Springfield Cubs
Encyclopedia
The Springfield Cubs, based in Springfield, Massachusetts
, was an American
minor league baseball
franchise that served as a farm club of the Chicago Cubs
of Major League Baseball
from 1948-53. It was a member of the Class B New England League
in 1948-49, and the Class AAA International League
from 1950-53, and played at Pynchon Park.
Although the NEL Springfield franchise had mediocre won-loss records in 1948-49, the team finished second in attendance in 1948 and led the New England League in its final season of operation (1949), drawing over 102,000 fans. After the NEL folded in the autumn of 1949, Springfield received a franchise in the International League when the Newark Bears
transferred there for 1950. However, the Bears' parent team, the New York Yankees
, did not follow, and Springfield retained its Cubs affiliation. It became Chicago's second Class AAA team, along with the Los Angeles Angels
, the Cubbies' longtime franchise in the Pacific Coast League
. Springfield's first AAA manager was Chicago favorite Smilin' Stan Hack
.
The AAA Springfield franchise drew over 200,000 fans in its maiden season, and just missed the playoffs, finishing fifth in the eight-team International League. Future MLB third baseman
Randy Jackson won rookie of the year
honors. But that first season could not be duplicated, on or off the field. The Cubs did not have enough depth to field two strong AAA clubs, and the 1951-53 Springfield Cubs placed last in the IL and last, or next to last, in attendance. The franchise folded and was replaced by the Havana Sugar Kings
in the 1954 IL lineup.
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, was an 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...
franchise that served as a farm club of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1948-53. It was a member of the Class B 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...
in 1948-49, and the Class AAA 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...
from 1950-53, and played at Pynchon Park.
Although the NEL Springfield franchise had mediocre won-loss records in 1948-49, the team finished second in attendance in 1948 and led the New England League in its final season of operation (1949), drawing over 102,000 fans. After the NEL folded in the autumn of 1949, Springfield received a franchise in the International League when the Newark Bears
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
transferred there for 1950. However, the Bears' parent team, 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...
, did not follow, and Springfield retained its Cubs affiliation. It became Chicago's second Class AAA team, along with the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
, the Cubbies' longtime franchise in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. Springfield's first AAA manager was Chicago favorite Smilin' Stan Hack
Stan Hack
Stanley Camfield Hack , nicknamed "Smiling Stan," was an American third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago Cubs and was the National League's top third baseman in the late 1930s and early 1940s...
.
The AAA Springfield franchise drew over 200,000 fans in its maiden season, and just missed the playoffs, finishing fifth in the eight-team International League. Future MLB third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Randy Jackson won rookie of the year
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
honors. But that first season could not be duplicated, on or off the field. The Cubs did not have enough depth to field two strong AAA clubs, and the 1951-53 Springfield Cubs placed last in the IL and last, or next to last, in attendance. The franchise folded and was replaced by the Havana Sugar Kings
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
in the 1954 IL lineup.
See also
- Springfield Cubs (Western Association) -- Simultaneously with the existence of the Massachusetts-based Springfield Cubs, a club based in Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, with the same name (and parent team) played in the Class C Western AssociationWestern AssociationThe Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
from July 21, 1948, through the end of the season, and for the entire campaign.
- Springfield Cubs (Tampa Bay Rock Band)