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{{short description|Minor League Baseball (AAA) team in Buffalo, New York}}
{{About|the Minor League Baseball franchise in Buffalo, New York}}

{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name = Buffalo Bisons
| founded = 1979
| city = Buffalo, New York
| misc =
| logo = Buffalo Bisons logo.svg
| uniformlogo = Buffalo Bisons cap logo.svg
| colors = Scarlet red, reflex blue, white<ref>{{cite news|title=Buffalo Bisons unveil new team logo|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-40382408|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media|MLB Advanced Media, LP]]|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=July 12, 2018}}</ref><br />{{color box|#CE1141}} {{color box|#0054A4}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| mascot = Buster T. Bison
| class level = [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] (1985–present)
| past class level = Double-A (1979–1984)
| current league = [[International League]] (1998–present)
| conference = 
| division = East Division
| past league = {{plainlist|
* [[American Association (1902–1997)|American Association]] (1985–1997)
* [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]] (1979–1984)
}}
| majorleague = [[Toronto Blue Jays]] (2013–present)
| pastmajorleague = {{plainlist|
* [[New York Mets]] (2009–2012)
* [[Cleveland Indians]] (1995–2008)
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (1988–1994)
* [[Cleveland Indians]] (1987)
* [[Chicago White Sox]] (1985–1986)
* [[Cleveland Indians]] (1983–1984)
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (1979–1982)
}}
| nickname = Buffalo Bisons (1979–present)
| pastnames =
| ballpark = {{plainlist|* [[Sahlen Field]] (1988–present)
}}
| pastparks = {{plainlist|
* [[Trenton Thunder Ballpark]] (2021)
* [[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo)|War Memorial Stadium]] (1979–1987)
}}
| leaguenum = 3
| leaguechamps = {{hlist| 1997 | 1998 | 2004 }}
| divnum = 10
| divisionchamps = {{hlist| 1991 | 1992 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 2000 | 2001 | 2004 | 2005 | 2021 }}
| wildcardnum = 1
| wildcardberths = {{hlist|2002}}
| owner = [[Robert E. Rich Jr.]]
| president = Mike Buczkowski
| manager = [[Casey Candaele]]
| gm = Anthony Sprague<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/03/10/personnel-news-high-point-buffalo/|title=Personnel News: High Point, Buffalo|website=Ballpark Digest|date=March 10, 2020|access-date=March 10, 2020}}</ref>
| media = Radio: [[WWKB]]<br>Streaming: [[MiLB.TV]] and [[Bally's Corporation|Bally Live]]<br>TV: [[WNYO-TV|WNYO]] (select games)
| website = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/buffalo|milb.com/buffalo}}
}}

The '''Buffalo Bisons''' (known [[colloquialism|colloquially]] as the '''Herd''') are a [[Minor League Baseball]] team of the [[International League]] and the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] affiliate of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]]. Located in [[Buffalo, New York]], the team plays their home games at [[Sahlen Field]], the highest-capacity [[List of Triple-A baseball stadiums|Triple-A ballpark]] in the United States.

The current Bisons organization was founded in 1979 and assumed the history of previous franchises that also used the Buffalo Bisons name, most notably the [[Buffalo Bisons (1886–1970)|1886–1970 Buffalo Bisons]] minor league franchise, and the [[Buffalo Bisons (NL)|1879–1885 Buffalo Bisons]] major league franchise. The team established the [[Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1985 to honor former players, managers and contributors to baseball in Buffalo.

The team holds the all-time record for single-season attendance in Minor League Baseball, selling 1,240,951 tickets in 1991 while being considered for [[1993 Major League Baseball expansion]]. ''[[Forbes]]'' valued the Buffalo Bisons at $34 million in 2016, making it the 15th-most valuable Minor League Baseball franchise.<ref>{{cite web|last=Klebnikov|first=Sergei|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/gkle45ffh/15-buffalo-bisons/#449d56912efa|title=Minor League Baseball's Most Valuable Teams – 15. Buffalo Bisons|website=Forbes|date=July 8, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref>

