The Brooklyn Cyclones are back, and so is the energy that has defined baseball in the borough for a quarter-century.
Fresh off their first High-A Championship since 2019, the Cyclones celebrated their opening day on April 3 at Maimonides Park. Though the team fell 3-1 to the Hudson Valley Renegades, the result did little to dampen the mood among a lively and loyal fan base eager to celebrate both a new season and a milestone year.
The anniversary marks 25 years since the return of professional baseball to Brooklyn — a revival that hadn’t been seen since 1957 — and for many in the stands, the significance wasn’t lost.
Superfan David Pecoraro, better known as “Wolf,” has been part of that journey for decades. A season ticket holder since 2013 who attended his first game in 2001, Pecoraro said opening day felt like a long-awaited reunion.
“I’m sitting here on April 3 in short sleeves, how else am I supposed to feel?” he said. “This is what I’ve been waiting for all winter since they won the championship.”
As for expectations this year, his answer was simple: “Hey, let’s do it again. It was so good doing it, so let’s do it again.”
That optimism stretched across the ballpark.
Josh Bernstein, a Prospect Heights resident, said his experience is about more than just wins and losses.
“The environment is a blast, and the kids love coming here,” he said. “My sons are in little league, and they do a night here where they get to come — it’s always a great time,” he added.
Nearby, another fan nicknamed Lefty Screwball, summed up the mood in just a few words: “Baseball is back in Brooklyn; Cyclones all the way!”
Even those working the game shared in the excitement. Paige Rocker and Allie Miller of the Surf Squad dance team said the 25th anniversary adds an extra layer of meaning to the season.
“Going back to back would be cool,” they said in unison, referencing another potential championship run.
“We just want to have a really fun season, celebrating the 25th anniversary — it’s a great year,” Rocker added.
For families, opening day offered more than just baseball. New Jersey resident Ryan Fischer attended with his daughters, Maddie and Oakley, who got the chance to participate in an on-field game — a highlight of the day.
The family, devoted fans of the New York Mets, brought that same passion to Coney Island.
“We bleed blue and orange,” Fischer said, noting their support extends to the Cyclones as well.
Mike Smith, a dad playing with his daughters around the stadium, echoed other fans’ hopes of another championship.
“I’ve been coming to games for 20 years, but consider myself a ‘right-in-the-middle’ fan,” he said with a laugh.
Now 0–2, the Cyclones aim to bounce back as fans hope for a turnaround. Their next game is April 7 at 6:35 p.m. vs. the Jersey Shore BlueClaws at ShoreTown Ballpark.
Additional reporting by Jonathan Portee
