Early teams Bridgeport hosted town baseball teams as early as 1866. A Bridgeport native,
Jim "The Orator" O'Rourke first played for the Bridgeport Ironsides team during the 1866 season at age 15.
1885: First season / Two leagues Minor league baseball play began in Bridgeport in 1885. In their first season, the Bridgeport team played in two separated leagues during the season. The Bridgeport Giants team first became members of the
independent level
Southern New England League to begin the season. The Bridgeport "Giants" joined with the
Hartford Babies,
Meriden Maroons,
New Britain and
Springfield and
Waterbury teams in forming the new league. The league schedule began on May 2, 1895. Bridgeport's 1885 Southern New England League season was a successful beginning, playing under manager
Dan Shannon until the team left the league. On August 13, 1885, Bridgeport ended their membership in the league after compiling a 33–25 record. Bridgeton left the Southern New England League and immediately joined another league. Leaving the Southern New England League on August 13, 1885, Bridgeport immediately became members of the
Eastern League, as The Giants began Eastern League play on August 14. The Bridgeport Giants joined the
Jersey City Skeeters,
Lancaster Lancasters,
Newark Domestics,
Norfolk,
Richmond Virginias,
Trenton Trentonians,
Washington Nationals,
Waterbury and
Wilmington Blue Hens teams in the league. The league had begun play on May 1. 1885. The Jersey City, Norfolk, Waterbury and Wilmington franchised did not play complete seasons in the league. During their tenure in the Eastern League to finish the 1885 season, the Giants compiled a record of 12–17, with Dan Shannon continuing as the manager after the move to the second league. After their departure from the Southern New England League, the Meriden Maroons won the league title with a 42–21 record. The league Southern New England League folded and reorganized on August 21. Four league members reformed as the
Connecticut State League to finish the season, with a
New Haven based team beginning play. The Connecticut State League played through September 10, 1885 and Meriden had the best record at 8–2.
1886 & 1887: Eastern League After joining the league in the middle of the prior season, the 1886 Bridgeport Giants continued play as members of the eight-team Eastern League. The league lost three members during the season and Bridgeport ended the season in fifth place with a record of 33–57. Bridgeport placed last of the five remaining teams when the season ended, as the Long Island (1–11), Meriden Maroons (12–34) and Providence Grays (7–14) teams folded during the season. The Newark Little Giants won the league championship with a 68–26 record. James Donnelly served as the Bridgeport player/manager during the 1885 season, batting .193 in 13 games and compiling a 3.32 ERA while pitching 19 innings in three games for his team. Bridgeton pitcher and outfielder
Joe Brown threw 397 innings for Bridgeton with a 2.23 ERA and had a 13–26 record, starting 40 games with 39 complete games. Playing the outfield, Brown batted .275 with two home runs in 91 games for Bridgeton. Brown had pitched briefly in the major leagues the prior two seasons with a 4–5 overall record for the
Chicago White Stockings () and
Baltimore Orioles (), while batting .200 in a utility role. The Bridgeport Giants played the season in the six-team league with the
Danbury Hatters, Hartford,
New Haven Blues, Springfield and Waterbury teams joined with Bridgeport in beginning league play on Saturday, April 30, 1887. Bridgeport began the 1887 season with a strong record of 20–5, but the franchise had poor home attendance and eventually folded during the season. The Bridgeport Giants folded on July 6, 1887, after winning the first half pennant in the league standings. After Bridgeport folded, the
Oshkosh, Wisconsin franchise of the
Northwestern League obtained Dan Shannon,
Tug Wilson and
Tom Lovett from Bridgeport roster. Lovett proceeded to pitch to a 20–2 record as
Oshkosh won the league championship with Baseball Hall of Fame member
Frank Selee as manager. Dan Shannon was a Bridgeport native, who batted .286 with 46 stolen bases in 49 games for the Giants in 1887 before moving to play for Oshkosh. After his player/manager stint with the Bridgeport Giants, Shannon advanced to the major leagues. A second baseman, Shannon served as the player/manager for the
Louisville Colonels and the
Washington Statesmen. He also was a player only for the
Philadelphia Athletics () and the
New York Giants () in between his managerial stints. In 1899, while serving as the manager for the
Buffalo Bisons in the
International League, Shannon was fired by team ownership for "drunkenness." In 1913, Shannon died at age 48 in Bridgeport. In his final professional season at age 28, Joe Brown returned to Bridgeport and played mostly as an outfielder while pitching in just 5 games. Brown batted .360 in 44 games in the shortened 1887 Bridgeport season. During the Connecticut State League season, Bridgeport relocated in May and continued play after becoming the
Stamford team. Stamford folded on June 27 and the league and folded for the season on July 25, 1888. The Bridgeport/Stamford was credited with a 9–9 overall record in the recorded standings as Meriden won the Connecticut State League title with a 9–3 record. The Connecticut State League did not return to play in 1889, and Bridgeport was without a minor league team for the next six seasons.
