Franklin Millionaires

The Franklin Millionaires were a minor league baseball team based in Franklin, Pennsylvania. In 1907 and 1908, the Millionaires played as members of the Class D level Interstate League. Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe McCarthy played for the 1907 Franklin Millionaires.

Franklin Millionaires
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1907–1908)
LeagueInterstate League (1907–1908)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameFranklin Millionaires (1907–1908)
BallparkUnknown (1907–1908)

History

The Franklin Millionaires were preceded in minor league play by the 1895 Franklin Braves team who won the championship of the Class C level Iron and Oil League in the one season of league play.[1][2]

In 1907, Franklin resumed minor league play, with the Franklin "Millionaires" becoming members of the eight–team Class D level Interstate League. The Bradford Drillers, DuBois Miners, Erie Fishermen, Kane Mountaineers, Oil City Cubs, Olean Oleaners and Punxsutawney Policemen teams joined Kane in beginning league play on May 15, 1907.[3]

Franklin and the other Interstate League teams had a salary cap of $750 per month. The league required the host team guarantee a visiting team $50.00 per game, with a rain guarantee of $25.00. On Saturdays and holidays, the gate receipts were to be divided equally by both teams.[4]

In their first season of Interstate League play, the Franklin Millionaires placed third as three of the eight league teams folded before completing the season.[5][6] Franklin ended their season with a record of 51–52, as L.L. Jacklin and George Rindernecht served as managers.[7] The Millionaires finished 7.0 games behind first place Erie in the final standings.[2] Franklin and the other teams of the Interstate League were plagued by bad weather and corresponding financial troubles in 1907, with Erie being the only league franchise without debt.[4]

Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe McCarthy played for the 1907 Millionaires in his first professional season, at age 20. McCarthy hit .314 for Franklin. McCarthy recalled the players dressing in a hotel and taking a trolley to the ballpark before Franklin home games.[8][9]

The Millionaires continued Interstate League play in 1908, before the league folded during the season.[2][10] After beginning play on May 13, 1908, the league folded on June 7, 1908.[11] Franklin ended their 1908 season with a record of 6–12, placing fourth in the overall Interstate League standings. Billy Smith served as the Millionaires' manager, as the team ended the season 9.5 games behind the first place Olean Candidates.[2][12][13]

The Interstate League folded following the 1908 season, before resuming play in 1913 without a Franklin Franchise.[2] Franklin has not hosted another minor league team.[14]

1936 Goudey Joe McCarthy

The ballpark

The name of the Franklin Millionaires' home ballpark is not known.[15]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1907–19082Franklin MillionairesClass DInterstate League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
190751–523rdL. L. Jacklin / George RindernechtNo playoffs held
19086–124thBilly SmithLeague folded June 7

[2]

Notable alumni

See also

Franklin Millionaires players

References
  1. "1895 Franklin Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  3. "1907 Inter-State League (PA) (ISL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "Pop Kelchner, Gentleman Jake, The Giant-Killer, and the Kane Mountaineers – Society for American Baseball Research".
  5. "1907 Franklin Millionaires Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1907 Interstate League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1907 Franklin Millionaires minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "Joe McCarthy Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. Levy, Alan H. (November 18, 2014). Joe McCarthy: Architect of the Yankee Dynasty. McFarland. ISBN 9780786481132 – via Google Books.
  10. "1908 Interstate League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1908 Inter-State League (PA) (ISL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1908 Franklin Millionaires minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1908 Franklin Millionaires Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Franklin, Pennsylvania Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "Unknown in Franklin, PA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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