Connecticut League

From BR Bullpen

The Connecticut League (also known as the Connecticut State League in 1884 to 1900 and the Connecticut Valley League) in 1903, ran from 1884-1912. When the Southern New England League disbanded on August 25, 1885, four of the five Connecticut teams re-formed the Connecticut State League. In 1902, when classifications were first assigned, it was a class D circuit. In 1905 it was upgraded to class B. In 1913 it changed its name to the Eastern Association.

Cities Represented[edit]

Teams and Statistics[edit]

1884[edit]

1884 Connecticut State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waterbury 34 13 .723 - S.F. Williams/Pheron Minor
Meriden 25 22 .532 9 Albert Boardman/George Lynn
Rockville 22 25 .468 12 J. Kelly/Middleton/Talcott
Hartford 20 27 .426 14 Charles Soby
New Britain 17 30 .362 17 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

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tom Lovett Waterbury W 26

1885[edit]

1885 Connecticut State League
President:
(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 William Siering

# New Britain disbanded September 8

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John Meister Meriden BA .429 John Flynn Meriden W 5
John Meister Meriden Runs 13 John Flynn Meriden SO 35
John Meister Meriden Hits 18 John Flynn Meriden PCT 1.000 5-0
Bill Thomas Meriden HR 2

1888[edit]

1888 Connecticut State League
President:J. Howard Taylor

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Meriden 9 3 .750 -
Waterbury 10 7 .588 1.5 Thomas Guest
Norwalk 9 7 .563 2
Bridgeport Giants/Stamford # 9 9 .500 3 Bullen
'Derby-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[edit]

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 Frank Cox
Hartford # 12 11 .522 5 M.E. Fitzgerald
Ansonia Cuban Giants 8 10 .444 6.5 John Bright
'Bristol-Plainville' 12 15 .444 7 E.F. Belden
Norwich 10 13 .435 7 H.F. Reddy
Southington 5 7 .417 6.5 James Prior
Portland $ 3 10 .231 9 Charles Edwards
West Haven 1 8 .111 9 E.P. Thomas

# Hartford disbanded June 10.
$ Portland disbanded June 10.

1895[edit]

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 Miller/Reilly
Hartford Bluebirds 4 4 .500 2.5 John Henry/A.F. Moran
Waterbury Brassmen 0 6 .000 5.5 Durant

1896[edit]

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 T.M. Burns/Cummings
Derby Angels 22 18 .550 3 William Callahan/Joseph Veitch
New Haven Edgewoods 22 18 .550 3 T.R. Greist
Winsted Blues 15 25 .375 10 Eugene McCarthy/W.A. Parsons/James Eaton
Ansonia Welcomes 12 28 .300 13 Thomas Houlihan
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jim O'Rourke Bridgeport BA .437 Dick Mansfield
Lee Viau
Bridgeport
Torrington
W 15
15
John Doherty
Pop Foster
Bridgeport
Bridgeport
Runs 50
50
Dick Mansfield Bridgeport SO 127
John Doherty Bridgeport Hits 70 Dick Mansfield Bridgeport ERA 1.95
Thomas Ivers Bridgeport HR 5 Dick Mansfield
Lee Viau
Bridgeport
Torrington
PCT .682 15-7
.682 15-7


1897[edit]

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 Jim O'Rourke
Torrington Demons 31 39 .443 16 Ralph Bottenus/Dennis Houle
Waterbury Indians 34 43 .442 16.5 John Fruin/E.O. Herendeen/Roger Connor
Bristol Tramps 29 46 .373 20.5 O.F. Strunz/William "Pete" Hall
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
Jim O'Rourke Bridgeport BA .405
Patsy Cunningham Bridgeport Runs 94
Jim O'Rourke Bridgeport Hits 130
Terry Rogers Bridgeport HR 12
Terry Rogers Bridgeport SB 40


1898[edit]

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 .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 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.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Freddy Parent New Haven BA .326 Dick Mansfield Waterbury W 24
Freddy Parent New Haven Runs 96 Phil Corcoran
W.B. Morris
Bridgeport
Danbury
Pct .739; 17-6
.739 17-6
Freddy Parent New Haven Hits 125
Roger Connor Waterbury HR 5


1899-1900 CSL[edit]

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 John Gunshannon
Meriden Silverites 46 48 .489 9.5 A.R. Penny / George Courtney
New London Whalers 45 52 .464 12 George Bindloss
Bridgeport Orators 43 55 .438 14.5 Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Jackroses 41 58 .414 17 Jack Rose / Jack Chapman

