Coudersport Giants

The Coudersport Giants were a minor league baseball team based in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. In 1905, the Giants played as members of the Class D level Interstate League, winning the league championship in their final season of play. Previously hosting the 1904 Coudersport minor league team of the independent Southern Tier League, Coudersport played home minor league games at Morgan Park.

Coudersport Giants
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (1904)
Class D (1905)
LeagueSouthern Tier League (1904)
Interstate League (1905)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1905
Team data
NameCoudersport (1904)
Coudersport Giants (1905)
BallparkMitchell Park

History

In 1904, Coudersport began minor league play as members of the independent Southern Tier League. The team had no official nickname, common in the era, as Charles Eichelberger managed the Coudersport team.[1] Playing with Coudersport in the league were the Addison White Sox, Corning White Ponies, Elmira, Hornellsville Maple Cities, Penn Yan Grape Pickers and Wellsville Oil Drillers teams.[2] The 1904 official Southern Tier League standings and statistics are unknown,[2][3] but newspaper accounts had the Coudersport team in last place with a 9–19 record on August 21, 1904.[4]

In 1905, Coudersport continued minor league play, with the Coudersport "Giants" becoming members of the six–team Class D level Interstate League.[5] The Bradford Drillers, Erie Fishermen, Jamestown Hill Climbers, Kane Mountaineers and Olean Refiners joined the Giants in beginning league play of April 25, 1905.[6][7] Local newspapers used the "Giants" nickname for the team.[8]

The Coudersport Giants won the 1905 Interstate League championship. The Giants ended the 1905 season with a record of 59–38, finishing first in the Interstate League standings. With Harry Knight and John Lawley serving as managers, Coudersport finished 1.0 game ahead of the second place Erie Fisherman (58–39).[9] The Olean Refiners (54–50), Bradford Drillers (46–54), Kane Mountaineers (40–56) and Jamestown Hill Climbers/DuBois Miners (40–60) followed in the standings.[10][9]

Future major league players Rube Kroh and Herbie Moran played for the Coudersport Giants.[5] Moran was a Coudersport native, playing his first season of professional baseball.[11]

The Interstate League continued play in 1906, when it expanded to eight teams, but did not continue the franchise in Coudersport.[9] Coudersport, Pennsylvania has not hosted another minor league team.[12]

The ballpark

Coudersport hosted home minor league games at Mitchell Park.[13] Still in use today as a public park, Mitchell Park is located on Park Avenue in Cloudersport.[14]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
19041CoudersportClass DSouthern Tier LeagueMitchell Park
19051Coudersport GiantsInterstate League

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
19049–196thCharles EichelbergerRecord on Aug 21[4]
190559–381stHarry Knight / John LawleyNo playoffs held
League champions

[9]

Notable alumni

See also

Coudersport Giants players

References
  1. "1904 Coudersport Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1904 Southern Tier League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1904 Southern Tier Association (STA) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle". Democrat and Chronicle. August 21, 1904. p. 23 – via newspapers.com.
  5. "1905 Coudersport Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1905 Inter-State League (PA) (ISL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1905 Interstate League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. Worth, Richard (February 21, 2013). Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011. McFarland. ISBN 9780786491247 – via Google Books.
  9. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  10. "1905 Inter-State League (PA) (ISL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "Herbie Moran – Society for American Baseball Research".
  12. "Coudersport, Pennsylvania Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Mitchell Park in Coudersport, PA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "Recreation – Coudersport Borough". coudersportborough.org.
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