In 1979, by which point the Braves had left town, the Double-A Eastern League's Jersey City A's were forced to leave their city due to the decrepitude of that city's Roosevelt Stadium and opted to move to Waterbury, Connecticut, a city that already had an Eastern League team. The Bisons surpassed the million fan mark during each of their first six seasons (1988-1993) at what was then called Pilot Field. The Buffalo Bisons (IA) joined the International Association for Professional Base Ball Players in 1878, winning the league championship in their first season. With Mayor Jimmy Griffin, Canisius College baseball coach Don Colpoys, broadcaster Stan Barronand WNY umpire Peter Calieri leading the effort, the league awarded the extra franchise to Buffalo, and the Bisons (taking on the previous team's name and … Louisville's Cardinal Stadium, in 1983, was the first. Buffalo began hosting professional baseball in 1877, when the Buffalo Bisons of the League Alliance began play at Riverside Park. Built prior to the 1988 season, Sahlen Field, home of the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League, is one of the most significant ballparks in baseball history. No minor league team, Buffalo included, has drawn a million fans since the Bisons' ballpark-opening streak ended.