Eastern League
From BR Bullpen
The Eastern League is a class AA minor league which was known as the New York-Pennsylvania League from its inception in 1923 until 1937. Its last season was in 2019 and it was disbanded prior to the 2021 season as part of a reorganization of the minor leagues, with most of its teams moving over to the Double-A Northeast section of the Professional Development League. In a reversal, the Double-A Northeast was re-rebranded as the Eastern League in 2022.
Starting in 1916, another Eastern League existed, but it disbanded after 1932, making the name available. This version had a very New England feel, although for its last two years, two Virginia teams were in the loop. Four cities competed for the whole 17-year run, three in Connecticut and one in Massachusetts.
Beginning in 1892 the first Eastern League ran for 20 years, becoming the present-day International League in 1912.
Finally, one of the Japanese minor leagues is known as the Eastern League.
The league holds an annual All-Star Game.
Current Teams, Managers, and Affiliations[edit]
League Champions[edit]
League Award Winners[edit]
Cities Represented[edit]
1883-1887[edit]
- known as Interstate Association in 1883
Connecticut[edit]
- Bridgeport, CT: Bridgeport Giants 1885-1886
- Danbury, CT: Danbury 1887
- Hartford, CT: Hartford Dark Blues 1886-1887
- Meriden, CT: Meriden 1886
- New Haven, CT: New Haven 1887
- Waterbury, CT: Waterbury 1885-1886
Delaware[edit]
- Wilmington, DE:
- Wilmington Quicksteps 1883-1884
- Wilmington Blue Hens 1885
District of Columbia[edit]
Maryland[edit]
Massachusetts[edit]
- Springfield, MA: Springfield 1887
New Jersey[edit]
- Atlantic City, NJ: Atlantic City 1885
- Camden, NJ: Camden Merritts 1883
- Jersey City, NJ:
- Jersey City Skeeters 1885
- Jersey City Jerseys 1886
- Newark, NJ:
- Newark Domestics 1884-1885
- Newark Little Giants 1886
- Trenton, NJ:
- Trenton 1883
- Trenton Trentonians 1884-1885
New York[edit]
- Brooklyn, NY:
- Brooklyn Grays 1883
- Brooklyn Atlantics 1884
- Maspeth, NY: Long Island A's 1886
Pennsylvania[edit]
- Allentown, PA: Allentown Dukes 1884
- Harrisburg, PA:
- Harrisburg 1883
- Harrisburg Olympics 1884
- Lancaster, PA:
- Lancaster Ironsides 1884
- Lancaster Lancasters 1885
- Pottsville, PA: Pottsville Anthracites 1883
- Reading, PA: Reading Actives 1883-1884
- York, PA: York White Roses 1884
Rhode Island[edit]
Virginia[edit]
- Norfolk, VA: Norfolk 1885
- Richmond, VA: Richmond Virginians 1884-1885
1892-1911[edit]
- became the International League in 1912
Connecticut[edit]
- Hartford, CT:
- Hartford Indians 1899-1900
- Hartford Wooden Nutmegs 1901
- New Haven, CT: New Haven Nutmegs 1892
Maryland[edit]
- Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Orioles 1903-1911
Massachusetts[edit]
- Brockton, MA: Brockton B's 1901
- Springfield, MA:
- Springfield Ponies 1893-1894
- Springfield Maroons 1895
- Springfield Ponies 1896-1900
- Worcester, MA:
- Worcester Farmers 1899-1900
- Worcester Quakers 1901
- Worcester Hustlers 1902
- Worcester Riddlers 1903
New Jersey[edit]
- Jersey City, NJ: Jersey City Skeeters 1902-1911
- Newark, NJ:
- Newark Sailors 1902-1907
- Newark Indians 1908-1911
New York[edit]
- Albany, NY:
- Albany Senators 1892-1893
- Albany Senators 1896
- Binghamton, NY: Binghamton Bingoes 1892-1894
- Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Bisons 1892-1898, 1901-1911
- Elmira, NY: Elmira Gladiators 1892
- Rochester, NY:
- Rochester Hop Bitters 1892
- Rochester Browns 1895-1896
- Rochester Blackbirds 1897
- Rochester Patriots 1898
- Rochester Bronchos 1899-1911
- Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Stars 1892, 1894-1901
- Troy, NY:
- Troy Trojans 1892-1893
- Troy Washer Women 1894
- Yonkers, NY: Allentown Buffalos 1894
Ontario[edit]
- Ottawa, ON: Ottawa Wanderers 1898
- Toronto, ON:
- Toronto Canucks 1895
- Toronto Maple Leafs 1896-1911
Pennsylvania[edit]
