The New Britain Perfectos were a minor league baseball team based in

New Britain, Connecticut 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 wit ...

. From 1908 to 1912, the Perfectos played as members of the Class B level Connecticut State League. New Britain hosted home minor league home games at Electric Park. The New Britain "Perfectos" nickname reflected the integration of numerous

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

players to the team roster.

History

Minor league baseball play began in New Britain, Connecticut in 1884, when the "New Britain" team became members of the independent level Connecticut State League. The New Britain Perfectos were immediately preceded by the 1898 New Britain "Rangers," who played the season in the Class F level Connecticut State League. The Rangers folded during the season with a 14-38 record playing under manager Claude Gilbert. After a nine-season hiatus, New Britain returned to minor league play in 1908, when the New Britain "Perfectos" rejoined the eight–team Class B level Connecticut State League. The

Bridgeport Orators 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 Pequonnock ...

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 ...

Holyoke Papermakers The Holyoke Paperweights were a professional minor league baseball, minor league baseball team based in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA, that played in the now defunct Connecticut League from 1903 in sports, 1903 to 1911 in sports, 1911. From 1907 in ...

, Meriden,

New Haven Blues The New Haven Blues were an early minor league baseball team based in New Haven, Connecticut. The New Haven "Blues" teams played as members of the Connecticut State League from 1899 to 1908, winning league championships in 1899 and 1902. Earlier N ...

Springfield Ponies Springfield Ponies was the primary name of minor league baseball teams based in Springfield, Massachusetts that played between 1893 and 1943. The team competed as the Ponies through its history except for single seasons as the Maroons (1895), Tip ...

and

Waterbury Authors 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 2 ...

teams joined the Perfectos in beginning minor league play on April 28, 1908. Under the ownership of Charles Humphrey, the team was officially called the "New Britain Baseball Club." The "Perfectos" nickname was given to the team by newspaper writers due to the arrival of four Cuban players:

Armando Marsans Armando Marsans Mendiondo (October 3, 1887 – September 3, 1960) was a Cuban professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1911 to 1918. He played in three different major leagues in his career: with the ...

Rafael Almeida Rafael D. Almeida (July 30, 1887 – March 19, 1968) was a Major League Baseball third baseman from 1911 to 1913 with the Cincinnati Reds. Almeida and Armando Marsans debuted together with the Reds on July 4, 1911. They are sometimes named the ...

Alfredo Cabrera Alfredo A. Cabrera (May 11, 18811964) was a professional baseball shortstop who played many years in the Cuban League. His nickname was ''Pájaro,'' which is Spanish for "Bird." Cabrera's career is particularly noteworthy because he became the fi ...

and

Luis Padrón Luis "El Mulo" Padrón Otorena (ca. 1878 – 1939) was a Cuban baseball player in the Negro leagues and Cuban League. Padron played from 1902 to 1917 with several Cuban ballclubs, including Habana, San Francisco, Club Fé, San Francisco Par ...

to the team. The team was at first nicknamed the "Mountaineers" because their ballpark, Eclectic Park, was adjacent to a hillside. After playing in the Cuban Winter League, the four Cuban players arrived in Connecticut on a steamship after having been scouted by Humphrey in Cuba during the winter league season. Upon arrival in New Britain, the four players resided at Hotel Beloin, which was located at 91 Church Street in New Britain. In their first season of play, the Perfectos placed fourth, with a final record of 61–64. Playing the season under the direction of managers William Hanna who had purchased the team, Henry Gussman and previous owner Charles Humphrey, New Britain ended their Connecticut State League season 23.0 games behind the first place

in the final standings. The league held no playoffs in the era. New Britain's Jim "Swat" McCabe won the Connecticut State League batting title, hitting .320. Luis Padrón batted .314, ranking third in the league and won 18 games as a pitcher while hitting 7 home runs. Rafael Almeida hit .291 with 5 home runs and Marsans batted .274 while compiling swiping 33 stolen bases. During the 1908 season Charles Humphrey sold the team to William Hanna. Hanna was a local businessman and owned the New Britain ice hockey team. Hanna tried new nicknames for the baseball team including "Bank Wreckers", "Clam Bakers" and "Hannaites." In December 1908, Hanna visited Almendares Park in Cuba. The New Britain Perfectos continued league Connecticut State League play in 1909 and placed third in the final league standings. The Perfectos ended the season with a record of 64-55 in the eight-team league and finished 10.5 games behind first place Hartford. The team was managed by owner William Hanna and Tom Lynch. Swat McCabe again won the Connecticut State League batting title, hitting .366, while also leading the league with 176 total hits. In 1910, New Britain Perfectos again finished in third place in the eight-team league. The Perfectos were managed again by William Hannah and finished the Connecticut State League season with a record of 69–55, ending the season 2.0 games behind the first place

Waterbury Finnegans 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 2 ...

