Cambridge Orphans

The Cambridge Orphans were a minor league baseball team based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1899, the Orphans briefly played as members of the New England League before relocating during the season. Cambridge played home games at Charles River Park, which Cambridge used in an unsuccessful attempt to secure a charter American League team in 1900, after the Orphans had folded.

Cambridge Orphans
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass B (1899)
LeagueNew England League (1899)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameCambridge Orphans (1899)
BallparkCharles River Park (1899)

History

The 1899 Cambridge Orphans began minor league play when New England League expanded to eight teams, adding a franchise in Cambridge. The Brockton Shoemakers, Fitchburg, Manchester Manchesters, Newport Colts, Pawtucket Colts Portland Phenoms and Taunton Herrings began the season joining Cambridge in league play. The New England League folded during the season after Cambridge had relocated prior to the league folding.[1]

On May 29, 1899, Cambridge had a 3–13 record when the franchise transferred to Lowell. The franchise quickly folded on June 1, 1899, after four games based in Lowell. The Cambridge/Lowell Orphans of the New England League ended their 1899 season with an overall record of 4–16, with G.H. Spalding serving as manager in both cities. The New England League did not return to play in the 1900 season.[1][2][3][4][5]

In 1900, Cambridge mayor Charles H. Porter was part of a group that attempted to secure a Boston franchise in the new American League. Porter negotiated for the club to play in Charles River Park and had selected a person to run the franchise, but the Cambridge group backed out after American League supporters met with a rival group. Subsequently, Boston joined the American League in 1901 and formed today's Boston Red Sox.[6][7][8]

The Orphans were followed in minor league play by the 1934 Cambridge Cantabs, who played as members of the eight–team Class B level Northeastern League.[9][10]

The ballparks

The 1899 Cambridge Orphans played minor league home games at Charles River Park.[11] In 1900, the ballpark was a proposed location for a new American League franchise.[6][7][8]

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
18994–16NAG.H. SpaldingMoved to Lowell May 29
3–13 in Cambridge

Notable alumni

See also

Cambridge Orphans players

References
  1. "1899 New England League (NEL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1899 Taunton Herrings minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1899 Cambridge/Lowell Orphans minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1899 Cambridge Orphans/Lowell Orphans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  6. "Gaining Group". The Boston Daily Globe. January 15, 1900.
  7. "Project Ballpark | Massachusetts Parks | Cambridge". projectballpark.org.
  8. "Cambridge Chronicle 20 May 1899 — Cambridge Public Library's Historic Cambridge Newspaper Collection". cambridge.dlconsulting.com.
  9. "1934 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1934 Northeastern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "Charles River Park in Cambridge, MA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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