Northeastern League

The Northeastern League was a minor league baseball league that last played in the 1934 season as an eight–team Class B level league. The 1934 league franchises were based in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. An earlier Northeastern League played as an Independent league in 1887 and 1895 to 1896, with teams based in New York and Vermont.

Northeastern League
ClassificationIndependent (1887, 1895–1896)
Class B (1934)
SportMinor League Baseball
Inaugural season1887
Ceased1934
PresidentRoger E. Baker (1934)
No. of teams15
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1 Rutland (1887)
Lowell Honeys/Hustlers (1934)

History

The "Northeastern League" first played as a minor league in the 1887 season, beginning play on July 6, 1887, with the season concluding on September 5, 1887.[1] The 1887 league was formed as an Independent league, composed of league members Burlington, Malone, Montpelier, Rutland and St. Albans. The 1887 Rutland team won the Northeastern League championship with a 16–6 record managed by James Harmon. The five–team league began play on July 6, 1887 and the Rutland was followed by St. Albans (19–9), Burlington (13–17), Malone (3–10) and Montpelier (2–13) in the final standings. The Burlington, Vermont team was managed by L.J. Smith and L.G. Burnham. Malone, New York was managed by Ryder. Montpelier, Vermont was managed by Fred Spaulding and William Lord. The Rutland, Vermont team was managed by James Harmon and St. Albans, Vermont was managed by Hunt. All the 1887 Northeastern League teams would become members of the Northern New York League, which began play in 1900. The Northeastern League played again as an Independent league in the 1895 and 1896 seasons, with teams and standings unknown.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The Northeastern League resumed play in 1934. The league played in 1934 as a Class B level league under the direction of President Roger E. Baker.[10] The Northeastern League began play on May 16, 1934, as six–team league, playing a split–season schedule with members Hartford Senators, Lowell Honeys/Hustlers, Manchester Indians, New Bedford Whalers, Springfield Ponies and Waltham Rosebuds. On May 24, 1934, the Waltham Rosebuds, with a 6–2 record, moved to become the Worcester Rosebuds, playing their first home game in Worcester on June 1, 1934. The Lowell Honeys/Hustlers won the first half standings. At the start of the second half, the Northeastern League expanded to eight teams, adding the Watertown Townies and Cambridge Cantabs as new franchises. On July 17, 1934, Cambridge, with a 1–12 record, moved to become the Wayland Birds. Worcester won the second half standings. In the playoff Finals, Lowell won the championship 4 games to 1 over Worcester.[11][12]

The Northeastern League permanently folded after the 1934 season. After the season ended, league owner Roger Baker, an accountant, reportedly was convicted of embezzlement from his clients and sentenced to serve time in prison.[2]

Northeastern League cities

Standings and statistics

1887 Northeastern League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Rutland166.727–James Harmon
St. Albans199.6791.5Hunt
Burlington1317.4336.0L.J. Smith / L.G. Burnham
Malone213.23110.5Ryder
Montpelier213.13311.0Fred Spaulding / William Lord

[1][10]

1934 Northeastern League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Waltham Rosebuds /
Worcester Rosebuds		6643.555–Freddie Knight / Freddie Maguire
Lowell Hustlers6346.5293.0Bill Hunnefield
Manchester Indians5849.5427.0Chief Werre
Hartford Senators5053.48513.0Snake Henry
Pepper Rae / Bill Morrell
New Bedford Whalers4660.43418.5Jean Dubuc
Springfield Ponies4162.39822.0Bobby Murray
Watertown Townies4028.588NABill Barrett
Cambridge Cantabs /
Wayland Birds		1942.311NAMack Hillis
Dick Phelan / Tom O'Brien
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
John JonesSpringfield /
Worcester / Watertown		BA.365Gerald GruenwaldWorcesterW17
Thomas AdamsSpringfield / WorcesterRuns92Frank ColemanHartfordSO174
Snake HenryWorcesterHits131Jud McLaughlinManchesterPct.706; 12–5
Amit SavardLowellHR17

[10]

References
  1. "1887 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "Northeastern League (B) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1887 Burlington Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "1887 Malone Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "1887 St. Albans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1887 Rutland Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1887 Montpelier Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "Northern New York League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1887 Rutland minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  11. "1934 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. Ballou, Bill. "Baseball: These three also played in Worcester en route to majors". Worcester Telegram.
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