Minor league baseball began in Torrington, Connecticut in 1896. The Torrington "Tornadoes" became members of the six–team
Independent level
Naugatuck Valley League. With league founder
Jim O'Rourke helping organize the league teams, Winsted and the Naugatuck Valley League teams began play on May 6, 1896. A
Baseball Hall of Fame member, Jim O'Rourke was owner/player/manager for the Bridgeport team. after returning to his hometown of Bridgeport upon ending his major league career, O'Rourke was instrumental in forming both the Bridgeport team and the other league members franchises. The Torrington Tornadoes began minor league play in the 1896 Naugatuck Valley League. The other charter members of the league were the
Ansonia Blues from
Ansonia, Connecticut Bridgeport Victors from
Bridgeport, Connecticut, the
Derby Angels from
Derby, Connecticut, the
New Haven Edgewoods from
New Haven, Connecticut the and
Winsted Welcomes from
Winsted, Connecticut, with league play beginning May 6, 1896. member
Candy Cummings. Cummings managed the second place Torrington Tornadoes in 1886. In their first season of minor league play, the Torrington Tornadoes finished in second place, playing under managers Tom Burns and
Baseball Hall of Fame member
Candy Cummings. The final Naugatuck Valley League standings were led by the first place Bridgeport Victors with a 25–15 record. Bridgeport finished 1.0 game ahead of the second place Torrington Tornados (24–17), followed by the Derby Angels (22–18), New Haven Edgewoods (22–18), Winsted Welcomes (15–25) and Ansonia Blues (12–28). Pitcher
Lee Viau of Torrington led the league with 15 wins. With Jim O'Rourke organizing the league, three Naugatuck Valley League teams continued play as members of the renamed 1897 six–team
Class F level
Connecticut League. Torrington joined the
Bridgeport Soubrettes,
Bristol Braves,
Derby Angels,
Meriden Bulldogs and
waterbury Indians in league play. With a record of 31–39, the Demons placed fourth in the final standings. Playing under managers Ralph Bottenus and Dennis Houle, Torrington finished 16.0 games behind the first place
Meriden Bulldogs in the standings. After a decades long absence, minor league baseball returned to Torrington in 1950, when the
Torrington Braves played the season as members of the
Class B level
Colonial League. ==The ballpark==