NEW HARTFORD – The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League has announced that the Olean Oilers will be joining as the 16th playing member, beginning with the Summer 2026 season.

Olean will join the Western Division for the 15th season of play in the PGCBL, which was founded in 2010 and has now doubled in size from its original formation as an eight-team league. The 2026 season will mark the second straight year in which the PGCBL welcomes a new member. The league grew from 14 to 15 in 2025 with the addition of the Niagara Ironbacks, the first Canadian team in PGCBL history.

“A new era of Olean Oilers baseball is here and we could not be more excited to join the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League,” said Matt Fidurko, president of Olean Oilers. “We are excited to bring a new standard of baseball and fan experience to Olean and historic Bradner Stadium. This move brings us back to our New York-Penn League roots, competing against many of the same cities and in many of the same ballparks that the original Oilers did. The future of the Olean Oilers is bright and only getting better by the day!”

Olean joins the PGCBL from the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL), where they have played since 2012. Last summer, the Oilers went 22-16-3 and reached the West Division postseason.

“We are thrilled to have Olean join us in the PGCBL,” said league president Joe Millazzo. “Their franchise has been one of the pillars of summer baseball in New York for more than a century, and it’s a testament to the quality of our product that they are making the choice to move into this league.”

¯ Franchise History

As Fidurko alluded to, the Oilers were originally a minor league baseball team that played in the New York-Penn League from 1939-1959 and 1961-1966, along with teams like the Batavia Clippers, Bradford Bees, Hamilton Red Wings, Jamestown Jaguars, and the Niagara Falls Rainbows.

The Oilers, a Brooklyn Dodgers affiliate from 1939-1948, captured both the regular season and league championships in 1939 under the leadership of manager Jake Pitler, and also won league titles in 1940, 1950, and 1961. Although they have not competed in the New York-Penn League since 1966, the Oilers are still tied for fifth all-time in league history with four championships.

See OLEAN, Page B3

As a minor league affiliate, the team from Olean often adopted the nickname of their parent club. They were known as the Olean Yankees (1952-53), the Olean Giants (1954), the Olean A’s (1959), and the Olean Red Sox (1961-62).

The Oilers were also an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns in 1949, the New York Yankees from 1952-53, the New York Giants in 1954, the Philadelphia Phillies from 1956-58, the Kansas City Athletics in 1959, and the Boston Red Sox from 1961-62. The New York-Penn League was also known as the Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League, shortened to the PONY League, from 1939-1956. The New York-Penn League played its last season in 2019.

In 2012, the Oilers joined the New York Collegiate Baseball League and instantly became one of the top franchises in the league. The Oilers captured back-to-back NYCBL Championships in 2014 & 2015, winning in front of thousands of fans at Bradner Stadium. In 2015, the team enjoyed a 24-game winning streak, doubling the previous league record, en route to 39 wins. The Oilers captured Western Division Titles in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2023. In 2017, the Oilers had five former players drafted in the MLB Draft: Mark Kolozsvary (Florida), Frank Rubio (Florida), Cole Peterson (St. Bonaventure), Aaron Phillips (St. Bonaventure), and Austin Bizzle (Alabama State). In total, the Oilers have had eight players drafted, others include Jon Kemmer (Astros), Allegany, New York native Shawn Dubin (Astros), Eddy Demurius (Reds). Dubin is still an active Major League Baseball player, finishing the 2025 season with the Baltimore Orioles. Bubba Hollins also signed a professional contract with the Miami Marlins in 2017.

¯ Notable Past Alumni / Names

Paul Owens, nicknamed “The Pope.” Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972 and 1983-84. General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972-84. Member of Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame. 1980 World Series Champion. Owens played for the Oilers. Owens also managed the Oilers from 1955-57. Native of Salamanca, N.Y.

Bobby Richardson. 8-time MLB All-Star. 3-time World Series Champion. World Series MVP in 1960. 5-time Gold Glove Award; all for New York Yankees. Played for the OIean Yankees in 1953, batting .412 in 31 games and hitting his first home run.

Mike Andrews. MLB All-Star in 1969 with Boston Red Sox. World Series Champion in 1973 with Chicago White Sox. Played for Olean in 1962, batting .299.

Jake Pitler. Coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947-1957. World Series Champion in 1955. Played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1917-18. Pitler holds the record for most putouts in a game by a second baseman, with 15, made in a 22-inning game on August 22, 1917. Managed the Oilers from 1939-1943.

¯ Bradner Stadium

Home of the Olean Oilers since 1939, except from 2012-2014 as the stadium was undergoing renovation. Capacity is 4,000. In 1947, Jackie Robinson played at Bradner Stadium. The inaugural Olean Oilers home game was on May 11, 1939 and was played in front of 3,300 spectators.