- Erie, PA: Erie Blackbirds 1893-1894
- Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Reserves 1892
- Scranton, PA:
- Scranton Miners 1894, 1896-1897
- Scranton Coal Heavers 1895
- Wilkes-Barre, PA: Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons 1893-1898
Quebec[edit]
- Montreal, QC:
- Montreal Royals 1897-1905, 1907-1911
- Montreal Canucks 1906
Rhode Island[edit]
- Providence, RI:
- Providence Clamdiggers 1892-1894, 1898-1901, 1905
- Providence Grays 1895-1897, 1902-1904, 1906-1911
1916-1932[edit]
Connecticut[edit]
- Bridgeport, CT:
- Bridgeport Hustlers 1916
- Bridgeport Americans 1917-1923
- Bridgeport Bears 1924-1932
- Hartford, CT: Hartford Senators 1916-1932
- New Haven, CT:
- New Haven Murlins 1916-1918
- New Haven Weissmen 1919-1920
- New Haven Indians 1921-1922
- New Haven Profs 1923-1930
- New Haven Bulldogs 1931-1932
- New London, CT: New London Planters 1916-1918
- Waterbury, CT:
- Waterbury Nattatucks 1918-1919
- Waterbury Brasscos 1920-1928
Maine[edit]
- Portland, ME:
- Portland Duffs 1916; moved from New England League 1913-1915
- Portland Paramounts 1917
Massachusetts[edit]
- Fitchburg, MA: 1922
- Lawrence, MA:
- Lawrence Barristers 1916, 1917; moved from New England League 1911-1915
- Lowell, MA: Lowell Grays 1916; moved from New England League 1912-1915
- Lynn, MA: Lynn Pipers 1916
- Pittsfield, MA: Pittsfield Hillies 1919-1930
- Springfield, MA:
- Springfield Ponies 1916, 1918-1921, 1923-1931
- Springfield Green Sox 1917
- Springfield Rifles 1932
- Worcester, MA:
- Worcester Busters 1916-1917; moved from New England League 1906-1915
- Worcester Boosters 1918-1921, 1922
- Worcester Panthers 1923-1925
New York[edit]
- Albany, NY: Albany Senators 1920-1932
Pennsylvania[edit]
- Allentown, PA:
- Allentown Dukes 1929-1930
- Allentown Buffaloes 1931-1932
Rhode Island[edit]
- Providence, RI:
- Providence Grays 1918-1919, 1927-1930; moved from International League 1912-1917
- Providence Rubes 1926
Virginia[edit]
- Norfolk, VA: Norfolk Tars 1931-1932
- Richmond, VA: Richmond Byrds 1931; Richmond Colts 1932
1938-2019[edit]
Connecticut[edit]
- Bristol, CT: Bristol Red Sox 1973-1982
- Hartford, CT:
- Hartford Laurels 1938, 1944
- Hartford Bees 1939-1943, 1945-1946
- Hartford Chiefs 1947-1952
- Hartford Yard Goats 2016-2019
- New Britain, CT:
- New Britain Red Sox 1983-1994
- Hardware City Rock Cats 1995-1996
- New Britain Rock Cats 1997-2015
- New Haven, CT: New Haven Ravens 1994-2003
- Norwich, CT:
- Norwich Navigators 1995-2005
- Connecticut Defenders 2006-2009
- Waterbury, CT:
- Waterbury Giants 1966-1967, 1977-1978
- Waterbury Indians 1968-1969, 1985-1986
- Waterbury Pirates 1970-1971
- Waterbury Dodgers 1973-1976
- Waterbury A's 1979
- Waterbury Reds 1980-1983
- Waterbury Angels 1984
- West Haven, CT:
- West Haven Yankees 1972-1979
- West Haven Whitecaps 1980
- West Haven A's 1981-1982
Maine[edit]
- Portland, ME: Portland Sea Dogs 1994-2019
Maryland[edit]
- Bowie, MD: Bowie Baysox 1993-2019
- Hagerstown, MD: Hagerstown Suns 1989-1992
Massachusetts[edit]
- Holyoke, MA: Holyoke Millers 1977-1982
- Lynn, MA:
- Lynn Sailors 1980-1982
- Lynn Pirates 1983
- Pittsfield, MA:
- Pittsfield Red Sox 1965-1969
- Pittsfield Senators 1970-1971
- Pittsfield Rangers 1972-1975
- Berkshire Brewers 1976
- Pittsfield Cubs 1985-1988
- Springfield, MA:
- Springfield Nationals 1939-1941
- Springfield Rifles 1942-1943
- Springfield Giants 1957-1965
New Hampshire[edit]
- Manchester, NH:
- Manchester Yankees 1969-1971
- New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2004-2019
- Nashua, NH:
- Nashua Angels 1983
- Nashua Pirates 1984-1986
New Jersey[edit]
- Jersey City, NJ:
- Jersey City Indians 1977
- Jersey City A's 1978
- Trenton, NJ:
- Trenton Senators 1938
- Trenton Thunder 1994-2019
New York[edit]
- Albany, NY:
- Albany Senators 1938-1959
- Albany A's 1983
- Albany-Colonie A's 1984
- Albany-Colonie Yankees 1985-1994