. Pitcher Murray Parker of New Britain led the league with an 18-11 record. At the beginning of the 1910 season, William Hanna had sold the team to Dan O'Neil for $3.500. Serving as the manager of Springfield team, O'Neil had opposed New Britain having the Cuba players on their roster in the era of segregated baseball. As owner, O'Neil questioned the New Britain Cuban players for proof of their heritage. Ultimately, Connecticut State League president James O'Rourke declined to ban any players on the basis of their race. In 1911, New Britain Perfectos placed fifth in the standings, ending the season 19.5 games behind the first place Springfield Ponies. Finishing with a record of 53-66, the Perfectos were managed by owner Dan O'Neil. In June 1911, owner Dan O’Neil sold the contracts of Armando Marsans and Rafael Almeida to the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

, resulting in the players becoming the first Cuban players in the National League. O’Neil received $2,000 for agreeing to sell their contracts and an additional $2,500 from Cincinnati when the transactions were complete. O’Neil then sold the New Britain franchise for $2,300 to James J. Murphy. The Connecticut State League reduced to six teams in 1912. The New Britain Perfectos played a partial season before relocating. On June 15, 1912, New Britain, with a 12–22 record, moved to Waterbury, Connecticut where the team finished the season playing as the

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

. After compiling a record of 27–53 based in Waterbury, the team ended the season with an overall record of 39–75, placing sixth, while playing under manager Jack Hoey in both locations. The New Britain/Waterbury team finished 35.5 games behind the first place New Haven in the final standings. The Connecticut State League folded following the 1912 season. After a one season hiatus, New Britain resumed hosting minor league play in 1914, when the New Britain Sinks played the season as members of the Class B level Eastern Association, finishing in last place in the eight-team league. Currently, New Britain hosts the

New Britain Bees The New Britain Bees are an American collegiate summer baseball team based in New Britain, Connecticut. They are a member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), a wood-bat league with teams in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connectic ...

, a

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

team that plays as a member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. Streetcars at White Oak Park - postcard

The ballpark

For their duration of play, the New Britain Perfectos hosted minor league home games at the Electric Park. The team was originally nicknamed the "Mountaineers" because the ballpark backed up to a hillside. In 1909, the grandstands were enlarged. The Electric Park ballpark sat within White Oak Park. The ballfield itself was situated over the neighboring Plainville, Connecticut boundary line. Today, the site is where the interstate 84 now divides the corridor.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

(1908-1910) *

Boardwalk Brown Carroll William "Boardwalk" Brown (February 20, 1889 – February 8, 1977) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born on February 20, 1889, in Woodbury, New Jersey, and attended Woodbury Junior-Senior High School.Jack Burns John Francis Burns (November 15, 1933 – January 27, 2020) was an American comedian, actor, voice actor, writer, and producer. During the 1960s, he was part of two comedy partnerships, first with George Carlin and later with Avery Schreiber. ...

(1908) *

Al Cabrera Alfredo A. Cabrera (May 11, 18811964) was a professional baseball shortstop who played many years in the Cuban League. His nickname was ''Pájaro,'' which is Spanish for "Bird." Cabrera's career is particularly noteworthy because he became the fi ...

(1908-1912) * Joe Connor (1910) *

Frank Connaughton Frank Henry Connaughton (January 1, 1869 – December 1, 1942) was a Major League Baseball shortstop and outfielder. His professional career lasted from 1891 to 1913 and included three brief stints as a minor league baseball manager. In 146 game ...

(1908) * George Dunlop (1911) * Steamer Flanagan (1911) *

Harry Hardy Henry Hardy (14 January 1895 – 17 February 1969) was a football player from Stockport, England, regarded as one of the best players that Stockport County have ever had. He was the first, and to date the only, player for Stockport County to ...

(1909) * Jack Hoey (1911; 1912, MGR) *

Doc Kerr John Jonas "Doc" Kerr (January 17, 1882 – January 9, 1937) was a Major League Baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Rebels and the Baltimore Terrapins The Baltimore Terrapins were one of the most successful teams in the short-lived Fe ...

(1908) *

(1908-1911) * Swat McCabe (1908-1909) * Gene Moore (1910) *

Art Nichols Arthur Francis Nichols (born Arthur Francis Meikle; July 14, 1871 – August 9, 1945) was an American Major League Baseball player who played catcher, first baseman, and outfielder who played for the Chicago Orphans from 1898 to 1900 and the St ...

(1912) *

(1908, 1911) *

Hack Schumann Charles J. "Hack" Schumann (August 13, 1884 – March 25, 1946) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia f ...

(1910) *

Tom Stankard Thomas Francis Stankard (1882–1958), was an American football and baseball player. He played college football and baseball at College of Holy Cross. In 1903, he compiled a .412 batting average for the Holy Cross baseball team and was selected ...

(1910) * Ad Yale (1911) *

New Britain Perfectos players New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

References

{{Reflist, 2

External links

New Britain - Baseball ReferenceTeam and ballpark photos
Sports in New Britain, Connecticut Baseball teams established in 1908 Baseball teams disestablished in 1912 Defunct Connecticut State League teams Defunct baseball teams in Connecticut Connecticut League teams