Potomac League

The Potomac League was a minor league baseball league that played a partial season as a Class D league in 1916. The Potomac League featured four teams based in West Virginia and Maryland. The Potomac League permanently folded on August 16, 1916.

Potomac League
Sportminor league baseball, Class D
Founded1916
CeasedAugust 16, 1916
No. of teams4
Country United States
Most titles1
Frostburg Demons (1916)

History

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. 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.[1][2]

The Potomac League formed for the 1916 season as a Class D minor league. The Potomac League featured four teams, the Cumberland, MD based Cumberland Colts, the Frostburg, MD based Frostburg Demons, the Lonaconing, MD based Lonaconing Giants and the Piedmont Drybugs, based in Piedmont, WV.[3][4][5][6]

The Potomac League began play on May 3, 1916. In the two opening day games, Frostburg and Cumberland played at Cumberland's South End Park, with Cumberland winning 2–0, and 1,500 in attendance. Piedmont and Lonaconing played at Lonaconing Park, with Piedmont winning 5–0. For the season, the league had two umpires, one for each game, Doll Derr and Thomas McNamara.[4][1]

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.[7][4][1]

On August 16, 1916, the 1st place Frostburg Demons franchise folded due to financial reasons. This forced the Potomac League to permanently fold.[8][4]

The Potomac League teams finished with the following records: Frostburg Demons (33–25), Lonaconing Giants (26–18), Piedmont Drybugs (26–30), Cumberland Colts (23–35).[9][3][4]

Following the 1916 season, the Potomac League franchises of Cumberland and Piedmont continued in minor league baseball. Cumberland became a member of the Class D Blue Ridge League in 1917 and played through 1932. Piedmont, also known as Piedmont/Westernport, played in the 1918 Blue Ridge League.[4][1]

1916 Potomac League standings and statistics
Team StandingsWLPCTGBManagers
Frostburg Demons3325.569-Pat Brophy
Piedmont Drybugs2630.4646Cy Harris / Dutch Kane
Cumberland Colts2335.39710Tom Russler
Lonaconing Giants #2618.691NAJames McGuire / Roy Keener

# Lonaconing disbanded July 23.
The league disbanded August 16.

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Joe PhillipsCumberlandBA.367Ben SchaufelePiedmontW14
Roy KeenerLonaconing/CumberlandRuns51John BaylorFrostburgSO114
Roy KeenerLonaconing/CumberlandHits82Bill StairFrostburgPct.889; 8-1
Paul CobbLonaconing/CumberlandHR6

[10]

References
  1. https://sabr.org/journal/article/demons-colts-giants-and-drybugs-baseball-in-the-1916-class-d-potomac-league/
  2. "Blue Ridge League". Time Will Tell.
  3. "1916 Potomac League (PL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "Potomac League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Potomac League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. Jr, James Rada. "Looking Back". The Cumberland Times-News.
  7. "Lonaconing Giants - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "Frostburg Demons - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  9. "1916 Potomac League (PL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "Cumberland Colts - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
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