1968 - The Williamsport Astros were the first club to play in the short season Class A New York- Penn League. The Astros finished with a 40-35 record with future Houston Astros pitcher Ken Forsch pitching for the locals. The Astros were the best of the teams during the New York-Penn years. They made the play-offs and lost their only game 12-2 to Auburn.
1958- With the return of baseball to Bowman Field, changes were afoot. The dirt path between the pitcher's mound and home plate was finally removed. Robert M. Sides Music Company donated an organ for use at the field. One of only a handful of minor league ballparks to have one! Mrs. Evelyn Strang was the first to tickle the ivories for Bowman Field's games.
1958- After a year without baseball, Williamsport came alive as a baseball town once again as theEastern League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies! The Grays earned play-off berths four out of
the next five seasons. Philadelphia had moved its EL farm club from Schenectady, New York to
Williamsport because of declining attendance. The Grays made the play-offs, but lost three straight to Binghampton to end their season. John Easton won the batting title with a .321 average.
1958- The 1958 season missed a great fan with the passing of Jimmy Mileto on December 31, 1957. Mileto attended Gray's games religiously and earned the reputation as Williamsport's #1 fan and cheerleader.His trademark was his cowbell that he rang throughout the game and a white towel that he waved at opposing pitchers to distract them. In 1942 business manager Roy Glunk asked Mileto to refrain from his cow bell , white towel waving antics because he thought his actions were undignified and an embarrassment to the Eastern League. Hurt by the request, Mileto refused to attend any Gray's games for several weeks. His love for the game ultimately pulled him back to Bowman Field and he was a vocal and energetic fan until his near-fatal heart attack slowed him down in the mid-1950's.
1948- The Williamsport Tigers campaign of '48 marked the best season for a Williamsport team since the Governor's Cup appearance of the 1941 team. Led by hurler Lou Kretlow(21-12, 219 strikouts, and a no-hitter) and Eastern League batting champion Bruce Blanchard(.327), the Tigers just missed clinching a play-off berth. Gene Desaultels managed the team and was the only manager during the affiliation with Detroit (1946-1952) to manage two full seasons.
1948- On "Olympic Day", held on July 11, fans were asked to make a financial contribution to support the 1948 Olympic team, headed for the summer Olympic Games in London.
