Colonial League (baseball)

Colonial League

Classification	Class C (1914–1915) Class B (1947–1950)
Sport	Minor League Baseball
First season	1914
Ceased	1916 July 14, 1950
President	Charles Coppen (1914–1915) Ken Strong (1947) John A. Scalzi Jr. (1948–1950)
No. of teams	19
Country	United States
Most titles	1 Fall River Spindles (1914) Hartford Senators (1915) Stamford Bombers (1947) Port Chester Clippers (1948) Bristol Owls (1949) Poughkeepsie Chiefs (1950)

The Colonial League was the name of two mid-level American minor baseball leagues. The first Colonial League was a Class C level league that existed from 1914 to 1915 as a minor league for the outlaw Federal League. The second Colonial League existed from 1947 through mid-July 1950. It was graded Class B, two levels below the major leagues, and featured teams based in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey

History

1914 to 1915

The Colonial League began to operate as a Class C level league based in Southern New England in the 1914 season.[1] In April, Alexander Bannwart drew notice by acquiring Big Jeff Pfeffer to manage the team in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.[2] By May, it was suspected that Bannwart was working as an agent of the Federal League, an outlaw league working outside of the National Agreement. Bannwart denied this.[3] Upon these news reports, some of the founding members of the Colonial League resigned, fearing banishment by the National Baseball Commission.[4][5]

Though Charles Coppen was nominally the president of the Colonial League, Bannwart began to exert authority at the Colonial League offices. Later in the 1914 season, Bannwart drew anger when he attempted to make last-minute changes to the schedule designed to increase competitiveness in the standings and maximize profits at the box office.[6] Due to the backlash from the teams, the schedule was not changed.[7] The league was reported to have lost $22,000 ($669,209 in current dollar terms) in 1914.[8] After the season, Bannwart unsuccessfully petitioned the National Commission to reclassify the Colonial League as Class B.[9]

At the April 1915 league meeting, Coppen was re-elected as president and Bannwart was elected secretary. Walter S. Ward, the treasurer of the Brooklyn Tip Tops of the Federal League and son of George S. Ward, an owner of the Tip Tops, was elected as the league's treasurer.[10] Wanting to expand into Springfield, Massachusetts, and Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut, territory that belonged to the Eastern Association, the Colonial League reorganized itself as a farm system for the Federal League[11] and voluntarily withdrew itself from organized baseball.[12] The Colonial League struggled financially in 1915, and Bannwart's policies were blamed. The quality of baseball was deemed to be below the expected standards of a Class C league in part due to the salary maximums set by Bannwart, diminishing fan interest in the league.[13] In August 1915, Bannwart resigned from the Colonial League.[14] The league collapsed during the 1915-16 offseason.[15]

1947 to 1950

The Colonial was one of many minor leagues that briefly existed during the post-World War II baseball boom. It competed in the Northeastern United States with five major league clubs in New York and New England, established minor leagues such as the International League, Eastern League, Canadian–American League, Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League (PONY League), and other fledgling circuits such as the postwar New England League and Border League.

As a whole, the Colonial was rarely adopted as a site for farm teams for major league clubs. Only two of its member teams (the 1948 Bridgeport Bees and Port Chester Clippers) ever affiliated with a big league parent club (the Washington Senators and St. Louis Browns, respectively).

Baseball Hall of Fame member Jimmie Foxx managed Bridgeport in 1949.

As the minors began to contract in the late 1940s, the Colonial League's days were numbered. It shut its doors on July 14, 1950, with only 80,000 fans reported to have attended games in the entire six-team circuit.

Cities represented

1914–1915

• Brockton, MA: Brockton Shoemakers 1914; Brockton Pilgrims 1915
• Fall River, MA: Fall River Spindles 1914–1915
• Hartford, CT: Hartford Senators 1915
• New Bedford, MA: New Bedford Whalers 1914–1915
• New Haven, CT: New Haven MaxFeds 1915
• Pawtucket, RI: Pawtucket Tigers 1914; Pawtucket Rovers 1915
• Springfield, MA: Springfield Tips 1915
• Taunton, MA: Taunton Herrings 1914–1915
• Woonsocket, RI: Woonsocket Speeders 1914

