Carbondale Pioneers
Carbondale Pioneers | |
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Ballpark | Russell Park (1946–1950) |
The Carbondale Pioneers were a
History
Pennsylvania State League 1895–1896
Carbondale, Pennsylvania first hosted minor league baseball in 1895, when the Carbondale Anthracites became members of the
In their second season of play, Carbondale continued play, as the 1886 Pennsylvania State League folded mid-season. On July 11, 1896, the Carbondale Anthracites had a record of 26–15 when the Pennsylvania State League folded. Pat Luby had a 9–3 pitching record while hitting .391 in the 19 games. The Carbondale franchise had consolidated with the Pottsville Lambs franchise on June 20, 1896 before the league folded.[7][8][9][10][6][1]
North Atlantic League 1946–1950
Minor league baseball returned to Carbondale in 1946. The new Carbondale franchise was formed when the "Carbondale Baseball Association" accepted the invitation for Carbondale to field a franchise in the new
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/SOUTHWEST_AND_SOUTHEAST_SIDES_-_Miners_and_Mechanics_Bank_Building%2C_13_North_Main_Street%2C_Carbondale%2C_Lackawanna_County%2C_PA_HABS_PA%2C35-CARB%2C1-1.tif/lossy-page1-220px-SOUTHWEST_AND_SOUTHEAST_SIDES_-_Miners_and_Mechanics_Bank_Building%2C_13_North_Main_Street%2C_Carbondale%2C_Lackawanna_County%2C_PA_HABS_PA%2C35-CARB%2C1-1.tif.jpg)
The Carbondale "Pioneers" became charter members of the Class D level North Atlantic League.
The Pioneers opened their season on May 8, 1946, playing at Stroudsburg. The game was called with two outs in the top of the eighth inning because of darkness. The Carbondale Pioneers made the North Atlantic League Finals in their first season of play in the North Atlantic League. The Pioneers played as an Independent co–op team their first year, before the Phillies affiliation officially began. The Pioneers ended the 1946 season with a 69–48 record, placing fourth in the standings, playing under manager Pat Colgan. In the first round of the playoffs, the Carbondale Pioneers defeated the Nazareth Cement Dusters four games to one to advance. In the Finals, the Peekskill Highlanders defeated Carbondale in a seven-game series.[1] Beginning play at Russell Park, Carbondale had total home attendance of 62,617, an average of 1,070 per home game.[16][17][15][18][12] Walter Forwood hit .406 with 43 doubles for the Pioneers.[1]
After moving to Carbondale to manage and play, manager Pat Coglan had a career in baseball, but remained a resident of Carbondale, living in the same home with his wife and family and remaining active in the community until his death in 1992.[19][20]
The 1947 Carbondale Pioneers were North Atlantic League Champions.
In 1948, the Carbondale Pioneers repeated as North Atlantic League Champions.
Some references have the 1949 Carbondale team playing under a slightly changed moniker in 1949, playing as the interchangeable "Pioneer Blues."[29] Carbondale continued as a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate, placing fifth with a record of 63–76. Managed by Barney Lutz, Carbondale finished 39.0 games behind the 101-35 Stroudsburg Poconos and did not qualify for the four–team playoffs.[1] Playing at Russell Park, Carbondale had season attendance of 28,000, an average of 403.[30][15][31][32]
In their final season of play, the Carbondale Pioneers placed third in the North Atlantic League regular season standings and qualified for the playoffs. The Pioneers ended the 1950 season with a record of 76–55, finishing 10.0 games behind the first place Lebanon Chix. Playing under Manager Joe Glenn, in the playoffs, Lebanon defeated the Carbondale Pioneers 4 games to 3 to end their season.[1] In the final season at Russell Park, overall attendance was 37,548, an average of 573.[33][34][15][35][36]
The North Atlantic League permanently folded after the 1950 season.[1] Carbondale, Pennsylvania has not hosted another minor league team since the Pioneers folded.[37]
The ballpark
The Carbondale Pioneers played minor league home games at Russell Park.[38][39] Today, Russell Park is still in use as a public park with a baseball field. The park is located at 1112 Russell Street in Carbondale, Pennsylvania.[40][41][11]
Timeline
Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Affiliate | Ballpark |
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1895–1896 | 2 | Carbondale Anthracites | Class B |
Pennsylvania State League | None | Russell Park |
1946 | 1 | Carbondale Pioneers | Class D |
North Atlantic League | ||
1947–1950 | 4 | Philadelphia Phillies |
Year–by–year records
Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1895 | 55–48 | 2nd | Martin Swift | No playoffs held |
1896 | 26–15 | 3rd | NA | League folded July 11 |
1946 | 69–48 | 4th | Pat Coglan | Lost in finals |
1947 | 77–52 | 2nd | Pat Coglan | League Champions |
1948 | 80–49 | 2nd | Danny Carnevale |
League Champions |
1949 | 63–76 | 5th | Barney Lutz | Did not qualify |
1950 | 76–55 | 3rd | Joe Glenn | Lost in playoffs |
Notable alumni
- Bobby Cargo (1896)
- Dan Carnevale (1948, MGR)
- Jack Fee (1895)
- Hilly Flitcraft (1947)
- Joe Glenn (1950, MGR)
- Pat Luby (1895–1896)
- Barney Lutz (1949, MGR)
- Bill Massey (baseball) (1895–1896)
- Mart McQuaid (1895–1896)
- Mickey Micelotta (1947)
- Ron Mrozinski (1949)
- Stan Palys (1950)
- Jack Rafter (1896)
- Ed Sales (1895–1896)
- Curt Welch (1895)
- Hal Woodeshick (1950)
- Stan Yerkes (1895)
See also
Carbondale Pioneers players
Carbondale Anthracites players
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "1895 Carbondale Anthracites Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1895 Pennsylvania State League (PSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1895 Carbondale Anthracites Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1895 Pennsylvania State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ a b "Pat Luby – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ "1896 Carbondale Anthracites Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1896 Pennsylvania State League (PSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1896 Carbondale Anthracites Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1896 Pennsylvania State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ a b Potter, Steve (July 3, 2020). "7/3/2020 – Phillies Minor League History – The Carbondale Pioneers". Phillies – A Fan’s V.
- ^ a b Rogers, Ed. "The return of baseball When the Pioneer Blues played at Russell Park". The Valley Advantage.
- ^ "1946 North Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1946 North Atlantic League (NAL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "North Atlantic League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1946 North Atlantic League (NAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1946 Carbondale Pioneers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1946 Carbondale Pioneers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ NEWS, Paul BrowneSpecial to the. "Pat Colgan: A local legend". The Tri-County Independent.
- ^ "Pat Colgan – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ "1947 Carbondale Pioneers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1947 North Atlantic League (NAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1947 Carbondale Pioneers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1947 North Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1948 Carbondale Pioneers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1948 North Atlantic League (NAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1948 Carbondale Pioneers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1948 North Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1949 Carbondale Pioneer Blues Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1949 North Atlantic League (NAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1949 Carbondale Pioneers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1949 North Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1950 North Atlantic League (NAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1950 Carbondale Pioneers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1950 Carbondale Pioneers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1950 North Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Carbondale, Pennsylvania Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Russell Park in Carbondale, PA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies Index of Baseball Stadiums and Minor League Baseball Parks and Teams Past & Present". digitalballparks.com.
- ^ "Russell Park Little League Field". Roadtrippers.
- ^ "Vandals Hit Russell Park in Carbondale". June 19, 2015.