The Manchester Blue Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire . From 1926 to 1930, the Blue Sox played as members of the Class B level New England League , winning the 1926 and 1929 league championships.
83-613: The Manchester Blue Sox teams were preceded New England League play by several Manchester teams. The Manchester teams played under numerous nicknames in the seasons of play beginning in 1877 through the 1915 seasons, winning the 1902 league championship. The Manchester teams hosted home minor league games a ballpark site that had four different names in the era. Manchester played at the Beech Street Grounds (1877, 1887–1888, 1891–1893, 1899), Varich Park (1901–1906), Textile Field (1914–1915) and Athletic Park, all different names of
166-619: A 33–28 record at the time of the move. The team finished the season known as the Taunton Tigers and finished in a distant last place in the eight–team league. After compiling a 19–24 record while based in Lawrence, the team finished with an overall record of 52–54 to place sixth in the eight-team league. Playing the season under manager Win Clark , the team finished 16.0 games behind the first place Concord Marines . Harry Armbruster led
249-486: A 33–7 record won the championship, finishing 4.0 games ahead of the second place Manchester "Reds," who finished with a 29–11 record, playing the season under manager Harry Clark. Lowell and Manchester were followed by the Fall River Cascades (19–21) and Providence Rhode Islanders (11–29) teams in the final standings. The Lynn Live Oaks (8–22), Fitchburg, Haverhill and Lawrence franchises all folded before
332-472: A 46–47 record in the regular season, finishing 15.0 games behind the first place Lynn Papooses. Manchester Blue Sox player Len Dugan won the New England League batting title, hitting .364, while pitcher Chuck Wolfe won 15 games to tie for the league lead. The 1928 Manchester Blue Sox were managed by Henry LaVallie and finished in second place in the New England League standings. The Blue Sox had
415-560: A 46–74 record. The first place Lawrence Barristers (76–47) were 28.5 games ahead of the Brinies in the league standings. On May 29, 1912, Harry Wormwood threw his third Fall River no–hitter against Worcester. Wormwood threw 12–innings of no–hit ball in a game that ended with a 2–2 tie. The 1913 team had a new nickname, becoming known as the Fall River Adopted Sons continued play in the 1913 New England League. Ending
498-540: A 51–43 final regular season record, finishing 2.0 games behind the New England League champion Lynn Papooses . Manchester did not qualify for the playoff final, won by Lynn over the Attleboro Burros . August Snyder of Manchester had a New England League leading 75 RBI, while teammate Billy Jurges had 127 total hits to lead the league. In July 1932, Billy Jurges was playing for the Chicago Cubs , when he
581-458: A final playoff, with Manchester and Lynn advancing. In the playoff, the Blue Sox defeated Lynn 4 games to 1 and captured the New England League championship. Manchester pitcher Johnny Miller won 23 games to lead the New England League, while teammate Walter Hayes had a league best 2.30 ERA. The Manchester Blue Sox played their final season in 1930, as the six-team New England League folded during
664-527: A gambling controversy in the decade. Blue Sox player Henry LaVallie led the New England League with 138 total hits. In 1920, Manchester manager Jean Dubuc had been investigated for his role in the 1919 Chicago Black Sox Scandal . During the 1920 investigation into the Black Sox Scandal, evidence was discovered showing that Sleepy Bill Burns had advised Dubuc through a telegraph that the 1919 World Series had been fixed and that Dubuc should bet on
747-510: A record of 55–41 as John Irwin served as the Manchester manager. Manchester attempted to win the second half title on the last day of the season by playing six games with Portland. Manchester won all six games, but the results were thrown out by the league. Manchester ended the season 4.0 games behind the first place Portland Phenoms , managed by their namesake and future Manchester manager Phenomenal Smith . The Manchester team returned to
830-740: A record of only 28–44, and dropped out of the league on July 5 — one of four franchises to fold during the NEL's final season. After the 1968 season, Boston businessman John Alevizos acquired the Yankees' Eastern League affiliate, the Binghamton Triplets , and moved it to Gill Stadium as the Manchester Yankees. In 1969, the franchise led the league in attendance, drawing over 91,000 fans despite finishing in next-to-last place. The 1970 team again finished next to last but plunged to
