The Central New Jersey League was a minor league baseball league that played in 1891 and 1892. The n

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

level Central New Jersey League member teams were based exclusively in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...

member

Willie Keeler William Henry Keeler (March 3, 1872 – January 1, 1923), nicknamed "Wee Willie" because of his small stature, was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn ...

played in the 1891 and 1892 league seasons as a member of the

Plainfield Crescent Cities The Plainfield Crescent Cities were a minor league baseball team based in Plainfield, New Jersey. In 1891 and 1892, the Crescent Cities teams played exclusively as members of the Central New Jersey League, reportedly winning championships in both ...

, leading the 1891 league in hitting.

History

The Central New Jersey League was formed for the 1891 season as an

level minor league. The exact teams, records and statistics of the 1891 season are unknown.

member Willie Keeler played as a member of the 1891 Plainfield team and led the team to the championship. It was reported Keeler hit .376 to lead the league while making $60.00 per month. The Central New Jersey League continued play in the 1892 season, as an Independent level league with four teams beginning league play on May 26, 1892. The Elizabeth team from

Elizabeth, New Jersey Elizabeth is a city and the county seat of Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.New J ...

, the

from

Plainfield, New Jersey Plainfield is a city in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, known by its nickname as "The Queen City."

, Somerville West Ends from

Somerville, New Jersey Somerville is a borough and the county seat of Somerset County, New Jersey, United States.New Je ...

and Westfield Athletics from

Westfield, New Jersey Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States, located southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States census, the town's population was 30,316, The season concluded on September 24, 1892, with the Plainfield Crescent Cities and Somerville West Ends in a tie for first place with both holding 12–6 records. The Elizabeth and Westfield franchises both disbanded on September 3, 1892. Plainfield disbanded before the playoff against Somerville could be played. Elizabeth and the Westfield Athletics were tied with 5–11 records when the franchises disbanded. Willie Keeler continued play as a member of the 1892 Plainfield Crescent Cities. At age 20, Keeler left the Plainfield team in June to join Birmingham of the Eastern League before making his major league debut later in the 1892 season. Keeler debuted with the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...

on September 30, 1892 at the

Polo Grounds The Polo Grounds was the name of three stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used mainly for professional baseball and American football from 1880 through 1963. The original Polo Grounds, opened in 1876 and demolished in 1889, was built fo ...

. The Central New Jersey League permanently folded as a minor league following the 1892 season. A 1911 league playing as the "Central New Jersey League" had Plainfield and Somerville as members. Likely, this league was a semi–pro league.

Central New Jersey League teams

Year-by-year standings

1891 Central New Jersey League standings

The complete 1891 league standings are unknown. It was reported the Plainfield Crescents won the 1891 Championship.

1892 Central New Jersey League standings

Notable league alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
alumni

(1891-1892), Plainfield. Inducted, 1939

Notable alumni

Dude Esterbrook Thomas John "Dude" Esterbrook (June 20, 1857 – April 30, 1901) was an American Major League Baseball player from Staten Island, New York who played the majority of his games at third base, but did play many games at first base. Esterbrook play ...

(1892), Westifled * Jack Farrell (1892), Somerville *

Jocko Fields John Joseph "Jocko" Fields (October 20, 1864 – October 14, 1950) was a Major League Baseball player. He was born on October 20, 1864, in Cork, Ireland. Fields made his Major League debut on May 31, 1887. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, P ...

(1892), Somerville *

George Gore George F. Gore (May 3, 1854 – September 16, 1933), nicknamed "Piano Legs", was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for 14 seasons, eight for the Chicago White Stockings, five for the New York Giants, one for the St. ...

(1892), Somerville *

Charlie Jones Charles, Charlie, Charley or Chuck Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Chuck Jones (1912–2002), American animator, director, and producer * Charles Jones (c. 1889–1942), American actor better known as Buck Jones * Charles Jones (pho ...

(1892), Elizabeth * Jack Sharrott (1892), Somerville/Westifled *

Tuck Turner George A. Turner (February 13, 1867 – July 16, 1945) was an American Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Browns. Career Born in West New Brighton, Staten Island, Turner began his baseball career as a paid p ...

(1892), Plainfield *

Bob Murphy Robert, Rob, Bob or Bobby Murphy may refer to: Sports Ice hockey *Robert Ronald Murphy or Ron Murphy (1933–2014), Canadian ice hockey player * Bob Murphy (ice hockey) (born 1951), Canadian retired professional ice hockey player * Rob Murphy (ice ...

(1892), Plainfield * Willie Murphy (1892), Plainfield

References

{{Professional Baseball Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in New Jersey Sports leagues established in 1891 Sports leagues disestablished in 1892 1892 disestablishments in New Jersey