Connecticut League

The Connecticut League, also known as the Connecticut State League, was a professional baseball association of teams in the state of Connecticut. The league began as offshoot of the original Connecticut State League, which dates back as far as 1884. In 1891, the Connecticut State League included the Ansonia Cuban Giants, a team made up of entirely African-American ballplayers, including future Hall of Famers Frank Grant and Sol White. In 1902, it was a Class D league with teams in eight cities. In 1905, the league became Class B, which lasted until 1913, when the league became the Eastern Association due to several teams outside of the state entering the league. Also a Class B league, it survived two more seasons, then folded after the 1914 season.

Connecticut League teams

Cities represented

[2]

Yearly standings

No Classification 1884 to 1891

1884 Connecticut State League

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waterbury 34 13 .723 - S.F. Williams / Pheron Minor
Meriden 25 22 .532 9.0 Albert Boardman / George Lynn
Rockville 22 25 .468 12.0 J. Kelly /
Middleton / Talcott
Hartford 20 27 .426 14.0 Charles Soby
New Britain 17 30 .362 17.0 Winchester /
P.J. Markley / John A. Flynn
Willimantic 17 18 .486 NA Bill Thomas

Willimantic expelled September 3.
The league played two games each week: Wednesdays and Saturdays

1885 Connecticut State League
(Continuation of the Southern New England League)

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Meriden Maroons 8 2 .800 - Bill Thomas
Waterbury 3 2 .600 2.5 Jack (DA) Jones
Hartford Babies 3 6 .333 4.5 Jack Remsen
New Britain 2 6 .250 7.0 William Siering

New Britain disbanded September 8

1888 Connecticut State League
President: J. Howard Taylor

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Meriden 9 3 .750 - NA
Waterbury 10 7 .588 1.5 Thomas Guest
Norwalk 9 7 .563 2.0 NA
Bridgeport Giants /
Stamford		 9 9 .500 3.0 Bullen
Ansonia Cuban Giants 4 7 .364 4.5 Cos Govern
Danbury 4 13 .235 7.5 L.F. Abbott

Bridgeport transferred to Stamford in May, then disbanded June 27.
Danbury disbanded June 5.
The league disbanded July 25.

1891 Connecticut State League
President: A.W. Lang

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Meriden 10 4 .714 2.5 Thomas Reilly
Waterbury 20 9 .690 - Harry Durant /
Tom Hayes / W.R. Mattison
New Britain 14 11 .560 8.0 Frank Cox
Hartford 12 11 .522 5.0 M.E. Fitzgerald
Ansonia Cuban Giants 8 10 .444 6.5 John Brigh
Bristol-Plainville 12 15 .444 7.0 E.F. Belden
Norwich 10 13 .435 7.0 H.F. Reddy
Southington 5 7 .417 6.5 James Prior
Portland 3 10 .231 9.0 Charles Edwards
West Haven 1 8 .111 9.0 E.P. Thomas

Hartford disbanded June 10; Portland disbanded June 10.

Class B 1894 to 1896

1894 Connecticut State League
Standings unknown

1895 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bridgeport Victors 8 3 .727 - Jim O'Rourke
Meriden Silvermen 4 3 .571 2.0 Miller / Reilly
Hartford Bluebirds 4 4 .500 2.5 John Henry / A.F. Moran
Waterbury Brassmen 0 6 .000 5.5 Durant

1896 Connecticut State League
President: D.W. Porter (aka Naugatuck Valley State League)

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bridgeport Victors 25 15 .625 - Jim O'Rourke
Torrington Tornados 24 16 .600 1.0 T.M. Burn /Candy Cummings
Derby Angels 22 18 .550 3.0 William Callahan / Joseph Veitch
New Haven Edgewoods 22 18 .550 3.0 T.R. Greist
Winsted Blues 15 25 .375 10.0 Eugene McCarthy
W.A. Parsons / James Eaton
Ansonia Welcomes 12 28 .300 13.0 Thomas Houlihan

Class F 1897 to 1907

1897 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Meriden Bulldogs 52 24 .684 - Jack Chapman
Derby Angels 40 31 .563 7.5 Jerry Denny
Bridgeport Misfits 33 37 .471 14.0 Jim O'Rourke
Torrington Demons 31 39 .443 16.0 Ralph Bottenus / Dennis Houle
Waterbury Indians 34 43 .442 16.5 John Fruin
E.O. Herendeen / Roger Connor
Bristol Braves 29 46 .373 20.5 O.F. Strunz / Pete Hall

1898 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waterbury Pirates 55 38 .591 - Roger Connor
New Haven Students 56 40 .583 0.5 Chippy McGarr / Thomas Reilly
M.B. Yaw / Mike Hickey / Conrad Miller
Danbury Hatters 51 43 .543 4.5 Jack Rose
Bridgeport Orators 51 45 .531 5.5 Tom Ivers / Jim O'Rourke
Meriden Bulldogs 46 48 .489 9.5 Jack Chapman
New London Whalers 41 52 .441 14.0 Benjamin Kinney / John Puhl
Derby Angels 23 33 .411 NA Jerry Denny
New Britain Rangers 14 38 .269 NA Claude Gilbert

New Britain disbanded June 23.
Derby disbanded June 25.

