BUFFALO, NY-- A fixture at Buffalo Bisons' games, both at the old War Memorial Stadium, and what was then known as Pilot Field, has passed away.
Donald "The Butcher" Palmer was the team's bat boy during the mid-1980s and helped the team open up what's now called Coca-Cola Field, back in 1988.
"The Butcher was more than just a bat boy, rather a major part of the overall experience that Bisons fans had when they attended games at War Memorial Stadium," said Jonathan Dandes, President of Rich Baseball Operations in a released statement. "The commitment and passion that he brought to every game made him as beloved as anyone else in a Bisons' uniform. He and his contributions to the early success of Bisons baseball will forever be missed."
"The Butcher is and will forever be a part of the Buffalo Bisons history," said Mike Buczkowski, Vice President /GM of the Bisons in a statement. "Not only did he reach so many of us in the Bisons organization, but so many former managers and players recall to us how much he meant to the game here in Buffalo. All of us will miss him deeply."