==History==

Mayor [[James D. Griffin]] and an investment group purchased the [[Jersey City A's]] of the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] class [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]] for $55,000 in 1978, and the team began play as the Buffalo Bisons at [[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo, New York)|War Memorial Stadium]] in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moritz |first1=Amy |title=Buffalo's downtown ballpark: The house that Jimmy built |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/baseball/professional/buffalos-downtown-ballpark-the-house-that-jimmy-built/article_d0fa6e07-40ef-58ae-9a54-19a1a5db0a2c.html |work=The Buffalo News |date=July 14, 2017}}</ref> This new franchise assumed the history of prior Buffalo Bisons teams that had played in the city from 1877 to 1970. [[Robert E. Rich Jr.]] purchased the Bisons for $100,000 in 1983,<ref>{{Cite web|title=After 20 years, Bisons still a hit for Bob Rich Jr.|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2003/03/31/story4.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-09|website=www.bizjournals.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040520191548/http://www.bizjournals.com:80/buffalo/stories/2003/03/31/story4.html |archive-date=2004-05-20 }}</ref> and upgraded the team to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] class [[American Association (1902–1997)|American Association]] in 1985 after buying out the [[Wichita Aeros]] for $1 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-06-sp-1717-story.html|title=A Major League Effort for Buffalo|date=September 6, 1988|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/451794970/|title=The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 8, 1984 · 72|website=Newspapers.com|date=8 September 1984 }}</ref> Rich Jr. grew the team's popularity and was known for his innovative promotional tie-ins, most notably an annual series of post-game concerts by [[The Beach Boys]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=GELLER|first=KATHRYN|title=BEACH BOYS AND BISONS ARE A SUMMER TRADITION|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/beach-boys-and-bisons-are-a-summer-tradition/article_765a362a-98e8-5a96-bee1-a61fcd7cd86d.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=The Buffalo News|date=25 June 1989 |language=en}}</ref>

The Buffalo Bisons moved to the $42.4 million [[Sahlen Field|Pilot Field]] (now Sahlen Field) in downtown Buffalo in the 1988 season. In their first year at the venue after moving from War Memorial Stadium, the Bisons broke the all-time record for Minor League Baseball attendance by drawing 1,186,651&nbsp;fans during the 1988 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Buffalo Bisons Set Minor League Attendance Mark|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-20-sp-568-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 20, 1988|access-date=May 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517132448/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-08-20/sports/sp-568_1_minor-league|archive-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bisons Franchise History (1878-2019) |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/t-bb10631 |website=statscrew.com}}</ref> The team won two division titles and set subsequent attendance records on the heels of their unsuccessful [[1993 Major League Baseball expansion]] bid. The team's 1991 single-season attendance of 1,240,951 remains a Minor League Baseball record.<ref>{{cite web 
|publisher=Bisons Media Relations Department
|url=https://milb.bamcontent.com/documents/1/4/2/308944142/2019_Buffalo_Bisons_Media_Guide.pdf 
|first=Pat |last=Malacaro |title=2019 Buffalo Bisons Media Guide |website=binsons.com |access-date=14 Aug 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Nashville Sounds at Buffalo Bisons, War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, NY, 1987.jpg|thumb|left|Buffalo Bisons hosting [[Nashville Sounds]] for their final game at [[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo, New York)|War Memorial Stadium]], August 1987]]

The [[Cleveland Indians]] replaced the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] as [[Major League Baseball]] affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 1995 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/simply-the-best-the-bisons-have-established-a-winning-tradition-since-hooking-up-with-the/article_84def3c7-f095-5c51-901e-22d03443b0f7.html|title='SIMPLY THE BEST' THE BISONS HAVE ESTABLISHED A WINNING TRADITION SINCE HOOKING UP WITH THE CLEVELAND INDIANS IN 1995|first=Mike|last=Harrington|website=The Buffalo News|date=30 June 2003 }}</ref> The team won division titles in 1996 and 1997, and won the final American Association championship in 1997. [[Bartolo Colón]] threw the first [[no-hitter]] in franchise history on June 20, 1997 against the [[New Orleans Zephyrs]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.mlb.com/cut4/a-trip-back-to-bartolo-colon-s-first-and-only-no-hitter-c281758064| title = A trip back in time to the Bartolo Colon no-hitter you never knew about {{!}} MLB.com| website = [[MLB.com]]| date = 20 June 2018}}</ref>

In wake of the American Association disbanding following the 1997 season, the Bisons joined the [[International League]] in 1998. The team won the division and league championship in their first season, but lost the [[Triple-A World Series]]. The addition of regional rivalries allowed for the creation of the [[Thruway Cup]], an annual competition between the Buffalo Bisons, [[Rochester Red Wings]] and [[Syracuse SkyChiefs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-166827450|title=Triple-A still thriving after 1998 realignment|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref> The Bisons went on to win division titles in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, and the league championship at home in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Mike |date=2004-09-18 |title=BISONS SEAL THE DEAL THERE'S NO DOUBTING HERD AS THOMAS SHINES ON HILL |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/bisons-seal-the-deal-theres-no-doubting-herd-as-thomas-shines-on-hill/article_fb638951-32c2-5a2c-9c39-e37f4e653cee.html |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Buffalo News |language=en}}</ref>

The [[New York Mets]] replaced the [[Cleveland Indians]] as [[Major League Baseball]] affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 2009 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/09/22/daily7.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405235146/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4ozuiT7ywdkJ:https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/09/22/daily7.html+&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 5, 2023|title=Bisons meet the Mets - Buffalo Business First}}</ref> This era was plagued with poor on-field performance and low attendance.