- Binghamton, NY:
- Binghamton Triplets 1938-1963, 1967-1968
- Binghamton Mets 1992-2016
- Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2017-2019
- Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Bisons 1979-1984
- Elmira, NY:
- Elmira Pioneers 1938-1955, 1962-1970, 1972
- Elmira Royals 1971
- Glens Falls, NY:
- Glens Falls White Sox 1980-1985
- Glens Falls Tigers 1986-1988
- Schenectady, NY: Schenectady Blue Jays 1951-1957
- Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Chiefs 1956-1957
- Utica, NY:
- Utica Braves 1943
- Utica Blue Sox 1944-1950
Ohio[edit]
- Akron, OH & Canton, OH:
- Canton-Akron Indians 1989-1996
- Akron Aeros 1997-2013
- Akron RubberDucks 2014-2019
Ontario[edit]
- London, ON: London Tigers 1989-1993
Pennsylvania[edit]
- Allentown, PA:
- Allentown Cardinals 1954-1956
- Allentown Chiefs 1957
- Allentown Red Sox 1958-1960
- Altoona, PA: Altoona Curve 1999-2019
- Erie, PA: Erie SeaWolves 1999-2019
- Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Senators 1987-2019
- Hazleton, PA: Hazleton Red Sox 1938
- Johnstown, PA:
- Johnstown Johnnies 1955-1956
- Johnstown Red Sox 1961
- Lancaster, PA: Lancaster Red Roses 1958-1961
- Reading, PA:
- Reading Indians 1952-1961, 1965
- Reading Red Sox 1963-1964
- Reading Phillies 1967-2012
- Reading Fightin Phils 2013-2019
- Scranton, PA :
- Scranton Red Sox 1939-1943, 1946-1951
- Scranton Miners 1944-1945, 1952-1953
- Wilkes-Barre, PA:
- Wilkes-Barre Barons 1938-1947, 1953-1955
- Wilkes-Barre Indians 1948-1951
- Williamsport, PA:
- Williamsport Grays 1938-1942, 1944-1946, 1950, 1954-1956, 1958-1962
- Williamsport Tigers 1947-1949, 1951-1952;
- Williamsport A's 1953
- Williamsport Mets 1964-1967
- Williamsport Tomahawks 1976
- Williamsport Bills 1987-1991
- York, PA:
- York White Roses 1958-1959, 1962-1967
- York Pirates 1968-1969
Quebec[edit]
- Quebec, QC:
- Quebec Carnavals 1971-1975
- Quebec Metros 1976-1977
- Sherbrooke, QC: Sherbrooke Pirates 1972-1973
- Thetford Mines, QC:
- Thetford Mines Pirates 1974
- Thetford Mines Miners 1975
- Trois-Rivières, QC: Trois-Rivières Aigles 1971-1977
Rhode Island[edit]
- Pawtucket, RI:
- Pawtucket Indians 1966-1967
- Pawtucket Red Sox 1970-1972
Vermont[edit]
- Burlington, VT:
- Vermont Reds 1984-1987
- Vermont Mariners 1988
Virginia[edit]
- Richmond, VA: Richmond Flying Squirrels 2010-2019
West Virginia[edit]
- Charleston, WV: Charleston Indians 1962-1964
Record Holders[edit]
| Record Holder | Record Set | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs | Lawrence Fischer | 134 | 1932 |
| Hits | Don Brown | 214 | 1930 |
| Doubles | Dewey Steffens | 54 | 1924 |
| Triples | Al Gionfriddo | 28 | 1944 |
| Home Runs | Ken Strong, Rick Lancellotti | 41 | 1930, 1979 |
| RBI | Ken Harrelson | 138 | 1962 |
| Total Bases | Joe Munson | 355 | 1925 |
| Sacrifice Bunts | Micky Dzurilla, Eugene Morrison | 37 | 1928 |
| Sacrifice Flies | Essex Burton | 16 | 1996 |
| Walks | Pinky May, Herschel Held | 151 | 1947, 1949 |
| Steals | Larry Lintz | 96 | 1972 |
| Batting Average | Joe Munson | .400 | 1925 |
| Slugging Percentage | Ken Strong | .787 | 1930 |
| Hitting Streak | Hubert Mason | 38 | 1925 |
| Games Pitched | Sal Urso | 69 | 1998 |
| Complete Games | Hugh Mulcahy | 31 | 1936 |
| Shutouts | Allie Reynolds | 11 | 1942 |
| Wins | Thomas George | 27 | 1925 |
| Losses | Earnst Walters | 24 | 1923 |
| Saves | Brent Stentz | 43 | 1998 |
| Winning Percentage | Billy MacLeod | 1.000 (18-0) | 1965 |
| Innings Pitched | Hugh Mulcahy | 325 | 1936 |
| Walks | Dick Rozek | 180 | 1948 |
| Strikeouts | Fred Norman | 258 | 1963 |
| ERA | Mel Parnell | 1.30 | 1946 |
Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]
Further Reading[edit]
- Marshall D. Wright: The Eastern League in Baseball: A Statistical History, 1923-2005, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2007, 2 volumes.
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