Great Falls Electrics

The Great Falls Electrics were a minor league baseball team that operated out of Great Falls, Montana. The team was formed in 1911 as part of the old Union Association league. They also played in the Northwestern League from 1916 to 1917. The team disbanded at that time and then was reformed as part of the Pioneer League in 1948. They became an affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952 and remained with the Dodgers through 1963. The team was briefly called the Great Falls Dodgers during the 1957 season and the Great Falls Selectrics in 1949–1950.

For the professional basketball team, see Great Falls Electric.
Great Falls Electrics
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1963)
  • Class C (1948–1962)
  • Class B (1892, 1916–1917)
  • Class D (1911–1913)
  • Independent (1900, 1905)
LeaguePioneer League (1948–1963)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsBrooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1952–1963)
Minor league titles
League titles 5 (1913, 1917, 1951, 1954, 1961)
Team data
Previous names
  • Great Falls Electrics (1951–1963)
  • Great Falls Selectrics (1949–1950)
  • Great Falls Electrics (1911–1913, 1916–1917, 1948)
  • Great Falls Indians (1900, 1905)
  • Great Falls Smelter Cities (1892)
Previous parks
Centene Stadium

In 1969, the team now known as the Great Falls Voyagers began play as the Great Falls Giants and they have remained active under different names since.

The ballpark

The Electrics played at Centene Stadium then called Legion Park, located at 1015 25th Street North Great Falls, Montana. The park is still in use today, as home of the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League.[1]

Selectrics name change

On February 24, 1949, the advisory board of directors of the Great Falls Baseball Club agreed to change the name of the team to the Selectrics.[2] Great Falls Breweries, Inc., the owner of the club, originally had hoped to rename the team the "Selects" to advertise its beer, but the Pioneer League rejected the proposed name change because it advertised a commercial product.[2] The Pioneer League approved the name "Selectrics," however, which was a portmanteau of the Great Falls Breweries "Select" beer and the previous team name, "Electrics."[3]

Notable alumni

Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

Year-by-year record
YearLeagueAffiliationRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
1911Union Associationnone90-461stGeorge ReedLeague Champs
1912Union Associationnone72-613rdGeorge Reednone held
1913Union Associationnone78-421stHarry HesterLeague Champs
1916Northwestern Leaguenone60-614thDick Hurley / Herb Hesternone held
1917Northwestern Leaguenone42-291stHerb HesterLeague Champs
1948Pioneer Leaguenone51-757thRich GyselmanNone
1949Pioneer Leaguenone62-625thJoe BowmanNone
1950Pioneer Leaguenone68-574thJoe Bowman / John AngeloneLost first round
1951Pioneer Leaguenone76-603rdBuck ElliottLeague Champs
1952Pioneer LeagueBrooklyn Dodgers67-644thLou RochelliLost first round
1953Pioneer LeagueBrooklyn Dodgers77-542ndLou RochelliLost League Finals
1954Pioneer LeagueBrooklyn Dodgers70-624thLou RochelliLeague Champs
1955Pioneer LeagueBrooklyn Dodgers74-582ndLou RochelliLost first round
1956Pioneer LeagueBrooklyn Dodgers64-686thLou RochelliNone
1957Pioneer LeagueLos Angeles Dodgers48-778thJack BantaNone
1958Pioneer LeagueLos Angeles Dodgers63-705thStan WasiakLost playoffs
1959Pioneer LeagueLos Angeles Dodgers60-704thBrandy DavisLost first round
1960Pioneer LeagueLos Angeles Dodgers55-755thSpider JorgensenNone
1961Pioneer LeagueLos Angeles Dodgers75-582ndAl RonningLeague Champs
1962Pioneer LeagueLos Angeles Dodgers60-705thAl RonningNone
1963Pioneer LeagueLos Angeles Dodgers69-593rdAl RonningLost first round

References
  1. "Centene Stadium - In The Ballparks". www.intheballparks.com.
  2. "Great Falls Pioneer League Club Changes Name to 'Selectrics'". The Billings Gazette. February 25, 1949. p. 14.
  3. "Great Falls Club Now The 'Selectrics'". The Spokesman-Review. February 26, 1949. p. 32.
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