913-587: A scout for Boston and is credited with scouting, recommending and signing Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk . Fisk was the Red Sox's first-round pick in the January 1967 Major League Baseball Draft . The 1947 Fall River Indians continued as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, a relationship which continued in subsequent seasons. Fall River played under manager Joe Holden and finished
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#1732802354739996-671: The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company textile mills in Manchester. The company owned 26,000 acres of land in Manchester in its early years. The company folded and the plants closed in 1935. Both the Fitchburg Burghers and Manchester Textiles franchises returned to New England League play in 1915. In early 1915 Fred Lake had sold the Manchester franchise to Tom Keady , coach of the Lehigh University football and baseball teams. Lake then became
1079-598: The Cincinnati Reds to win the game that day. Dubuc was a player for the New York Giants at the time. Dubuc was neither a participant nor a conspirator in the scandal itself but was investigated due to his role as a player and his "guilty knowledge" of the scandal. Sources conflict as to whether Dubuc was formally banned from baseball at the conclusion of the investigation, but his baseball managing and scouting career did continue. After leading Manchester to
1162-486: The Class B level New England League . The Amoskeags finished with a 42–30 record, in third place in the eight–team league. Playing the season under manager Louis Bacon, Manchester ended the season 7.0 games behind the first place Worcester team in the final standings. Jim Connor of Manchester led the New England League with 80 runs scored. The "Amoskeags" nickname corresponds with the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company , which
1245-469: The Fall River Brinies for the 1911 New England League season. The Brinies ended the 1911 season with a 59–57 season record, as John O'Brien served as manager. The Brinies placed fourth in the standings, finishing 14.0 games behind the first place Lowell Tigers . Fall River had pitchers throw three no–hitters in 1911. On June 7, 1911, Fred Reiger defeated Haverhill 7–2, throwing the first of
1328-611: The Fall River Spindles . The Fall River Spindles ended the 1914 season with a record of 62–37, finishing 2.5 games ahead of the second place New Bedford Whalers, as John Kiernan was manager of the championship team. On June 18, 1915, Merdic McLeod, pitching for Fall River, threw a no–hitter against the Springfield Tips in a 3–0 Fall River victory. In 1915, the Colonial League essentially became
1411-781: The New Haven Ravens transferred to Gill Stadium as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats . Fall River Indians Minor league baseball teams were based in Fall River, Massachusetts between 1877 and 1949. Fall River teams played as members of the New England Association (1877), League Alliance (1877), New England League (1893–1898, 1902–1913), Colonial League (1914–1915) and New England League (1946–1949), winning five league championships. Fall River hosted home minor league games at
1494-465: The 1877 New England Association season ended on October 15, 1877. The New England Association folded after the 1877 season. After a decade hiatus, the Manchester "Farmers" resumed minor league play as the 1887 New England league expanded from six teams to eight-teams and added the Manchester franchise. Managed by Frank Leonard , the Farmers ended the 1887 season with a record of 55–46, placing fourth in
1577-479: The 1877 season. Baseball Hall of Fame member Ned Hanlon played for the 1877 Falls River Cascades at age 19. In 1893 the Fall River Indians joined the six–team New England League and won the first of four consecutive league championships. Capturing their first New England League championship, the 1893 Fall River Indians ended the regular season with a 60–30 record playing home games at
1660-689: The 1893 season in the New England League and moved to Manchester during the season. Another relocation of the franchise saw the team end the season based in Boston, Massachusetts with a last place finish. The Lowell/Manchester/ Boston Reds of the New England League ended the 1893 season with a record of 29–55, playing in three cities during the season and finishing in sixth place in the six-team league. Lowell (14–20) transferred to Manchester June 26; Manchester (3–13) then moved to Boston in July 16, 1893. T Bill McGunnigle and Thomas H. O'Brien served as managers during
