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Centreville, Maryland minor league baseball history

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.

History
1937 to 1941: Eastern Shore League Minor league baseball began in Centreville, Maryland in 1937. After disbanding in 1928, the Class D level Eastern Shore League resumed play in 1937 and expanded the league from six franchises to eight. The 1937 Centreville Colts made the league Finals as they played their initial season, joining the eight–team league and playing as an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Centerville Colts finished fourth in the 1937 Eastern Shore League regular season with a record of 52–43 under Manager Ed O'Rourke. The Colts finished 6.0 games behind the first place Salisbury Indians in the standings. In the playoffs, the Colts defeated the Easton Browns 2 games to 1 to advance to the Finals. In the 1937 Finals, the Salisbury Indians defeated Centreville 3 games to 2. Centreville played home games at Centreville Park, then called Queen Anne County Park. Centreville would play at the ballpark throughout their minor league duration. The Centreville Colts finished the 1938 regular season with a record of 51–60, missing the playoffs and finishing 13.5 games behind the first place Salisbury Indians. Joe O'Rourke was the Colts' manager in 1938. and qualified for the 1939 Eastern Shore League playoffs. The team ended the 1939 season with a record of 62–60, placing fourth in the regular season standings under manager Cap Clark. The Colts were 21.5 games behind the first place Federalsburg A's. In the Playoffs, the Cambridge Cardinals swept Centreville in three games. The Class D Eastern Shore League reformed following World War II as an eight-team league, with Dover returning a franchise and the Seaford Eagles joining the league. Centreville became an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1946. Managed by Jim McLeod, Centreville dominated the regular season, finishing 51 games over .500 with an 88–37 record, 11.5 games ahead of second place Milford Red Sox. In the Playoffs Centreville defeated the Dover Phillies 4 games to 3 to advance. In the Eastern Shore League Finals, The Orioles defeated Milford 4 games to 1 to win the championship. On the season, Centreville led the league in offense (815 runs) and were second in pitching/defense (577 runs allowed). Despite the championship, the Centreville franchise folded following the 1946 season and were replaced in the 1947 Eastern Shore League by the Rehoboth Beach Pirates. Minor league baseball has not returned to Centreville. ==The ballpark==
The ballpark
Centreville teams played home games exclusively at Centreville Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 1,500 (1939) and 2,500 (1946) with dimensions of: Known as the Queen Anne County Park, the site is still in use as a public park today, although the ballpark was dismantled. The address is SR 898, Old Centreville Road, Centreville, Maryland. ==Centreville timeline==
Year-by-year record
Each season, the top four teams in the Eastern Shore League qualified for the postseason, structured as a bracket tournament. ==Notable alumni==
Notable alumni
Cap Clark (1939, MGR) • Walker Cress (1939) • Danny Doyle (1940) • Joe Holden (1938) • Eddie Feinberg (1937) • Roy Lee (1939) • Jim McLeod (1946 Player/MGR) • Hal Marnie (1938) • Joe O'Rourke (1937, MGR) • Joe Ostrowski (1941) • Mel Parnell (1941) • Bill Peterman (1940) • Alex Pitko (1937) • Eddie Popowski (1941, MGR) • Ray Stoviak (1938) • Jocko Thompson (1940) ==See also==
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