New York–Pennsylvania League (1923–1937)

New York–Pennsylvania League (1923–1937)

Sport	Baseball
Founded	1923; 101 years ago (1923)
Ceased	1937; 87 years ago (1937)
No. of teams	22 (total)
Country	US
Last champion(s)	Elmira Pioneers (1)
Most titles	Tie (3 each): Williamsport Grays Harrisburg Senators Binghamton Triplets

The New York–Pennsylvania League of 1923 through 1937 was an American minor league baseball circuit, the forerunner to the modern Double-A Eastern League.

History

The New York–Pennsylvania League (NY–PL) began in 1923 as Class B circuit and operated at that level through 1932.[1] It then upgraded to Class A for the final five seasons of its existence. When Hartford, Connecticut, entered the loop in 1938, the NY–PL adopted the Eastern League name, and has used that identity since (except for 2021, when it was known as the Double-A Northeast). Previous editions of the Eastern League had existed from 1883–1886, 1892–1911 and 1916–1932. The second incarnation of the Eastern League changed its name in 1912 to the current International League.

The NY–PL's longest-tenured franchises during the 1923–1937 period included Binghamton, a New York Yankees affiliate, Elmira, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport, all of which were members for the league's 15-year existence.

The NY–PL of 1923–1937 was the second of three leagues to bear the name:

• The original New York–Pennsylvania League played for one season, 1891.
• In 1957, the Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League (PONY League) changed its name to the New York–Penn League and operated under that identity until folding in 2020, beginning as a Class D loop and ending as a Class A Short Season league.

Member teams

Albany Senators Allentown Brooks Binghamton Triplets Elmira Colonels Elmira Pioneers Elmira Red Birds/Red Wings

Harrisburg Senators Hazleton Mountaineers Hazleton Red Sox Oneonta Indians Reading Keys Reading Red Sox

Scranton Miners Shamokin Indians Shamokin Shammies Syracuse Stars Trenton Senators Utica Utes

Wilkes-Barre Barons Williamsport Billies Williamsport Grays York White Roses

League champions

1923—Williamsport Billies 1924—Williamsport Grays 1925—York White Roses 1926—Scranton Miners 1927—Harrisburg Senators

1928—Harrisburg Senators 1929—Binghamton Triplets 1930—Wilkes-Barre Barons 1931—Harrisburg Senators 1932—Wilkes-Barre Barons

1933—Binghamton Triplets 1934—Williamsport Grays 1935—Binghamton Triplets 1936—Scranton Miners 1937—Elmira Pioneers

References

1. Gateway to the Majors: Williamsport and Minor League Baseball. Penn State Press. 2001. p. 97. ISBN 9780271039374.