1743-501: The 1902 New England League standings. The Indians finished with a record of 37–74, as Sandy McDermott served as manager, beginning a five-year tenure. Falls River finished 37.5 games behind first place Manchester. Fall River placed fifth in the 1903 New England League standings. With a 57–56 record, the Indians finished 15.0 games behind the first place Lowell Tigers in the final standings. Sandy McDermott served his second season as
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#17328023547391826-489: The 1907 Maine State League before folding with a 1-7 record under returning manager Phenomenal Smith. Upon retiring from professional baseball after his time with Manchester, smith remained in the Manchester area, where he served as a police officer for 28 years and coached youth teams. In 1914, the Manchester Textiles rejoined the New England League during the season. A former major league manager, Fred Lake
1909-438: The 1908 New England League. Fall River had a final record of 53–70 under the direction of manager John O'Brien, finishing 26.5 games behind Worcester in the eight–team league. The 1909 Fall River Indians placed fourth in the New England League, as Worcester again won the championship. With a 71–53, record, Fall City finished 6.0 games out of first place, as John O'Brien again managed the Indians. The Fall River Indians of
1992-527: The 1934 Northeastern League . The New England League Manchester teams were preceded by the Manchester Reds , who were the first minor league baseball team in Manchester, beginning play as members of the 1877 New England Association . When the New England League (NEL) was revived after World War II , Manchester was a charter member as an affiliate and namesake of the New York Giants . The 1946–47 Manchester Giants each finished in third place during
2075-436: The 1947 season with a record of 49–76, placing sixth in the New England League regular season standings, finishing 37.5 games behind the first place Lynn Red Sox. Season attendance at Fall River Stadium was 57,468, an average of 919 per game. The 1948 Fall River Indians finished last in the New England League. Fall River ended the 1948 season with a record of 38–87, placing eighth in the standings, finishing 47.0 games behind
2158-705: The Athletic Grounds beginning in 1893 through 1915 and at Fall River Stadium from 1946 to 1949. The Fall River Indians were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox from 1946 to 1949. Baseball Hall of Fame members Ned Hanlon in 1877, Nap Lajoie in 1896 and Roger Connor in 1897 played for Fall River teams. In 1877 , minor league baseball began in Fall River, when the Fall River Cascades played in two leagues in their first season. Initially, Fall River became charter members of
2241-402: The Athletic Grounds. Fall River placed first in the standings under manager Mike McDermott, finishing 5.5 games ahead of second place Lewiston. The New England League had no playoffs, using the regular season standings to determine the league champions. On July 5, 1893, Fall River Indian pitcher Ezra Lincoln threw the first Fall River No-hitter in a 9–0 victory over Dover. McDermott and
2324-883: The Class B New England League (1948 through July 5, 1949) and the Double-A Eastern League (1969–71). Each franchise played at Gill Stadium and each was affiliated with Major League Baseball 's New York Yankees . The Manchester Yankees continued Manchester's long history of membership in the New England League that began in 1887. The Yankees were preceded in New England League play by the Manchester Farmers (1887), Manchester Maroons (1888), Manchester Amoskeags (1891), Manchester (1892–1893), Manchester Manchesters (1899), Manchester (1901–1905), Manchester Textiles (1906, 1914–1915) and Manchester Blue Sox (1926–1930). The Manchester Indians played in
2407-441: The Class B level New England League in 1902 and won the league championship. Manchester finished the season in first place in the eight-team league. With a 75–37 record under manager Phenomenal Smith. Manchester ended the season 12.5 games ahead of the second place Haverhill Hustlers in the final standings. Phenomenal Smith again won the New England League batting championship, hitting .369 on the season, while teammate Jim Murray led
2490-492: The Fall River Indians defended their championship in 1894 as the New England League expanded to eight teams. The Indians again finished first in the New England League standings, ending the 1894 season 7.5 games ahead of second place Haverhill with a record of 62–35. The 1895 Fall River Indians won the championship again as the New England League became a Class B level league. With Mike McDermott again managing
2573-452: The Fall River Indians finish a close second place. Fall River ended the season with a record of 66–40, finishing 2.0 games behind the first place Concord Marines , who had a 69–39 record. Sandy McDermott again managed the Indians. With the Indians placing sixth in the eight–team 1906 New England League, Sandy McDermott managed the Fall River for the final time. Ending the season with a record of 55–59, Fall River finished 18.0 games behind