[[File:Master-pnp-highsm-53200-53201a.tif|thumb|right|[[Sahlen Field]], home of the Buffalo Bisons since 1988]]

The [[Toronto Blue Jays]] replaced the [[New York Mets]] as [[Major League Baseball]] affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 2013 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8409223/triple-buffalo-bisons-switch-affiliation-toronto-blue-jays|title=Triple-A Buffalo switches affiliation to Blue Jays|date=September 22, 2012|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> To kick off this era, the Bisons scored 27 runs on 29 hits against the [[Syracuse Chiefs]] on April 18, 2013, setting records for the most runs and hits in an [[International League]] game since 1973.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-45145478 | title=RECORDS fall in 27–9 Bisons win – Unforgettable team performance as Buffalo earns sweep | publisher=Buffalo Bisons | date=April 18, 2013 | access-date=April 20, 2013 | author=Bisbing, Brad}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-45153940 | title=Negrych cycles in Bisons' record rout | work=MLB.com | date=April 18, 2013 | access-date=April 20, 2013 | author=Parker, John}}</ref> The Blue Jays used [[Sahlen Field]] as their home field in 2020 after the Bisons season was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], investing $5 million in upgrading the venue.

In conjunction with [[Major League Baseball]]'s restructuring of Minor League Baseball and the closure of the [[International League]], the Bisons joined the newly formed [[Triple-A East]] in 2021.<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> Due to renovations at [[Sahlen Field]] as well as use of the stadium by the Blue Jays, the Bisons began their 2021 season at [[Trenton Thunder Ballpark]] in [[Trenton, New Jersey]]. At their home games, they wore the uniforms of the '''[[Trenton Thunder]]''' and were referred to as such, while on the road they were still known as the Buffalo Bisons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Steve |title=Blue Jays' top minor league team temporarily moves home games from Buffalo to Trenton |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/minors/2021/04/09/class-aaa-buffalo-bisons-open-2021-season-trenton-n-j/7160398002/ |access-date=17 May 2021 |work=[[USA Today]] |date=April 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Leaguer |first1=Minor |title=Blue Jays' 2021 Triple-A Affiliate: The Trenton Buffalo Thunder Bisons |url=https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2021/4/9/22375512/blue-jays-2021-triple-a-buffalo-bisons-move-to-trenton-new-jersey-thunder |access-date=17 May 2021 |work=Bluebird Banter |publisher=[[SB Nation]] |date=9 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

With the reinstatement of the historical league names in 2022, the Bisons were returned to the [[International League]].<ref>{{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>

==Roster==
{{Buffalo Bisons roster}}

==Alumni==

===Retired numbers===
[[File:1988 Grand Slam - Jeff Manto (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Jeff Manto]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Number !! Player !! Retirement Date
|-
|6||[[Ollie Carnegie]]||
|-
|25||[[Luke Easter (baseball)|Luke Easter]]||
|-
|30||[[Jeff Manto]]||August 17, 2001
|-
|42||[[Jackie Robinson]]||April 15, 1997
|-
|}

===National Baseball Hall of Fame members===
{{Main|List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame}}

{|- class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Player/Manager'''||'''Year Inducted'''||'''Years with the Bisons'''
|-
|[[Jim Thome]]||2018||1998
|-
|[[CC Sabathia]]||2025||2006
|}

===International League Hall of Fame members===
{{Main|International League Hall of Fame}}

{|- class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Player/Manager'''||'''Year Inducted'''||'''Years with the Bisons'''
|-
|[[Jeff Manto]]||2014||1997–2000
|-
|[[Marc Bombard]]||2015||1992 (Manager)
|-
|[[Mike Hessman]]||2018||2010
|}

===Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame members===
{{Main|Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame}}

[[File:Terry Collins 2 (cropped).png|thumb|right|[[Terry Collins]]]]
[[File:1987 Pucko Buffalo Bisons - Dave Clark.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dave Clark (baseball)|Dave Clark]]]]
[[File:Matt Hague, 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game.jpg|thumb|right|[[Matt Hague]]]]

