavia and the league in homers and runs batted in while playing for the 1966 Trojans. Gaston won two World Series as the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1990s.
Congrats, Muckdogs!
OK, now that we're getting near the top of the list, it's time to start making some predictions. Surely, William Morgan will crack the top five. Bill Kauffman has got to be up there, too, as someone who has quite consciously made Genesee County famous with his book: Dispatches from the Muckdog Gazette. A controversy over a transgender science teacher at a Batavia city school has to be at least number three.
What do you think? What's your number one?
Be sure to keep your browser tuned to the Holland Land Office Museum in the coming weeks. We could see our number one by the end of the year.
There's that Hiscock dig in
There's that Hiscock dig in Byron. Morgan, of course. The business incubator/harvester center. Jell-o. Barber Conable. Kauffman.
That's six that come easily to mind.
Excuse my forgetting, but was
Excuse my forgetting, but was Barber Conable already mentioned?
Dan: Barber Conable has not
Dan: Barber Conable has not yet been mentioned.
Howard: The Hiscock site was No. 20.
Just brainstorming
Just brainstorming here...
Batavia Downs?
ICE detention facility for illegal immigrants?
VA Hospital?
The Batavian? ;)
Jello is probably #1 I'm
Jello is probably #1
I'm going to say Terry Anderson #2 or 3
I still remember the buzz through the city back then ..I was at the mall when heard of his release
Joseh Ellicott
The terror cell story
Batavia Downs is probably up there pretty high. First night carriage racing track or something
Anyone know exactly where the
Anyone know exactly where the hiscock site is? It's like a secret or something ..can't ever find that info.
Laz: It's at the edge of the
Laz: It's at the edge of the Bergen Swamp in the town of Byron.
What road?
What road?
I would expect the
I would expect the "transformer" or "trans-testicle" science guy to be top three but then some other "transerwhaddyacallem" got pregnant.
There is no beating that one !
I would say that William
I would say that William Morgan, Jello and Barber Conable are all pretty inter-changeable for 1, 2 and 3. Batavia Downs should be on the top 5.
Don Bossler---Redskins
Don Bossler---Redskins football team
John Gardner; the blind
John Gardner; the blind school.
Also, to my previous comment, Industrial Center already included.