Westfield Athletics

The Westfield Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Westfield, New Jersey. In the 1891 and 1892 seasons, the Athletics played exclusively as a member of the independent Central New Jersey League.

Westfield Athletics
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (1891–1892)
LeagueCentral New Jersey League (1891–1892)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameWestfield Athletics (1891–1892)
BallparkUnknown (1891–1892)

History

Minor league baseball began in Westfield, New Jersey in 1891. The Central New Jersey League was formed for the 1891 season as an Independent level minor league. The exact teams and statistics of the 1891 season are unknown, but it is reported the Plainfield Crescent Cities, with Baseball Hall of Fame player Willie Keeler won the championship and that Westfield and Somerville played in the league.[1][2]

The Westfield Athletics continued play in the four–team 1892 Central New Jersey League. Westfieled began play in the Independent level league as the season began on May 26, 1892. The Westfield Athletics joined the Elizabeth team from Elizabeth, New Jersey, the Plainfield Crescent Cities and Somerville West Ends from Somerville, New Jersey in league play.[3][4][5][6][7]

The 1892 Central New Jersey League season officially concluded on September 24, 1892. The season ended with the Westfield Athletics in fourth place with a record of 5–11, playing under manager E E. Codding. But, the Westfield Athletics franchise had folded before the end of the season.[5][8]

Before the 1892 season schedule was completed, both the Westfield Athletics and Elizabeth franchises disbanded on September 3, 1892. The teams both had 5–11 records when they folded. In the final Central New Jersey League standings, the Somerville West Ends and Plainfield Crescent Cities were in a tie for first place with 12–6 records, with Westfield and Elizabeth 6.0 games behind. However, the Plainfield franchise also disbanded before a playoff with Somerville could be played.[5][8][9][10]

Future major league players Dude Esterbrook and Jack Sharrott played for the 1892 Westfield Athletics.[11][12]

With three of its franchises folding before the end of the season, the Central New Jersey League permanently folded following the 1892 season. Westfield, New Jersey has not hosted another minor league team.[13][14]

The ballpark

The name of the Westfield Athletics' home minor league ballpark is not known.[15]

(2014) Westfield, New Jersey. Mindowaskin Park gazebo

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1891–18922Westfield AthleticsIndependentCentral New Jersey League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
189100–00NANALeague records unknown
18925–114thE E. CoddingTeam folded September 3

Notable alumni

See also

Central New Jersey League alumni
Westfield Athletics players

References
  1. "Central New Jersey League (No Classification) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "DOWN ON BASEBALL.; A JERSEY TOWN'S SEVERE DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST THE SPORT". The New York Times. August 16, 1891.
  3. "1892 Central New Jersey League (CNJL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1892 Central New Jersey League (CNJL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "1892 Plainfield Crescent League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1892 Central New Jersey League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "1892 Westfield Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1892 Somerville West Ends Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1892 Central New Jersey League (CNJL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "Westfield Athletics minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1892 Westfield Athletics Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Westfield, New Jersey Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Westfield, New Jersey sports teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "1892 Somerville West Ends minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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