{|- class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Player/Manager'''<ref>[https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-67312660 "Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame."] Buffalo Bisons. Retrieved on August 19, 2018.</ref>||'''Year Inducted'''||'''Years with the Bisons'''
|-
|[[Terry Collins]]|| rowspan="2" |1992||1989–1991 (Manager)
|-
|[[Joe DeSa]]||1985–1986
|-
|[[Rick Lancellotti]]||1995||1979–1980
|-
|[[Steve Farr]]||1996||1980–1983
|-
|[[Dorn Taylor]]||1998||1988–1990
|-
|[[Torey Lovullo]]|| rowspan="2" |2003||1995, 1997–1998
|-
|[[Jeff Manto]]||1997–2000
|-
|[[Tom Prince (baseball)|Tom Prince]]||2004||1988–1992
|-
|[[Rick Reed (pitcher)|Rick Reed]]||2006||1988–1991
|-
|[[Bill Selby]]||2007||1998–2000, 2002
|-
|[[Dave Clark (baseball)|Dave Clark]]|| rowspan="2" |2008||1984, 1987, 1992
|-
|[[Brian Graham (baseball)|Brian Graham]]||1995–1997 (Manager)
|-
|[[Carlos García (baseball)|Carlos García]]|| rowspan="2" |2009||1990–1992
|-
|[[Dave Hollins]]||2000–2001
|-
|[[Richie Sexson]]||2010||1997–1998
|-
|[[Tony Peña]]||2011||1979
|-
|[[Brian Giles]]|| rowspan="2" |2012||1995–1996, 1998
|-
|[[Russ Morman]]||1985–1986, 1993
|-
|[[Dave Roberts (outfielder)|Dave Roberts]]|| rowspan="2" |2013||1998–2001
|-
|[[Ernie Young]]||2004–2005
|-
|[[Greg Tubbs]]|| rowspan="2" |2014||1991–1992, 1994
|-
|[[Eric Wedge]]||2001–2002 (Manager)
|-
|[[Chris Coste]]|| rowspan="2" |2015||2000–2002
|-
|[[Greg LaRocca]]||2001–2003
|-
|[[Alex Ramírez]]||2016||1997–1999
|-
|[[Jason Jacome]]|| rowspan="2" |2017||1997–1998
|-
|[[Mark Ryal]]||1985, 1990
|-
|[[Joe Roa]]|| rowspan="2" |2018||1995–1996
|-
|[[Marty Brown (baseball)|Marty Brown]]||2003–2005, 2013 (Manager)
|-
|[[Ben Francisco]]|| rowspan="3" |2022||2005–2008
|-
|[[Jhonny Peralta]]||2003–2004
|-
|[[Bob Patterson (baseball)|Bob Patterson]]||1988–1989
|-
|[[Matt Hague]]|| rowspan="2" |2023||2014–2015
|-
|[[Pete Filson]]||1986
|-
|[[Brandon Phillips]]||2024||2002–2005
|-
|[[Brian Anderson (pitcher)|Brian Anderson]]|| rowspan="2" |2025||1996–1997
|-
|[[Jolbert Cabrera]]||1998–2000, 2002
|}

===All 25 Seasons Team (2012)===
[[File:BartoloColón2016Spring.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bartolo Colón]]]]

{|- class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Position'''||'''Player/Manager'''||'''Years with the Bisons'''
|-
|Manager||[[Terry Collins]]||1989–1991
|-
|Catcher||[[Tom Prince (baseball)|Tom Prince]]||1988–1992
|-
|First Base||[[Richie Sexson]]||1997–1998
|-
|Second Base||[[Brandon Phillips]]||2002–2005
|-
|Third Base||[[Russell Branyan]]||1999–2000, 2004, 2007
|-
|Shortstop||[[Jhonny Peralta]]||2003–2004
|-
| rowspan="3" |Outfield||[[Ben Francisco]]||2005–2008
|-
|[[Brian Giles]]||1995–1996, 1998
|-
|[[Alex Ramírez]]||1997–1999
|-
|Designated Hitter||[[Jeff Manto]]||1997–2000
|-
| rowspan="3" |Starting Pitcher||[[Bartolo Colón]]||1996–1997, 2000
|-
|[[Rick Reed (pitcher)|Rick Reed]]||1988–1991
|-
|[[Dorn Taylor]]||1988–1990
|-
| rowspan="2" |Relief Pitcher||[[Fernando Cabrera (baseball)|Fernando Cabrera]]||2004–2006, 2012
|-
|[[Danny Graves]]||1995–1997, 2006
|-
|}

