Wilkes-Barre (minor league baseball club)

The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a minor league team that existed on and off from 1886 to 1955. They began as an unnamed team in the Pennsylvania State Association in 1886.

Wilkes-Barre Barons
1886–1955
(1886–1889, 1892–1900, 1902, 1905–1917, 1923–1954)
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1933–1955)
  • Class B (1905–1932)
  • Class D (1902)
  • Class A (1895–1899)
  • Class B (1892)
LeagueEastern League (1938–1955)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 7 (1909, 1910, 1911, 1917, 1930, 1932, 1950)
Team data
Previous names
  • Wilkes-Barre Barons (1953–1955)
  • Wilkes-Barre Indians (1948–1951)
  • Wilkes-Barre Barons (1905–1947)
  • Wilkes-Barre/Mount Carmel (1902)
  • Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons (1893–1900)
  • Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons/Pittsburgh (1892)
  • Wilkes-Barre Barons (1888–1889)
  • Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons (1887)
  • Wilkes-Barre (1886)
Previous parks
Artillery Park

The following season the team was known as the Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons and played in the Central League in 1888, but the league disbanded after that season. Two Wilkes-Barre team took the field in 1889 and 1892, with the later sharing representation with Pittsburgh, as Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons/Pittsburgh in the record books. The team then played from 1893 until 1898 in the Eastern League, and from 1898 to 1900 in the Atlantic League.

After spending the 1902 season in the Pennsylvania State League, as Wilkes-Barre/Mount Carmel. Their next incarnation came about in 1905, when they began playing in the New York State League, as the Wilkes-Barre Barons. They played in that league until 1917. From 1923 to 1937, they played in the New York–Pennsylvania League and from 1938 to 1948 they played in the Eastern League. Until 1939, they did not have any affiliations, however from 1939 to 1951 they were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians. The team was briefly named the Wilkes-Barre Indians from 1949 to 1951 and were managed by Bill Norman. They won a league championship in 1950 and made the league playoffs each year they played between 1949 and 1951.

From 1953 to 1955 the team regained the Barons name and once again played in the Eastern League, and in 1954 they were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. In 1955, they were affiliated with the New York Giants when the franchise moved midseason to become the Johnstown Johnnies .[1]

The ballpark

One ballpark they played their home games at was Artillery Park.

Notable alumni

Multiple notable players spent time with the team, including:

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

[3]

Year-by-year record

(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
188859-483rdJames Donnelly / John Irwinnone
190570-523rdJohn Sharrottnone
190652-768thJohn Sharrott / Mike Donovannone
190769-665thAbel Lizottenone
190860-777thAbel Lizotte / Robert Drurynone
190988-531stMalachi KittridgeLeague Champs
191085-531stBill ClymerLeague Champs
191182-611stBill ClymerLeague Champs
191281-572ndBill Clymernone
191384-562ndJoe McCarthynone
191479-552ndJoe McCarthynone
191554-606thPeter Noonannone
191662-634thJoe McCarthynone
191781-371stJack CalhounLeague Champs
192347-745thTom Downeynone
192451-827thTom Downey / Dutch Brannan / Joe Wallnone
192560-717thJames Sharp / George Maisel
192656-737thGeorge Maisel / Earl Potteigernone
192780-562ndEarl Potteigernone
192871-653rdMike Konnicknone
192950-868thMike Konnick / Don Sykes / Punch Knollnone
193079-591stMike McNallyLeague Champs
193180-592ndMike McNallynone
193278-611stMike McNallyLeague Champs
193371-673rdElmer Yoternone
193466-675thElmer Yoter
193579-572ndElmer Yoter
193662-757thJake Pitler
193777-572ndMike McNallyLost League Finals
193851-878thMike McNally
193958-828thEddie Phillips
194056-768thEarl Wolgamot
194187-511stEarl WolgamotLost in 1st round
194279-614thEarl WolgamotLost in 1st round
194377-614thTony LazzeriLost in 1st round
194451-898thJack Sanford
194578-592ndDick Porter / Mike McNallyLost League Finals
194676-623rdDick PorterLost in 1st round
194780-603rdBill NormanLost in 1st round
194848-918thBill Norman
195354-957thDanny Litwhiler
195480-591stDanny CarnevaleLost in 1st round
195559-78 overall--Mike McCormickWilkes-Barre moved to Johnstown July 1

References
  1. "Wilkes-Barre Barons - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. Hendriks, Andrew. "July 4, 1948: Thomas first Canuck to break color barrier in pro ball". canadianbaseballnetwork.com. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  3. "Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
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