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The Altoona Curve ended the 2023 season with a 4-3 win over the Akron Rubber Ducks Sunday to put the final touches on a 67-68 season.
While the Curve failed to make the postseason, they ended the season having won nine of their final 11 games.
It was a season filled with many highs and lows, symbolized by the Skyliner just beyond the right field at PNG Field. It was bookended by two No. 1 overall draft picks suiting up in Altoona uniforms in Henry Davis (2021) and Paul Skenes (2023).
The 25th anniversary also featured Yinzers, pizzas and pierogies, and much more.
Skenes Mania
Skenes was drafted No. 1 on July 9 by the Pittsburgh Pirates and immediately became the next big thing for the organization, and rightfully so.
He officially made his Altoona debut on Aug. 26, albeit a less-than-stellar one at that as he yielded four runs in ª innings of work. He did so in front of a record-setting crowd of 10,164 fans.
Those fans might have been disappointed by Skenes' performance, but many of the youngsters born after 2000 were pleasantly pleased as they caught glimpses of Skenes' girlfriend and LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne.
He tossed two shutout innings in his next outing before being shut down for the remainder of the season.
Clemente honored
Roberto Clemente will always be hailed as not only a great player, but one of the most incredible humanitarians to play the game of baseball.
While he never suited up for the Curve, his No. 21 was immortalized in a ceremony that featured his son Roberto Clemente Jr. and his family on July 21.
The No. 21 will be forever reserved for Clemente and will be on the right-field light post for many years to come.
Going streaking
The Curve failed to have a player take home Eastern League Player of the Week honors throughout the season, but they did boast the two longest hitting streaks in the league in 2023.
Infielder Tsung-Che Cheng had a hit in 17 straight games starting in late July and ending in early August. Joining Cheng was outfielder Matt Fraizer, who also had a 17-game hit streak that came to an end Sept. 7.
Maggi-c moment
A moment 13 years in the making came to fruition when Altoona infielder Drew Maggi was called up to the Pirates on April 23.
Maggi made his Major League debut on April 26 before earning his first Major League hit on April 29 as the extra player due to a doubleheader.
He returned to Altoona but was a national hit as his story spread throughout the country. He was released on July 23 and is currently a minor league free agent.
Speaking of debuts
Including Maggi, 14 current or former Curve players made their Major League debuts in 2023.
Former catcher Blake Sabol made his debut with San Francisco March 30, while former pitcher Joe Jacques did the same for Boston June 12. Former Altoona infielder Connor Kaiser made his for Colorado June 19.
As for the remaining 11 players, they all made their debuts with the Pirates beginning with Maggi, then pitchers Cody Bolton, Osvaldo Bido and Carmen Mlodzinski.
No debut was bigger than that of Davis, who made his debut on June 19. After Davis it was infielders Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo, as well as RHP Quinn Priester and catcher Endy Rodriguez.
RHPs Colin Selby and Hunter Stratton were the most recent debuts with pitcher Kyle Nicolas on the doorstep after being called up on Tuesday.