By TERRY NAU

Sports editor

LINCOLN – The Pawtucket-to-Boston pipeline is being emulated all over the International League as major league franchises seek to bring their Class AAA farm teams within hailing distance, making it simpler to promote and demote players in the same day.

“We’ve got a new team in Allentown, (Pa.)” league president Randy Mobley was saying before serving as guest speaker at the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce’s annual Welcome Home luncheon for the PawSox on Wednesday afternoon.
The new franchise, which replaces Ottawa, will be the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, who reside only 62 miles from Allentown.
The team will be known as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and they are due in Pawtucket on Monday evening.
“IronPigs,” Mobley said, shaking his head over the unusual nickname. “That’s a play on an old steel-making team – Pig Iron. People have been making bad puns about the IronPigs ever since that name was chosen.”
They weren’t making jokes this past weekend when the IronPigs drew 10,200 fans to an exhibition game against the Phillies.
“People in that region have been waiting a long time for an exciting baseball team,” Mobley said. “I believe their first series is entirely sold out.”
The Lehigh Valley franchise replaces Ottawa.
“The fans up there had turned off the spicket on the team,” Mobley said of the league’s last truly international franchise.
Next year, long-time league member Richmond will also bow out.
“The city could never get together on building a new park,” Mobley said. “We will miss Richmond but the Atlanta Braves will now have their Triple-A franchise right in their own backyard (32 miles away), in Gwinnet County.”
The Columbus Clippers also have built their own new stadium and Mobley revealed that the Charlotte (N.C.) will have a new park right next to the NFL franchise’s stadium in that city.
Mobley reminded his audience that the International League celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Rochester, N.Y. has been a member of the I.L. for 121 years, Mobley noted. Syracuse and Buffalo are next on the longevity list with 94 years apiece.
“We have some special events planned,” he said, “including playing a league game in Cooperstown, N.Y. on May 18. We’ve also over the past couple of years revived the league’s Hall of Fame. On July 20, we will be in Pawtucket to induct (PawSox owner) Ben Mondor, (former PawSox manager) Joe Morgan and (ex-PawSox slugger) Jim Rice.”
The International League has a great history, as Mobley was quick to point out.
“I would list three of the most memorable events this way,” he said. “In 1914, Babe Ruth played for Baltimore and Providence of the International League, compiling a 23-8 record as a pitcher. Babe only hit one home run that season but he had 10 triples. Can you believe that?”
Next on Mobley’s list of historical events is Jackie Robinson’s 1946 season with the Montreal Royals, the top farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
“Jackie had 4 hits and a home run on Opening Day,” Mobley said. “He went on to win the batting title with a .359 average and then he went on to Brooklyn the next year.”
The third most significant league memory, Mobley suggested, was “The Longest Game” played between Pawtucket and Rochester -- a contest that lasted into the 33rd inning before it was completed two months after it first started at McCoy Stadium in April of 1981.
“Pawtucket will forever be linked in time with ‘The Longest Game,’” Mobley said.
With minor league baseball still riding the wave of an incredible boom that began more than a decade ago, Mobley expects many more great events to occur this season. One of them could happen tonight when the PawSox send 2005 American League Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon to the mound for their season opener against Indianapolis.
If you can’t get to the park, the game will be televised on Cox Cable’s local access channel.