==Season-by-season records==
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!rowspan=2|Season
!rowspan=2|League
!rowspan=2|Division
!rowspan=2|Manager
!colspan=4|Regular Season
!rowspan=2|Postseason
!rowspan=2|Awards
|-
!Finish
!W
!L
!Win%
|-
|{{by|1979}}
| rowspan="6" |[[Eastern League (1938–2020)|EL]]
|
| rowspan="2" |[[Steve Demeter]]
|4th
|72
|67
|.518
|<small>No playoffs held</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1980}}
| rowspan="3" |North
|5th
|67
|70
|.489
|<small>Lost semi-finals, 0–2 ([[Holyoke Millers|Millers]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1981}}
|[[Johnny Lipon]]
|7th
|56
|81
|.409
| rowspan="2" |<small>Did not qualify</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1982}}
|[[Tommy Sandt]]
|8th
|55
|84
|.396
|
|-
|{{by|1983}}
| rowspan="2" |
|[[Al Gallagher]]
|3rd
|74
|65
|.532
|<small>Lost semi-finals, 0–2 ([[Lynn Sailors|Sailors]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1984}}
|[[Jack Aker]]
|5th
|72
|67
|.518
| rowspan="6" |<small>Did not qualify</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1985}}
| rowspan="13" |[[American Association (1902–1997)|AA]]
| rowspan="2" |East
|[[John Boles Jr.|John Boles]]
|3rd
|66
|76
|.465
|
|-
|{{by|1986}}
|[[Jim Marshall (baseball)|Jim Marshall]]
|2nd
|71
|71
|.500
|<small>[[Pete Filson]]<br />(Most Valuable Pitcher)<br />[[Robert E. Rich Jr.]]<br />(CEO of the Year)</small>
|-
|{{by|1987}}
|
|[[Orlando Gómez]]<br />[[Steve Swisher]]
|5th
|66
|74
|.471
|
|-
|{{by|1988}}
| rowspan="6" |East
|[[Rocky Bridges]]
|3rd
|72
|70
|.507
|<small>[[Robert E. Rich Jr.]]<br />(CEO of the Year)</small>
|-
|{{by|1989}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Terry Collins]]
|2nd
|80
|62
|.563
|<small>Buffalo Bisons<br />([[Larry MacPhail Award]])</small>
|-
|{{by|1990}}
|2nd
|85
|62
|.578
|<small>Lost one-game playoff, 3–4 ([[Nashville Sounds|Sounds]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1991}}
|'''1st'''
|81
|62
|.566
|<small>Lost Championship, 2–3 ([[Denver Zephyrs|Zephyrs]])</small>
|<small>[[Rick Reed (pitcher)|Rick Reed]]<br />(Most Valuable Pitcher)<br />[[Robert E. Rich Jr.]]<br />(CEO of the Year)<br />Buffalo Bisons<br />(''[[Baseball America]]''<br />Bob Freitas Award)</small>
|-
|{{by|1992}}
|[[Marc Bombard]]
|'''1st'''
|87
|57
|.604
|<small>Lost Championship, 0–4 ([[Oklahoma City 89ers|89ers]])</small>
|<small>[[Kevin Young (baseball)|Kevin Young]]<br />(Rookie of the Year)<br />[[Marc Bombard]]<br />(Manager of the Year)<br />Buffalo Bisons<br />([[John H. Johnson President's Award|President's Award]])</small>
|-
|{{by|1993}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Doc Edwards]]
|2nd
|71
|73
|.493
| rowspan="2" |<small>Did not qualify</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1994}}
| rowspan="2" |
|8th
|55
|89
|.382
|
|-
|{{by|1995}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Brian Graham (baseball)|Brian Graham]]
|2nd
|86
|62
|.569
|<small>Won semi-finals, 3–1 ([[Omaha Royals|Royals]])<br />Lost Championship, 2–3 ([[Louisville Redbirds|Redbirds]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1996}}
| rowspan="2" |East
|'''1st'''
|84
|60
|.583
|<small>Lost semi-finals, 2–3 ([[Indianapolis Indians|Indians]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1997}}
|'''1st'''
|87
|57
|.604
|<small>Won semi-finals, 3–2 ([[Indianapolis Indians|Indians]])<br />'''Won Championship''', 3–0 ([[Iowa Cubs|Cubs]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1998}}
