Editing Erie SeaWolves (section)

==History==
The team was established in 1989 in [[Welland|Welland, Ontario]] as a [[New York–Penn League]] member, known initially as the [[Welland Pirates]], playing their home games at [[Welland Stadium]]. After six challenging seasons, the team relocated to Erie following the exit of the previous baseball team, the [[Erie Sailors]]. This move eventually led the [[Frontier League]]-affiliated club to settle in [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]], where they became the [[Johnstown Steal]] (currently known as the [[Florence Y'alls]] in [[Florence, Kentucky]]). Before this, the Sailors had played in the New York–Penn League but relocated to [[Wappingers Falls, New York]], becoming the [[Hudson Valley Renegades]], due to the team's owner, Marvin Goldklang not upgrading [[Ainsworth Field]] to meet [[Major League Baseball]] standards.

After the civic government obtained an $8 million grant from the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]] to construct UPMC Park (previously known as Jerry Uht Park), the Welland Pirates relocated to Erie. Although Erie did not have an affiliated baseball team in 1994, the city hosted an independent franchise in the Frontier League that revived the "Sailors" name. The SeaWolves eventually became the successor to several Erie-based baseball teams, including all iterations of the Sailors, with the New York–Penn League franchise now known as the [[State College Spikes]].

===Early years (1995–2001)===

On June 20, 1995, the SeaWolves triumphed over the [[Jamestown Jammers]] in their inaugural game in Erie. [[José Guillén]], a Major League Baseball alumnus from the [[Dominican Republic]], hit the game-winning home run for the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=UPMC Park Info Guide|date=2024|work=[[Minor League Baseball]]|url=https://www.milb.com/erie/ballpark/upmc-park|access-date=October 21, 2024}}</ref>

The SeaWolves were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1995 to 1998. In 1999, the Double-A [[Eastern League (1938–present)|Eastern League]] expanded by adding two new franchises, with Erie being granted one of them. As a result, the team transitioned from the Short-Season A level to the Double-A level, and the current SeaWolves organization is considered a continuation of the previous franchise despite this change in classification. Minor League Baseball permitted Erie to retain its New York–Penn League records and history while joining the Eastern League. Subsequently, the [[Mahoning Valley Scrappers]] entered the New York–Penn League as an expansion franchise rather than a continuation of the SeaWolves. After moving to the Double-A level, the team affiliated with the [[Los Angeles Angels|Anaheim Angels]]. In 2001, the SeaWolves switched their affiliation to the [[Detroit Tigers]], with whom they still have a partnership.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McKrell |first1=Aaron |title=Soul of Erie: Sports in the City by the Lake |date=2021 |isbn=979-8722060631 |pages=81–88}}</ref>

===Realignment (2021)===
In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the SeaWolves were organized into the [[Double-A Northeast]].<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, the Double-A Northeast became known as the Eastern League, the name historically used by the regional circuit before the 2021 reorganization.<ref name=ELrename>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref>

===Championships (2023–2024)===

On September 26, 2023, the SeaWolves completed a full sweep of the playoffs, capped off by a 10–0 win over the [[Binghamton Rumble Ponies]] in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series, leading to their first championship title in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|title=‘We are the champions!’ SeaWolves claim their first Eastern League Championship|date=26 September 2023|work=YourErie.com|url=https://www.yourerie.com/sports/erie-seawolves/we-are-the-champions-seawolves-claim-their-first-eastern-league-championship/|access-date=September 27, 2023}}</ref>

On September 24, 2024, the SeaWolves completed their playoff run by defeating the [[Somerset Patriots]] 3-2 in [[Bridgewater Township, New Jersey|Bridgewater, New Jersey]]. They won the Eastern League championship for a second straight year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Back-to-back champs! Erie SeaWolves claim second Eastern League Championship|date=24 September 2024|work=YourErie.com|url=https://www.yourerie.com/sports/erie-seawolves/back-to-back-champs-erie-seawolves-claim-second-eastern-league-championship/|access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref> In addition, they became the 11th team in Eastern League history and the first since the [[Trenton Thunder]] in 2007 and 2008 to repeat as champions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Erie SeaWolves sweep their way to second consecutive Eastern League title|date=25 September 2024|work=blessyouboys.com|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2024/9/25/24253842/detroit-tigers-erie-seawolves-eastern-league-championship-prospects-somerset-patriots-austin-bergner|access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref>