1884 to 1898 Minor league baseball play began in
Meriden, Connecticut, in 1884. The
Meriden team became members of the
independent level
Connecticut State League. Meriden ended their first season with a record of 25–22 to place second in the six–team league standings. Managed by George Lyon and Albert Boardman, Meriden finished 9.0 games behind the first place Waterbury team. Baseball Hall of Fame member
Connie Mack played for Meriden in 1884, at age 21, in his first professional season. It was reported that local lawyer and team promoter Cornelius J. Danaher, signed Cornelius McGillicuddy, Mack's given name, as catcher for a salary of $90 per month. On September 15, 1884, it was reported that Meriden won a disputed contest against Hartford. Meriden was leading 5–3 in the 9th inning, when Hartford forfeited the game, refusing to play with a new baseball after the previous ball was hit foul into a marsh area. Earlier in the game, Connie Mack hit the only home run of the season at the Meriden Ball Park. The 1885
Meriden Maroons played in two leagues during the season and won championships in both. The Maroons began the season as members of the
Southern New England League. The league folded on August 25, 1885, and reformed, leaving Meriden with a 41–21 record and in first place under manager William Thomas when the league stopped play. The league then restructured to become the Connecticut State League, beginning play on August 27, 1885. The Maroons again finished first as the team compiled an 8–2 record in the remaining Connecticut State League portion of the season, continuing play under manager William Thomas. Meriden continued minor league play in 1886, adopting the
Meriden Silvermen moniker. The Silvermen became members of the eight–team Independent level
Eastern League. The Meriden Silvermen franchise folded July 13, 1886, with a record of 12–34. Jack Remsen and Walter Burnham were the Meriden managers. Baseball Hall of Fame member
Frank Grant played for the 1886 Meriden Silvermen, integrating the team in the era before the
Negro leagues were formed and race restrictions imposed. Reportedly, Grant was one of six black players playing in the otherwise all–white baseball leagues in 1886. After the Silvermen folded, Frank Grant played the remainder of the season for the
Buffalo Bisons in the International League. The Meriden team returned to minor league play in 1888, winning a championship in a shortened season. Meriden began the season, playing as members of the six–team Connecticut State League. The league folded July 25, 1888, with Meriden in first place with a 9–3 record, ending the season as Connecticut State League champions. The Connecticut State League resumed play in 1891, with Meriden as a member of the ten–team league. The league folded June 13, 1891. Meriden was in second place with a record of 10–4, playing under manager Tom Reilly, when the league folded. In 1895, the
Meriden Silvermen became members of the four–team Connecticut State League, which played a shortened season. The Silverman compiled a record of 4–3 to place second in the league standings. Connie Miller and Tom Reilly were managers, as the Connecticut State League played from July 2, 1895, to August 31, 1895. The 1897
Meriden Bulldogs won a championship as the franchise resumed play. Playing as members of the six–team
Class F level Connecticut State League, the Bulldogs finished the season with a record of 52–21 to place first in the final standings. Jack Chapman managed the league champions, who finished 5.0 games ahead of the second place
Derby Angels in the final standings. Meriden would play uninterrupted through the 1905 season. The Meriden Bulldogs continued play in the 1898 eight–team Class F level Connecticut State League. The Bulldogs placed fifth in the standings, compiling a record of 46–48 under returning manager Jack Chapman. Meriden finished 8.0 games behind the first place
Waterbury Pirates in the final standings. The Silverites placed 5th in the 1900 Class F level Connecticut State League. Playing under managers Connie Miller, A.R. Penny and Tom Reilly, Meriden ended the season with a record of 47–48. The Meriden Silverites finished 16.0 games behind the first place
Norwich Witches. Meriden returned to the "Meriden Silverites" moniker in 1902, as the eight–team Connecticut State League became a
Class D level league. Ending the season with a final record of 51–58, the Silverites placed sixth in the league. Meriden was managed by Connie Miller and
Tommy Tucker. The Silverites ended the season 17.5 games behind the first place New Haven Blues team. At age 21, Baseball Hall of Fame member
Ed Walsh played for the Meriden Silverites in 1902 in his first professional season. Walsh signed his first professional contract with the Meriden Silverites, earning $150 per month. Walsh ended the season with a 16–5 record and 2.31 ERA for the Silverites, pitching in 22 games. The 1903 Meriden Silverites were the runner–up, as the league changed names for one season. Meriden ended the season with a record of 60–41 to place second in eight-team Class D level
Connecticut League. Managed by Sam Kennedy, the Silverites ended the season 4.5 games behind the first place
Holyoke Paperweights in the final standings. In 1903, Ed Walsh continued play with Meriden, compiling an 11–10 record with a 2.14 ERA in 21 games. Walsh began his Hall of Fame major league career the next season with the
Chicago White Sox. The Silverites finished in last place in the 1904 season. With a record of 31–84, Meriden placed eighth under manager Sam Kennedy. The Class D level league returned to "Connecticut State League" name, as Meriden finished 39.0 games behind the first place
Bridgeport Orators. The Meriden franchise folded following the 1908 season and did not return to the 1909 Connecticut State League. In the final season of minor league baseball, the 1913
Meriden Hopes finished last, as the team played a partial season as members of the
Class B level
Eastern Association. The Holyoke Papermakers, with a 24–52 record, moved to Meriden on July 11, 1913. After compiling a record of 16–43 based in Meriden, the team ended the season with an overall record of 40–95, placing eighth, playing under manager
Jim Garry in both locations. The Holyoke/Meriden team finished 45.0 games behind the first place
Hartford Senators in the final standings. The Meriden franchise folded following the 1913 season and did not return to the 1914 Eastern Association. ==The ballpark==