Connecticut League

The Connecticut League, also known as the Connecticut State League, was a professional baseball association of teams in the state of Connecticut. The league was a minor league for most of its existence. It began as offshoot of the original Connecticut State League, which dates back as far as 1884. In 1891, the Connecticut State League included the Ansonia Cuban Giants, a team made up of entirely African-American ballplayers, including future Hall-of-Famers Frank Grant and Sol White. In 1902, it was a Class D league with teams in eight cities. In 1905, the league became Class B, which lasted until 1913, when the league became the Eastern Association due to several teams outside of the state entering the league. Also a Class B league, it survived two more seasons, then folded after the 1914 season.

Connecticut League teams

• Rockland Base Ball Club — 1884. Rockland, Maine[1]

Cities represented

• Ansonia, CT: Ansonia Cuban Giants 1888, 1891; Ansonia Welcomes 1896
• Bridgeport, CT: Bridgeport Giants 1888; Bridgeport Victors 1895-96; Bridgeport Misfits 1897; Bridgeport Orators 1898-1912
• Bristol, CT: Bristol 1891; Bristol Braves 1897; Bristol Bellmakers 1899-1900; Bristol Woodchoppers 1901
• Danbury, CT: Danbury 1888; Danbury Hatters 1898
• Derby, CT: Derby Angels 1896-1898, 1900-1901; Derby Lushers 1899
• Hartford, CT: Hartford 1884; Hartford Babies 1885; Hartford Bluebirds 1895; Hartford Senators 1902-1912
• Holyoke, MA: Holyoke Paperweights 1903-1906; Holyoke Papermakers 1907-1912
• Meriden, CT: Meriden 1884 1888, 1891, 1908; Meriden Maroons 1885; Meriden Silvermen 1895; Meriden Bulldogs 1897-1898; Meriden Silverites 1899-1905
• New Britain, CT: New Britain 1884-1885, 1891; New Britain Rangers 1898; New Britain Perfectos 1908-1912
• New Haven, CT: New Haven Edgewoods 1896; New Haven Students 1898; New Haven Blues 1899-1908; New Haven Black Crows 1909; New Haven Prairie Hens 1910; New Haven Murlins 1911-1912
• New London, CT: New London Whalers 1898-1907
• Northampton, MA: Northampton Meadowlarks 1909-1911
• Norwalk, CT: Norwalk 1888
• Norwich, CT: Norwich 1891; Norwich Jackroses 1899; Norwich Witches 1900; Norwich Champs 1901; Norwich Reds 1902-1903, 1905-1907; Norwich Indians 1904
• Portland, CT: Portland 1891
• Rockville, CT: Rockville 1884
• Southington, CT: Southington 1891
• Springfield, MA: Springfield Ponies 1902-1912
• Stamford, CT: Stamford 1888
• Torrington, CT: Torrington Tornados 1896; Torrington Demons 1897
• Waterbury, CT: Waterbury 1884, 1885, 1888, 1891; Waterbury Brassmen 1895; Waterbury Indians 1897; Waterbury Pirates 1898 Waterbury Rough Riders 1899-1902; Waterbury Authors 1906-1908; Waterbury Invincibles 1909; Waterbury Finnegans 1910; Waterbury Champs 1911; Waterbury Spuds 1912
• West Haven, CT: West Haven 1891
• Willimantic, CT: Willimantic 1884
• Winsted, CT: Winsted Blues 1896
• Worcester, MA: Worcester Reds 1904

[2]

Yearly standings

No Classification 1884 to 1891

1884 Connecticut State League

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Waterbury	34	13	.723	-	S.F. Williams / Pheron Minor
Meriden	25	22	.532	9.0	Albert Boardman / George Lynn
Rockville	22	25	.468	12.0	J. Kelly / Middleton / Talcott
Hartford	20	27	.426	14.0	Charles Soby
New Britain	17	30	.362	17.0	Winchester / P.J. Markley / John A. Flynn
Willimantic	17	18	.486	NA	Bill Thomas

Willimantic expelled September 3.
The league played two games each week: Wednesdays and Saturdays

1885 Connecticut State League
(Continuation of the Southern New England League)

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Meriden Maroons	8	2	.800	-	Bill Thomas
Waterbury	3	2	.600	2.5	Jack (DA) Jones
Hartford Babies	3	6	.333	4.5	Jack Remsen
New Britain	2	6	.250	7.0	William Siering

New Britain disbanded September 8

1888 Connecticut State League
President: J. Howard Taylor

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Meriden	9	3	.750	-	NA
Waterbury	10	7	.588	1.5	Thomas Guest
Norwalk	9	7	.563	2.0	NA
Bridgeport Giants / Stamford	9	9	.500	3.0	Bullen
Ansonia Cuban Giants	4	7	.364	4.5	Cos Govern
Danbury	4	13	.235	7.5	L.F. Abbott

Bridgeport transferred to Stamford in May, then disbanded June 27.
Danbury disbanded June 5.
The league disbanded July 25.

