Crookston Pirates

Last updated
Crookston Pirates
Minor league affiliations
Class Class D (1902–1905, 1933–1940)
Class C (1941)
League Northern League (1902–1905, 1933–1941)
Major league affiliations
Team Chicago White Sox (1936)
St. Louis Cardinals (1937)
Boston Red Sox (1938)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (2)
  • 1937
  • 1938
Team data
NameCrookston Crooks (1902–1905)
Crookston Pirates (1933–1941)
BallparkCrookston Field (1902–1905)
Highland Park (1933–1941)

The Crookston Pirates were a minor league baseball team based in Crookston, Minnesota. Crookston teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Northern League, in two different spans, fielding league teams from 1902 to 1905 and again from 1933 to 1941. The Crookston Pirates were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in 1936, St. Louis Cardinals in 1937 and Boston Red Sox in 1938. Crookston teams hosted home Northern League games at Crookston Field (1902–1905) and Highland Park (1933–1941).

Contents

Today, the Crookston "Pirates" moniker is used by Crookston High School, established in 1914.

History

Crookston was a charter member of the Class D level Northern League in 1902, playing as the Crookston Crooks before disbanding after the 1905 season. [1] [2] [3]

Beginning in 1933, the Crookston Pirates played in the Northern League from 1933 to 1941 and were affiliates of the Chicago White Sox in 1936, St. Louis Cardinals in 1937 and Boston Red Sox in 1938. [1] [2] [4]

The Crookston teams did not win a championship in their duration of play but did qualify for the 1937 and 1938 Northern League playoffs. [2]

Crookston High School in Crookston, Minnesota was founded in 1914 and still uses the "Pirates" moniker. [5] [6]

The ballparks

The Crookston Crooks teams hosted minor league home games at Crookston Field from 1902 to 1905. [7]

From 1933 to 1941, the Crookston Pirates hosted home games at Highland Park. With dimensions of 340–420–329, Highland Park had a capacity of 2,000 (1938). Today, the park is still in use a public park. The Highland Park Complex sits on 40 acres, located at North Central Avenue and Barrette Street in Crookston, Minnesota. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateBallpark
1902–19054Crookston Crooks Class D Northern League NoneCrookston Field
1933–19353Crookston PiratesHighland Park
19361 Chicago White Sox
19371 St. Louis Cardinals
19381 Boston Red Sox
1939-19402None
19411 Class C

Year-by-year records

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
1902 31–252ndWilliam LycanNo playoffs held
190355–413rdWilliam Lycan / William BrayNo playoffs held
1904 33–364thBill McNeil / William LycanNo playoffs held
1905 38–636thBill McNeil / N. DaviesNo playoffs held
1933 48–485th Lute Boone No playoffs held
1934 62–583rd Lute Boone No playoffs held
1935 45–657th Lute Boone Did not qualify
1936 54–687th Ken Penner Did not qualify
1937 61–574thErwin SchuerenLost in 1st round
1938 69–473rd Bill Burwell Lost in finals
1939 43–768th Phil Todt Did not qualify
1940 49–747thFred NeislerDid not qualify
1941 46–687thAbe StemigDid not qualify

[2]

Notable alumni

See also

Crookston Crooks players
Crookston Pirates players

Related Research Articles

The Northern League was a name used by several minor league baseball organizations that operated off and on between 1902 and 1971 in the upper midwestern United States and Manitoba, Canada. The name was later used by the independent Northern League from 1993 to 2010.

The Fargo-Moorhead Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1933 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1960, representing the neighboring cities of Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota. The Twins won six league championships during their seasons of play. Earlier minor league teams had also represented the cities. Baseball Hall of Fame members Dizzy Dean (1941) and Lloyd Waner (1947) are Fargo-Moorhead Twins alumni, as is 2x AL Most Valuable Player Roger Maris.

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 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 Ogdensburg Maples were a minor league baseball team based in Ogdensburg, New York. In 1900 and 1901, Ogdensburg played as members of the Northern New York League and the Ogdensburg Colts franchise was a member of the Canadian–American League from 1936 to 1940. The Maples played as members of the Class C level Border League from 1946 to 1951. Overall, Ogdensburg teams made seven playoff appearances, won three league championships and one pennant. The teams hosted minor league home games at Winter Park.

The Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams representing the cities of Amsterdam, New York, Gloversville, New York and Johnstown, New York between 1890 and 1908. Amsterdam and Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown teams played as members of the New York State League from 1894 to 1895 and 1902 to 1908.

The Vicksburg Hill Billies was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Vicksburg, Mississippi between 1893 and 1955. Vicksburg teams played as a member of the Mississippi State League (1893–1894), Cotton States League, Southeastern League (1946–1950) and Cotton States League (1955).