1895: Beginning of O'Rourke Bridgeport era / League championship member
Jim O'Rourke as Bridgeton manager. O'Rourke was the owner and manager and player with the Bridgeton franchise from 1895 to 1912 after concluding his 21-season major league career. In 1898, he built a new ballpark for the team on property that he owned. The Connecticut State League reformed in the summer of 1895, with
Jim O'Rourke organizing the league and serving as its president. A Bridgeport native, O'Rourke was a notable former major league player, who pursued a law degree while still continuing his baseball career. O'Rourke graduated from
Yale Law School in 1887 with an
LL.B.. He began practicing law in Bridgeport as time allowed between baseball commitments, With his law degree, O'Rourke became known by the nickname "Orator Jim." O'Rourke had been a major league baseball player and manager and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. O'Rourke had worked as an umpire in 1894 wanting to stay close to baseball. But he disliked umpiring and chose to form the Bridgeport team in his hometown for the 1895 season. The 1895 Bridgeport team played as members of the four-team Connecticut State League, with O'Rourke also serving as the team's player/manager. In the era, the league was sometimes referred to as the shorter and interchangeable "Connecticut League." The Bridgeport "Victors" were joined by the
Hartford Bluebirds,
Meriden Silvermen and
Waterbury Brassmen in forming the Connecticut State League, and the league began play on July 2, 1895. The 1895 season was the beginning of Jim O'Rourke owned Bridgeport teams, as he began serving as the Bridgeport player/manager, In his first season, O'Rourke led Bridgeport to the league championship in his first season with the team. The Victors were credited with an 8–3 final record, finishing 2.0 games ahead of the second place Meriden Silvermen in the final league standings. In 1895, Harry Herbert was signed by Jim O'Rourke and began a four-year tenure with Bridgeton, becoming the first African American in the league. Another Bridgeport native,
Billy Lush played for his hometown team in 1895 at age 21. After his play with Bridgeport, Lush then made his major league debut with the
Washington Senators at the end of the 1895 the season. Lush played in the major leagues through the 1904 season. Lush became the
Yale College collegiate baseball coach beginning in 1905, with famed football pioneer
Walter Camp as an advisor. Lush coached the 1905 Yale team to the
Ivy League championship in his first season. Yale is located in nearby
New Haven, Connecticut. Lush was the player/manager of the
Plattsburgh minor league franchise in 1905 and 1906, where one of his players in 1906 was
Baseball Hall of Fame member
Eddie Collins. In February 1906, Yale extended Lush, giving him a three-year contract. Lush remained in charge of the Yale baseball team in 1906 and 1907. After leaving Yale, Lush became the basketball coach at the
United States Naval Academy in the 1908–09 basketball season. He remained as the baseball coach at Yale through the 1911 season. In 1916, Lush returned to Bridgeport when he purchased majority ownership in his hometown Bridgeport team from Gene McCann.
1896: Second championship / League renamed The Bridgeport Victors played the 1896 season as members of the
Naugatuck Valley League, as the Connecticut State League was renamed. Jim O'Rourke was again president of the league in which his Bridgeport team played. The league's new name corresponded with the location of member teams being within the
Naugatuck River Valley region of Connecticut. The
Ansonia Welcomes,
Derby Angels,
New Haven Edgewoods,
Torrington Tornados and
Winsted Blues teams formed the newly named league, which began play on May 6, 1986. The 1896 Bridgeport team won their second consecutive league championship, earning their nickname. The Victors had a final record of 25–15, finishing in first place in the six-team league as no league playoffs were held. The first place Bridgeport Victors, were again managed to the championship by Jim O'Rourke and finished 1.0 game ahead of the second place Torrington Tornados, who were managed by Hall of Fame member
Candy Cummings. He played in the major leagues with the
New York Giants (–),
Washington Senators () and
Chicago White Sox (), batting .281 with 10 homer runs and a .341 OBP while appearing in 262 career major league games. Forster played and managed in the minor leagues until 1914 when he was age 37. After the 1896 season, four of the Naugatuck Valley League teams continued play as members of the renamed 1897 league. The Bridgeport, Derby, Torrington and Winstead teams continued play in the new league, joined by Bristol and Meriden teams. The new
Bristol Braves,
Meriden Bulldogs and
Waterbury Indians teams completed the six-team league lineup. The Bridgeport team finished in third place in the final standings as their championship run ended. Bridgeport compiled a 33–37 record and ended the season 14.0 games behind the championship winning Meriden Bulldogs in the final standings. Playing at age 46, Bridgeport owner/manager/player Jim O'Rourke again won the Connecticut state League batting championship, hitting .403 with a league leading 130 total hits. Bridgeport's Terry Rogers hit a league leading 12 home runs and also added 40 stolen bases, most in the league. Continuing the team's strong offensive results, outfielder Patsy Cunningham of Bridgeport scored a league leading 94 runs. Playing third base and shortstop, Terry Rogers played nine total seasons for Bridgeport between his first minor league season in 1895 to 1907. Rogers played his final season in 1909 at age 34.
