Barnstormers-Revolution rivalry

The Barnstormers-Revolution rivalry, more commonly known as the "War of the Roses", is a competition between the Lancaster Barnstormers and the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The War of the Roses started in the 2007 season, with the Revolution's inaugural season. The Barnstormers lead the series with ten wins to eight during the regular season. Lancaster and York have not played each other in the post-season.

History

On May 18, 2007, the very first game of the War of the Roses was taken by the York Revolution, at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster. The name of the series is an allusion to England's historic Wars of the Roses, a series of battles fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The former professional baseball teams in the South Central Pennsylvania cities were known as the Lancaster Red Roses and the York White Roses, representing the nicknames of their respective cities, which are further derived from English history.

The terms of the War of the Roses include the losing mayor planting a rose garden in front of the winning team's ballpark using the victor's choice of rose, and singing the classic, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", during a game of the winning team. The victor’s banner is also hung above the losing city hall for one week following the clinching game. The Barnstormers and the Revolution both wear throwback uniforms for the entire first "War of the Roses" series of the season, as well as the first game in the remaining "War of the Roses" series during the rest of the season. The Lancaster Barnstormers wear 1958 Red Roses uniforms that are auctioned off to the Water Street Rescue Mission following their last home game. The winner of the "War of the Roses" series is presented with the Community Cup.

See also

• Lancaster Barnstormers
• York Revolution
• Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
• Wars of the Roses