The Sedalia Goldbugs were a minor league baseball team based in Sedalia, Missouri. Between 1904 and 1911, Sedalia teams played as a member of the Missouri Valley League (1902–1904), Western Association (1905) and Missouri State League (1911), winning league championships in 1903 and 1911. Sedalia played as the Sedalia Cubs in 1911. Sedalia hosted minor league home games at Liberty Park Stadium.

The Rome Colonels was the primary moniker of minor league baseball teams based in Rome, New York between 1898 and 1951. Rome teams played as members of the New York State League (1898–1901), Empire State League (1905) and Canadian–American League. The Colonels were preceded in Rome by the Rome Romans.

The Nashua Millionaires were a minor league baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire. Between 1926 and 1933, the Millionaires played as members of the Class B level New England League. The Millionaires were preceded in New England League play by the "Nashua" teams of 1901 to 1905.

The Jamestown Jimmies were a minor league baseball team based in Jamestown, North Dakota. Earlier Jamestown teams played as members of the Class D level Dakota League in 1922 and North Dakota League in 1923, with the Jimmies playing as members of the Northern League in 1936 and 1937. The 1936 Jamestown Jimmies were a St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliate and won the league pennant. The Jimmies hosted minor league home games at City Park, after the "Jimkotans" and "Jimkotas" played at McElroy Park, in the same location.

The Fremont Reds were a minor league baseball team based in Fremont, Ohio. From 1936 to 1941, Fremont teams played as members of the Class D level Ohio State League, winning two league championships. The Fremont Reds were an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds from 1936 to 1938, before playing from 1939 to 1941 as the Fremont "Green Sox." The Fremont Reds and Green Sox teams hosted home minor league games at Anderson Field, which is still in use today.

The East Grand Forks Colts were a minor league baseball team based in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. In 1933, the Colts played the season as members of the Class D level Northern League, finishing the season in sixth place. East Grand Forks hosted minor league home games at East Side Park in their only season of play. The franchise evolved to become the neighboring Grand Forks Chiefs in 1934, after a new ballpark was constructed in Grand Forks.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Fall River, Massachusetts between 1877 and 1949. Fall River teams played as members of the New England Association (1877), League Alliance (1877), New England League, Colonial League (1914–1915) and New England League (1946–1949), winning five league championships. Fall River hosted home minor league games at the Athletic Grounds beginning in 1893 through 1915 and at Fall River Stadium from 1946 to 1949.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Lawrence, Massachusetts between 1877 and 1946. Lawrence minor league baseball teams played as members of the 1877 New England Association, 1884 Massachusetts State Association, 1885 Eastern New England League, New England League, 1895 New England Association, New England League, Eastern League (1916–1917) and New England League.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Meriden, Connecticut in various seasons between 1884 and 1913. Meriden teams played as members of the Connecticut State League (1884–1885), Southern New England League (1885), Eastern League (1886), Connecticut State League, Connecticut League (1903), Connecticut State League, Connecticut Association (1910) and Eastern Association (1913).

Minor league baseball teams were based in Lafayette, Indiana in various seasons between 1909 and 1994. Lafayette teams played as members of the Northern State of Indiana League from 1909 to 1911, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League in 1955, the Midwest League in 1956 and 1957 and 1994 Great Central League, winning two league championships. Lafayette was a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1955 and Boston Red Sox in 1956 and 1957.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Centreville, Maryland between 1937 and 1946. Centreville teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League in the 1937–1941 and 1946 seasons.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Galveston, Texas in various seasons between 1888 and 1955. The Galveston White Caps played as members of the Gulf Coast League from 1950 to 1953 and Big State League from 1954 to 1955. Earlier Galveston teams played ender various monikers in the Texas League between 1888 and 1937. Galveston teams won four league championships.

The Pittsburg Coal Diggers were a minor league baseball team based in Pittsburg, Kansas. From 1903 to 1906, Pittsburg teams played as a member of the Missouri Valley League from 1903 to 1905 before joining the 1906 Kansas State League. The Pittsburg "Miners" won the 1905 Missouri State League championship in the final season of league, before adopting the Pittsburg "Champs" nickname for the 1906 Kansas State League season.

References

  1. 1 2 "Crookston, Minnesota Register History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lloyd Johnson; Miles Wolff, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  3. "Crookston Crooks minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "Crookston Pirates minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Schedule - Crookston Pirates (Crookston, MN) Varsity Baseball 21-22".
  6. "HOME | CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS". District 593.
  7. "Crookston Field in Crookston, MN minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "Highland Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  9. "Highland Park - Crookston, Minnesota". Infosports.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. "Highland Park Complex | City of Crookston, Minnesota". Crookston.mn.us. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  11. "Highland Park in Crookston, MN minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.