1898 to 1903: Connecticut State League Beginning in the 1898 season, the Bridgeport "Orators" began playing their minor league home games at the newly constructed
Newfield Park in the city. The ballpark was built on land owned by Jim O'Rourke and his older brother,
John O'Rourke. Together, the brothers owned a large amount of land in the Newfield area of the city of Bridgeport. The northern portion of the land owned by Jim O'Rourke was used to as the site for the new ballpark. On Friday, May 13, 1898, the Bridgeport Orators and the
Springfield Ponies of the Eastern League played an exhibition game to open the ballpark. In their second season of membership, Bridgeport continued play as members of the 1898 Class F level Connecticut State League, continuing a sixteen-season tenure of consecutive membership in the league. The 1898 league expanded from a six-team league to become an eight–team league. The Bridgeport team became known as the "Orators" for the first time in honor of Jim O'Rourke. The league was still known as the interchangeable "Connecticut League" in the era. In returning to play in the 1898 Connecticut State League, the Bridgeport Orators placed a close fourth in the final standings. The Orators ended the season with a record of 51–45, playing the season under managers Tim Ivers and Jim O'Rourke. Bridgeport ended the season just games behind the first place Waterbury Pirates (55–38) in the final standings, as no league playoffs were held. In 1909 Corcoran was the player manager for the New Haven Black Crows. At age 39, Third baseman
Jerry Denny played for Bridgeport in 1898 before becoming the player/manager for the
Derby Angels during the season. He returned to play for Bridgeton in 1902 after managing Derby through the 1901 season. in his 16-season major league career, Denny played for the
Providence Grays (–),
St. Louis Maroons (),
Indianapolis Hoosiers (–),
New York Giants (–),
Cleveland Spiders (),
Philadelphia Phillies () and
Louisville Colonels (–), batting .260 with 74 home runs and 1,284 career hits. Denny was considered an outstanding fielding third baseman ibn his major league career. In 1890,
Sporting Life sportswriter
John B. Foster called Denny "the King of the Third Basemen" in a feature article, saying "No third baseman ever has lived, who could equal Jerry Denny in making plays at third base." Continuing play in the 1899 Connecticut State League, the Orators compiled a record of 43–55 under the returning O'Rourke. The Bridgeport Orators finished games behind the first place New Haven Blues in the final standings. No league playoffs were held, as was common in the era. After playing briefly with the New York Giants in 1898,
John Puhl played for the Bridgeport Orators in 1899, appearing in 19 games and batting a .145 while playing third base. Later in season, Puhl made another brief appearance playing for the New York Giants, playing one game at third base. In 1900, Puhl became ill and he died at the age of 24 of
Pulmonary Tubercular Phthisis in
Bayonne, New Jersey. The 1900 Bridgeport Orators continued Connecticut League play in beginning the new century. Bridgeport compiled a final record of 61–43, playing the season under the direction of returning manager Jim O'Rourke in his seventh season. The Bridgeport Orators finished the season 2.0 games behind the first place
Bristol Woodchoppers in the final league standings. In his major league career, Dougherty became the first player to have played for two world series championship teams, the
Boston Americans, who won the
first World Series in 1903 and the
Chicago White Sox, winners of the
1906 World Series. Dougherty hit two home runs in Game 2 of the 1903 World Series, including the first series home run that cleared the fence after leading off the game with an
Inside-the-park home run. In his career, Dougherty played with the Boston Americans (–),
New York Highlanders (–) and Chicago White Sox (–) during his major league career. Dougherty started with Bridgeport as a pitcher who would play the outfield on occasion when not pitching. Bridgeport eventually transitioned him into a full-time outfielder in his tenure with the team. Dougherty remained a resident of Bridgeport after playing for the Orators. Prior to the 1902 season, Bridgeport owner/manager Jim O'Rourke helped form the
National Association, which became the governing body for all minor league baseball leagues and member teams. The New Haven Blues won the league championship in the newly elevated league, as the Bridgeport Orators placed fifth. Ending the season with a final record of 53–59, the Bridgeport Orators finished games behind the champion New Haven team who were managed by Jim Canavan. The Bridgeport Orators were managed by Jim O'Rourke and no league playoffs were held. The 1903 Bridgeport Orators continued Connecticut State League play as Sturgis Whitlock continued as league president. The Bridgeport Orators ended the season with a record of 59–77 to place third in eight-team Class D level "Connecticut League." Bridgeport ended the season games behind the first place
Holyoke Paperweights in the final standings. After the season, 12 victories of the Holyoke Paperweights were forfeited due to Holyoke using ineligible players, but the team still had enough victories to secure the championship. On July 2, 1903, Jimmy O'Rourke began play as he and his father appeared in the lineup for the Bridgeport Orators Connecticut State League game playing at the Springfield Ponies. In doing so the pair becoming the first known father and son tandem to play together in a professional baseball game.
