Cumberland Colts

The Cumberland Colts was the primary name of the minor league baseball franchise based in Cumberland, Maryland. Cumberland played as members of the Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League (1906), Western Pennsylvania League (1907), Potomac League (1916), Blue Ridge League (1917–1918) and Middle Atlantic League (1925–1932). The Cumberland Colts were an affiliate of the New York Yankees in 1931–1932.

Cumberland Colts
1906–1932
(1906–1907, 1916–1918, 1925–1932)
Cumberland, Maryland
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass C (1925–1932)
Class D (1906–1907, 1916–1918)
Previous leagues
Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League (1906)
Western Pennsylvania League (1907)
Potomac League (1916)
Blue Ridge League (1917–1918)
Middle Atlantic League (1925–1932)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNew York Yankees (1931–1932)
Minor league titles
League titles 3 1918, 1927, 1931
Conference titles 1928
Team data
Previous names
Cumberland Giants (1906)
Cumberland Rooters (1907)
Cumberland Colts (1916–1918, 1925–1932)
Previous parks
South End Park (1906–1907, 1916–1918)
Community Park (1925–1932)

History

Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League 1906/Western Pennsylvania League 1907

The 1906 Cumberland Giants were the first minor league baseball team based in Cumberland, Maryland. The Giants were charter members of the Class D Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League. The Cumberland Giants finished with a record of 50–48, 5th place in the eight–team Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League. Cumberland was managed by Harry Irvine and Dan Raley. The Cumberland franchise folded after the 1906 season. The Giants played at South End Park.[1][2][3][4][5]

Cumberland briefly had a team during the 1907 season. The Cumberland Rooters played 25 games in the Class D Western Pennsylvania League after the Latrobe, Pennsylvania franchise was moved to Cumberland mid–season. The Rooters had a record of 5–20 before the franchise moved to Piedmont, West Virginia on June 27, 1907. The franchise folded before the end of the 1907 season. The franchise finished 18–46 overall, managed by S. Whaley, William Morrow, Tom Dillon, Don Curtis and Bill Malarkey.[6][7][8]

Potomac League 1916/Blue Ridge League 1917–1918

In 1916, the Cumberland Colts became charter members of the four–team Class D Potomac League and were the foundation franchise for the league. Cumberland's Colonel Nelson W. Russler and Cumberland attorney Fuller Barnard Jr. who became the Potomac League’s president, laid the groundwork the Potomac League, meeting in February, 1916. Russler had been a business manager for earlier local Cumberland teams. Charles Boyer, president of the Blue Ridge League organized a group of businessmen to garner interest in fielding a league in the area. One year earlier, Cumberland had sought entry into the 1915 Blue Ridge League, but were unsuccessful due to distance.[9][10]

On August 16, 1916, the Colts were in 3rd place with a 23–35 record when the Potomac League permanently folded. The Colts' 1916 manager was Thomas Russler. The Colts finished behind the Frostburg Demons (33–25), and Piedmont Drybugs (26–30). The Lonaconing Giants (26–18) had previously folded on July 23, 1916. The Potomac league struggled financially, as Cumberland was the only league franchise turning a profit. On July 23, 1916, the Lonaconing Giants franchise folded. This left the Potomac League with three teams and the schedule was rearranged for the season to continue. The league played on until Frostburg folded on July 23, causing the league to permanently fold.[11][12][13][14][9]

In 1917, the Cumberland Colts resumed play, as the franchise became members of the Class D Blue Ridge League in mid–season. On June 20, 1917 the Chambersburg Maroons franchise of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania moved to Cumberland with a 16–25 record. The team was 20–38 in Cumberland. With an overall record of 36–63, the Chambersburg/Cumberland team was 6th and last in the Blue Ridge League under managers Eddie Hooper and Brook Crist, finishing 26.0 games behind the 1st place Hagerstown Harriers. The Colts continued play at South End Park.[15][16][13][14][17][9][18]

Sunday Blue Laws prevented professional baseball from being played in many counties. Allegany County, in which Cumberland is home, did not have Sunday Blue Laws. Cumberland scheduled to play games on Sundays over the protests of the other league teams. Both the Gettysburg and Hagerstown franchised refused to play Sunday games.[19]

On August 27, 1917, the Frederick Hustlers had defeated Cumberland 5–3. It was reported that the home Cumberland crowd of almost 2,000 rushed the field after the game to attack the umpire. The umpire received a police escort from the field. Blue ridge League President J.V. Jamison, who was present at the game verified that the umpire was escorted safely to an awaiting vehicle and away from the angry fans.[20]

The 1918 Cumberland Colts were in 1st place when the four–team Blue Ridge League disbanded on June 18, 1918. The Colts finished 11–6 under Manager Eddie Hooper in the shortened season.When the league resumed play in 1920 after World War I, Cumberland did not return as a league franchise.[18][21][22]

Middle Atlantic League 1925–1932

After a seven–year absence, the Cumberland Colts began play as charter members of the 1925 Class C Middle Atlantic League. On September 7, 1925 Cumberland pitcher Paul Secrist threw a no–hitter in a 8–0 victory over the Scottdale Scotties. The Colts finished with a record of 56–40, placing 2nd overall in the six–team Middle Atlantic League standings. There were no league playoffs in 1925. Cumberland played under managers Thomas Ray, Hank McEnroe and James McGuire. The 1925 Cumberland Colts began play at Community Park.[23][24][13][25][26][27]