| rowspan="23" |[[International League|IL]]
| rowspan="23" |North
| rowspan="2" |[[Jeff Datz]]
|'''1st'''
|81
|62
|.566
|<small>Won semi-finals, 3–0 ([[Syracuse SkyChiefs|SkyChiefs]])<br />'''Won Championship''', 3–2 ([[Durham Bulls|Bulls]])<br />Lost [[Triple-A World Series|World Series]], 1–3 ([[New Orleans Zephyrs|Zephyrs]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|1999}}
|4th
|72
|72
|.500
|<small>Did not qualify</small>
|
|-
|{{by|2000}}
|[[Joel Skinner]]
|'''1st'''
|86
|59
|.593
|<small>Won one-game playoff, 7–1<br />([[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons|Red Barons]])<br />Lost semi-finals, 1–3<br />(Red Barons)</small>
|<small>[[Joel Skinner]]<br />(Manager of the Year)</small>
|-
|{{by|2001}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Eric Wedge]]
|'''1st'''
|91
|51
|.641
|<small>Lost semi-finals, 2–3<br />([[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons|Red Barons]])</small>
|<small>[[Eric Wedge]]<br />(Manager of the Year)<br />Buffalo Bisons''<br />([[Baseball America]]''<br />Bob Freitas Award)</small>
|-
|{{by|2002}}
|2nd
|84
|54
|.609
|<small>Won semi-finals, 3–0<br />([[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons|Red Barons]])<br />Lost Championship, 0–3 ([[Durham Bulls|Bulls]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|2003}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Marty Brown (baseball)|Marty Brown]]
|3rd
|73
|70
|.510
|<small>Did not qualify</small>
|
|-
|{{by|2004}}
|'''1st'''
|83
|61
|.576
|<small>Won semi-finals, 3–2 ([[Durham Bulls|Bulls]])<br />'''Won Championship''', 3–1 ([[Richmond Braves|Braves]])</small>
|<small>[[Jhonny Peralta]] (MVP)<br />[[Marty Brown (baseball)|Marty Brown]]<br />(Manager of the Year)</small>
|-
|{{by|2005}}
|'''1st'''
|82
|62
|.569
|<small>Lost semi-finals, 2–3 ([[Indianapolis Indians|Indians]])</small>
|
|-
|{{by|2006}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Torey Lovullo]]
|3rd
|73
|68
|.518
| rowspan="14" |<small>Did not qualify</small>
|
|-
|{{by|2007}}
|3rd
|75
|67
|.569
|
|-
|{{by|2008}}
|5th
|66
|77
|.462
|
|-
|{{by|2009}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Ken Oberkfell]]
|6th
|56
|87
|.392
|
|-
|{{by|2010}}
|3rd
|76
|68
|.528
|
|-
|{{by|2011}}
|[[Tim Teufel]]
|5th
|61
|82
|.427
|
|-
|{{by|2012}}
|[[Wally Backman]]
|6th
|67
|76
|.469
|
|-
|{{by|2013}}
|Marty Brown
|3rd
|74
|70
|.514
|
|-
|{{by|2014}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Gary Allenson]]
|3rd
|77
|66
|.538
|
|-
|{{by|2015}}
|3rd
|68
|76
|.472
|<small>[[Matt Hague]] (MVP)</small>
|-
|{{by|2016}}
|5th
|66
|78
|.458
|
|-
|{{by|2017}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Bobby Meacham]]
|5th
|65
|76
|.461
|
|-
|{{by|2018}}
|6th
|61
|77
|.442
|
|-
|{{by|2019}}
|3rd
|71
|69
|.507
|
|-
|{{by|2020}}
|[[Ken Huckaby]]
| colspan="6" |<small>Season cancelled<br />([[COVID-19 pandemic]])</small>
|-
|{{by|2021}}
|[[Triple-A East|AAAE]]
|Northeast
|[[Casey Candaele]]
|'''1st'''
|79
|47
|.627
|<small>No playoffs held</small>
|<small>[[Casey Candaele]]<br />(Manager of the Year)</small>
|-
|-
|{{by|2022}}
| rowspan="4" |IL
| rowspan="4" |East
|Casey Candaele<br>[[Jeff Ware (baseball)|Jeff Ware]]
|4th
|76
|72
|.514
| rowspan="4" |<small>Did not qualify</small>
|-
|{{by|2023}}
| rowspan="3" |Casey Candaele
|5th
|76
|72
|.514
|
|-
|{{by|2024}}
|10th
|68
|80
|.459
|
|-
|{{by|2025}}
|9th
|61
|85
|.418
|
|-
|by|Total
|—
|—
|—
|—
|3355
|3193
|.512
| 15–38 (.283)
|—
|}