1899 Connecticut State League - schedule
President: Tim Murnane

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
New Haven Blues 55 38 .591 - Thomas Reilly
Waterbury Rough Riders 53 43 .552 3.5 Roger Connor
Derby Lushers 51 43 .542 4.5 Billy Lush / Larry Battam
Bristol Bellmakers 48 45 .516 7.0 John Gunshannon
Meriden Silverites 46 48 .489 9.5 A.R. Penny / George Courtney
New London Whalers 45 52 .464 12.0 George Bindloss
Bridgeport Orators 43 55 .438 14.5 Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Jackroses 41 58 .414 17.0 Jack Rose / Jack Chapman

No Playoffs.

1900 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Norwich Witches 64 33 .660 - Fred Doe
New Haven Blues 58 39 .598 6.0 Jim Canavan
Bridgeport Orators 57 41 .582 7.5 Jim O'Rourke
Bristol Bellmakers 48 47 .505 15.0 James Cooney
Meriden Silverites 47 48 .495 16.0 A.R. Penny
Conrad Miller / Thomas Reilly
Waterbury Rough Riders 43 53 .448 20.5 Roger Connor
Derby Angels 36 60 .375 27.5 Jerry Denny
New London Whalers 32 64 .333 31.5 Willis Jones / Tom Hernon

No Playoffs.

1901 Connecticut State League
President: Tim Murnane

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bristol Woodchoppers 63 41 .606 - Doc Reisling
Bridgeport Orators 61 43 .587 2.0 Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Champs 62 46 .574 3.0 Jack Tighe
Meriden Silverites 56 48 .538 7.0 W.R. Reilly
New Haven Blues 56 54 .509 10.0 Jim Canavan
Waterbury Rough Riders 47 60 .439 17.5 Roger Connor
New London Whalers 45 63 .417 20.0 Tom Hernon / John Shea
Derby Angels 37 72 .330 28.5 Jerry Denny

No Playoffs.

Class D 1902 to 1904

1902 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke / Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
New Haven Blues 70 39 .642 - Jim Canavan
Springfield Ponies 65 45 .591 5.5 Roger Connor
New London Whalers 57 54 .514 14.0 John Shea
Hartford Senators 57 55 .509 14.5 Doc Reisling
Bridgeport Orators 53 59 .473 18.5 Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Reds 51 58 .469 19.0 Harry Davenport
Meriden Silverites 51 58 .469 19.0 Conrad Miller / Tom Tucker
Waterbury Rough Riders 37 73 .336 33.5 George Harrington

No Playoffs.

1903 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Holyoke Paperweights 66 37 .641 - Pete Woodruff / Daniel O'Neill
Meriden Silverites 62 42 .595 4.5 Sam Kennedy
Bridgeport Orators 59 47 .557 8.5 Jim O'Rourke
New London Whalers 57 51 .528 11.0 John Shea / Charles Humphrey
Norwich Reds 54 50 .519 12.0 Dennis Morrissey
New Haven Blues 52 57 .477 17.0 Jim Canavan
Springfield Ponies 41 64 .370 26.0 Roger Connor
Hartford Senators 30 77 .280 38.0 Thomas Reilly

No Playoffs:
12 Holyoke games (8-4) were deducted after the season due to ineligible player violations.

1904 Connecticut League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bridgeport Orators 71 45 .612 - Jim O'Rourke
Springfield Ponies 69 46 .600 1.5 Daniel O'Neill
New Haven Blues 69 47 .595 2.0 Jim Canavan
Holyoke Paperweights 58 55 .513 11.5 Frank Fitzpatrick
P. Prindiville / Fred Winkler
New London Whalers 56 60 .483 15.0 Charles Humphrey
Hartford Senators 53 61 .465 17.0 William Kennedy
Worcester Reds /
Norwich Indians		 53 62 .461 17.5 Mal Kittridge / Robert Tracey
Jack Tighe / Fred Crolius
Meriden Silverites 31 84 .270 39.5 Sam Kennedy

Worcester (26-11) moved to Norwich June 21.
No Playoffs.

Class B 1905 to 1912

1905 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Holyoke Paperweights 79 35 .693 - Jesse Freysinger
Springfield Ponies 74 44 .627 7.0 Daniel O'Neill
Bridgeport Orators 64 50 .561 15.0 Jim O'Rourke
Hartford Senators 58 56 .509 21.0 William Kennedy
Meriden Silverites 49 64 .434 29.5 Sam Kennedy
New London Whalers 49 68 .419 31.5 Charles Humphrey
New Haven Blues 46 70 .397 34.0 Jim Canavan / Jack Tighe
Norwich Reds 42 74 .362 38.0 George Allen / Jim Canavan

No Playoffs.

