Brattleboro Islanders

Last updated
Brattleboro Islanders
Minor league affiliations
Class Class D (1911)
League Twin States League (1911)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1911
Team data
NameBrattleboro Islanders (1911)
BallparkIsland Park (1911)

The Brattleboro Islanders were a minor league baseball team based in Brattleboro, Vermont. In 1911, the Islanders were charter members of the Class D level Twin States League and won the league championship in the league's only season of play. The Battleboro Islanders were the flagship franchise of the league, playing home games at Island Park, which sat within the Connecticut River.

Contents

History

The Battleboro Islanders were formed in 1911, as the result of a business venture, with the team becoming the flagship franchise of the Twin State League. Brattleboro, Vermont businessmen George Fox and Michael Moran purchased the property of Island Park and formed the Island Park Amusement Company. The company constructed a new amusement park on the, island, which was located on the Connecticut River. The amusement park contained a new 1,200 seat ballpark. [1] The amusement park venture and the ballpark were named "Island Park." The location was strategic. Because Vermont's Blue Laws in the era did not allow businesses to be open on Sundays, the official New Hampshire location of the island provided an escape from the legal issue. [2]

With the new ballpark on Island Park, the owners aspired to host a team in the venue. Local financial support for a franchise to play in the new ballpark at Island Park was secured and the Brattleboro Islanders were formed. Needing opponents to play, the three other league cities were recruited and franchises developed. [3] The Twin States League was officially formed on March 12, 1911. [1] The Twin States League formed as a Class D level minor league. Brattleboro joined the Bellows Falls Sulphites, Keene Medics and Springfield–Charlestown Hyphens as charter members. [4]

Brattleboro and the Twin States League schedule ran from July 1, 1911 to September 4, 1911, with all teams playing a 36–game schedule. [5]

The Brattleboro manager was E.L. Breckenridge, who had coached baseball at Amherst College, Dartmouth College and Williams College. [1]

On opening day at Island Park, the Brattleboro and visiting Bellow Falls teams marched in a parade behind a band. The parade route ran from the Brattleboro town hall, down Main Street, across the bridge and into the ballpark. The Islanders won the opening day game 8–3 in front of a full grandstand, with 1,200 in attendance. [1] [3]

On the final day of the 1911 season, the Islanders clinched the league championship when they defeated Keene 2–0. [1] A crowd of 3,500 was on hand for the game, as the crowd lined up along the foul lines and the outfield after the grandstand became full. A special train had arrived from Keene, carrying fans for the game. [3]

In the final standings, Battleboro finished 2.0 games ahead of second place Keene. The Brattleboro Islanders (22–14) were followed by the Keene Medics (20–16), Bellows Falls Sulphites (15–20) and Springfield-Charlestown Hyphens (14–21) in the official standings of the four–team league. [6] [7]

Tim Horan, of the Brattleboro Islanders, hit .300 to win the Twin States League batting championship. [7]

After the 1911 season, the Twin States League was no longer a minor league baseball league. [7] The league did continue play in 1912 as a semi–pro league, with Brattleboro as a member. [1]

(2013) Bridge Street Bridge. Brattleboro. Bridge Street bridge Brattleboro from south.jpg
(2013) Bridge Street Bridge. Brattleboro.

The ballpark

The Islanders played 1911 home games at Island Park. The ballpark no longer exists. [8] The amusement park and ballpark were located on the Brattleboro end of the island, which was 22-acres in size in the era. Island Park was located within the Connecticut River, setting between Brattleboro, Vermont and Hinsdale, New Hampshire. In the era there was a toll bridge that connected Brattleboro and Hinsdale with the island. Continual flooding eventually ended the public use of the island, with a 1936 flood wiping out most structures remaining on the island. Today, the Bridge Street Bridge, built in 1920, connects to the island on the east, linking Brattleboro to the island. The west bridge then connects into Hinsdale. [2]

Year–by–year records

YearRecordFinishManagerNotes
191122–141stE.L BreckenridgeLeague champions

[7]

Notable alumni

The complete player roster for the 1911 Brattleboro Islanders is unknown. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quad Cities River Bandits</span> American Minor League baseball team

The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, one of the Quad Cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moline Plowboys</span> Minor league baseball team

The Moline Plowboys was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Moline, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities. Moline teams played as members the 1892 Illinois-Iowa League, 1894 Western Association, the Mississippi Valley League (1924–1932), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League and Central Association (1947–1948), winning four league championships. The franchise played as the "Moline A's" in 1947–1948.

The Rock Island Islanders was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Rock Island, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities, between 1892 and 1937. Rock Island teams played as members of the Illinois–Iowa League (1892), Western Association (1894), Eastern Iowa League (1895), Western Association (1898–1899), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1911), Central Association (1914), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Mississippi Valley League (1922–1933) and Western League (1934–1937).

