Lynn Red Sox
Encyclopedia
The Lynn Red Sox, based in Lynn, Massachusetts
, were a Class B farm system affiliate of the Boston Red Sox
from 1946-48 in American
minor league baseball
. The club played at Fraser Field
and was a member of the New England League
.
The Lynn Red Sox finished in first place during the regular seasons of 1946-47-48, but each year faltered during the playoffs, as the Nashua Dodgers
won the NEL playoff championship for three consecutive seasons. Nashua was the first NEL team to break the baseball color line
and, in 1946, ugly confrontations were reported between the Nashua and Lynn clubs. Future Brooklyn Dodger
star starting pitcher
Don Newcombe
integrated the NEL in 1946, along with eventual Hall of Fame catcher
Roy Campanella
.
“I remember one game against the Lynn Red Sox," Newcombe recalled in 2007. "Their manager, [Thomas] ‘Pep’ Kennedy, was all over us, yelling all kinds of [racial] things at us, and Mr. [Buzzie] Bavasi
[the Nashua general manager and future Dodger chief] got him into the office and said, ‘They can’t fight you, but I can. If you have any guts, you’ll say to me what you said to them.’ Of course, he didn’t say a word."
In 1947, Lynn received an upgraded management team when future Bosox general manager
Dick O'Connell
took over the front office, and former major league pitcher Mike Ryba
became manager. After one season, Ryba was succeeded as pilot by Eddie Popowski
in 1948.
But the Red Sox pulled out of Lynn after a 1948 season in which only 49,000 fans turned out at Fraser Field — despite another first-place ballclub. The Essex County city
fielded a Detroit Tigers
farm club — the Lynn Tigers
, initially managed by Kennedy — for the first three months of 1949 but withdrew from the league July 19. The NEL itself shut down at the end of the season.
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, were a Class B farm system affiliate of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from 1946-48 in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
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...
. The club played at Fraser Field
Fraser Field
Fraser Field is a baseball park in Lynn, Massachusetts which was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Fraser Field has played host to many minor-league baseball teams over the years. The North Shore Navigators of the New England...
and was a member 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...
.
The Lynn Red Sox finished in first place during the regular seasons of 1946-47-48, but each year faltered during the playoffs, as the Nashua Dodgers
Nashua Dodgers
The Nashua Dodgers was a farm club of the Brooklyn Dodgers, operating in the class-B New England League between 1946 and 1949. It is believed to be the first professional baseball team based in the United States in the twentieth century to play with a racially integrated roster...
won the NEL playoff championship for three consecutive seasons. Nashua was the first NEL team to break the baseball color line
Baseball color line
The color line in American baseball excluded players of black African descent from Organized Baseball, or the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues, until Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization for the 1946 season...
and, in 1946, ugly confrontations were reported between the Nashua and Lynn clubs. Future Brooklyn Dodger
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
star starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Don Newcombe
Don Newcombe
Donald Newcombe , nicknamed "Newk", is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians .Until 2011 when Detroit Tigers Pitcher Justin Verlander did it, Newcombe was the only baseball...
integrated the NEL in 1946, along with eventual Hall of Fame catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
.
“I remember one game against the Lynn Red Sox," Newcombe recalled in 2007. "Their manager, [Thomas] ‘Pep’ Kennedy, was all over us, yelling all kinds of [racial] things at us, and Mr. [Buzzie] Bavasi
Buzzie Bavasi
Emil Joseph "Buzzie" Bavasi was an American executive in Major League Baseball who played a major role in the operation of three franchises from the late 1940s through the mid-1980s....
[the Nashua general manager and future Dodger chief] got him into the office and said, ‘They can’t fight you, but I can. If you have any guts, you’ll say to me what you said to them.’ Of course, he didn’t say a word."
In 1947, Lynn received an upgraded management team when future Bosox general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Dick O'Connell
Dick O'Connell
Richard Henry O'Connell was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. He was executive vice president of the Boston Red Sox from 1961 through 1977 and served as general manager of the team from September 16, 1965, through October 24, 1977, a period during which he played a...
took over the front office, and former major league pitcher Mike Ryba
Mike Ryba
Dominic Joseph "Mike" Ryba was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of De Lancey, Pennsylvania, he attended Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania.. He was a right-hander and played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox...
became manager. After one season, Ryba was succeeded as pilot by Eddie Popowski
Eddie Popowski
Edward Joseph Popowski , nicknamed "Pop," was an American coach and interim manager for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
in 1948.
But the Red Sox pulled out of Lynn after a 1948 season in which only 49,000 fans turned out at Fraser Field — despite another first-place ballclub. The Essex County city
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
fielded a Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
farm club — the Lynn Tigers
Lynn Tigers
The Lynn Tigers were a minor league baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts that existed only one season - 1949. They played in the New England League and were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers. Under managers Pep Kennedy and Charles Webb, they went 29-47 in their only year of existence....
, initially managed by Kennedy — for the first three months of 1949 but withdrew from the league July 19. The NEL itself shut down at the end of the season.
| Year | Record | Finish | Attendance | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 1946 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs... |
82-40 | 1st | n/a | Lost to Nashua in finals |
| 1947 1947 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Wrigley Field: American League, 2-1-Other champions:*First College World Series: California... |
86-38 | 1st | 60,458 | Lost to Manchester in first round |
| 1948 1948 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania... |
85-40 | 1st | 49,088 | Lost to Nashua in finals |