1906 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Norwich Reds 72 53 .576 - George Allen / Jack Tighe
Springfield Ponies 70 56 .556 2.5 Daniel O'Neill
New Haven Blues 68 57 .544 4.0 William Slack
Hartford Senators 62 57 .521 7.0 Bert Daly / J.H. Clarkin
Waterbury Authors 60 53 .488 11.0 Harry Durant
Holyoke Paperweights 58 65 .472 13.0 Tom Fleming
Tommy Dowd / M. Prindiville
Bridgeport Orators 54 72 .429 18.5 Jim O'Rourke
New London Whalers 53 74 .417 20.0 Charles Humphrey / Sam Kennedy

No Playoffs.

1907 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Holyoke Papermakers 83 42 .664 - Tommy Dowd
Waterbury Authors 77 47 .621 5.5 Harry Durant
Springfield Ponies 72 49 .595 9.0 Daniel O'Neill
Norwich Reds 71 51 .582 10.5 August Soffel
Hartford Senators 66 55 .545 15.0 James Clarkin
Bridgeport Orators 48 75 .390 34.0 Jim O'Rourke
New Haven Blues 44 80 .355 38.5 Cornelius Danaher
New London Whalers 31 93 .250 51.5 Sam Kennedy / Charles Page

No Playoffs.

1908 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Springfield Ponies 84 41 .672 - Daniel O'Neill
Hartford Senators 84 42 .667 0.5 Tommy Dowd / Thomas Connery
New Haven Blues 63 63 .500 21.5 Bert Daly
Billy Lush / George Bone
New Britain Perfectos 61 64 .488 23.0 Charles Humphrey / William Hanna
Holyoke Papermakers 60 66 .476 24.5 Jack Tighe / Fred Winkler
Bridgeport Orators 55 71 .437 29.5 Jim O'Rourke
Meriden Silverites 54 72 .429 30.5 Charles Cheney
Waterbury Authors 42 84 .333 42.5 Harry Durant

No Playoffs.

1909 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Hartford Senators 74 44 .627 - Thomas Connery
Holyoke Papermakers 68 53 .562 7.5 Mike McCormack
New Britain Perfectos 64 55 .533 10.5 William Hanna
Waterbury Invincibles 64 61 .512 13.5 Michael Doherty
Springfield Ponies 60 63 .488 16.5 John Zeller
New Haven Black Crows 59 65 .476 18.0 Phil Corcoran
Northampton Meadowlarks 54 68 .443 22.0 Rdward Bowler / Gil Edwards
Bridgeport Orators 44 78 .361 32.0 Jim O'Rourke

No Playoffs.

1910 Connecticut State League - schedule
President: W.J. Tracy]

Waterbury Finnegans 70 52 .574 - Michael J. Finn
Bridgeport Orators 67 52 .563 1.5 Gene McCann
New Britain Perfectos 69 55 .556 2.0 William Hanna
New Haven Prairie Hens 67 55 .549 3.0 Bill Carrick
Hartford Senators 64 58 .525 6.0 Tom Connery
Springfield Ponies 58 68 .460 14.0 John Zeller
Northampton Meadowlarks 50 73 .407 20.5 Bill Luby
Holyoke Papermakers 46 78 .371 25.0 Pop Foster

No Playoffs.

1911 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Springfield Ponies 71 45 .614 - John Zeller
Bridgeport Orators 71 47 .602 1.0 Gene McCann / Robert Tracey
Hartford Senators 68 52 .568 5.0 Tom Connery
New Haven Murlins 56 61 .480 15.5 Pop Foster / George Cameron
New Britain Perfectos 53 66 .444 19.5 Daniel O'Neill
Waterbury Champs 45 75 .375 28.0 Carl Pace / Frank McPartlin
Northampton Meadowlarks 21 24 .467 NA Bill Luby
Holyoke Papermakers 16 31 .340 NA Wade Moore

Northampton and Holyoke disbanded June 26.
No Playoffs.

1912 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
New Haven Murlins 76 41 .650 - Jerry O'Connell
Hartford Senators 67 51 .568 9.5 Tom Connery
Bridgeport Orators 61 55 .526 14.5 Gene McCann
Holyoke Papermakers 57 58 .496 18.0 Daniel O'Neill
Springfield Ponies 50 70 .417 27.5 John Zeller
New Britain /
Waterbury Spuds		 39 75 .342 35.5 Jack Hoey

New Britain (12-22) moved to Waterbury June 15.
No Playoffs.

[3][2]

References

  1. ^ Worth, Richard (February 21, 2013). Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011. McFarland. ISBN 9780786491247 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Lloyd Johnson; Miles Wolff, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  3. ^ "Connecticut State League (E) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.