1904: Connecticut State League championship team Following the Connecticut State League controversy in the season prior, Jim O'Rourke again became president of the Connecticut State League in 1904. In his dual role, O'Rourke also managed his Bridgeport Orators team to the league championship. The Orators finished in first place in the 1904 season, ending the season with a record of 71–41. Bridgeport finished games ahead of the second place
Springfield Ponies. Following his baseball career, Clark remained in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He worked in the insurance industry, married and raised two sons. Roy Clark died at Bridgeport Hospital in 1925 at age 51 after a brief illness. At age 54, Jim O'Rourke also made his final major league playing appearance following the completion of the Bridgeport 1903 season. With the
New York Giants on the verge of their first pennant since 1889, Giants manager
John McGraw signed O'Rourke, the last active member of the 1889 team, to play catcher in the title clinching game. The two were former teammates and friends. With Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher
Joe McGinnity pitching, O'Rourke caught the entire game, as the Giants defeated the
Cincinnati Reds by the score of 7–5 to win the pennant. In the game, O'Rourke had a single to go 1-for-4 in his final major league game. O'Rourke is one of only 29 players in baseball history to appear in a major league game in four different decades. The Connecticut State League was reclassified as a higher
Class B level League for the 1906 season. The Orators ended the season with a final record of 64–50, led by returning manager Jim O'Rourke. Bridgeton finished 15.0 games behind the first place Holyoke Paperweights in the final standings of the eight-team league. Following his successful season with Bridgeton, Yale joined the major league
Brooklyn Superbas on September 18, 1905, and played in four games. It was his only career major league exposure. Following the conclusion of his playing career, Yale remained in the city and resided in Bridgeport, Connecticut until his death in 1948. Before the 1906 season, Jim. O'Rourke, again serving as the Connecticut League president, announced that the league's $1,800 salary cap would be "strictly enforced." O'Rourke himself became the primary catcher for the Orators that season, playing regularly at age 57. The Orators ended the season with a record of 54–72 as no league playoffs were held. Bridgeport finished games the behind the league champion
Norwich Reds. No playoff was held, as the Orators team ended the Connecticut State League season 31.0 games behind the first place Holyoke Papermakers in the eight-team league. Despite playing on the sixth-place team, Hi Ladd continued his ten-year tenure with Bridgeton and won the league batting title, hitting .341 with a league leading 168 hits. The Orators had a final record of 55–71, playing the season under the direction of manager Jim O'Rourke in his next to last season as manager. No playoffs were held, as the Bridgeton the Connecticut State League season games behind the first place
Springfield Ponies in the final league standings. Jim O'Rourke again became president of the eight-team Connecticut State League in 1909 and also served his final season as the owner and manager of his Bridgeport Orators team. In O'Rourke's final season as manager, his Bridgeport Orators ended the 1909 Connecticut State League season in last place. With a record of 44–78, the team finished in eighth place. No playoffs were held as Bridgeport finished 32.0 games behind the first place Hartford Senators in the final standings of the eight-team, Class B level league. In 1910, O'Rourke's wife of 38 years, Ann died as did his brother
John O'Rourke. As a player, McCann had pitched briefly in the major leagues with the
Brooklyn Superbas in 1901 and 1902. The 1910 Bridgeport Orators continued play as members of the eight–team Class B level Connecticut State League, as W.J. Tracy became the league president. Nallin had previously been the collegiate football player/coach of the
1899 Villanova Wildcats football team. Nallin also played collegiate baseball at Villanova. Following the end of his baseball playing career after his season with Bridgeport, he became an umpire. Nallin was a
Major League Baseball umpire from 1915 to 1932 in the
American League. In his career he umpired in the
1927 World Series and
1931 World Series. He was home plate umpire for three
no-hitters with two on back-to-back days in 1917 and
Charlie Robertson's
perfect game on April 30, 1922. On September 11, 1928, Nallin was the home-plate umpire during
Ty Cobb's final game. Although he no longer owned the Bridgeton team, in 1911 Jim O'Rourke again became president of the Connecticut State League. The league began the season as an eight-team league, and ended as a six-team league with Bridgeport continuing play. During the season, both the
Northampton Meadowlarks and
Holyoke Papermakers teams folded on June 26, 1911. For the second consecutive season Bridgeport finished a close second place in the final standings. 71–47 record just 1.0 game behind first place Springfield Ponies (71–45) Gene McCann and Robert Tracey served as the managers as no playoffs were held. The
New York Highlanders had invited Kauff to spring training in 1911 before optioning him to Bridgeport. After his season with the Orators, Kauff went on to make his major league debut the next season. Kauff played on the major leagues for the New York Highlanders (1912),
