Connecticut League

Defunct American baseball 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 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

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)

New Britain disbanded September 8

1888 Connecticut State League
President: J. Howard Taylor

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

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

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

Class F 1897 to 1907

1897 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

1898 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

New Britain disbanded June 23.
Derby disbanded June 25.

1899 Connecticut State League - schedule
President: Tim Murnane

No Playoffs.

1900 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

No Playoffs.

1901 Connecticut State League
President: Tim Murnane

No Playoffs.

Class D 1902 to 1904

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

No Playoffs.

1903 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock

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

1904 Connecticut League
President: Jim O'Rourke

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

Class B 1905 to 1912

1905 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

No Playoffs.

1906 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

No Playoffs.

1907 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey

No Playoffs.

1908 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey

No Playoffs.

1909 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

No Playoffs.

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

No Playoffs.

1911 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

Northampton and Holyoke disbanded June 26.
No Playoffs.

1912 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke

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