Photograph courtesy of the Broome County Historical Society
Seeking a new league to call home, the Bingoes signed up with the Triple-A International League for the 1918 season, replacing the Providence Grays. Bill Kay (40 years old, .324) joined them on their migration to the new league, along with two very talented Chicago Cubs... Pete Knisely (.370) and Polly McLarry (26 2B, 7 3B, 4 HR, .385). The pitching was excellent as well with John Beckvermit (17-4), Festus Higgins (15-4), Luther Barnes (13-4) and a returning Sam Frock (9-9). The Bingoes would finish with an excellent 85-38 (.691) record... their best winning percentage ever. Unfortunately for the 2nd year in a row, it was just good enough to lose as the Toronto Maple Leafs took the title over the 2nd place Bingoes. In 1919 Dodgers and Pirates' William Fischer was a strong hitter (.355) along with future 12 year MLB veteran of the Pirates and Browns, Frank O'Rourke (11 2B, 9 3B, .291), former 15 year MLB veteran and Most Valuable Player award winner Frank Schulte (15 2B, team leading 8 HR, .248) and Philadelphia A's' Pat Martin (17-6, 2.51). Festus Higgins also returned to go 16-9. As good of a lineup as the Bingoes had... they finished the season at 75-71 in 4th place. In 1920, the Syracuse Stars replaced the Binghamton Bingoes in the International League. Without a league to play in, Johnson Field would go dark for 3 years. Finally in 1923 a new league was founded. When it opened it was called the NY-Penn League but this league was not the NY-Penn that exists today. In 1937, the league was renamed the Eastern League and this was indeed the beginning of the Double-A Eastern League that is today home to 12 Minor League teams including the Binghamton Mets. The new Binghamton team to call Johnson Field home was named the "Binghamton Triplets", in honor of the "Triple-Cities" of Binghamton, Endicott and Johnson City. They would keep this name for the rest of their duration at Johnson Field which would last for the next 5 decades.