The Cumberland Colts finished 3rd in the Middle 1926 Atlantic League regular season standings. Cumberland had a record of 62–48, playing under manager Pat Ragan. The Colts were 5.0 games behind the 1st place Fairmont Diamonds in the final standings and 2.0 games behind the 2nd place Johnstown Johnnies.[28][29][13][30][25]

The 1927 Cumberland Colts were Middle Atlantic League Champions. In the 1927 Middle Atlantic League regular season, the Colts finished 66–47, 1st in the standings, to capture the Pennant under Manager Guy Thompson.The Colts finished 2.5 games ahead of the Fairmont Black Diamonds in the final regular season standings of the eight–team league. In the 1927 Atlantic League Playoffs, the Cumberland Colts defeated the Johnstown Johnnies 4 games to 2 to win the championship.[31][32][13][33][25]

The Colts had the best overall record in the Middle Atlantic League in 1928, but did not qualify for the league playoffs. With a 75–49 record, Cumberland was 1st overall under Manager John Byrnes, finishing 3.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Fairmont Black Diamonds. Fairmont was the Middle Atlantic League champion after defeating the Wheeling Stogies in the playoff Final. It is likely that the league used a spit season schedule to determine the playoff finalists.[34][35][13][36][25]

With a 1929 record of 65–53, the Cumberland Colts finished 1929, 3rd in the Middle Atlantic League regular season, finishing 4.0 games behind the Charleroi Governors and Wheeling Stogies, who tied for 1st with 67–47 records. The Colts' manager was John Byrnes.[37][38][13][39][25]

The Cumberland Colts finished 6th in the eight–team 1930 Middle Atlantic League regular season standings and did not qualify for the playoffs. The Colts finished with a record of 59–59 under managers Joe Phillips and John Byrnes, 5.5 games behind the 1st place Johnstown Johnnies and Clarksburg Generals, who tied for 1st with 64–53 records.[40][41][13][42][25]

The first home night game was played at Community Baseball Park on the evening of August 4, 1930. To add to the event, the local Williams Piano and Furniture Company supplied broadcasting equipment that was used to play music and make announcements during the game.[20]

The 1931 Cumberland Colts became an affiliate of the New York Yankees and were the 1931 Middle Atlantic League Champions. Cumberland had a regular season record of 82–46, finishing 2nd in the Middle Atlantic League, 1.0 game behind the Charleston Senators under Manager Leo Mackey, as the Middle Atlantic League expanded to a twelve–team league. In the Playoffs, the top two teams played in the Finals. There, the Cumberland Colts defeated the Charleston Senators 4 games to 2 to capture the championship.[43][44][13][45][25]

The 1932 season was the final season for minor league baseball in Cumberland. The Cumberland Colts continued play as an affiliate of the New York Yankees and hosted an exhibition game in 1932 against the Yankees with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Ruth hit a home run in the game.[20][46][47]

The 1932 Cumberland Colts finished 62–60, 4th in the six–team Middle Atlantic League under Manager Leo Mackey, 7.0 games behind the 1st place Charleston Senators. The Colts finished play at Community Park. The Cumberland Colts franchise folded after the 1932 season.[48][49][13][50][25]

The ballparks

Cumberland teams played at South End Park in 1906–1907 and 1916–1918. Also known as Southside Park, the ballpark was located near the C&O Canal & King Street in Cumberland, Maryland.[51]

The Cumberland Colts played at Community Park from 1925–1932. As Cumberland was an affiliate of the New York Yankees, Babe Ruth appeared in an exhibition game at Community Park, hitting a home run. The ballpark was also known as Mid-City Park (1926–1929) and had a capacity of 3,000 (1926) and 2,400 (1931).[46][47]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
19061Cumberland GiantsClass DPennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League
19071Cumberland RootersWestern Pennsylvania League
19161Cumberland ColtsPotomac League
1917–19182Blue Ridge League
1925–19328Class CMiddle Atlantic League

Notable alumni

References
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  2. "1906 Cumberland Giants Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "Cumberland Giants - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  4. "Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "1906 Cumberland Rooters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "Latrobe/Cumberland Rooters/Piedmont/Somerset Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "Western Pennsylvania League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "Cumberland Rooters - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  9. https://sabr.org/journal/article/demons-colts-giants-and-drybugs-baseball-in-the-1916-class-d-potomac-league/
  10. "Blue Ridge League". Time Will Tell.
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  12. "1916 Potomac League (PL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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  14. "Potomac League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
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  16. "1917 Blue Ridge League (BRL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "1917 Chambersburg Maroons/Cumberland Colts Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. [https//www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Blue_Ridge_League "Blue Ridge League - BR Bullpen"] Check |url= value (help). www.baseball-reference.com.
  19. "Blue Ridge League - History - 1917". www.blueridgeleague.org.
  20. "cumberland colts". Time Will Tell.
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  25. "Middle Atlantic League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
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  41. "1930 Middle Atlantic League (MAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  42. "1930 Cumberland Colts Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
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  44. "1931 Middle Atlantic League (MAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  45. "1931 Cumberland Colts Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
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  47. "Community Park - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
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