Indianapolis Hoosiers (1914),
Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1915) and
New York Giants (1916–1920) winning two
Federal League batting championships and compiling a .311 lifetime batting average and .389 OBP. In January 1921,
Baseball Commissioner Judge
Kenesaw Mountain Landis suspended Kauff from playing baseball until an auto theft case against him and his brother was completed. Kauff was acquitted in the auto theft case in May 1921, but Landis refused to reinstate him due to concerns about his character. Kauff's legal appeals for reinstatement advanced to the New York State Supreme Court but were unsuccessful. Kauff was allowed to serve as a baseball scout and spent 22 years scouting after his playing career was ended. With a record of 61–55, the Bridgeport Ortors played under manager Gene McCann and ended the season in third place. Bridgeport finished games behind the league champion
New Haven Murlins. O'Rourke was playing for a steel mill team in
Pennsylvania when he was signed by Gene McCann to join the Bridgeport team. after his strong start in Bridgeport, scout James Gaffney of the
Boston Braves purchased his contract from Bridgeport on June 7, 1912. Frank O'Rourke made his major league debut with the
Boston Braves following his play with Bridgeton. Frank O'Rourke went on to play in the major leagues with the
Boston Braves (),
Brooklyn Robins (–),
Washington Senators (–),
Boston Red Sox (),
Detroit Tigers (–) and
St. Louis Browns (–). O'Rourke batted .254 in 1,131 career major league games. Gene McCann left the Bridgeport team as owner and manager following a disagreement with the Bridgeport team president during the 1913 season. Bridgeport finished games behind the first place Hartford team in the final league standings. Freeman is a member of the
Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. As a firstbaseman/outielder, Buck Freeman had played 11 seasons in the major leagues with the
Washington Senators 1891, 1898–1899),
Boston Beaneaters (1900) and
Boston Americans (1901–1907). Freeman lifted weights, walked 12-miles per day and exercised regularly, which was a rarity and was frowned upon in the era in which he played. Following his tenure with Bridgeport, Freeman became an umpire beginning in 1913. He worked in the minor leagues and also in the
1924 Negro League World Series. He retired from umpiring and served as a scout for the St. Louis Browns from 1926 until 1933. A former shortstop, manager Monte Cross joined Bridgeton at age 43. Cross had played in the major leagues with the
Baltimore Orioles (–),
Pittsburgh Pirates (–),
St. Louis Browns (NL) (),
Philadelphia Phillies (–) and
Philadelphia Athletics (–). He batted .231 in his career. Cross later coached collegiate for the
Maine Black Bears baseball team from 1916 to 1921. Former major league pitcher
Jake Boultes became the Bridgeport Crossmen manager in 1914. Boutles had played third base for Bridgeport in 1913, batting .266 with 3 home runs in 134 games and then became the player/manager for the 1914 season at age 29. A right handed pitcher, Boultes had previously pitched major leagues with the
Boston Doves from 1907 to 1909 and compiling a 2.96 ERA and 8–14 record with Boston in his only major league service. In the 1914 season, the Eastern Association continued play with Bridgeton as a member as the Class B level league, whose president was James O'Rourke. The Bridgeton Crossmen completed the season with a record of 67–56, finishing in third place manager under manager Jake Boultes. Bridgeport finished games behind first place New London Planters. In 1916, Bridgeport partnered with the
Hartford Senators,
Lawrence Barristers,
Lowell Grays,
Lynn Pipers,
New Haven Murlins,
New London Planters,
Portland Duffs,
Springfield Ponies and
Worcester Boosters teams in forming the Eastern League. The Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Portland and, Worcester franchises were previously members of the eight-team 1915 New England league, before the five teams continued play in the new league in 1916. The Portland Duffs had won the championship in 1915 under manager
Hugh Duffy, who was inducted into the
Baseball Hall of Fame. A Bridgeport resident, former major league player
Neal Ball became the Bridgeport manager during the 1916 season in his first managerial role at age 35. In May 1916, Ball was acquired from the
Toronto Maple Leafs to move to Bridgeport and become the Hustlers' manager and second baseman. In July, the Hustlers were in last place and, as a result, he was dismissed from the team. Neil Ball had played with
Babe Ruth with the 1914 Baltimore Orioles and the two became good friends. Ball played mainly shortstop in his major league career with the
New York Highlanders (1907–1909),
Cleveland Naps (1909–1912) and
Boston Red Sox (1912–1913), batting .250 with 4 career home runs and 99 stolen bases in 502 games. He also had career 216 errors in 477 games while playing the field. Ball made the first unassisted
Triple Play in major league history in 1909. Ball remained a resident of Bridgeport until his death in 1957 and often traveled to New York to watch major league games, using a lifetime pass given to him by the
National League.
1917 to 1923: Bridgeport Americans / continue Eastern League The Bridgeport "Americans" continued Eastern League play in 1917. There were only 21 minor leagues playing during season due to World War I. Krichell owned and operated a saloon in the Bronx that was popular with players.