==Radio and television==
{{multiple image
 | align = left
 | total_width = 320
 | image_style = border:none;

 | image1 = Press Box at Sahlen Field, 2008.jpg
 | alt1 = [[Sahlen Field]] press box
 | caption1 = [[Sahlen Field]] press box

 | image2 = PeteWeberbroadcaster.jpg
 | alt2 = [[Pete Weber (sportscaster)|Pete Weber]]
 | caption2 = [[Pete Weber (sportscaster)|Pete Weber]]
}}

Bisons Baseball Network produces all radio broadcasts of Buffalo Bisons games. Their flagship station since 2009 has been [[WWKB]], a [[clear-channel station]] in Buffalo. Select games are simulcast on [[WGR]] in Buffalo and [[CJCL]] in Toronto. Games were previously carried by [[WUFO]]/[[WXRL]] (1983), [[WEBR]] (1984), [[WBEN (AM)|WBEN]] (1985–1988) and [[WGR]] (1989–2008).

Live video streams of all Buffalo Bisons games have aired on the [[MiLB.TV]] subscription service since 2013, and free via the [[Bally's Corporation|Bally Live]] app since 2023.<ref name="Jones 2023">{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Rory | title=Minor League Baseball confirms Bally Live free streaming deal | website=SportsPro | date=April 3, 2023 | url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/minor-league-baseball-mlb-bally-live-streaming-rights/ | access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref> Select games have been televised on [[WNYO-TV|WNYO]] since 2023.<ref name="MiLB.com 2023">{{cite web | title=Bisons Baseball to air on MyTV Buffalo WNYO with 13-game schedule | website=[[Minor League Baseball]] | date=April 7, 2023 | url=https://www.milb.com/news/bisons-broadcast-schedule-on-mytv-buffalo | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407203554/https://www.milb.com/news/bisons-broadcast-schedule-on-mytv-buffalo | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 7, 2023 | access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref> Games were previously televised on [[WNYB]] (1988–1989, 1996), [[Empire Sports Network]] (1991–1995, 1997–2004), [[Spectrum Sports (New York)|Time Warner Cable SportsNet]] (2007–2016), [[Spectrum Sports (New York)| Spectrum Sports]] (2017) and [[WNLO (TV)|WNLO]] (2019–2022).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/buffalo/news/bisons-and-nexstar-broadcasting-partner-to-air-10-game-schedule-on-the-306482990|title=Bisons and Nexstar Broadcasting partner to air 10-game schedule on The CW-23|work=WNLO|date=April 22, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref>

Pat Malacaro has served as the team's play-by-play announcer since 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/meet-pat-malacaro-the-new-voice-of-the-buffalo-bisons/1119421051|title=Meet Pat Malacaro: The new voice of the Buffalo Bisons|first=Ali|last=Ingersoll|date=12 April 2018}}</ref> [[Pete Weber (sportscaster)|Pete Weber]] served as play-by-play announcer from 1983 to 1995, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the [[Nashville Predators]]. [[Jim Rosenhaus]] served as play-by-play announcer from 1996 to 2006, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the [[Cleveland Guardians]]. [[Ben Wagner]] served as play-by-play announcer from 2007 to 2017, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the [[Baltimore Orioles]], after serving 6 years as play-by-play announcer of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/ben-wagner-dan-shulman-join-sportsnets-blue-jays-radio-broadcast-team/|title=Ben Wagner & Dan Shulman join Sportsnet's Blue Jays radio broadcast team|work=[[Sportsnet]]|date=March 27, 2018|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2018/03/27/bisons-radio-announcer-ben-wagner-to-get-promotion-to-blue-jays-booth/|title=Bisons radio announcer Ben Wagner promoted to Blue Jays' booth; Pat Malacaro named replacement|last=Harrington|first=Mike|work=buffalonews.com|date=March 27, 2018|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=Sportsnet's Ben Wagner out as voice of Blue Jays radio broadcasts |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/sportsnets-ben-wagner-out-as-voice-of-blue-jays-radio-broadcasts-192540349.html |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucia |first=Joe |date=2024-02-23 |title=Baltimore Orioles add Ben Wagner to broadcast team |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles-add-ben-wagner-to-broadcast-team.html |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>

Duke McGuire has served as the team's color commentator since 1996, and previously worked as the team's in-stadium public address announcer from 1979 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/buffalo/team/broadcast|title=Bisons Broadcast Team|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref> [[John Murphy (sportscaster)|John Murphy]] served as color commentator from 1985 to 1988, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the [[Buffalo Bills]]. [[Greg Brown (sportscaster)|Greg Brown]] served as color commentator from 1989 to 1993, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]].

Weber, McGuire, Rosenhaus, and Brown were inducted into the [[Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame]] for their broadcast work.

==Culture==

===Mascots===
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250
| align = right
| image1 = Syracuse Mets at Buffalo Bisons - 20220517 - 09 - WCC Race.jpg
| image2 = Conehead Vendor.jpg
| image3 = Buffalo Bisons Mascot At Trenton Thunder Game.jpg
| header = 
| footer = Clockwise from upper left: WCC [[mascot race]], Tom "[[Coneheads|Conehead]]" Girot, Buster T. Bison
}}

Donald Palmer was an acrobatic [[batboy]] who performed for the Buffalo Bisons as "The Butcher" from 1979 to 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-209407742|title=Buffalo Bisons family mourns the passing of 'The Butcher' - Donald Palmer|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref>

Earl Howze, Jr. was a beer vendor who performed for the Buffalo Bisons as "The Earl of [[Budweiser|Bud]]" from 1979 to 1997. He was known for dancing to the song "[[Tequila (The Champs song)|Tequila]]" atop the venue's [[dugout (baseball)|dugouts]], with a routine similar to the one made famous by [[Paul Reubens]] in the 1985 film ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/whither-the-earl-of-bud-local-sports-icon-left-town-like-a-ghost-in-1997/article_642ae412-9fd7-5d14-b108-5b4fa0cf2c6a.html|title=Whither the Earl of Bud? Local sports icon left town like a ghost in 1997|first=TIM|last=GRAHAM|website=The Buffalo News|date=21 August 2007 }}</ref> The Buffalo Bisons honored him at an August 2012 game, with every fan in attendance receiving a [[bobblehead]] of his likeness.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/earl-of-bud-takes-his-act-to-tennessee/article_9c8c9f8d-4334-5694-a113-8d4c7c52bf40.html |title=Earl of Bud takes his act to Tennessee |first=Charity |last=Vogel |first2=Jane |last2=Kwiatkowski |website=buffalonews.com |date=24 June 2012 |access-date=14 Aug 2024}} {{subscription required}} </ref> Howze, Jr. also performed for the [[Buffalo Sabres]] at [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]].

