Watertown Athletics

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Watertown Athletics
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (1888)
Class C (1936, 1946–1951)
LeagueEastern International League (1888)
Canadian–American League (1936)
Border League (1946–1951)
Major league affiliations
TeamBoston Bees (1936)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (3)
  • 1947
  • 1948
  • 1950
Team data
NameWatertown (1888)
Watertown Grays (1936)
Watertown Athletics (1946–1951)
BallparkDuffy Fairgrounds (1936, 1946–1951)

The Watertown Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, New York.. The Athletics played from 1946 to 1951 and were preceded by the 1936 Watertown Greys and an 1888 Watertown team. Watertown teams played as members of the 1888 Eastern International League, 1936 Canadian–American League and Border League from 1946 to 1951. The Watertown Grays and Athletics hosted home games at Duffy Fairgrounds. Watertown was a minor league affiliate of the Boston Bees in 1936.

History[edit]

Minor league baseball started in Watertown, New York in 1888. The Watertown team played as a member of the four–team 1888 Eastern International League.[1] On August 10, 1888, Watertown was in 2nd place in the league under manager Lee Kingsley when the team disbanded with 14–26 record, causing the league to fold.[2]

Professional baseball returned in 1936, when the Watertown Grays, also known as the "Bucks," became charter members of the Class C level Canadian–American League, playing as an affiliate of the Boston Bees.[3] Watertown drew 41 total fans on opening day in bad weather. Watertown finished with a record of 35–52 under manager Admiral Martin, placing fifth in the six–team Can-Am League. The league 1946 league standings also included the Brockville Pirates (43–36), Ogdensburg Colts (38–45), Oswego Netherlands (32–51), Ottawa Senators (53–37) and Perth Blue Cats/Royals (50–30).[4] On June 24, 1936, Watertown had a record of 13–15 when the franchise briefly moved to Massena, New York before returning to Watertown. The Massena Grays compiled a 4–9 record while based in Massena, before the franchise relocated back to Watertown on July 12, 1936.[5][3] The franchise folded after the 1936 season.[3][5]

In 1946, minor league play resumed when the Watertown Athletics became charter members of the Class C level Border League. The six–team league standings featured the Auburn Cayugas (72–44), Granby Red Sox (54–60), Kingston Ponies (58–55), Ogdensburg Maples (50–68), Sherbrooke Canadians (46–71) and Watertown Athletics (69–51).[6][5]

Watertown won the 1946 Border League championship. The Athletics finished the regular season 69–51, placing second in the league standings, playing the season under manager Jim Scott. In the playoffs, the Watertown Athletics defeated the Granby Red Sox 3 games to 1. In the Finals, the Watertown Athletics defeated the Kingston Ponies 4 games to 2 to claim the championship.[5] 1946 season attendance was 53,605, an average of 893.[7][8]

The Watertown Athletics qualified for the 1947 playoffs. With a 70–54 regular season record to place second in the Border League, as manager Bob Shawkey led the team into the 1947 Playoffs. There, the Ogdensburg Maples defeated the Watertown Athletics 4 games to 3 in the first round of the playoffs to end their season. Watertown season attendance was 53,600.[9][5]

The 1948 Watertown Athletics advanced to the Border League Finals.[10] Manager Fred Gerken led the team to a 63–65 record and a fourth place regular season finish.[11] In the Playoffs, the Watertown Athletics defeated the Geneva Robins 4 games to 3. In the Finals, the Ogdensburg Maples swept the Watertown Athletics 4 games 0. The season attendance was 65,590, an average of 1,025.[12][5]

The Watertown Athletics finished with a record of 58–71, placing fifth in the 1949 Border League. Playing under manager Franklin Heller, the Athletics did not qualify for the playoffs. Their 1949 attendance was 61,026, averaging 946 per game.[13][14][5]

The 1950 Watertown Athletics returned to the playoffs, led again by manager Franklin Heller. The Athletics placed fourth, with a 60–68 record in the Border League regular season standings.[15] In the playoffs, the Athletics fell in the first round, as the Ogdensburg Maples defeated the Watertown 4 games to 1. The Athletics had a total season attendance of 65,329, an average of 1,021 per game.[16][5]

The Watertown Athletics folded midway through the 1951 season. On July 1, 1951, with a 22–30 record under manager Bob Shawkey, the Watertown franchise folded.>[17] The season attendance to that date was 18,055, an average of 694. The Border League folded permanently on July 10, 1951.[18][5]

Watertown next hosted minor league baseball when the 1983 Watertown Pirates became members of the New York-Penn League.[5] Today, the "Watertown Rapids," a summer collegiate baseball team, play as members of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.[19]

(2004) Black River. Watertown, New York

The ballpark[edit]

The Watertown Athletics teams were noted to have played minor league home games at Duffy Fairgrounds. Still in use today, the ballpark is located at 970 Coffeen Street in Watertown, New York.[20][21] Today, the summer collegiate baseball team, the Watertown Rapids of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League are among the current tenants utilizing Duffy Fairgrounds.[22][23]

Timeline[edit]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League Affiliate Ballpark
1888 1 Watertown Independent Eastern International League None Duffy Fairgrounds
1936 1 Watertown Grays Class C Canadian–American League Boston Bees
1946–1951 6 Watertown Athletics Border League None

Year–by–year records[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Attend Playoffs/Notes
1888 14–26 3rd Lee Kingsley NA Team and league disbanded July 10
1936 18–28 5th Admiral Martin NA Team moved to Massena (4–9) June 24
Massena returned to Watertown July 12
1946 69–51 2nd Jim Scott 53,605 League champions
1947 70–54 2nd Bob Shawkey 53,600 Lost in first round
1948 63–65 4th Fred Gerken 65,590 Lost League Finals
1949 58–71 5th Frank Heller 61,026 Did not qualify
1950 60–68 4th Frank Heller 65,329 Lost in first round
1951 22–30 NA Bob Shawkey 18,055 League disbanded July 16
Team disbanded July 1

[3][24][25][26][27][28]

Notable alumni[edit]

See also[edit]

Watertown Athletics players

References[edit]

  1. ^ "1888 Watertown Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. ^ "1888 Watertown minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ a b c d "1936 Watertown/Massena Bucks/Panthers/Grays minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ^ "Canadian-American League (C) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  6. ^ "1946 Border League (BL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "1946 Watertown Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "Minor League History: Border League". 29 November 2015.
  9. ^ "1947 Watertown Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. ^ "1948 Watertown Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ "1948 Watertown Athletics Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1947 Border League (BL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. ^ "1949 Watertown Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. ^ "1949 Watertown Athletics Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ "1950 Watertown Athletics Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "1950 Watertown Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. ^ "1951 Watertown Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. ^ "1951 Border League (BL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. ^ "Watertown, New York Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "Alex Duffy Stadium in Watertown, NY history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. ^ "Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, Watertown, N.Y." www.charliesballparks.com.
  22. ^ "Watertown, NY - Official Website - Alex Duffy Fairgrounds". www.watertown-ny.gov.
  23. ^ "Ballparks of the PGCBL, Duffy Fairgrounds (Updated)".
  24. ^ "1946 Watertown Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. ^ "1948 Watertown Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. ^ "1949 Watertown Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  27. ^ "1950 Watertown Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. ^ "1951 Watertown Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

External links[edit]

Watertown - Baseball Reference

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