The Connecticut League, also known as the Connecticut State League, was a

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

association of teams in the state of

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

. The league began as offshoot of the original Connecticut State League, which dates back as far as 1884. In 1891, the Connecticut State League included the Ansonia Cuban Giants, a team made up of entirely African-American ballplayers, including future Hall of Famers Frank Grant and

Sol White King Solomon "Sol" White (June 12, 1868 – August 26, 1955) was an American professional baseball infielder, manager and executive, and one of the pioneers of the Negro leagues. An active sportswriter for many years, he wrote the first definit ...

. In 1902, it was a Class D league with teams in eight cities. In 1905, the league became Class B, which lasted until 1913, when the league became the

Eastern Association The Eastern Association of counties was an administrative organisation set up by Parliament in the early years of the First English Civil War. Its main function was to finance and support an army which became a mainstay of the Parliamentarian mi ...

due to several teams outside of the state entering the league. Also a Class B league, it survived two more seasons, then folded after the 1914 season.

Connecticut League teams

* Rockland Base Ball Club — 1884.

Rockland, Maine Rockland is a city in Knox County, Maine, in the United States. As of the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census, the town population was 6,936. It is the county seat of Knox County, Maine, Knox County. The city is a popular tourist destination ...

Cities Represented

* Ansonia, CT: Ansonia Cuban Giants 1888, 1891; Ansonia Welcomes 1896 *

Bridgeport, CT Bridgeport is the most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the fifth-most populous in New England. Located in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnoc ...

Bridgeport Giants Bridgeport is the most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the fifth-most populous in New England. Located in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonno ...

1888; Bridgeport Victors 1895-96; Bridgeport Misfits 1897; Bridgeport Orators 1898-1912 * Bristol, CT: Bristol 1891; Bristol Braves 1897; Bristol Bellmakers 1899-1900; Bristol Woodchoppers 1901 *

Danbury, CT Danbury is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located approximately northeast of New York City. Danbury's population as of 2022 was 87,642. It is the seventh largest city in Connecticut. Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City ...

: Danbury 1888; Danbury Hatters 1898 *

Derby, CT Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, approximately 8 miles west-northwest of New Haven. It is located in southwest Connecticut at the confluence of the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers. It borders the cities of Ansoni ...

Derby Angels Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gain ...

1896-1898, 1900-1901;

Derby Lushers Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gain ...

1899 * Hartford, CT: Hartford 1884;

Hartford Babies Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...

1885;

Hartford Bluebirds Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...

1895;

Hartford Senators The Hartford Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They operated in the Connecticut League from 1902–1912, the Eastern Association from 1913–1914, the Eastern League (baseball, 1916-32), Eastern League from ...

1902-1912 * Holyoke, MA: Holyoke Paperweights 1903-1906; Holyoke Papermakers 1907-1912 *

Meriden, CT Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located halfway between the regional cities of New Haven and Hartford. In 2020, the population of the city was 60,850.

: Meriden 1884 1888, 1891, 1908; Meriden Maroons 1885;

Meriden Silvermen Meriden may refer to: Places United Kingdom *Meriden, Hertfordshire, England, a suburb of Watford; see List of United Kingdom locations: Me-Mic, List of United Kingdom locations *Meriden, West Midlands, England *Meriden (UK Parliament constituency ...

1895; Meriden Bulldogs 1897-1898;

Meriden Silverites Meriden may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Meriden, Hertfordshire, England, a suburb of Watford; see List of United Kingdom locations *Meriden, West Midlands, England *Meriden (UK Parliament constituency), in the West Midlands United States * ...

1899-1905 *

New Britain, CT New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford. According to 2020 Census, the population of the city is 74,135. Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed wi ...

: New Britain 1884-1885, 1891; New Britain Rangers 1898; New Britain Perfectos 1908-1911; New Britain Spuds 1912 *

New Haven, CT New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134,023 ...

: New Haven Edgewoods 1896; New Haven Students 1898; New Haven Blues 1899-1908; New Haven Black Crows 1909; New Haven Prairie Hens 1910; New Haven Murlins 1911-1912 *

New London, CT New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decades ...

: New London Whalers 1898-1907 *

Northampton, MA The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence and Leeds) was 29,571. Northampton is known as an acade ...

: Northampton Meadowlarks 1909-1911 *

Norwalk, CT , image_map = Fairfield County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Norwalk highlighted.svg , mapsize = 230px , map_caption = Location in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Fairfield County and ...

: Norwalk 1888 *

Norwich, CT Norwich ( ) (also called "The Rose of New England") is a city in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Yantic, Shetucket, and Quinebaug Rivers flow into the city and form its harbor, from which the Thames River flows south to Long ...