Prohibition forced Krichell to close the saloon and return to baseball and join Bridgeport in the process. After the collegiate season concluded, he become a coach and
scout for the
Boston Red Sox. He began scouting for the New York Yankees in 1920. While scouting for the Yankees in 1923, Krichell attended a game between
Columbia University and
Rutgers University, Krichell shared a train to the ballpark with Columbia manager,
Andy Coakley. In his role as a Yankees scout, Krichel also signed Hall of Famers
Leo Durocher (for a $7,500 bonus),
Tony Lazzeri,
Phil Rizzuto and
Whitey Ford. On April 28, 1918, Bridgeport hosted the
Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game held at Newfield Park in Bridgeport. The Red Sox defeated Bridgeport 7–0 in the exhibition game with Boston pitcher
Sam Jones defeating Bridgeport in the contest.
Babe Ruth was a pitcher and outfielder on the 1918 Boston team. The
1918 Boston team went on to win the
1918 World Series that season, defeating the
Chicago Cubs. team at
Fenway Park.
Babe Ruth is in the back row. Boston played an exhibition game at Bridgeport in April 1918, winning 7–0. Boston won the
1918 World Series that season. In the 1918 season, only nine minor leagues were playing and only one minor league completed its season, the International League. Krichell resigned on June 27, 1918, after two wins were forfeited when he used a player not under contract. He worked in the shipyards during the First World War. Paul Kitchell and
Ray Grimes managed Bridgeport. In his second season with Bridgeport, pitcher
Alex Ferguson led the league with both 19 wins and 102 strikeouts in the shortened season. For the 1919 season the Grimes twins switched managerial roles for the Bridgeport Americans, as
Roy Grimes became the player/manager, having joined the team for the 1919 season. Playing in the Class A level league, MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records Americans ended the season with a record of 59–47, led by player/manager Roy Grimes, who took the helm of the team at age 25. Bridgeport ended the season in fourth place but finished only 4.0 games behind the first place Pittsfield Hillies. From June 27 through July 23, 1922, Grimes set a major league record by playing
17 consecutive games with an RBI. Grimes suffered a slipped disc in 1923 while sliding. The injury required surgery and effectively ended his major league career. A military veteran, Blake went on to become a collegiate athletics coach and a professor after his 1919season with Bridgeport. Having served in the
United States Army during
World War I. After his discharge from the military, Blake returned to his alumni
Niagara University in the fall of 1919, where he served a tenure as the football, baseball, and basketball coach at the school. In 1924, he left Niagara for a professor position at
St. John's University. Blake later returned to coaching, working in 1933 as an assistant basketball coach at
Fordham. . Walsh managed Bridgeport for the 1920 season and pitched briefly for the Americans. Bridgeport Americans had a Baseball Hall of Fame member as their manager in 1920. as
Ed Walsh joined the organization in his first full managerial role, hired in January 1920. Bridgeport finished with a 70–70 record and were managed by Big Ed Walsh for the entire season. The Americans ended the season in fifth place, finishing 9.0 games behind first place New Haven in the final standings of the eight-team league. Baseball Hall of Fame member
Chief Bender led New Haven to the title with a league leading 25 wins and 252 strikeouts on the season. Both Grimes twin brothers and former managers returned to Bridgeton as players in 1920 to play under Ed Walsh. Both brothers ended the season making their debuts in the major leagues. Ray Grimes batted .354 while playing in 119 games for Bridgeport in 1920. Ray then made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox to end the season. The Americans ended the Eastern League season in third place in the eight-team league with an 85–66 record. Bridgeport ended the season 12.0 games behind the first place Pittsfield Hillies. Bridgeport pitcher Herman Bornheoft led the Eastern League with a 1.73 ERA. Prior to joining Bridgeport, Rodríguez had previously played in the major leagues with the
New York Giants from 1916 to 1918, with brief appearances each season, batting .166 in 145 total career at bats. With his 1921 season Rodríguez played in seven total seasons with Bridgeport (1921–1925; 1928–1929) and batting over .290 each season with the team. Rodríguez also played in the
Cuban League in the winter months, serving as a player/manager for
Almendares. At age 30,
Joe Boehling pitched to a 6–6 record with a 2.02 ERA for Bridgeton in 1921, having begun the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the final season of his professional career. Boehling had pitched in the major leagues with the and had a 2.97 career ERA. The Bridgeport Americans ended the 1922 Eastern League season placing third in the eight-team league. Bridgeport had a record of 78–73 under Gene McCann, The Americans finished 22.0 games behind the first place
New Haven Indians who won 100 games on the season(100–51). The Americans had a final record of 71–81 record, playing the season under managers Gene McCann and Fred Fisher, while finishing games behind the first place Hartford Senators. Gehrig joined the Yankees from Hartford and began play for New York on June 15, 1923. Gene McCann managed Bridgeport for the final time in the 1923 season, his fifth season managing the Americans. After leaving Bridgeport, McCann became the manager of the Springfield in 1924 and later became a scout for the
New York Yankees.
