New Bedford Whalers (baseball)

The Whalers were preceded in minor league play by the 1878 New Bedford team, that briefly played as members of the International Association for Professional Base Ball Players before relocating to first New Haven, Connecticut and then to Hartford, Connecticut, where the team was folded after playing 12 total games, compiling 1-11 record.[1][2] Baseball Hall of Fame members Candy Cummings and Roger Connor played for the 1878 team.[3][4]

In 1895 the New Bedford Whalers joined the eight–team Class B level New England League[5] Augusta Kennebecs, Bangor Millionaires, Brockton Shoemakers, Fall River Indians, Lewiston, Pawtucket Maroons and Portland joined New Bedford in beginning league play on April 27, 1895.[6]

The New Bedford use of the "Whalers" nickname corresponds with the local whaling industry and history. The New Bedford area was first developed as a whaling port in the mid 1700s. The city gained a reputation as the greatest whaling port in the world and claimed to be the richest city per capita in the world.[7] The city remains home to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.[8]

Today, New Bedford High School teams have long held the "Whalers" nickname. The school was founded in 1827.[9][10]

The 1895 New Bedford Whalers placed second as the New England League played in their first season as a Class B level league.[5] With Fred Doe managing the Whalers, the team finished behind the first place Fall River Indians, who ended the regular season with a 67–39 record and finished 6.5 games ahead of New Bedford, who had a 60-45 record in the final standings of the eight–team league. New Bedford hosted home games at Olympic Field.[11][12][13]

(2020) Entrance to New Bedford Whaling Museum. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

The New Bedford "Browns" continued New England League play in 1896 and placed fourth in the eight-team league.[14] The Browns completed the season with a record of 57–48, playing the season under returning manager Fred Doe. New Bedford finished 5.5 games behind the first place Falls River Indians in the final standings.[15][16][13]

The New Bedford resumed the "Whalers" nickname and the team placed last in the six-team 1897 New England League.[17] New Bedford ended the 1897 New England League season with a 38–67 record, as Con Murphy and Michael McDermott served as managers. The Whalers finished 33.5 games behind the co-champion Brockton Shoemakers and Newport Colts (tie) in the six–team New England League final standings.[18][19][13]

The 1898 New Bedford Whalers relocated after beginning the season as members of the six–team 1898 Class B New England League.[20] On June 14, 1898, the New Bedford franchise moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, with a 18-20 record. After seven games based in Worcester, the team folded and ended play with an overall record of 22–23. The team played their partial season under managers Charles Rice and Fred Doe before folding, as the first place Brockton Shoemakers captured the league championship. New Bedford played its final minor league games at Olympic Field in 1898.[21][22][13]

The New Bedford franchise did not return to the 1899 New England League.[13][23]

In 1903, the New Bedford Whalers resumed minor league play, returning to the eight–team Class B level New England League during the season.[24] On June 23, 1903, the Brockton Shoemakers moved to New Bedford with an 18-23 record.[25] The Whalers joined the Concord Marines, Fall River Indians, Haverhill Hustlers, Lawrence Colts, Lowell Tigers, Manchester and Nashua teams in league play.[26]

Finishing our the season, theNew Bedford Whalers placed seventh in the 1903 New England League standings.[24] With an overall record of 46–63 record, the Whalers finished 24.0 games behind the first place Lowell Tigers in the final standings. Fred Doe served his second season as the manager in New Bedford.[25][27][13] New Bedford began playing home games at Sargent Field, which would host minor league baseball until the Whalers played their last season in 1934.[28]

With Fred Doe continuing as manager, the New Bedford Whalers placed second in the 1904 New England League.[29] The Whalers ended the season with a 64–58 record in the eight–team league, finishing 17.0 games behind the first place Haverhill Hustlers (82–41) in the final standings. Fred Doe continued his tenure as the New Bedford manager.[30][31][13]

The 1905 New England League standings saw the New Bedford Whalers finish in fourth place.[32] New Bedford ended the season with a record of 60–50, finishing 10.0 games behind the first place Concord Marines, who had a 69–39 record. Fred Doe again managed the Whalers in the final season of his New Bedford managerial tenure.[33][34][13]

With the New Bedford Whalers placing fourth in the eight–team 1906 New England League.[35] Ending the season with a record of 63–54, the Whalers finished 11.5 games behind the champion Worcester Busters in the final standings. Jim Canavan managed New Bedford in 1906.[36][13][37]

(2006) Whaler statue. New Bedford Public Library.

