Northeastern League

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Northeastern League
ClassificationIndependent (1887, 1895–1896)
Class B (1934)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1887
Ceased1934
PresidentRoger E. Baker (1934)
No. of teams15
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1 Rutland (1887)
Lowell Honeys/Hustlers (1934)

The Northeastern League was a minor league baseball league that last played in the 1934 season as an eight–team Class B level league. The 1934 league franchises were based in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. An earlier Northeastern League played as an Independent league in 1887 and 1895 to 1896, with teams based in New York and Vermont.

History[edit]

The "Northeastern League" first played as a minor league in the 1887 season, beginning play on July 6, 1887, with the season concluding on September 5, 1887.[1] The 1887 league was formed as an Independent league, composed of league members Burlington, Malone, Montpelier, Rutland and St. Albans. The 1887 Rutland team won the Northeastern League championship with a 16–6 record managed by James Harmon. The five–team league began play on July 6, 1887 and the Rutland was followed by St. Albans (19–9), Burlington (13–17), Malone (3–10) and Montpelier (2–13) in the final standings. The Burlington, Vermont team was managed by L.J. Smith and L.G. Burnham. Malone, New York was managed by Ryder. Montpelier, Vermont was managed by Fred Spaulding and William Lord. The Rutland, Vermont team was managed by James Harmon and St. Albans, Vermont was managed by Hunt. All the 1887 Northeastern League teams would become members of the Northern New York League, which began play in 1900. The Northeastern League played again as an Independent league in the 1895 and 1896 seasons, with teams and standings unknown.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The Northeastern League resumed play in 1934. The league played in 1934 as a Class B level league under the direction of President Roger E. Baker.[10] The Northeastern League began play on May 16, 1934, as six–team league, playing a split–season schedule with members Hartford Senators, Lowell Honeys/Hustlers, Manchester Indians, New Bedford Whalers, Springfield Ponies and Waltham Rosebuds. On May 24, 1934, the Waltham Rosebuds, with a 6–2 record, moved to become the Worcester Rosebuds, playing their first home game in Worcester on June 1, 1934. The Lowell Honeys/Hustlers won the first half standings. At the start of the second half, the Northeastern League expanded to eight teams, adding the Watertown Townies and Cambridge Cantabs as new franchises. On July 17, 1934, Cambridge, with a 1–12 record, moved to become the Wayland Birds. Worcester won the second half standings. In the playoff Finals, Lowell won the championship 4 games to 1 over Worcester.[11][12]

The Northeastern League permanently folded after the 1934 season. After the season ended, league owner Roger Baker, an accountant, reportedly was convicted of embezzlement from his clients and sentenced to serve time in prison.[2]

Northeastern League cities[edit]

Standings and statistics[edit]

1887 Northeastern League[edit]

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Rutland 16 6 .727 – James Harmon
St. Albans 19 9 .679 1.5 Hunt
Burlington 13 17 .433 6.0 L.J. Smith / L.G. Burnham
Malone 2 13 .231 10.5 Ryder
Montpelier 2 13 .133 11.0 Fred Spaulding / William Lord

[1][10]

1934 Northeastern League[edit]

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waltham Rosebuds /
Worcester Rosebuds		 66 43 .555 – Freddie Knight / Freddie Maguire
Lowell Hustlers 63 46 .529 3.0 Bill Hunnefield
Manchester Indians 58 49 .542 7.0 Chief Werre
Hartford Senators 50 53 .485 13.0 Snake Henry
Pepper Rae / Bill Morrell
New Bedford Whalers 46 60 .434 18.5 Jean Dubuc
Springfield Ponies 41 62 .398 22.0 Bobby Murray
Watertown Townies 40 28 .588 NA Bill Barrett
Cambridge Cantabs /
Wayland Birds		 19 42 .311 NA Mack Hillis
Dick Phelan / Tom O'Brien
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John Jones Springfield /
Worcester / Watertown		 BA .365 Gerald Gruenwald Worcester W 17
Thomas Adams Springfield / Worcester Runs 92 Frank Coleman Hartford SO 174
Snake Henry Worcester Hits 131 Jud McLaughlin Manchester Pct .706; 12–5
Amit Savard Lowell HR 17

[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "1887 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. ^ a b "Northeastern League (B) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "1887 Burlington Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. ^ "1887 Malone Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "1887 St. Albans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ^ "1887 Rutland Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "1887 Montpelier Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Northern New York League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "1887 Rutland minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. ^ a b c Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  11. ^ "1934 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. ^ Ballou, Bill. "Baseball: These three also played in Worcester en route to majors". Worcester Telegram.
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