The Dutchmen were born in 1980 when Karl Lezette & Nick Malgieri obtained a franchise in the Hudson Valley Rookie League and then Roy & Greg Helsmoortel immediately agreed to sponsor it. Their expert promotion of the team's first adult team in almost 20 years resulted in an Opening Day crowd of 1,500. The players in turn were inspired to give it their all and brought home the league championship in their inaugural season.