Tom Girot is a beer vendor who has performed for the Buffalo Bisons as "[[Coneheads|Conehead]]" since 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-93703890|title=Buffalo beer vendor Girot beloved by fans|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref> The Buffalo Bisons honored him at a July 2018 game, with a beer launched in his likeness called Conehead [[India pale ale|IPA]] by Resurgence Brewing Company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/baseball/professional/famed-vendor-conehead-gets-his-own-beer-at-buffalo-bisons-games/article_cc02bfdf-dee3-5503-87e3-07241e4614ea.html|title=Famed vendor 'Conehead' gets his own beer at Buffalo Bisons games|first=Keith|last=McShea|website=The Buffalo News|date=21 June 2018 }}</ref> Girot has also performed for the [[Rochester Red Wings]] at [[Innovative Field]] and the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] at [[Sahlen Field]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/columnist/roth/2018/09/02/conehead-tom-girot-red-wings-beer-vendor-frontier-field-rochester-buffalo-sabres-bills/1099559002/ | title=Nobody pours it on like beer vendor Tom 'Conehead' Girot at Rochester and Buffalo games }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.wivb.com/news/for-the-first-time-in-640-days-conehead-gets-set-to-sell-cold-ones-at-sahlen-field/ | title=For the first time in 640 days, Conehead gets set to sell cold ones at Sahlen Field | date=June 2021 }}</ref>

Buster T. Bison has been the official mascot of the Buffalo Bisons since 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buffalospree.com/features/so-three-mascots-walk-into-a-photo-shoot/article_9f23a9d4-ca69-56a0-97bf-f7f95c5c6c4b.html|title=So three mascots walk into a photo shoot …|website=buffalospree.com|date=24 October 2011 }}</ref> He was later joined by his cousin Chip in 1994, and his future wife Belle in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/best-bets/article_b3087890-ff70-54c3-af1c-5921b5f12634.html|title=BEST BETS|first=PAULA VOELL IS A. NEWS STAFF|last=REPORTER|website=The Buffalo News|date=15 December 1994 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/bisons-introduce-new-mascot-belle-the-ballpark-diva/n-3306933|title=Bisons Introduce New Mascot, Belle|date=May 7, 2006|website=OurSports Central}}</ref>

Tracey B. Wilson was an actress who performed for the Buffalo Bisons as the [[mime]] "Loud Mouth" from 1993 to 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/just-asking/article_9ab27c53-0f33-5e6a-8c15-371a554ef7fd.html|title=JUST ASKING|first=KEVIN|last=CLAPP|website=The Buffalo News|date=18 July 1996 }}</ref>

Buffalo Bisons games since 2011 have featured the [[buffalo wing|Wing]], [[Blue cheese|Cheese]] & [[Carrot]] (WCC) [[mascot race]] between costumed representations of various local foods just prior to the sixth-inning.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/buffalo/fans/wcc-race|title=WCC Race|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref>

===Music===

"Stampede" has been the official [[fight song]] of the Buffalo Bisons since their inaugural season at Sahlen Field in 1988.

[[Tina Turner]]'s recording of "[[The Best (song)|The Best]]" is played after every Buffalo Bisons home victory at Sahlen Field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/simply-the-best-the-bisons-have-established-a-winning-tradition-since-hooking-up-with-the/article_84def3c7-f095-5c51-901e-22d03443b0f7.html|title='SIMPLY THE BEST' THE BISONS HAVE ESTABLISHED A WINNING TRADITION SINCE HOOKING UP WITH THE CLEVELAND INDIANS IN 1995|first=Mike|last=Harrington|website=The Buffalo News|date=30 June 2003 }}</ref><ref name="Buffalo News 2021">{{cite web | title=The Bisons are back: Scenes from the opening week in Sahlen Field | website=Buffalo News | date=August 15, 2021 | url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/baseball/the-bisons-are-back-scenes-from-the-opening-week-in-sahlen-field/article_ba23285c-fd08-11eb-a093-b7802d74fa1d.html | access-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref>

A parody of the [[Gary Glitter]] song "[[Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)|Rock and Roll Part 2]]" featuring lyrics referencing [[Irv Weinstein]] was played at Sahlen Field during the [[seventh-inning stretch]] of Buffalo Bisons games in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.buffalostories.com/tag/irv-weinstein/|title=Irv Weinstein|date=June 2020 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Buffalo Bisons}}
*[https://www.milb.com/buffalo Official website]

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