Olympia Senators

{{Infobox Minor League Baseball

| name =Olympia Senators

| firstseason =1903

| lastseason =1906

| allyears =

| city =Olympia, Washington

| logo =

| uniformlogo =

| class level =Class D (1903–1906)

| league =Southwest Washington League (1903–1906)

| majorleague =None

| nickname =Olympia Senators (1903–1906)

| ballpark =Athletic Stadium (1903–1906)

| classnum =

| classchamps =

| leaguenum =0

| leaguechamps =None

| confnum =

| conferencechamps =

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| wildcardnum =

| wildcardberths =

}}

The Olympia Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Olympia, Washington. From 1903 to 1906, the Senators teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Southwest Washington League for the duration or the league. The Senators hosted home minor league games at Athletic Stadium, which was nicknamed "Electric Park."

==History==

Minor league baseball began in Olympia, Washington in 1903. The Olympia "Senators" were charter members of the four–team Class D level Southwest Washington League. The Aberdeen Pippins, Centralia Midgets and Hoquiam Perfect Gentlemen joined Olympia as charter members in beginning league play.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=4ac4732c|title=1903 Southwest Washington League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-SWWL/y-1903|title=1903 Southwest Washington League (SWL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}

1903 was the first season of the National Association governing body of minor league baseball. The Southwest Washington League and teams were designated to be Class D by the National Association, with John P. Fink, of Olympia serving as league president. The Olympia franchise was officially formed in February 1903, after 20 Olympia businessmen submitted the $250 league entry fee and gained league approval.{{Cite web|url=https://olympiahistory.org/olympia-in-minor-league-baseball/|title=O’Connell: Olympia in Minor League Baseball | Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum|website=olympiahistory.org}}

File:Old State Capitol Building, Olympia, Washington (4861195678).jpg. Olympia, Washington]]

The team's "Senators" nickname corresponds to Olympia, Washington being the state capitol of Washington.https://www.olympiawa.gov/community/events___activities/visiting_the_capitol.php

Olympia played an opening home exhibition game on April 19, 1903, against the Tacoma Athletes, an amateur team. Olympia won 4–1 with 600 in attendance. Newspapers also referred to the 1903 Olympia team as the "Maroons," likely a reference to uniform colors, common in the era.

On May 22, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt was present for an Aberdeen home game against Olympia for a "President Day" afternoon game. Olympia defeated the Pippins in the contest.

After beginning regular season play on May 10, 1903, the Olympia Senators placed second in the Southwest Washington League in their first season of play.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1903 Olympia Senators Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} In the league structure, Southwest Washington League teams played games six times per week, but only weekend games were counted for the league standings. Olympia ended the season with a record of 7–11, playing under managers Sam Fink and Charles Grant. Olympia finished 4.0 games behind Aberdeen and Hoquiam who tied for first place with 11–7 records, with Aberdeen awarded the championship when Hoquiam refused to participate in a playoff game.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1-first=Lloyd |editor1-last=Johnson |editor2-first=Miles |editor2-last=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-os13488/y-1903|title=1903 Olympia Senators minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}

Continuing Southwest Washington League play in 1904, the Olympia Senators finished in third place in the four–team league.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1904 Olympia Senators Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} The league continued the practice of only counting weekend games in the standings, while playing six times per week overall. Ending the season with a record of 6–12, Olympia played under managers Dave Edwards and Bill Hanlon. The Senators finished 8.0 games behind the first place Hoquiam Perfect Gentlemen (14–4) in the final standings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-os13488/y-1904|title=1904 Olympia Senators minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}

In early May 1905, the local paper, The Morning Olympian introduced the Olympia players as if they were elected Senators: "Senator Cook, Senator Christian, Senator Almost, Senator Dye. A newly elected member who represents the Solid South is Senator Autray...."

The 1905 Olympia Senators placed second in the Southwest Washington League standings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1905 Olympia Senators Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} The Southwest Washington League continued as a four–team league, as the Centralia Midgets were replaced by the Montesano Farmers in 1905 league play. The Southwest Washington League continued with counting only weekend games for the league standings. Olympia had a final record of 20–16, playing under manager James Mitchell. Montesano won the league championship, with Olympia 5.0 games behind.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-os13488/y-1905|title=1905 Olympia Senators minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}

The Southwest Washington League played a 1906 season as a Class D level league with Olympia, the Aberdeen Pippins and Hoquiam Loggers as the three league members referenced. Team and individual records, statistics and rosters for the 1906 season are unknown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1906 Olympia Senators Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

Olympia attempted to field a franchise in the 1910 Washington State League but were unsuccessful. The "Olympia Senators" played as a local semi–professional team into the 1920s.

Olympia, Washington has not hosted another minor league team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Olympia, Washington Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}