Eastern League (baseball, 1916-32)
Encyclopedia
The Eastern League of 1916 through the mid-season of 1932 was an American
minor baseball league
and the third of four circuits to use the Eastern League name since the 19th century. The successor to an early 20th century edition of the New England League
, it is not related to the current Eastern League, which formed in 1938
from the former New York-Pennsylvania League
, or the current International League
, which was known as the Eastern League from 1892 through 1911.
The Eastern League of 1916-32 was a mid- to higher classification league, beginning in 1916 as a Class B circuit and upgraded to Class A in 1919. Its president, Tim Murnane
, a former sportswriter, and many of its original member clubs were inherited from the New England League, which ceased operation in 1915. While most of its teams were centered in New England
and upstate New York
, in its later years the Eastern League admitted teams from Pennsylvania
and Virginia
. The league consisted of eight teams annually during its existence. The New Haven
franchise, owned and operated by George Weiss
from 1919-29, won four of its 17 championships — though under multiple nicknames. Weiss would go on to a Baseball Hall of Fame career as a top executive with the New York Yankees
.
This edition of the Eastern League collapsed during the nadir of the Great Depression
on July 17, 1932.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor baseball league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and the third of four circuits to use the Eastern League name since the 19th century. The successor to an early 20th century edition of the New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
, it is not related to the current Eastern League, which formed in 1938
1938 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game, July 6 at Crosley Field: National League, 4-1-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player**Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox, 1B...
from the former New York-Pennsylvania League
New York-Pennsylvania League (early 20th century)
The New York-Pennsylvania League of 1923 through 1937 was an American minor league baseball circuit.The forerunner to the modern Class AA Eastern League, it was a Class B circuit through 1932 and upgraded to Class A for the final five seasons of its existence. It is actually the second of three...
, or the current International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, which was known as the Eastern League from 1892 through 1911.
The Eastern League of 1916-32 was a mid- to higher classification league, beginning in 1916 as a Class B circuit and upgraded to Class A in 1919. Its president, Tim Murnane
Tim Murnane
Timothy Hayes Murnane was an American sportswriter specializing in baseball, regarded as the leading baseball writer at The Boston Globe for about thirty years until his death. At the same time, he organized and led professional sports leagues and helped govern the baseball industry...
, a former sportswriter, and many of its original member clubs were inherited from the New England League, which ceased operation in 1915. While most of its teams were centered in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in its later years the Eastern League admitted teams from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The league consisted of eight teams annually during its existence. The New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
franchise, owned and operated by George Weiss
George Weiss (baseball)
George Martin Weiss was an American baseball executive. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.Weiss was one of Major League Baseball's most successful farm system directors and general managers...
from 1919-29, won four of its 17 championships — though under multiple nicknames. Weiss would go on to a Baseball Hall of Fame career as a top executive with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
This edition of the Eastern League collapsed during the nadir of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
on July 17, 1932.
Member teams
- Albany Empires
- Albany SenatorsAlbany Senators (minor league baseball)The Albany Senators was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise representing Albany, New York, that existed between 1885 and 1959...
(Champions, 1927, 29) - Allentown Buffaloes
- Allentown Dukes (Champions, 1930)
- Bridgeport Americans
- Bridgeport Bears
- Bridgeport Hustlers
- Fitchburg Foxes
- Fitchburg-Worcester Boosters
- Hartford SenatorsHartford SenatorsThe Hartford Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They operated in the Connecticut League from 1902-1912, the Eastern Association from 1913-1914, the Eastern League from 1916-1932 and the Northeastern League in 1934. For the 1932 season they were affiliated...
(Champions, 1923, 31) - Haverhill Orphans
- Lawrence Barristers
- Lewiston Red Sox
- Lewiston-Auburn Twins
- Lowell Grays
- Lynn Pipers
- New Haven Bulldogs
- New Haven Indians (Champions, 1922)
- New Haven Merlins (Champions, 1917)
- New Haven Profs (Champions, 1928)
- New Haven Weissmen (Champions, 1920)
- New London PlantersNew London PlantersThe New London Planters were a minor league baseball team based in New London, Connecticut, that entered the now defunct Connecticut League in 1913, which had recently renamed itself the Eastern Association with the arrival of teams outside of the state...
(Champions, 1916, 18) - Norfolk TarsNorfolk TarsThe Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the Piedmont League from 1934 to 1955, and from 1934...
- Pittsfield HilliesPittsfield HilliesThe Pittsfield Hillies was an Eastern League baseball team from 1919 to 1930. They were League Champions in 1919 and 1921.Their home field was at Wahconah Park, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.-1905:...
(Champions, 1919, 21) - Portland Blue SoxPortland Blue SoxThe Portland Blue Sox were a class-D minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine which played from 1907 to 1908 in the Maine State League and the Atlantic Association before folding. The Blue Sox were relaunched in 1919 to make up for the loss of the Portland Duffs, which folded in 1917 and...
- Portland Duffs
- Portland Paramounts
- Providence GraysProvidence Grays (minor league)The minor league Providence Grays was the name of several minor league baseball teams between and . These teams were unconnected to the Major League Baseball Providence Grays....
- Providence RubesProvidence RubesThe Providence Rubes were an Eastern League baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island. Their manager was Rube Marquard, after whom the team was presumably named. They were the league champions in 1926, their only year of existence....
(Champions, 1926) - Richmond Byrds
- Richmond ColtsRichmond ColtsThe Richmond Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1953. They played in the Virginia League in 1894, and in another Virginia League in 1900, and another Virginia League from 1906–1914 and from 1918-1928...
- Springfield Green Sox
- Springfield Ponies
- Springfield Rifles (Champions, 1932)
- Waterbury Brasscos (Champions, 1924-25)
- Waterbury Nattatucks
- Worcester Boosters
- Worcester Coal Heavers
- Worcester PanthersWorcester PanthersThe Worcester Panthers were an Eastern League baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. They existed from 1923 to 1925.They were managed by Hall of Fame baseball player Jesse Burkett in 1923 and 1924. He led them to a79-74 record in 1923, and a 70-82 record in 1924...