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2656-472: The Fall city manager as the Indians continued play in the eight–team Class B league. With Sandy McDermott continuing as manager, the Fall River Indians placed third in the 1904 New England League. Fall River ended the season with a 65–60 record in the eight–team league, finishing 18.0 games behind the first place Haverhill Hustlers (82–41) in the final standings. The 1905 New England League standings saw
2739-647: The Indians in 1896, Nap Lajoie hit .429 with 17 triples, 15 home runs, slugging .726 for Fall River. Indians owner Charlie Marston rejected an offer of $ 500.00 from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Lajoie, who was also scouted by the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Beaneaters . On August 9, 1896, the Philadelphia Phillies purchased Lajoie and Indian teammate Phil Geier from Fall River for $ 1,500. Phillies' manager Billy Nash originally went to Fall River to sign Geier, but obtained Lajoie when
2822-428: The Indians, Fall River ended the regular season with a 67–39 record. Fall River finished 6.5 games ahead of the second place New Bedford Whalers and 11.0 games ahead of the third place Bangor Millionaires in the final standings of the eight–team league. The Fall River Indians won their fourth consecutive New England League Championship in 1896, with a future Hall of Fame player on the roster. Falls River completed
2905-669: The Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, Sukeforth spent the rest of 1926 with the Manchester Blue Sox before making the Reds roster in 1927. Sukeforth became a minor league manager, a major league coach and a scout after his playing career. He is known for scouting and signing both Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente . Due to a suspension of manager Leo Durocher , Sukeforth served as
2988-642: The New England League championship, Jean Dubuc had a new team in 1927. In December 1926, Dubuc signed a three-year contract to be the head coach of the Brown University baseball team. In 1926 Clyde Sukeforth went to spring training with the Cincinnati Reds . After the spring ended, Sukeforth was sent to play for the Nashua Millionaires of the Class B New England League, before Reds recalled him in late May, where he made his big-league debut on May 31, 1926. After appearing in four games for
3071-487: The New England League ended the 1910 season with a record of 61–60. Fall River placed fifth in the standings under manager John O'Brien, finishing 15.0 games behind the first place New Bedford Whalers. On June 8, 1910, Fall River pitcher Harry Wormwood threw an 11–inning no-hitter against the Worcester Busters . Wormwood and Fall River won the game 1–0. The Fall River franchise changed monikers and became
3154-587: The New England League teams. Beginning in 1901 through 1907, Manchester home games were played at Varich Park. Beginning in 1914, Manchester hosted home minor league games at Textile Field, which was the new name for the Varich Park site. In 1913, a new stadium was constructed on the site by Amoskeag Manufacturing and renamed to be called "Textile Field." The ballpark site was sold to the City of Manchester in 1927 and became known as "Municipal Athletic Field." In 1967,
3237-463: The New England League with a .330 batting average, 99 runs scored and 134 total hits. Despite the franchise relocating a year earlier, the 1906 Manchester "Textiles" returned to New England League play and the league continued as a Class B level league with eight teams, including the Lawrence Colts. The Textiles finished in fifth place as Stephen Flanagan served as manager. With a 57–56 record
3320-454: The New England League's Supervisor of Umpires. Manchester ended the season in seventh place in the eight-team league. The Textiles finished with a record of 48–67, as John Kiernan served as managers in the New England League standings. The Textiles finishing 27.0 games behind the first place Portland Duffs, managed by Baseball Hall of Fame member Hugh Duffy . After the 1915 season, the Class B level New England League folded. In 1925, Jean Dubuc
3403-465: The New England League. The Manchester Farmers ended the New England League season 14.5 games behind the first place Lowell Browns in the final standings of the eight-team league, which had reduced to six teams to end the season. The 1888 Manchester Maroons continued New England League play and ended the season in third place. The Maroons ended the 1888 season with a record of 47–50, Jim Clinton and Herbert Clough served as managers as Manchester finished