The 1907 New Bedford Whalers placed seventh in the Class B level New England League.[38] Playing under returning manager Jim Canavan, the Whalers ended the 1907 season with a record of 48–62, finishing 27.0 games behind the 1st place Worcester Busters.[39][40][13]

As the Worcester Busters again won the league championship, the New Bedford Whalers finished last in the 1908 New England League.[41] New Bedford had a final record of 46–78 under the direction of managers Jim Canavan and Tommy Corcoran. Finishing 34.0 games behind Worcester, the Whalers placed eighth in the eight–team league.[42][43][13]

The 1909 New Bedford Whalers placed sixth in the New England League, as Worcester again won the championship.[44] With a 51–72, record, New Bedford finished 25.5 games out of first place, as Tommy Dowd managed the IWhalers.[45][46][13] Roland Barrows led the New England in runs scored, with 88.[13]

The New Bedford Whalers won their first New England League championship in 1910 season, ending the season with a record of 77–48.[47] New Bedford placed first in the standings under returning manager Tommy Dowd, finishing 15.0 games ahead of the second place Lynn Shoemakers in the final standings of the eight-team league.[48][49][13]

The New Bedford Whalers placed seventh in the 1911 New England League standings one season after winning the league championship.[50] The Whalers ended the 1911 season with a 45–75 season record, as Jim Sullivan served as manager. New Bedfo finished 30.50 games behind the champion Lowell Tigers.[51][52][13]

Future Baseball Hall of Fame member Rabbit Maranville played shortstop for the Whalers in 1911. In his first professional season at age 19, Maranville hit .228 in 117 games for New Bedford.[53]

The 1912 New Bedford Whalers continued play and finished sixth in the eight–team New England League.[13][54] Playing under managers Frank Connaughton and Jim Sullivan, New Bedford finished with a 57–67 record. The 1st place Lawrence Barristers (76–47) were 19.5 games ahead of the Whalers in the league standings.[55][56]

Rabbit Maranville returned to play for the 1912 Whalers before advancing to the major leagues during the season. In 112 games for New Bedford, Maranville hit .283, before making his major league debut with 26 games for the 1912 Boston Braves.[53][57]

Rabbit Maranville 1914

The 1913 New Bedford Whalers placed sixth in the eight-team New England League.[58] The Whalers had a 45–76 record under returning manager Frank Connaughton and Jack O'Brien. New Bedford finished 32. games behind the champion Lowell Grays.[13][59][60]

New Bedford Whalers switched leagues and finished as runner-up in the 1914 Colonial League.[61] New Bedford did not return to the 1914 New England League, as the franchise joined the 1914 six–team Class C level Colonial League.[61] The Brockton Shoemakers, Fall River Spindles, Pawtucket Tigers, Taunton Herrings and Woonsocket Speeders joined with New Bedford in league play.[62]

Playing 1914 season under returning manager Jack O'Brien, the Whalers ended the 1914 season with a record of 60–40, finishing 2.5 games behind the first place Fall River Spindles.[13][63][64]

The New Bedford Whalers placed third in the 1915 eight-team independent Colonial League.[65] The Whalers ended the 1915 season with a record of 56–45, as John O'Brien served as manager, ending the season 1.0 game behind the first place Hartford Senators in a close race.[13][66][67] In 1915, the Colonial League had essentially become the minor league feeder for the Federal League, a structure that was the downfall for the Colonial League. The Federal League was forced to fold following the 1915 season, leaving the Colonial League unable to continue following the conclusion of the season.

In the era, the "Whalers" nickname was shared by the semi-professional New Bedford Whalers soccer team, also based in the city. The team played as members of the Southern New England Soccer League from 1914 and 1918 and continued to play until 1932 in two other leagues.[68] The team also played at Sargent Field, sharing it with the baseball team.[69]

In 1929, New Bedford returned to minor league play. The New Bedford "Millmen" returned to play as members the eight-team Class B level New England League.[70] The New Bedford Whalers placed third in 1929 New England League standings, finishing 12.0 games behind the 1st place Lynn Red Sox. With a record of 62–51, the Whalers played the season under manager Jack Ryan.[13][71] The Millmen folded after the 1929 season and did not play in the 1930 New England League.[72]

The 1933 New Bedford "Whalers" returned to play and played their final New England League season, finishing in first place.[73] New Bedford played under manager Freddie Maguire and finished the 1947 season with a record of 58–33, placing first in the New England League regular season standings, finishing 2.0 games ahead of the second place Worcester team.[74][75][13] After having the league's best record, New Bedford refused to participate in a post season playoff. Second place Worcester and third place Winchester began a playoff that was cancelled due to weather with each team winning one game. Edward Baker of New Bedford won the New England League batting title, hitting .413.[13]

In 1934, the Whalers played their final season in a new league, joining the eight-team Class B Northeastern League, which played only the 1934 season before permanently folding.[13] The Cambridge Cantabs, Hartford Senators, Lowell Hustlers, Manchester Indians, Springfield Ponies, Waltham Rosebuds and Watertown Townies, joined the Whalers in beginning league play.[76]

Playing their final season, New Bedford placed fifth in the Northeastern League standings. Playing the season under manager Jean Dubuc, the Whalers ended the season with a record of 46-60, finishing 18.5 games behind the first place Worcester Rosebuds.[77]

After the Northeastern League folded after one season, New Bedford has not hosted another minor league team.[13][78]