: Norwich 1891; Norwich Jackroses 1899;

Norwich Witches Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...

1900; Norwich Champs 1901; Norwich Reds 1902-1903, 1905-1907; Norwich Indians 1904 * Portland, CT: Portland 1891 * Rockville, CT: Rockville 1884 * Southington, CT: Southington 1891 *

Springfield, MA Springfield is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, and the seat of Hampden County. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ...

: Springfield Ponies 1902-1912 *

Stamford, CT Stamford () is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut, outside of Manhattan. It is Connecticut's second-most populous city, behind Bridgeport. With a population of 135,470, Stamford passed Hartford and New Haven in population as of the 2020 ...

: Stamford 1888 *

Torrington, CT Torrington is the most populated municipality and only city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the Northwest Hills region. It is also the core city of Greater Torrington, one of the largest micropolitan areas in the United States. The city p ...

: Torrington Tornados 1896; Torrington Demons 1897 *

Waterbury, CT Waterbury is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut on the Naugatuck River, southwest of Hartford and northeast of New York City. Waterbury is the second-largest city in New Haven County, Connecticut. According to the 2020 US Census, in 202 ...

: Waterbury 1884, 1885, 1888, 1891; Waterbury Brassmen 1895; Waterbury Indians 1897; Waterbury Pirates 1898 Waterbury Rough Riders 1899-1902; Waterbury Authors 1906-1908; Waterbury Invincibles 1909; Waterbury Finnegans 1910; Waterbury Champs 1911; Waterbury Spuds 1912 *

West Haven, CT West Haven is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. It is located on the coast of Long Island Sound. At the 2020 census, the population of the city was 55,584. History Settled in 1648, West Haven (then known as West Farms) ...

: West Haven 1891 *

Willimantic, CT Willimantic is a city located in the town of Windham in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It is a former Census-designated place and borough, and is currently organized as one of two tax districts within the Town of Windham. Known as " ...

: Willimantic 1884 * Winsted, CT: Winsted Blues 1896 *

Worcester, MA Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 census, making it the second- most populous city in New England after B ...

: Worcester Reds 1904

Yearly standings

No Classification 1884 to 1891

1884 Connecticut State League Willimantic expelled September 3.
The league played two games each week: Wednesdays and Saturdays 1885 Connecticut State League
President:
(Continuation of the Southern New England League) New Britain disbanded September 8 1888 Connecticut State League
President: J. Howard Taylor Bridgeport transferred to Stamford in May, then disbanded June 27.
Danbury disbanded June 5.
The league disbanded July 25. 1891 Connecticut State League
President: A.W. Lang Hartford disbanded June 10; Portland disbanded June 10.

Class B 1894 to 1896

1894 Connecticut State League
Standings unknown 1895 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke 1896 Connecticut State League
President: D.W. Porter (aka Naugatuck Valley State League)

Class F 1897 to 1907

1897 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock 1898 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock New Britain disbanded June 23.
Derby disbanded June 25. 1899 Connecticut State League
schedule
br> President: Tim Murnane No Playoffs. 1900 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock No Playoffs. 1901 Connecticut State League
President: Tim Murnane No Playoffs.

Class D 1902 to 1904

1902 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke / Sturgis Whitlock No Playoffs. 1903 Connecticut State League
President: Sturgis Whitlock No Playoffs:
12 Holyoke games (8-4) were deducted after the season due to ineligible player violations. 1904 Connecticut League
President: Jim O'Rourke Worcester (26-11) moved to Norwich June 21.
No Playoffs.

Class B 1905 to 1912

1905 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke No Playoffs. 1906 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke No Playoffs. 1907 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey No Playoffs. 1908 Connecticut State League
President: W. J. Tracey No Playoffs. 1909 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke No Playoffs. 1910 Connecticut State League
schedule
br> President: W.J. Tracy] No Playoffs. 1911 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourke Northampton and Holyoke disbanded June 26.
No Playoffs. 1912 Connecticut State League
President: Jim O'Rourk New Britain (12-22) moved to Waterbury June 15.
No Playoffs.

References

External links

Baseball ReferenceHistoric North Hampton
{{Professional Baseball Connecticut League, 1884 establishments in Connecticut 1912 disestablishments in Connecticut Baseball leagues in Connecticut Baseball leagues in Massachusetts

Colonial League The Colonial League is an athletic conference consisting of 14 high schools mostly from the Lehigh Valley portion of eastern Pennsylvania. It is part of PIAA District 11, District XI of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The C ...

Sports leagues disestablished in 1912 Sports leagues established in 1884