1924 to 1931: Bridgeport Bears / Eastern League The team became known as the Bridgeport "Bears" while continuing Eastern League play in 1924. The Bears had a rough season finishing in last place in the eight-team league. The Bears ended the season with a record of 65–88 record, with managers John O'Hara,
Joe Smith,
Art Butler (1–3) and
Dick Hoblitzel (25–33) serving in the role during the season. Bridgeport finished games behind the champion
Waterbury Brasscos in the final standings. A first baseman, Dick Hoblitzell joined Bridgeport from the
Reading Keystones, having batted .338 for Reading at age 35. Hoblitzell had played in the major leagues with the
Cincinnati Reds (1908–1914) and
Boston Red Sox (1914–1918), becoming a two-time World Series champion (1915, 1916) with Boston. Hoblitzell batted .299 in 34 games playing for Bridgeport. Wilhelm had spent the previous two seasons as a pitching coach and scout for the
Rochester Tribe in the
International League. Wilhelm had managed the Philadelphia Phillies in 1921 and 1922, as the Phillies were in the midst of a 14-season streak without a winning record. He was fired from the position after the 1922 Phillies finished the season in seventh place with a 57–96 record. Led by Wilhelm, the Bridgeport Bears improved slightly in 1925, finishing in sixth place in the eight-team Eastern League. Compiling their 76–78 record under manager Kaiser Wilhelm, the Beras finished 12/o games behind the first place
Waterbury Brasscos in the final standings. Playing under manager Bud Stapleton, the Bears finished 7.0 games behind first place
Providence Rubes (97–55) who relocated from Worcester during the season. The Rubes were managed by their namesake, Baseball Hall of Fame member
Rube Marquard. Pitching for Bridgeport at age 36,
Johnny Enzmann had a 17–8 record and a 3.33 ERA on the season. Enzmann had pitched in the majors with the
Brooklyn Robins (1914),
Cleveland Indians (1918–1919) and
Philadelphia Phillies (1920) and had a career ERA of 2.84 with a 11–12 record with 2 saves in 67 career appearances. On August 10, 1927, Bridgeport pitcher
Jack Warhop pitched complete games and won both games of a
doubleheader at age 42. Warhop defeated the Albany Lawmakers 5–3 in the first game and then asking to pitch in the second game. He pitched a 10-inning shutout in the second game winning 1–0. A week prior Bridgeport's
Andy Rush also pulled off the feat in defeating New Haven 3-0 and 4–3 in a doubleheader. Earlier in the season, Warhop had pitched 14 innings against Hartford in an 18-inning game and was disappointed in being taken out of the game. The Bridgeport Bears Eastern League membership continued in 1927 as Herman Weisman continued his tenure as league president. Bridgeport ended the season with a record of 84–70, playing under returning manager Bud Stapleton, as Bridgeton finished just games behind first place
Albany Senators (88–65) in the final standings. Player/manager Bud Stapleton again played first base for Bridgeport and batted .337 with 5 home runs in 112 games on the season. Bartell ended the 1927 season making his major league debut with the
Pittsburgh Pirates, beginning an 18-season major league career. The Bridgeport Bears had an oddity in the 1928 Eastern League standings, as the team finished in seventh place in the eight-team league with a record that was above .500. The Bears ended the season with a 77–76 record managed by Bud Stapleton, and his replacements Billy Whitman and
Bob Emmerich and finished 15.0 games behind first place
New Haven Profs. The seventh place Bridgeport Bears actually finished games ahead of the next team in the standings, the eighth place Waterbury Brasscos who ended the season with a 34–118 record. Bridgeport ended the season with a record of 91–63 as
Hans Lobert began a three-season tenure as manager, all resulting in runner up finishes. The Bears ended up 6.0 games behind the first place Albany Senators in the final standings. Bridgeport manager Hans Lobert was later a subject in the 1953 film
Big Leaguer and the 1966
Lawrence Ritter book
The Glory of Their Times. Following his three-season tenure as manager with Bridgeport, Lobert became a coach with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1934 and managing the Phillies in (, ). Lefthanded hitting
Buck Jordan played first base for Bridgeton in 1929 and had a memorable season, hitting .354 with 36 doubles, 11 triples and 1 home run in 96 games for the Orators. Jordan joined the
New York Giants to end the 1929 season after his strong season with Bridgeton concluded. Jordan played ten-seasons in the major leagues, appearing with the New York Giants (, ),
Washington Senators (),
Boston Braves (–),
Cincinnati Reds (–) and
Philadelphia Phillies (). In his career, Jordan was a .299 hitter with 17
home runs and 281
RBI in 811 major league
games played. A versatile athlete Grube had played in the
National Football League in the fall of 1928 appearing in 11 games before joining Bridgeton that spring. Grube played
left end for the
New York football Yankees in his lone NFL season. Following his season with Bridgeport Grube played in the major leagues with the
Chicago White Sox (1931–1933),
St. Louis Browns (1934–1935), Chicago White Sox (1935–1936) and St. Louis Browns (1941), batting .244 with one career home run in 394 career games. Bridgeport remained in the league as the eight-team Eastern League had a tumultuous season in 1930, as four teams folded during the season and a playoff was held that included Bridgeton. William Carey had replaced Herman Weisman as league president as the