1947–1950

• Bridgeport, CT: Bridgeport Bees 1947–1950
• Bristol, CT: Bristol Owls 1949–1950
• Kingston, NY: Kingston Hubs 1948; Kingston Colonials 1949–1950
• New Brunswick, NJ: New Brunswick Hubs 1948
• New London, CT: New London Raiders 1947
• Port Chester, NY: Port Chester Clippers 1947–1948
• Poughkeepsie, NY: Poughkeepsie Giants 1947; Poughkeepsie Chiefs 1948–1950
• Stamford, CT: Stamford Bombers 1947; Stamford Pioneers 1948–1949
• Torrington, CT: Torrington Braves 1950
• Waterbury, CT: Waterbury Timers 1947–1950

Standings & statistics

1914 to 1915

1914 Colonial League

Team name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Fall River Spindles	62	37	.625	–	John Kiernan
New Bedford Whalers	60	40	.600	2.5	Jack O'Brien
Woonsocket Speeders	49	48	.505	12.0	Roy Dickenson / T.M. Walsh
Taunton Herrings	44	54	.449	17.5	Ambrose Kane / Tom Gillen
Pawtucket Tigers	45	56	.446	18.0	Jeff Pfeffer/ Nixey Callahan / William Fortin
Brockton Shoemakers	36	61	.371	25.0	Willie Reardon / Bert Weeden

No Playoffs held

Player statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joe Gaudette	Woonsocket	BA	.321		Johnny Tillman	New Bedford	W	21
Joe Gaudette	Woonsocket	Hits	117		Merdic McLeod	Fall River	SO	193
Aime Prouix	Taunton	Runs	92		Joe Gulden	Fall River	W Pct	.786; 11–3
John Gilmore	Pawtucket	HR	9

[16]

1915 Colonial League

Team name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Hartford Senators	55	42	.567	–	Jim Delahanty
Brockton Pilgrims	57	44	.564	0.0	Bert Weeden
New Bedford Whalers	56	45	.554	1.0	Jack O'Brien
New Haven MaxFeds	52	50	.510	5.5	Bert Maxwell
Springfield Tips	47	50	.485	8.0	Henry Ramsey
Pawtucket Rovers	37	57	.394	16.5	Jim Connor
Fall River Spindles	22	24	.478	NA	Frank Connaughton / William Phoenix
Taunton Herrings	14	28	.333	NA	Tom Gillen

Fall River & Taunton disbanded on July 10.
No playoffs held

Player statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jim Delahanty	Hartford	BA	.379		Johnny Tillman	New Bedford	W	22–6
Hughie Miller	Taunton / Springfield	Hits	116		Johnny Tillman	New Bedford	SO	176
Frank Kiley	Taunton / Brockton	HR	4		Johnny Tillman	New Bedford	Pct	.786

[16]

1947 to 1950

1947 Colonial League
schedule

Team name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Waterbury Timers	83	38	.686	–	33,946	James Acton
Poughkeepsie Giants	66	50	.569	14.5	43,403	Eric McNair
Stamford Bombers	67	61	.523	19.5	28,697	Zeke Bonura
New London Raiders	50	67	.427	31.0	27,431	Ed Butka
Port Chester Clippers	51	71	.418	32.5	18,898	Al Barillari
Bridgeport Bees	46	76	.377	37.5	28,320	Carmen Brunetto

Playoffs: Stamford 4 games, Waterbury 3. New London 4 games, Poughkeepsie 3. Finals: Stamford 4 games, New London 1.

Player statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Connie Creeden	Port Chester	BA	.395		Mike Kash	Waterbury	W	20
Connie Creeden	Port Chester	Hits	153		Sid Schacht	Stamford	SO	180
Frank LaManna	Waterbury	RBI	123		Joe Murray	Port Chester/Brid.	ERA	2.34
Frank LaManna	Waterbury	HR	21
Vito DeVito	Stamford	Runs	128

[16]

1948 Colonial League
schedule

Team name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Port Chester Clippers	86	53	.619	–	32,198	Al Barillari
Poughkeepsie Chiefs	76	61	.555	9.0	38,573	Steve Mizerak
Waterbury Timers	65	68	.489	18.0	40,988	Mike Kash
New Brunswick Hubs/ Kingston Hubs	61	71	.462	21.5	36,397	Ed Kobesky
Bridgeport Bees	61	72	.459	22.0	38,049	Glenn Snyder / Buddy Hall
Stamford Pioneers	54	78	.409	28.5	25,640	Zeke Bonura

New Brunswick moved to Kingston on July 10.
Playoffs: Port Chester 4 games, Waterbury 1. Poughkeepsie 4 games, Kingston 1. Finals: Port Chester 4 games, Poughkeepsie 1.

