Formerly the Utica Blue Sox, the team was moved and renamed the Aberdeen IronBirds in 2002, after being bought by former Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken, Jr.

The former St. Catharine Stompers franchise was bought by the Mets in 1999. They were known as the Queens Kings in 2000 and became the Brooklyn Cyclones when they moved to their new home on Coney Island for the 2001 season.