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Roger Connor Waterbury BA .392 Charles McDonald New Haven W 26
Roger Connor Waterbury Runs 79 Charles McDonald New Haven Pct .703; 26-11
Freddy Parent New Haven Hits 138 Pete Woodruff New Lond/Bridge HR 11

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 Jim Canavan
Bridgeport Orators 57 41 .582 7.5 Jim O'Rourke
Bristol Bellmakers 48 47 .505 15 James Cooney
Meriden Silverites 47 48 .495 16 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.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Hi Ladd Derby BA .371 Danny Murphy Norwich Hits 138
Danny Murphy Norwich Runs 112 Danny Murphy Norwich HR 14

1901 CL[edit]

1901 Connecticut League
President: Tim Murnane

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bristol Woodchoppers 63 41 .606 - Doc Reisling
Bridgeport Orators 61 43 .587 2 Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Champs 62 46 .574 3 Jack Tighe
Meriden Silverites 56 48 .538 7 W.R. Reilly
New Haven Blues 56 54 .509 10 Jim Canavan
Waterbury Rough Riders 47 60 .439 17.5 Roger Connor
New London Whalers 45 63 .417 20 Tom Hernon / John Shea
Derby Angels 37 72 .330 28.5 Jerry Denny

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Patsy Dougherty Bridgeport BA .375 Danny Murphy Norwich Runs 104
Danny Murphy Norwich HR 12 Hi Ladd Derby Hits 171
Pete Woodruff Norwich/New London HR 12

1902, '03, '04 "D" CL[edit]

1902 Connecticut League D
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 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 Harry Davenport
Meriden Silverites 51 58 .469 19 Conrad Miller / Tom Tucker
Waterbury Rough Riders 37 73 .336 33.5 George Harrington

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Danny Hoffman Springfield BA .336 Ed Walsh Meriden Pct .750; 15-5
Tuck Turner Norwich Runs 110 Red Long New London ShO 7
H.E. Slater Waterbury Hits 147 Bob Drew Meriden HR 7


1903 Connecticut League D
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 John Shea / Charles Humphrey
Norwich Reds 54 50 .519 11 Dennis Morrissey
New Haven Blues 52 57 .477 17 Jim Canavan
Springfield Ponies 41 64 .370 26 Roger Connor
Hartford Senators 30 77 .280 38 Thomas Reilly

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

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Claude Rossman Holyoke BA .385 Claude Rossman Holyoke Hits 158
Emil Batch Holyoke Runs 98 Jack Tighe Norwich HR 5
Tom Bannon New London SB 75


1904 Connecticut League D
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 Jim Canavan
Holyoke Paperweights 58 55 .513 11.5 Frank Fitzpatrick / P. Prindiville / Fred Winkler
New London Whalers 56 60 .483 15 Charles Humphrey
Hartford Senators 53 61 .465 17 William Kennedy
Worcester / Norwich Indians # 53 62 .461 17.5 Mal Kittridge / Tracey / Tighe / Crolius
Meriden Silverites 31 84 .270 39.5 Sam Kennedy

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

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pop Foster Bridgeport BA .376 Pop Foster Bridgeport Hits 158
Royal Clark Bridgeport Runs 101 Emil Batch Holyoke HR 7
Bill Foxen Hartford SO's 180

1905, '06, '07, '08 "B" CL[edit]

1905 Connecticut League B
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Holyoke Paperweights 79 35 .693 - Jesse Freysinger
Springfield Ponies 74 44 .627 7 Daniel O'Neill
Bridgeport Orators 64 50 .561 15 Jim O'Rourke
Hartford Senators 58 56 .509 21 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 Jim Canavan / Jack Tighe
Norwich Reds 42 74 .362 38 George Allen / Jim Canavan

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Fred Crolius New London BA .348 Carson Hodge Holyoke W 24
Ad Yale Bridgeport Runs 96 Carson Hodge Holyoke Pct .727; 24-9
Fred Crolius New London Hits 160 Chick Hartley Holyoke HR 9


1906 Connecticut League B
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 William Slack
Hartford Senators 62 57 .521 7 Bert Daly / J.H. Clarkin
Waterbury Authors 60 53 .488 11 Harry Durant
Holyoke Paperweights 58 65 .472 13 Tom Fleming / Tommy Dowd / M. Prindiville
Bridgeport Orators 54 72 .429 18.5 Jim O'Rourke
New London Whalers 53 74 .417 20 Charles Humphrey / Sam Kennedy

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Frank Burke New Haven BA .349 Mickey Corcoran New Haven W 26
Ed Fitzpatrick Springfi/New Haven Runs 88 Mickey Corcoran New Haven Pct .667; 26-13
Hi Ladd Bridgeport Hits 157 Otto Hess Springfield ShO 9
Pop Rising New London HR 5


