IL1 Buffalo Bisons

Former Bisons Marty Brown, Joe Roa Elected to Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame

Published on May 1, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


The Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame Committee is proud to announce that former Bisons' manager MARTY BROWN and pitcher JOE ROA have been elected to the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. With their induction, the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame will reach the milestone of 100 members.

Brown and Roa will be formally inducted during special Hall of Fame ceremonies during the Bisons Honda fridaynightbash!® on August 10 against the Toledo Mud Hens (7:05 p.m.).

Plaque honoring Brown and Roa will be unveiled in Coca-Cola Field's Hall of Fame Heritage room on the third base side of the ballpark.

Marty Brown

Marty Brown managed the Bisons for parts of four seasons (2003-2005, 2013) and is the modern era leader in managerial wins with 312. He also guided the Herd to their last International League Governors' Cup Championship (2004) and IL North Division title (2005).

Brown posted a winning record in each of his four years on the bench for the Bisons, beginning with a 73-70 mark in 2003. The following season, he was named IL Manager of the Year and Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America for guiding the Herd to an 83-61 record and a league championship. That season, the Herd went from 9.5 games out of first place on June 13 to winning the division by 10 games, all while 67 different players (and 42 pitchers) appeared for the team.

The Bisons won the IL North Division again in 2005 with an 82-62 record. After appearing at the 2012 Triple-A All-Star Game at Coca-Cola Field representing the Las Vegas 51s, Brown returned to the Bisons in 2013 to usher in the team's new affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays. That squad posted another winning mark at 74-70.

Brown becomes the fourth modern era manager to be elected to the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Terry Clark, Brian Graham and Eric Wedge. Torey Lovullo was inducted into the Hall of Fame prior to managing the Bisons in 2006.

Joe Roa

Joe Roa pitched two seasons with the Bisons (1995-1996), compiling an impressive 28-11 record in 51 games and 48 starts with the team.

The righty posted one of the best seasons ever for a Bisons pitcher in 1995. After the Cleveland Indians acquired Roa in a six-player deal with the Mets in the off-season, the 23-year old became the Herd's ace by winning 17 of his 20 decisions and posting a 3.50 ERA. His 17-3 record, which was highlighted by a pair of six-game win streaks, is two wins better than any other Buffalo pitcher in the modern era and the most by a Bisons hurler at Triple-A since 1957.

Roa returned to the club in 1996, posting another 11 wins and a 3.27 ERA in 26 games that was the 3rd-lowest mark in the American Association. In his two years at Buffalo combined, he walked just 64 batters in 330.0 innings of work.

Roa's 28 wins are the third-best in the team's modern era, behind only Buffalo Bisons Hall of Famers Rick Reed and Dorn Taylor. Roa, Reed, Taylor and last year's inductee, Jason Jacome, are the only four modern era pitchers in the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.

Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame Committee

The Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame committee is charged with the task of screening all candidates eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame and to select for induction such persons who have made a significant contribution to Buffalo professional baseball, or such Western New Yorkers who have made a meaningful contribution to professional baseball generally.

The committee is comprised of Mike Buczkowski, Tom Burns, Bob Dicesare, Mike Harrington, Kevin Lester, Duke McGuire, Bob Miske and Pete Weber.

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