The Los Angeles Nationals were a minor league baseball team based in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. In 1903, the Los Angeles Nationals were charter members of the Class A level

Pacific National League The Pacific National League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1903 to 1905. The league evolved from its predecessor, the Pacific Northwest League and was a competitor of the newly formed Pacific Coast League. The league began pl ...

and folded during the season, despite having the best record in the league. The Los Angeles franchise was placed by the Pacific National League to rival the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

. The Nationals hosted home games at Prager Park.

History

Los Angeles first hosted minor league baseball in 1892, when the Los Angeles Seraphs began play as members of the Class A level

California League The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leag ...

. In 1903, the Los Angeles franchise began the season as charter members of the eight–team Class A level Pacific National League. In the era, Class A was the highest level of minor league play. Beginning the season, the

Pacific Northwest League The Pacific Northwest League was a professional Minor League Baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest. It was the first professional baseball league ever in the region. History Founding The Pacific Northwest League was founded in 1890. I ...

had changed its name to become the "Pacific National League." This was a result of the

expanding north into Seattle and Portland and changing its name to become the

. As a result, the Pacific Northwest League placed franchises in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco to rival the Pacific Coast League. The new Los Angeles Pacific National League team was nicknamed the "Nationals," designed to be in direct competition with the Pacific Coast League

franchise. On April 14, 1903, Los Angeles began Pacific National League play with the other league teams. The Pacific National League began play with teams based in Los Angeles, Seattle ( Seattle Chinooks), Portland (

Portland Green Gages Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

) and San Francisco ( San Francisco Pirates), cities which also hosted rival teams in the Pacific Coast League. The

Butte Miners The Butte Miners was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball franchise based in Butte, Montana. Butte minor league teams played as members of the Montana State League (1892, 1900), Pacific Northwest League (1902), Pacific National Leagu ...

Helena Senators The Helena Senators were a minor league baseball team based in Helena, Montana. Between 1892 and 1914, Helena minor league teams played as members of the Montana State League (1892, 1900), 1902 Pacific Northwest League, 1903 Pacific National Leag ...

Spokane Indians The Spokane Indians are a Minor League Baseball team located in Spokane Valley, the city immediately east of Spokane, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest. The Indians are members of the High-A Northwest League (NWL) as an affiliate of the Color ...

and Tacoma Tigers completed the league charter members. The league did not complete the season with all eight franchises, Los Angeles included. On July 1, 1903, the Portland Green Gages moved to become the Salt Lake City Elders. On August 15, 1903, the Tacoma and Helena franchises both folded from the league. On August 21, 1903, the Los Angeles franchise folded, along with the San Francisco Pirates. At the time they folded, the Nationals had an overall record of 65–42, playing the season under the direction of manager

Charlie Reilly Charles Thomas Reilly (February 15, 1867 – December 16, 1937) was an American professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1889 to 1897 for the Columbus Solons, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and W ...

. The Nationals' .607 winning percentage was the highest in the Pacific National League. Los Angeles did not host a Pacific National League franchise when the league continued play in 1904. The

continued play in the 1904

The ballpark

The 1903 Los Angeles Nationals hosted home minor league games at Prager Park. The ballpark opened for the 1903 season and later hosted the

of the Pacific Coast League from 1904 to 1911.

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

* Dad Clark (1903) * Dick Egan (1903) * Bill Gannon (1903) * Russ Hall (1903) * Jack Hardy (1903) * Homer Hillebrand (1903) *

Ed Householder Edward H. Householder (October 12, 1869 – July 3, 1924)"Ed House ...

(1903) * Glenn Liebhardt (1903) *

(1903, MGR) *

Elmer Stricklett Elmer Griffin Stricklett (August 29, 1876 – June 7, 1964) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox and Brooklyn Superbas from 1904 through 1907. Including his time in mi ...

(1903) * Grant Thatcher (1903) *

Jake Thielman John Peter Thielman (May 20, 1879 – January 28, 1928) was a German-American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1905 through 1908 for the St. Louis Cardinals (1905–1906), Cleveland Naps (1907–1908) and Boston Red Sox (1908).

(1903)

References

{{reflist

External links