1907 Connecticut League B
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 Harrry Durant
Springfield Ponies 72 49 .595 9 Daniel O'Neill
Norwich Reds 71 51 .582 10.5 August Soffel
Hartford Senators 66 55 .545 15 James Clarkin
Bridgeport Orators 48 75 .390 34 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.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Hi Ladd Bridgeport BA .341 Ira Plank New Haven W 26
Mike McAndrews Waterbury Runs 100 Ed Farley Waterbury Pct .774; 24-7
Hi Ladd Bridgeport Hits 168 Lou Lapine Holyoke HR 8


1908 Connecticut League B
President: W. J. Tracey

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Springfield Ponies 84 41 .672 - Daniel O'Neill
Hartford Senators 84 42 .667 .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 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 54 72 .429 30.5 Charles Cheney
Waterbury Authors 42 84 .333 42.5 Harry Durant

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Swat McCabe New Britain BA .320 Red Waller Bridgeport W 23
Hack Simmons New Haven Runs 78 Ray Fisher Hartford Pct .923; 12-1
Hack Simmons New Haven Hits 155 Hack Simmons New Haven HR 10

1909, '10, '11, '12 "B" CL[edit]

1909 Connecticut League B
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 McCormick
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 Phil Corcoran
Northampton Meadowlarks 54 68 .443 22 Edward Bowler / Gil Edwards
Bridgeport Orators 44 78 .361 32 Jim O'Rourke

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Swat McCabe New Britain BA .366 Ray Fisher Hartford W 24
Barry McCormick Northhampton Runs 95 Ray Fisher Hartford Pct .828; 24-5
Swat McCabe New Britain Hits 176 Ray Fisher Hartford SO 243
Cy Perkins Hartford HR 23 Eddie Files Holyoke BB 146


1910 Connecticut League B - schedule
President: W.J. Tracy

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waterbury Finnegans 70 52 .574 - Michael J. Finn
Bridgeport Orators 67 52 .563 1.5 Gene McCann
New Britain Perfectos 69 55 .556 2 William Hanna
New Haven Prairie Hens 67 55 .549 3 Bill Carrick
Hartford Senators 64 58 .525 6 Tom Connery
Springfield Ponies 58 68 .460 14 John Zeller
Northampton Meadowlarks 50 73 .407 20.5 Bill Luby
Holyoke Papermakers 46 78 .371 25 Pop Foster

No Playoffs.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pop Foster Holyoke BA .342 Red Waller Bridgeport W 21
Bill Rodgers Waterbury Runs 79 Sandy Bannister Waterbury W 21
Hi Ladd Bridgeport Hits 158 Buck O'Brien Hartford SO 264
Pop Foster Holyoke HR 15 M.J. Parker New Britain ERA 1.81


1911 Connecticut League B
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Springfield Ponies 71 45 .614 - John Zeller
Bridgeport Orators 71 47 .602 1 Gene McCann / Robert Tracey
Hartford Senators 68 52 .568 5 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 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.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pop Foster New Haven BA .325 Eddie Dent New haven W 21
Wilford Genest Springfield Runs 95 Bugs Reisigl New Haven SO 199
Hi Ladd Bridgeport Hits 143 Curt Walker Holyoke/Bridge Pct .750; 15-5
Pop Foster New Haven HR 7 Fred Eley Bridgeport HR 7


1912 Connecticut League B
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 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.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Hugh High Hartford BA .327 Bugs Reisigl New Haven W 21
Hugh High Hartford Runs 80 Frank Green Holyoke SO 212
Hugh High Hartford Hits 145 Pop Foster New Haven Pct .750; 15-5
Pop Foster New Haven HR 9 Cliff Averett Hartford Pct .750; 12-4

League Records 1899-1912[edit]

Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Roger Connor Waterbury BA .392 99 Tuck Turner Norwich RUNS 110 02
Swat McCabe New Britain HITS 176 09 Ben Hilt Bridgeport 3B 20 09
Cy Perkins Hartford HR 23 09 Swat McCabe New Britain TB 250 09
Tom Bannon New London SB 75 03


Pitching
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Fred Gibbs Bridgeport GA 49 09 Frank Green Holyoke CG 42 12
Charles McDonald New Haven W 26 99 Fred Gibbs Bridgeport L 25 09
Mickey Corcoran New Haven W 26 06 Ira Plank New Haven W 26 07
Ray Fisher Hartford PCT .923 08 Otto Hess Springfield ShO 9 06
M.J.Parker New Britain ERA 1.81 10 Buck O'Brien Hartford SO 264 10
Eddie Files Holyoke BB 146 09




Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]

Source[edit]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second and Third Editions.