1891 Connecticut State League
President: A.W. Lang

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Meriden	10	4	.714	2.5	Thomas Reilly
Waterbury	20	9	.690	-	Harry Durant / Tom Hayes / W.R. Mattison
New Britain	14	11	.560	8.0	Frank Cox
Hartford	12	11	.522	5.0	M.E. Fitzgerald
Ansonia Cuban Giants	8	10	.444	6.5	John Brigh
Bristol-Plainville	12	15	.444	7.0	E.F. Belden
Norwich	10	13	.435	7.0	H.F. Reddy
Southington	5	7	.417	6.5	James Prior
Portland	3	10	.231	9.0	Charles Edwards
West Haven	1	8	.111	9.0	E.P. Thomas

Hartford disbanded June 10; Portland disbanded June 10.

Class B 1894 to 1896

1894 Connecticut State League
Standings unknown

1895 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Bridgeport Victors	8	3	.727	-	Jim O'Rourke
Meriden Silvermen	4	3	.571	2.0	Miller / Reilly
Hartford Bluebirds	4	4	.500	2.5	John Henry / A.F. Moran
Waterbury Brassmen	0	6	.000	5.5	Durant

1896 Connecticut State League
President: D.W. Porter (aka Naugatuck Valley State League)

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Bridgeport Victors	25	15	.625	-	Jim O'Rourke
Torrington Tornados	24	16	.600	1.0	T.M. Burn /Candy Cummings
Derby Angels	22	18	.550	3.0	William Callahan / Joseph Veitch
New Haven Edgewoods	22	18	.550	3.0	T.R. Greist
Winsted Blues	15	25	.375	10.0	Eugene McCarthy W.A. Parsons / James Eaton
Ansonia Welcomes	12	28	.300	13.0	Thomas Houlihan

Class F 1897 to 1907

1897 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Meriden Bulldogs	52	24	.684	-	Jack Chapman
Derby Angels	40	31	.563	7.5	Jerry Denny
Bridgeport Misfits	33	37	.471	14.0	Jim O'Rourke
Torrington Demons	31	39	.443	16.0	Ralph Bottenus / Dennis Houle
Waterbury Indians	34	43	.442	16.5	John Fruin E.O. Herendeen / Roger Connor
Bristol Braves	29	46	.373	20.5	O.F. Strunz / Pete Hall

1898 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Waterbury Pirates	55	38	.591	-	Roger Connor
New Haven Students	56	40	.583	0.5	Chippy McGarr / Thomas Reilly M.B. Yaw / Mike Hickey / Conrad Miller
Danbury Hatters	51	43	.543	4.5	Jack Rose
Bridgeport Orators	51	45	.531	5.5	Tom Ivers / Jim O'Rourke
Meriden Bulldogs	46	48	.489	9.5	Jack Chapman
New London Whalers	41	52	.441	14.0	Benjamin Kinney / John Puhl
Derby Angels	23	33	.411	NA	Jerry Denny
New Britain Rangers	14	38	.269	NA	Claude Gilbert

New Britain disbanded June 23.
Derby disbanded June 25.

1899 Connecticut State League - schedule
President: Tim Murnane

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
New Haven Blues	55	38	.591	-	Thomas Reilly
Waterbury Rough Riders	53	43	.552	3.5	Roger Connor
Derby Lushers	51	43	.542	4.5	Billy Lush / Larry Battam
Bristol Bellmakers	48	45	.516	7.0	John Gunshannon
Meriden Silverites	46	48	.489	9.5	A.R. Penny / George Courtney
New London Whalers	45	52	.464	12.0	George Bindloss
Bridgeport Orators	43	55	.438	14.5	Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Jackroses	41	58	.414	17.0	Jack Rose / Jack Chapman

No Playoffs.