Great Depression greatly affected minor leagues. Bridgeport finished behind Allentown Dukes (95–75) in the overall standings. In the playoff final, Allentown defeated Bridgeport 4 games to 1. The Bridgeport Bears were the runner up in the 1931 Eastern League final standings. Finishing in second place in the overall standings, the Bears had a 81–60 record under manager Hans Lobert, finishing 18.0 behind Hartford Senators in the standings of the eight-team league. New Haven and Hartford returned after folding the year prior. Hartford won both halves of the split season schedule and no playoff was held with second place Bridgeport. At age 24, the lefthander Mooney made his major league debut with the New York Giants following his end of his season with Bridgeport, In his major league career, Mooney compiled a 17–20 record with a 4.25 pitching for the New York Giants (1931–1932) and St. Louis Cardinals (1933–1934), winning the
1934 World Series. Mooney pitched a scoreless relief appearance in the World Series for St. Louis, his final major league game. Mooney was sent to Bridgeport by the New York Giants after spring training as the Giants manager
John McGraw entrusted his former player and coach, Hans Lobert to assist in Mooney's development. , New York Giants, baseball card. Schumacher pitched for Bridgeport in 1931, his only minor league season. Schumacher won a World Series with the Giants and had a 158–121 career record making two All-star teams. In his only minor league season, pitcher
Hal Schumacher pitched for Bridgeport in the 1931 season at age 20. After playing at
Saint Lawrence University in
Canton, New York, Schumacher was signed by the New York Giants with the stipulation that the Giants pay for him to finish his degree requirements. Schumacher immediately started in the major leagues and pitched his debut for the New York Giants in the second game of the major league season on April 15, 1931. After a rough start that day he was sent to Bridgeport. Schumacher then remained with the New York Giants through the 1946 season, losing three full seasons to military service. Beginning in 1942, Schumacher served during
World War II in the
U.S. Navy. He was a lieutenant aboard the Cape Esperance aircraft carrier. A two-time All-star with the Giants, Shumacher compiled a 158–121 career record, with 329 starts, 137 complete games and 26 shutouts and added seven
saves. In World Series play, he went 2–2 with a 4.13 ERA. Mansfield graduated from the
University of Wisconsin, where he competed in football,
baseball, basketball and boxing as a student athlete for the Badgers. In 1929, he became a coach and athletic director at Springfield High School in Wisconsin while playing minor league baseball. Mansfield served as the head baseball coach of the
Wisconsin Badgers from 1940 to 1970. He also taught at Wisconsin for 36 years. Mansfield lead the Badgers to two Big 10 Conference championships, a fourth-place finish in the
1950 College World Series and won 441 career games as the Badgers baseball coach. Catcher
Harry Danning played for Bridgeport at age 19 in 1931 in his first professional season. He was discovered playing semiprofessional baseball by the former owner of the
Boston Braves,
George Washington Grant. Grant recommended Danning to New York Giants owner
Charles Stoneham. Danning then signed a contract with the Giants to play with Bridgeport for $150 per month. He batted .324 with 5 home runs in 93 games for the Bears and returned to the team in 1932. After his 1932 season with Bridgeport, Danning became a teammate with his Bridgeport batterymate Hal Schumacher in the major leagues. Danning played with the New York Giants from 1933 to 1942, making four All-star teams. His playing career was interrupted by
World War II and he never played again. Danning served at the Long Beach Army Air Field, where he conducted physical training for the troops and managing the base baseball team. He received a medical discharge from military service in June 1945 due to severe arthritis that developed in both of his knees, negating his return to professional baseball. Not eligible for a baseball pension, Danning lived with his daughter and her family after work retirement until his death at age 93. The Bridgeport Bears ended the season in sixth place in the eight-team league with a 33–42 record. Bridgeport native Bud Stapleton returned as manager to begin the season. Player/manager Harry Layne batted .339 with 3 home runs in 67 games as an outfielder for Bridgeport at age 31. Bridgeport sat 18.0 games behind the first place
Springfield Rifles when league folded on July 17, 1932, during the
Great Depression. Harry Danning returned to begin the season with Bridgeton, batting .320 in 37 games with the Bears in their shortened season. Danning moved to the
Winston-Salem Twins after Bridgeport and the league folded. The Twins were also a New York Giants affiliate. The
Eastern League did not reform in 1933 and Bridgeport was without a minor league team for eight seasons. Bridgeport next hosted minor league baseball when the 1941
Bridgeport Bees resumed play as members of the
International League as a
Boston Braves minor league affiliate. ==The ballparks==