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3486-542: The Spindles in their shortened season. In 1946, Fall River returned to minor league play. Fall River returned to play as members the Class B level New England League, which reformed for the 1946 season with eight teams. The Fall River Indians resumed play as a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and began playing home games at Fall River Stadium. The Fall River Indians placed seventh in 1946 New England League regular season standings and did not qualify for
3569-615: The Textiles finished 15.5 games behind the first place Worcester Busters in the final standings. Manchester player Simmy Murch hit 4 home runs, which tied for the league lead and pitcher Marty O'Toole had 26 complete games to lead the New England League. Manchester was replaced by the Brockton Tigers franchise in the 1907 New England League, as Stephen Flanagan managed the Tigers. The Manchester team briefly played as members of
3652-521: The bottom of the league in attendance. The final, 1971 edition of the Manchester Yankees finished last in its division, and reached a new low in attendance, with just less than 29,000 fans passing through the turnstiles. The team then relocated to Connecticut under new ownership as the West Haven Yankees — winning an Eastern League championship in its maiden season. Manchester did not receive another Eastern League franchise until 2004, when
3735-487: The champion Worcester Busters in the final standings. Manager John O'Brien began a six–season tenure as the 1907 Fall River Indians placed fifth in the Class B level New England League. The Indians ended the 1907 season with a record of 56–56, finishing 20.0 games behind the first place Worcester Busters. As the Worcester Busters again won the league championship, the Fall River Indians placed sixth in
3818-433: The charges against her, which was granted. In 1929, the Manchester Blue Sox played their final full season and won the New England League championship. The Blue Sox placed first in the eight–team New England League regular season, finishing with a record of 82–47. Manchester ended the season just 0.5 game ahead of the second place Lynn Papooses (81–47) in the final standings to claim the regular season pennant. The league held
3901-519: The complex "Varick Park." The baseball diamond was repositioned with home plate was along the Beech Street side of the field and the fans entrance was off of Valley Street. Besides baseball, Varick Park hosted track-and-field, football and soccer, and outdoor events for the Amoskeag company. During the 1890s, control of Varick Park passed from Varick to William Freeman. The park was again home to
3984-441: The eight–team New England Association and also played in the 1877 League Alliance . The Fall River Cascades placed 3rd in the 1877 New England Association, compiling a 19–21 record under manager Jim Mutrie . The New England Association folded after the 1877 season. The Cascades had corresponding play in the 1877 League Alliance , where the team finished 2–12 in alliance contests. The League Alliance structure also folded after
4067-422: The eight–team, Class B level New England League standings with a final record of 66–44. Manchester finished 5.0 games behind the first place Lowell Tigers. Mancherster's Pinky Swander led the New England League with 140 total hits, while teammate Lou Knau topped the league with 7 home runs and Clark Rapp scored a league leading 68 runs. In the 1903 and 1904 seasons, Moonlight Graham played for Manchester. Graham
4150-443: The final standings, Manchester finished 4.5 games behind the first place Portland team as the league held no playoffs. Manchester played the season under manager/player Phenomenal Smith, who began a five-season tenure with the team. Phenomenal Smith won the New England League batting championship, hitting .363 on the season. Manchester pitcher Jake Volz had an ERA of 1.49 to lead the league. The Manchester team continued as members as
4233-591: The first place Brockton Shoemakers and percentage points behind the second place Pawtucket Tigers . On June 22, 1898, Indians pitcher Tom Flanagan threw a no–hitter. Flanagan defeated the Brockton Shoemakers 5–0. The Fall River franchise folded after the 1898 season and did not return to the 1899 New England League. In 1902, the Fall River Indians resumed play, returning to the eight–team Class B level New England League and playing home games at Athletic Park. The Fall River Indians finished last in