1900 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Norwich Witches	64	33	.660	-	Fred Doe
New Haven Blues	58	39	.598	6.0	Jim Canavan
Bridgeport Orators	57	41	.582	7.5	Jim O'Rourke
Bristol Bellmakers	48	47	.505	15.0	James Cooney
Meriden Silverites	47	48	.495	16.0	A.R. Penny Conrad Miller / Thomas Reilly
Waterbury Rough Riders	43	53	.448	20.5	Roger Connor
Derby Angels	36	60	.375	27.5	Jerry Denny
New London Whalers	32	64	.333	31.5	Willis Jones / Tom Hernon

No Playoffs.

1901 Connecticut State League
President: Tim Murnane

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Bristol Woodchoppers	63	41	.606	-	Doc Reisling
Bridgeport Orators	61	43	.587	2.0	Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Champs	62	46	.574	3.0	Jack Tighe
Meriden Silverites	56	48	.538	7.0	W.R. Reilly
New Haven Blues	56	54	.509	10.0	Jim Canavan
Waterbury Rough Riders	47	60	.439	17.5	Roger Connor
New London Whalers	45	63	.417	20.0	Tom Hernon / John Shea
Derby Angels	37	72	.330	28.5	Jerry Denny

No Playoffs.

Class D 1902 to 1904

1902 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke / Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
New Haven Blues	70	39	.642	-	Jim Canavan
Springfield Ponies	65	45	.591	5.5	Roger Connor
New London Whalers	57	54	.514	14.0	John Shea
Hartford Senators	57	55	.509	14.5	Doc Reisling
Bridgeport Orators	53	59	.473	18.5	Jim O'Rourke
Norwich Reds	51	58	.469	19.0	Harry Davenport
Meriden Silverites	51	58	.469	19.0	Conrad Miller / Tom Tucker
Waterbury Rough Riders	37	73	.336	33.5	George Harrington

No Playoffs.

1903 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Holyoke Paperweights	66	37	.641	-	Pete Woodruff / Daniel O'Neill
Meriden Silverites	62	42	.595	4.5	Sam Kennedy
Bridgeport Orators	59	47	.557	8.5	Jim O'Rourke
New London Whalers	57	51	.528	11.0	John Shea / Charles Humphrey
Norwich Reds	54	50	.519	12.0	Dennis Morrissey
New Haven Blues	52	57	.477	17.0	Jim Canavan
Springfield Ponies	41	64	.370	26.0	Roger Connor
Hartford Senators	30	77	.280	38.0	Thomas Reilly

No Playoffs:
12 Holyoke games (8-4) were deducted after the season due to ineligible player violations.

1904 Connecticut League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Bridgeport Orators	71	45	.612	-	Jim O'Rourke
Springfield Ponies	69	46	.600	1.5	Daniel O'Neill
New Haven Blues	69	47	.595	2.0	Jim Canavan
Holyoke Paperweights	58	55	.513	11.5	Frank Fitzpatrick P. Prindiville / Fred Winkler
New London Whalers	56	60	.483	15.0	Charles Humphrey
Hartford Senators	53	61	.465	17.0	William Kennedy
Worcester Reds / Norwich Indians	53	62	.461	17.5	Mal Kittridge / Robert Tracey Jack Tighe / Fred Crolius
Meriden Silverites	31	84	.270	39.5	Sam Kennedy

Worcester (26-11) moved to Norwich June 21.
No Playoffs.

Class B 1905 to 1912

1905 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Holyoke Paperweights	79	35	.693	-	Jesse Freysinger
Springfield Ponies	74	44	.627	7.0	Daniel O'Neill
Bridgeport Orators	64	50	.561	15.0	Jim O'Rourke
Hartford Senators	58	56	.509	21.0	William Kennedy
Meriden Silverites	49	64	.434	29.5	Sam Kennedy
New London Whalers	49	68	.419	31.5	Charles Humphrey
New Haven Blues	46	70	.397	34.0	Jim Canavan / Jack Tighe
Norwich Reds	42	74	.362	38.0	George Allen / Jim Canavan

No Playoffs.

1906 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Norwich Reds	72	53	.576	-	George Allen / Jack Tighe
Springfield Ponies	70	56	.556	2.5	Daniel O'Neill
New Haven Blues	68	57	.544	4.0	William Slack
Hartford Senators	62	57	.521	7.0	Bert Daly / J.H. Clarkin
Waterbury Authors	60	53	.488	11.0	Harry Durant
Holyoke Paperweights	58	65	.472	13.0	Tom Fleming Tommy Dowd / M. Prindiville
Bridgeport Orators	54	72	.429	18.5	Jim O'Rourke
New London Whalers	53	74	.417	20.0	Charles Humphrey / Sam Kennedy

No Playoffs.

