Watertown Townies
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name =Watertown Townies
| firstseason =1934
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| city =Watertown, Massachusetts
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| class level =Class B (1934)
| league =Northeastern League (1934)
| majorleague =None
| nickname =Watertown Townies (1934)
| ballpark =Victory Field (1934)
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| leaguenum =0
| leaguechamps =None
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The Watertown Townies were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, Massachusetts. In 1934, the Townies played a partial season as members of the Class B level Northeastern League. Watertown hosted home minor league games at Victory Field.
History
Minor league baseball played its only season in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1934. The Watertown "Townies" became members of the Class B level Northeastern League during the season. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=7ea93b21|title=1934 Northeastern League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{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}}
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 Townines and Cambridge Cantabs as expansion franchises. On July 17, 1934, Cambridge, with a 1–12 record, moved to become the Wayland Birds. Worcester won the second half standings and Watertown did not qualify for the playoff, finishing with a 40–28 record behind manager Bill Barrett. In the playoff Finals, Lowell won the championship 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}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1934 Watertown Townies Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-wt15280/y-1934|title=1934 Watertown Townies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}
In a Watertown game against the Hartford Senators, Townies player Andy Spognardi got into an argument with Senators manager Pepper Rea. In the quarrel, Rea "hung a smashing right on Spognardi’s chin and laid the third baseman in the dust." Rea was ejected from the game.{{Cite web|url=https://thisdayinbaseball.com/andy-spognardi-page/|title=Andy Spognardi Stats & Facts|date=December 28, 2018|website=This Day In Baseball}}
Playing in his final professional season as a player, Doc Gautreau hit .388 in 43 games for Waterford at age 32.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gautre001wal|title=Doc Gautreau Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/doc-gautreau/|title=Doc Gautreau – Society for American Baseball Research}}
The Northeastern League permanently folded after the 1934 season. After the season ended, league president Roger Baker, an accountant, reportedly was convicted of embezzlement from his clients and sentenced to serve time in prison. Baker owned seven of the eight Northeastern League teams and was convicted of embezzling $200,000 from a leather company.
Watertown, Massachusetts has not hosted another minor league team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Watertown, Massachusetts Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}
The ballpark
The 1934 Watertown Townies played home minor league home games at Victory Field. Named to honor veterans of World War I, Victory Field is still in use today as a youth and high school sports venue, serving as home to Watertown High School sports teams. Victory Field is located at 40 Orchard Street, Watertown, Massachusetts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2857|title=Victory Field in Watertown, MA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://recreation.watertown-ma.gov/facilities/facility/details/Victory-Field-13|title=Victory Field|website=Watertown Parks and Rec, MA}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.projectballpark.org/ne/victory.html|title=Massachusetts Ballparks | Victory Field | Watertown|website=www.projectballpark.org}}
Year–by–year records
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 40–28 | 2nd | Bill Barrett | Began play in second half |
Notable alumni
- Bill Barrett (1934, MGR)
- Doc Gautreau (1934)
- Neil Mahoney (1934)
- Andy Spognardi (1934)
=See also=
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Watertown&state=MA&country=US Watertown - Baseball Reference]
- [http://www.projectballpark.org/ne/victory.html Victory Field photos]
Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams
Category:Professional baseball teams in Massachusetts
Category:Defunct baseball teams in Massachusetts
Category:Baseball teams established in 1934
Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1934
Category:Watertown, Massachusetts
Category:Northeastern League teams
Category:Sports clubs and teams in Middlesex County, Massachusetts