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#17328023547394316-472: The first place Haverhill Hustlers in the final standings, as Haverhill went from last place to first place in the course of two seasons. The Manchester manager and owner was Phenomenal Smith. Manchester's Jake Volz had 224 strikeouts, to lead New England League pitchers. Manchester relocated during the 1905 New England League season. On July 20, 1905, Manchester moved to become the Lawrence Colts with
4399-508: The first place Lynn Red Sox. Frank Zubik and Luke Urban were the 1948 managers. Playing at Fall River Stadium, the overall home attendance was 22,589, an average of 361. The Fall River Indians played their final season in 1949. The Fall River Indians played their final game on July 19, 1949, After falling to the Nashua Dodgers 10–5, the Indians withdrew from the league with a 27–42 record. The Lynn and Manchester franchises folded on
4482-645: The fourth place Blue Sox. After the Manchester "Indians" played the 1934 season as members of the Northeastern League , Manchester next hosted minor league baseball in 1947 when the Manchester Giants began a tenure of play as members of the New England League. in 2004, Manchester became home to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats , who have continued play as members of the Class AA level Eastern League . Manchester teams played at ballparks on
4565-597: The interim manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, managing the Dodgers to wins in the first two games of the season, which included Sukeforth making our the lineup card for Robinson's major League debut on April 15, 1947. On July 21, 1972, Jackie Robinson wrote a letter to Sukeforth that is now preserved at the Baseball Hall of Fame . "Please understand that I do not have any reservations in praise for
4648-402: The league with both 12 home runs and 91 runs scored. Manchester pitcher Frank Morrissey had 27 wins lead the league, while Jake Volz had 220 strikeouts, most in the New England League. Continuing minor league baseball play in 1903, Manchester placed third in the New England League, one year after winning the league championship. Playing under manager Phenomenal Smith, Manchester placed third in
4731-588: The minor league feeder for the Federal League , a structure that was a financial downfall for the Colonial League. The league folded after the 1915 season, with defending champion Fall River folding before the end of the 1915 season. The Fall River Spindles disbanded on July 10, 1915. The Spindles ended the 1915 season with a record of 22–24, as the Taunton franchise disbanded with Fall River on July 10. Frank Connaughton and Bill Phoenix served as managers of
4814-463: The playoffs, finishing 53.0 games behind the first place Lynn Red Sox . With a record of 30–94, Falls River placed seventh in the standings, playing the season under manager Jack Burns . Manager Jack Burns returned to the minor leagues as a manager after his major league playing career ended. Beginning in 1955, Burns spent five seasons (1955–59) as a Boston Red Sox coach third base coach under team manager Pinky Higgins . In 1960, Burns then became
4897-410: The reformed New England League in 1901. Manchester played under new owner and manager Phenomenal Smith. The Augusta Live Oaks , Bangor Millionaires , Haverhill Hustlers , Lewiston , Lowell Tigers , Nashua and Portland teams joined Manchester in beginning league play on May 15, 1901. The Manchester team finished in third place with a 48–39 record in the 1901 New England League final standings. In
4980-437: The reformed league on May 11, 1926. The Manchester "Blue Sox" began play in the newly formed league and won the 1926 New England League championship. The Manchester Blue Sox finished the season with a 57–35 record to place first in the final standings, as Manchester finished 5.5 games ahead of the second place Lynn Papooses, as no playoffs were held. The 1926 Blue Sox championship manager was Jean Dubuc , who had been involved in
5063-618: The regular season and qualified for the playoffs, but they were eliminated in the 1946 semi-finals by the Lynn Red Sox and in the 1947 finals by the Nashua Dodgers . The New York Yankees then replaced the New York Giants as the team's affiliate for the 1948 season. However, the 1948 Manchester Yankees finished four games out of the playoffs and drew the third-smallest attendance in the league. The 1949 edition compiled
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#17328023547395146-554: The role that Clyde Sukeforth played in the growth and development of my beginnings in baseball. I have been very appreciative of the fact that whenever there were problems in the earlier days, I could always go to you, talk with you, and receive the warm and friendly advise that I always did," the letter said in part. In defending their league championship, the 1927 Manchester Blue Sox ended the New England League season in sixth place. The Blue Sox were led by returning manager Jean Dubuc and his successor Henry LaVallee in 1927. Manchester had