1907 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Holyoke Papermakers	83	42	.664	-	Tommy Dowd
Waterbury Authors	77	47	.621	5.5	Harry Durant
Springfield Ponies	72	49	.595	9.0	Daniel O'Neill
Norwich Reds	71	51	.582	10.5	August Soffel
Hartford Senators	66	55	.545	15.0	James Clarkin
Bridgeport Orators	48	75	.390	34.0	Jim O'Rourke
New Haven Blues	44	80	.355	38.5	Cornelius Danaher
New London Whalers	31	93	.250	51.5	Sam Kennedy / Charles Page

No Playoffs.

1908 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Springfield Ponies	84	41	.672	-	Daniel O'Neill
Hartford Senators	84	42	.667	0.5	Tommy Dowd / Thomas Connery
New Haven Blues	63	63	.500	21.5	Bert Daly Billy Lush / George Bone
New Britain Perfectos	61	64	.488	23.0	Charles Humphrey / William Hanna
Holyoke Papermakers	60	66	.476	24.5	Jack Tighe / Fred Winkler
Bridgeport Orators	55	71	.437	29.5	Jim O'Rourke
Meriden Silverites	54	72	.429	30.5	Charles Cheney
Waterbury Authors	42	84	.333	42.5	Harry Durant

No Playoffs.

1909 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Hartford Senators	74	44	.627	-	Thomas Connery
Holyoke Papermakers	68	53	.562	7.5	Mike McCormack
New Britain Perfectos	64	55	.533	10.5	William Hanna
Waterbury Invincibles	64	61	.512	13.5	Michael Doherty
Springfield Ponies	60	63	.488	16.5	John Zeller
New Haven Black Crows	59	65	.476	18.0	Phil Corcoran
Northampton Meadowlarks	54	68	.443	22.0	Rdward Bowler / Gil Edwards
Bridgeport Orators	44	78	.361	32.0	Jim O'Rourke

No Playoffs.

1910 Connecticut State League - schedule
President: W.J. Tracy]

Waterbury Finnegans	70	52	.574	-	Michael J. Finn
Bridgeport Orators	67	52	.563	1.5	Gene McCann
New Britain Perfectos	69	55	.556	2.0	William Hanna
New Haven Prairie Hens	67	55	.549	3.0	Bill Carrick
Hartford Senators	64	58	.525	6.0	Tom Connery
Springfield Ponies	58	68	.460	14.0	John Zeller
Northampton Meadowlarks	50	73	.407	20.5	Bill Luby
Holyoke Papermakers	46	78	.371	25.0	Pop Foster

No Playoffs.

1911 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Springfield Ponies	71	45	.614	-	John Zeller
Bridgeport Orators	71	47	.602	1.0	Gene McCann / Robert Tracey
Hartford Senators	68	52	.568	5.0	Tom Connery
New Haven Murlins	56	61	.480	15.5	Pop Foster / George Cameron
New Britain Perfectos	53	66	.444	19.5	Daniel O'Neill
Waterbury Champs	45	75	.375	28.0	Carl Pace / Frank McPartlin
Northampton Meadowlarks	21	24	.467	NA	Bill Luby
Holyoke Papermakers	16	31	.340	NA	Wade Moore

Northampton and Holyoke disbanded June 26.
No Playoffs.

1912 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
New Haven Murlins	76	41	.650	-	Jerry O'Connell
Hartford Senators	67	51	.568	9.5	Tom Connery
Bridgeport Orators	61	55	.526	14.5	Gene McCann
Holyoke Papermakers	57	58	.496	18.0	Daniel O'Neill
Springfield Ponies	50	70	.417	27.5	John Zeller
New Britain / Waterbury Spuds	39	75	.342	35.5	Jack Hoey

New Britain (12-22) moved to Waterbury June 15.
No Playoffs.

[3][2]

References

1. Worth, Richard (February 21, 2013). Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011. McFarland. ISBN 9780786491247 – via Google Books.
2. Lloyd Johnson; Miles Wolff, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
3. "Connecticut State League (E) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.

External links

• Baseball Reference
• Minor League Baseball page
• Historic North Hampton