Player statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Ed Kobesky	Brunswick/Kingston	BA	.390		Guy Coleman	Port Chester	W	17
Joseph DeToia	Poughkeepsie	Hits	157		Paul Wargo	Port Chester	SO	158
Joseph DeToia	Poughkeepsie	RBI	96		Sid Schacht	Stamford	ERA	2.09
Zeke Bonura	Stamford	HR	23
Aldo Casadei	Waterbury	Hits	157

[16]

1949 Colonial League
schedule

Team name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Bristol Owls	82	47	.636	–	62,485	Al Barillari / Jimmy O'Connell
Stamford Pioneers	74	52	.587	6.5	31,092	Joe Glenn / Herb Stein
Bridgeport Bees	73	54	.575	8.0	37,309	Ollie Ryers / Jim Paules / /Jimmie Foxx / Tom Downey
Waterbury Timers	62	63	.496	18.0	39,857	Bert Shepard / Leo Eastham
Poughkeepsie Chiefs	45	78	.366	34.0	25,123	Woody Williams / Elmer Weingartner / Gabe Mauro
Kingston Colonials	39	81	.325	38.5	29,231	Julius Laviano / Eddie McNamara / Emil Gall

Playoffs: Bristol 4 games, Waterbury 1. Bridgeport 4 games, Stamford 3. Finals: Bristol 2 games, Bridgeport 1.

Player statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Leo Eastham	Waterbury	BA	.349		Emil Moscowitz	Stamford	W	19
George Handy	Bridgeport	Hits	183		Phillip Frick	Bridgeport	W	19
Jim Callahan	Stamford	RBI	107		Ed Hrabczak	Stamford	W	19
James Paules	Bridgeport	RBI	107		Emil Moscowitz	Stamford	ERA	2.01
Leo Eastham	Waterbury	HR	26		Ed Hrabczak	Stamford	SO	234
Carlos Bernier	Bristol	Runs	136
Carlos Bernier	Bristol	SB	89

[16]

1950 Colonial League
schedule

Team name	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Poughkeepsie Chiefs	43	26	.623	–	Robert Doyle
Kingston Colonials	39	28	.582	3.0	Emil Gall
Bristol Owls	36	31	.537	6.0	Al Barillari
Torrington Braves	33	32	.507	8.0	Merle Strachan
Waterbury Timers	23	39	.371	16.5	John Morris / Charlie Bowles
Bridgeport Bees	23	41	.359	17.5	Bud Stapleton / Frank Silva

No Playoffs: The League Disbanded July 16.

Player statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Nino Escalera	Bristol	BA	.389		Emil Moscowitz	Poughkeepsie	W	12
Nino Escalera	Bristol	Hits	93		Emil Moscowitz	Poughkeepsie	ERA	1.51
John Sinnott	Poughkeepsie	RBI	53		Emil Moscowitz	Poughkeepsie	SO	102
Carlos Bernier	Bristol	Runs	67		Denny Doyle	Poughkeepsie	SO	102
Carlos Santiago	Poughkeepsie	HR	11

[16]

References

• Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina Baseball America, 2007.

1. "Six Teams In The Colonial League". The Evening Herald. February 25, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Pfeffer At Pawtucket". The Evening Herald. April 6, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Reported That Feds Own The Colonial". The Evening Herald. May 28, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Steve Flanagan Quits Colonial". Fall River Daily Evening News. June 3, 1914. p. 5. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Bannwart Behind Colonial League". The Boston Globe. June 4, 1914. p. 10. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "May Mean End of New League". Fall River Daily Evening News. August 26, 1914. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "No Changes In Colonial Schedule". The Evening Herald. August 28, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Banwart Still The Big Chief". The Evening Herald. December 29, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Murnane, T.H. (January 30, 1915). "Josh Devore Given Release". The Boston Globe. p. 7. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Son Of Federal League Magnate Behind Colonial League". Democrat and Chronicle. April 25, 1915. p. 28. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Arrangements For Federal League Farm Complete". Norwich Bulletin. May 14, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "New League Jumps To Feds". The Meridian Journal. May 22, 1915. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Bannwart's Policy Retards Colonial". Hartford Courant. July 4, 1915. p. 36. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Bannwart Quits Job At Last, But The Colonial Still Lives". Fall River Globe. August 12, 1915. p. 6. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
15. Lamb, Bill. "Alexander Bannwart". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
16. Lloyd Johnson; Miles Wolff, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.