5229-598: The same day. The New England League folded following the 1949 season. Minor league baseball has not returned to Fall River. from 1893 to 1915, Fall River teams played home games at the Athletic Grounds . Also known as the "Bedford Street Grounds" (1893–1898), the ballpark had a capacity of 3,000. The Athletic Grounds were located on Bedford Street at Oak Grove Avenue & Beattie Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. The Fall River Indians played home games at Fall River Stadium from 1946 to 1949. The ballpark
5312-515: The same parcel. The 1946 Manchester Giants resumed Manchester's tenure as a member of the New England League. Minor league baseball began in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1877. The Manchester Reds played as members of the newly formed New England League, also known as the New England Association. The league began play on May 3, 1877, as an eight–team league and ended the season reduced to four teams. The Lowell Ladies Men , with
5395-417: The same site with different names. A ballpark first called the "Beech Street Grounds" was built on the site of today's Gill Stadium and located at the corner of Beech and Valley Streets. The ballpark was constructed on a site that was owned by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company . The original ballpark had a wooden fence with two wooden grandstands, with the main fan entrance was located on Beech Street. This
5478-481: The season 9.0 games behind the first place Lowell Chippies in the eight-team league. Manchester's Ted Scheffler won the New England league batting championship, hitting .375. Alex Ferson , who split the season between Lowell and Manchester, led the league with both a 1.10 ERA and 25 wins. The New England league folded following the 1888 season, before reforming in 1891. The 1891 Manchester "Amoskeags" rejoined
5561-487: The season in seventh place, the Fall River Adopted Sons had a 45–76 record under manager Dan Clohecy. Fall River finished 33.5 games behind the champion Lowell Grays . Fall River switched leagues, nicknames and captured the 1914 Colonial League Championship. Fall River did not return to the 1914 New England League, as the franchise joined the 1914 six–team Class C level Colonial League, playing as
5644-428: The season with a record of 68–39 behind manager Charley Marston. The Indians finished 2.5 games ahead of the second place Bangor Millionaires in the final standings. Baseball Hall of Fame member Nap Lajoie left his $ 7.50 per week job as a taxi driver to join the 1896 Fall River Indians. Lajoie played as a center fielder , first baseman and catcher for the Indians, while earning $ 25 per week at age 22. With
5727-404: The season. The Lewiston Twins and Nashua Millionaires teams both disbanded on June 16, 1930. After continuing play briefly as a four–team league, the New England League folded on June 22, 1930. After the 1930 New England League folded, Manchester ended the season with a record of 9–19 under manager Leo Hartline. The Salem Witches were in first place with a 21–9 record, finishing 11.0 games ahead of
5810-502: The six–team New England League final standings with identical records. Baseball Hall of Fame member Roger Connor played for the Fall River Indians in 1897 at age 39, hitting .287 in 47 games after beginning the 1897 season with the St. Louis Browns . The Fall River Indians placed third in the six–team 1898 Class B New England League standings. Fall River ended with a 28–25 record under Manager Phenomenal Smith , finishing 6.5 games behind
5893-488: The stadium was renamed to "Gill Stadium." Today, Gill Stadium is still in use as a multipurpose ballpark for youth sports teams, after having hosted the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in their first minor league season of 2004. The stadium is located at 350 Valley Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. Manchester Giants (baseball) The Manchester Yankees was the name of two distinct American minor league baseball franchises representing Manchester, New Hampshire , in
5976-426: The team agreed to include him in their asking price. Lajoie made his major league debut shortly after being obtained. The Fall River Indians championship run ended in 1897. Fall River ended the 1897 New England League season with a 47–59 record, as Mike McDermott and owner Charley Marston served as managers. The Indians finished 22.5 games behind the champion Brockton Shoemakers and Newport Colts who tied in
