Slatington Dukes

The Slatington Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Slatington, Pennsylvania. In 1932, the Dukes played a partial season as members of the Class D level Interstate League, joining the league when the Tamaqua Dukes team relocated from Tamaqua to Slatington during the season, only to have the league fold less than two weeks later. Slatington hosted Dukes' home minor league games at Victory Park.

Slatington Dukes
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1932)
LeagueInterstate League (1932)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameSlatington Dukes (1932)
BallparkVictory Park (1932)

History

During the 1932 season, the Tamaqua Dukes of the Class D level Interstate League moved to Slatington on June 7, 1932. The "Slatington Dukes" then began play, inheriting an 8–12 record.[1][2] The Interstate League began the season with the Lancaster Red Sox, Norristown Saints, Pottstown Legionaires, Stroudsburg Poconos, Tamaqua Dukes, and Washington Potomacs teams beginning league play on May 20, 1932.[3]

On June 20, 1932, the Interstate League folded. The Norristown Saints team had relocated to St. Clair on May 27, 1932, only to have the franchise fold on June 12, 1932, leaving the league with five remaining teams.[3] After compiling a 2–4 record while based in Slatington, the Dukes ended their season with an overall record of 10–16 to finish in fourth place. Managed by Lee Strait, the Dukes finished 9.0 games behind the first place Stroudsburg Poconos in the final standings. Pottstown (18–8) and Norristown/St Clair (11–10) finished in second and third place, while the Washington Potomacs (9–17) and Lancaster Red Sox (7–16) finished behind Slatington in fifth and sixth place.[1][4][5]

Future major league player Bob Barr played for the Slatington Dukes.[6]

After folding in 1932, the Interstate League returned to play in 1939, when it reformed without a franchise in Slatington.[4] Slatington, Pennsylvania has not since hosted another minor league team, though the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, are based in nearby Allentown, Pennsylvania.[7]

The ballpark

The Slatington Dukes hosted home minor league games at Victory Park.[8] Still in use today as a public park with a swimming pool, amphitheater and pavilion, Victory Park is located at Main and Grove Streets in Slatington, Pennsylvania.[9][10] The borough celebrated the 100 year anniversary of Victory Park on July 24, 2021.[11]

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
193210–164thLee StraitTamaqua (8–12)
moved to Slatington June 7
League folded June 20

Notable alumni

See also
  • Tamagua/Slatington Dukes players

References
  1. "1932 Tamaqua/Slatington Dukes minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "Valley's been a major site for minor league baseball".
  3. "1932 Inter-State League (ISL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  5. "1932 Interstate League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1932 Tamaqua/Slatington Dukes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "Slatington, Pennsylvania Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "High School Field in Tamaqua, PA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "Our Parks". Northern Lehigh Rec.
  10. Porter, Kristine. "Slatington purchases land to increase size of Victory Park | Times News Online". .tnonline.com.
  11. Stevens, Daniel (18 January 2021). "Finance Planning/Zoning, Public Safety and Human/Community Services Committee Workshop Meeting Minutes". Borough of Slatington. Slatington, Pennsylvania.
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