Potomac League

The Class D Potomac League was one of several Minor Leagues that made a brief appearance in professional baseball ranks.

The league played one season in 1916, under the guidance of League President Fuller Barnard Jr. of Cumberland, MD.

The league started with four clubs, three located in Allegany County, Maryland, in Cumberland, Frostburg, and Lonaconing. The fourth club was based along the Potomac River in Piedmont, WV, though their home ball park, Potomac Field, was located on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, near Westernport, MD.

The league had two umpires, Doll Derr and Thomas McNamara.

The Managers of each respective club at the start of the season were Pat Brophy (Frostburg), Owen "Cy" Harris (Piedmont), Tom Russler (Cumberland), and James McGuire (Lonaconing).

On July 23, the Lonaconing club disbanded after 44 games, leaving the league struggling with three clubs. When the Frostburg club was forced to quit due to financial problems, the league disbanded for good on August 16.

At the time the league stopped by, Frostburg was leading the standings with a 33-25 record, six games ahead of 2nd place, Piedmont (26-30). Cumberland was 23-35.

Ironically, the Lonaconing club had the best overall record, winning 26 games and losing 18 contests (.691 pct).

Among the players in this league were Roy "Shotgun" Keener, Joe Phillips, Dutch "Paddy" Kane, catchers Paul Cobb (Serafin) and Bill Doeppe, plus pitchers Ben Schaufele, John Baylor and Bill Stair.

Cities Represented

• Cumberland, MD: Cumberland Colts 1916
• Frostburg, MD: Frostburg Demons 1916
• Lonaconing, MD: Lonaconing Giants 1916
• Piedmont, WV: Piedmont Drybugs 1916

Teams and Statistics

1916

1916 Potomac League
President: Fuller Barnard, Jr.

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Frostburg Demons	33	25	.569	-	Pat Brophy
Piedmont Drybugs	26	30	.464	6	Cy Harris / Dutch Kane
Cumberland Colts	23	35	.397	10	Tom Russler
Lonaconing Giants #	26	18	.691	NA	James McGuire / Roy Keener

# Lonaconing disbanded July 23.
The league disbanded August 16.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joe Phillips	Cumberland	BA	.367		Ben Schaufele	Piedmont	W	14
Roy Keener	Lonaconing/Cumberland	Runs	51		John Baylor	Frostburg	SO	114
Roy Keener	Lonaconing/Cumberland	Hits	82		Bill Stair	Frostburg	Pct	.889; 8-1
Paul Cobb	Lonaconing/Cumberland	HR	6

Only two clubs ever played Minor League baseball after this season. Cumberland, which played in several leagues through the early 1930's, was a member of the Class D, Blue Ridge League in 1917 and 1918. Piedmont, also known as Piedmont/Westernport, played briefly in the Class D, Blue Ridge League in 1918.

Source

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, (statistics):Second Edition.

For additional resources: Mark C. Zeigler, Boys of the Blue Ridge - www.blueridgeleague.org. The Encylopedia of Minor League Baseball, ed. 1-2, Miles Wolff & Lloyd Johnson, Durham, NC.