6059-417: The team ended the season in last place with a 36–87 record. The Lawrence Barristers won the 1914 New England League championship and finished 48.0 games ahead of the Textiles, who placed eighth in the eight-team league. Fred Lake managed the team in both locations/ The Manchester "Textiles" nickname corresponds to local history and industry. In 1837, a group of businessmen from Boston, Massachusetts founded
6142-528: The team to Manchester because of poor attendance in Fitchburg. The local Fitchburg paper reported, "there would be no stealing of baseballs from Fred Lake [since] he traveled all the way to the bleachers to get a ball back." On July 30, 1915, the Fitchburg Burghers playing in their first season moved to Manchester with a record of 24–52. After compiling a record of 12–35 while based in Manchester,
6225-496: The three no–hitters. Fred Blum defeated Lawrence 4–0 in a 7–inning game on July 31, 1911, completing the second no–hitter. On August 28, 1911, Harry Wormwood threw his second Fall River no–hitter and the team's third of the season, pitching a 13–inning no–hitter against Lawrence in a game that ended in a 0–0 tie. The 1912 Fall River Brinies continued play and finished last in the eight–team New England League. With John O'Brien finishing his tenure as manager, Fall River finished with
6308-411: The three-city season. The team finished 28.0 games behind the first place Fall River Indians . The New England League continued play in 1894 without a Lowell, Manchester or Boston franchise in the eight-team league. In 1899 Manchester "Manchesters" returned to the New England league and ended the season in third place. The Manchesters of the Class F level New England League ended the 1899 season with
6391-510: Was adapted into the movie Field of Dreams . The New York Giants purchased Graham's contract from Manchester on September 25, 1904, but he did not appear in a major league game. In 1905, Graham had his brief appearance in a major league game with the Giants. The 1904 Manchester team placed fourth in the New England League final standings. Manchester ended the season with a 61–60 record in the eight–team league. Manchester finished 20.0 games behind
6474-615: Was hired as the manager of the Manchester team that played in the Boston Twilight League. Dubuc would remain in Manchester, managing the minor league team for the 1926 season. In 1926, the New England League reformed as a Class B level league with eight teams. The Manchester "Blue Sox" joined the Haverhill Hillies , Lawrence Merry Macks , Lewiston Twins , Lowell Highwaymen , Lynn Papooses , Nashua Millionaires and Portland Eskimos teams in beginning play in
6557-444: Was located in Manchester in the era. In 1892, Manchester played a partial season, as the team relocated and folded during the New England League season. On July 2, 1892, Manchester relocated to Lawrence . The team then disbanded before the conclusion of the regular season. The Manchester/Lawrence team had a 26–45 record when the team folded in Lawrence. The 1892 managers were Jim Cudworth and W.J. Freeman. The Lowell Lowells began
6640-442: Was near third base, and home plate was in the field's southwest corner. The other bordering streets were Maple Street to the east and Green Street to the north. Baseball was played there between 1891 and 1894. In 1894, local businessman Thomas Varick purchased an interest in the park, moved the two grandstands and designated one as "men-only." Varick also constructed a 40-foot-wide, quarter-mile dirt bicycle and running track and renamed
6723-553: Was shot in room 509 at the Hotel Carlos in Chicago during a domestic incident. Jurges was shot and wounded by Violet Valli, a showgirl with whom Jurges had been in a relationship. Jurges was shot while trying to wrestle the gun away from Valli. Shortly after the shooting, attempted murder charges were dismissed against Valli. Jurges appeared in court and stated that would not testify against Valli and expressed his desire to dismiss
6806-510: Was the basis of the character of the same name in the 1989 motion picture Field of Dreams . Shoeless Joe author W.P. Kinsella discovered Graham's name and statistical information in The Baseball Encyclopedia and noticed Graham had played just one major league game with 0 at-bats, Graham became a physician after his baseball career ended. Kinsella based Graham's story the character in his novel. In 1989 Shoeless Joe
6889-518: Was the manager and owner of the New Bedford Whalers of the New England League in 1913. Due to poor attendance, Lake moved the team to Fitchburg, Massachusetts for the 1914 season, after Street Railway in Fitchburg offered to upgrade the ball grounds, build a new grandstand and bleachers, and provide free rent to the team. On July 28, 1914, Fitchburg played its first home game at the refurbished ballpark in Fitchburg. Within days Lake moved
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