The Evansville Evas was a primary nickname of an early minor league baseball teams in Evansville, Indiana between 1877 and 1931. Early Evansville teams played as members of the League Alliance (1887), Central Interstate League (1889-1890), Interstate League (1891), Northwestern League (1891), Illinois-Indiana League (1892), Southern Association (1895), Central League (1897), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1902), Central League (1903–1911), Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League (1912), Central League (1913–1917) and Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1919–1931). Evansville was a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers from 1928 to 1931.

The Alton Blues were a minor league baseball team based in Alton, Illinois. In 1917, the Blues played as members of the Class B level Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League, hosting home games at Sportsman's Park. The league folded during the 1917 season with the Blues in last place.

The Omaha Packers were a minor league baseball team based in Omaha, Nebraska. Between 1879 and 1935, Omaha minor league teams had a long tenure as members of the Western League and Western Association, winning five league championships. Omaha teams played under numerous other nicknames prior to the becoming the "Packers" in 1930.

The Brookfield Hustlers were a minor league baseball team based in Brookfield, Missouri. In 1911, the Hustlers were the first of two Brookfield teams that played as members of the Class D level Missouri State League. After the Brookfield Hustlers folded early in the 1911 season, the Sedalia franchise moved to Brookfield. The Sedalia/Brookfield Cubs team was in 1st place when the Missouri State League folded during the season.

The Ontario–Quebec–Vermont League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1924 season. The Class B level league directly evolved from the 1922–1923 Eastern Canada League. The 1924 Ontario–Quebec–Vermont League consisted of teams based in Canada and the United States.

The Columbus Pawnees were a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1915, Columbus teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League for their six seasons of minor league play. The "Pawnees" played in the 1914 and 1915 seasons, after the team was called Columbus "Discovers" from 1910 to 1913. After placing second in their first season, Columbus did not finish above fourth place in their remaining seasons, before the franchise folded during the 1915 season.

The Red Springs Red Robins were a minor league baseball team based in Red Springs, North Carolina. From 1947 to 1950, the Red Springs Red Robins played exclusively as members of the Class D level Tobacco State League, winning league championships in 1948 and 1949. The Red Robins were a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics for their duration. The 1969 Red Springs Twins succeeded the Red Robins, playing as members of the Class A level Carolina League.

The Angier–Fuquay Springs Bulls were a minor league baseball team based in Angier, North Carolina in partnership with the Fuquay Mineral Spring area. In 1946, the Bulls played as members of the Class D level Tobacco State League, winning the league championship in their only season of minor league play. The Bulls hosted home minor league games at the Angier Baseball Park.

Minor league baseball teams were based in South Bend, Indiana in various seasons beginning in 1888 through 1932, setting the foundation for the current franchise, who began play in 1988.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Aurora, Illinois, in various seasons between 1888 to 1915.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Ardmore, Oklahoma, playing in various seasons between 1904 and 1961. Ardmore teams played in the 1904 Texas League, Texas-Oklahoma League (1911–1914), 1917 Western Association, Texas-Oklahoma League (1921–1922), 1923 Western Association, 1924 Oklahoma State League, Western Association (1924–1926), Sooner State League (1947–1957) and Texas League (1961). Ardmore captured league championships in 1923, 1925 and 1957.

The Twin States League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1911 season. The four Class D level league franchises were located in Vermont and New Hampshire. The Brattleboro Islanders were the flagship franchise of the league and won the 1911 championship in the league's only season of minor league play. The Twin States League was integrated, among the first 20th century professional leagues to be integrated.

The Bellows Falls Sulphites were a minor league baseball team based in Bellows Falls, Vermont in 1911. The Sulphites were charter members of the Class D level Twin States League and placed third in the league's only season of minor league play. Bellows Falls hosted home minor league games at Barber Park.

The Keene Champs were a minor league baseball team based in Keene, New Hampshire. In 1911, the Champs played as charter members of the Class D level Twin States League and placed second in the league's only season of minor league play.

The Springfield–Charlestown Hyphens were a minor league baseball team representing the partner cities of Springfield, Vermont and Charlestown, New Hampshire. In, 1911, the Hyphens played as charter members of the Class D level Twin States League and placed fourth in the league's only season of minor league play.

The Charlotte Twins were a minor league baseball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Gastonia Rockets were a minor league baseball team based in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. The Rockets played as members of the Class B level Tri-State League in 1952 and 1953, winning the 1952 league pennant before the team folded following the 1953 season. The Rockets were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and hosted home games at Sims Legion Park, which is still in use today.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Soos, Troy (December 11, 2006). Before the Curse: The Glory Days of New England Baseball, 1858-1918, rev. ed. McFarland. ISBN   9780786426256 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 "A look at Island Park in its heyday". Brattleboro Reformer.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kearney, Semus (1995). National Pastime, Volume 15 A Review of Baseball History. "The Brattleboro Islanders". Birmingham, Alabama: The Society for American Baseball Research, Inc. pp. 5–9. ISBN   0-910137-62-5.
  4. ↑ "1911 Twin States League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ "1911 Twin States League (TSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ↑ "1911 Twin States League (TSL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  8. ↑ "Island Park in Brattleboro, VT minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ↑ "1911 Brattleboro Islanders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.