Northeastern League
{{confused|Northeast League}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Northeastern League
| current_season =
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| sport =Minor League Baseball
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| president =Roger E. Baker (1934)
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| inaugural =1887
| teams =15
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| country =United States of America
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| folded =1934
| champion =
| most_champs = 1 Rutland (1887)
Lowell Honeys/Hustlers (1934)
| classification =Independent (1887, 1895–1896)
Class B (1934)
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The Northeastern League was a minor league baseball league that last played in the 1934 season as an eight–team Class B level league. The 1934 league franchises were based in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. An earlier Northeastern League played as an Independent league in 1887 and 1895 to 1896, with teams based in New York and Vermont.
History
The "Northeastern League" first played as a minor league in the 1887 season, beginning play on July 6, 1887, with the season concluding on September 5, 1887.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-NEAN/y-1887|title=1887 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}} The 1887 league was formed as an Independent league, composed of league members Burlington, Malone, Montpelier, Rutland and St. Albans. The 1887 Rutland team won the Northeastern League championship with a 16–6 record managed by James Harmon. The five–team league began play on July 6, 1887 and the Rutland was followed by St. Albans (19–9), Burlington (13–17), Malone (3–10) and Montpelier (2–13) in the final standings. The Burlington, Vermont team was managed by L.J. Smith and L.G. Burnham. Malone, New York was managed by Ryder. Montpelier, Vermont was managed by Fred Spaulding and William Lord. The Rutland, Vermont team was managed by James Harmon and St. Albans, Vermont was managed by Hunt. All the 1887 Northeastern League teams would become members of the Northern New York League, which began play in 1900. The Northeastern League played again as an Independent league in the 1895 and 1896 seasons, with teams and standings unknown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=NEAN&class=B|title=Northeastern League (B) Encyclopedia and History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1887 Burlington Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1887 Malone Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1887 St. Albans Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1887 Rutland Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1887 Montpelier Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=NNYL&class=D|title=Northern New York League (D) Encyclopedia and History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rr14204/y-1887|title=1887 Rutland minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}
The Northeastern League resumed play in 1934. The league played in 1934 as a Class B level league under the direction of President Roger E. Baker.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}} The Northeastern League began play on May 16, 1934, as six–team league, playing a split–season schedule with members Hartford Senators, Lowell Honeys/Hustlers, Manchester Indians, New Bedford Whalers, Springfield Ponies and Waltham Rosebuds. On May 24, 1934, the Waltham Rosebuds, with a 6–2 record, moved to become the Worcester Rosebuds, playing their first home game in Worcester on June 1, 1934. The Lowell Honeys/Hustlers won the first half standings. At the start of the second half, the Northeastern League expanded to eight teams, adding the Watertown Townies and Cambridge Cantabs as new franchises. On July 17, 1934, Cambridge, with a 1–12 record, moved to become the Wayland Birds. Worcester won the second half standings. In the playoff Finals, Lowell won the championship 4 games to 1 over Worcester.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-NENL/y-1934|title=1934 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/columns/2020/09/12/baseball-these-three-also-played-in-worcester-en-route-to-majors/113999592/|title=Baseball: These three also played in Worcester en route to majors|first=Bill|last=Ballou|website=Worcester Telegram}}
The Northeastern League permanently folded after the 1934 season. After the season ended, league owner Roger Baker, an accountant, reportedly was convicted of embezzlement from his clients and sentenced to serve time in prison.
Northeastern League cities
- Burlington, Vermont: Burlington (1887)
- Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cambridge Cantabs (1934)
- Hartford, Connecticut: Hartford Senators (1934)
- Lowell, Massachusetts: Lowell Honeys/Hustlers (1934)
- Malone, New York: Malone (1887)
- Manchester, New Hampshire: Manchester Indians (1934)
- Montpelier, Vermont: Montpelier (1887)
- New Bedford, Massachusetts: New Bedford Whalers (1934)
- Rutland, Vermont: Rutland (1887)
- Springfield, Massachusetts: Springfield Ponies (1934)
- St. Albans, Vermont: St. Albans (1887)
- Waltham, Massachusetts: Waltham Rosebuds (1934)
- Watertown, Massachusetts: Watertown Townies (1934)
- Wayland, Massachusetts: Wayland Birds (1934)
- Worcester, Massachusetts: Worcester Rosebuds (1934)
Standings and statistics
=1887 Northeastern League=
| class="wikitable"
!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers | |||||
| align=center
|Rutland | 16 | 6 | .727 | – | James Harmon |
| align=center
|St. Albans | 19 | 9 | .679 | 1½ | Hunt |
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|Burlington | 13 | 17 | .433 | 6 | L.J. Smith / L.G. Burnham |
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|Malone | 2 | 13 | .231 | 10½ | Ryder |
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|Montpelier | 2 | 13 | .133 | 11 | Fred Spaulding / William Lord |
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=1934 Northeastern League=
| class="wikitable"
!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers | |||||
| align=center | 66 | 43 | .555 | – | Freddie Knight / Freddie Maguire |
| align=center | 63 | 46 | .529 | 3 | Bill Hunnefield |
| align=center | 58 | 49 | .542 | 7 | Chief Werre |
| align=center | 50 | 53 | .485 | 13 | Snake Henry / Pepper Rae Bill Morrell |
| align=center | 46 | 60 | .434 | 18½ | Jean Dubuc |
| align=center | 41 | 62 | .398 | 22 | Bobby Murray |
| align=center | 40 | 28 | .588 | NA | Bill Barrett |
| align=center | 19 | 42 | .311 | NA | Mack Hillis / Dick Phelan Tom O'Brien |
| class="wikitable"
|+Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot | ||||||||
| align=center
|John Jones | Springfield / Worcester Watertown | BA | .365 | Gerald Gruenwald | Worcester | W | 17 | |
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|Thomas Adams | Springfield / Worcester | Runs | 92 | Frank Coleman | Hartford | SO | 174 | |
| align=center | Worcester | Hits | 131 | Jud McLaughlin | Manchester | Pct | .706; 12–5 | |
| align=center
|Amit Savard | Lowell | HR | 17 |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Professional Baseball}}
Category:Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States
Category:Baseball leagues in Connecticut
Category:Baseball leagues in Massachusetts
Category:Baseball leagues in New Hampshire
Category:Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States
Category:Sports leagues established in 1887
Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 1934
Category:Baseball leagues in New York (state)
Category:Baseball leagues in Vermont