The New Castle Quakers were a minor league baseball team based in

New Castle, Pennsylvania New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Lawrence County. It is northwest of Pittsburgh, and near the Pennsylvania–Ohio border, just southeast of Youngstown, Ohio. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, ...

. The Quakers played as members of the 1895

Iron and Oil League The Iron and Oil League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1895 and 1898 seasons. League teams were based in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York (state), New York and West Virginia. History The Iron and Oil League was a minor league ...

before becoming members of the Class D level

Interstate League The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. Early leagues Earlier versions of the Interstate League, with years active: *1896–1901: an unclassified ...

from 1896 to 1900, winning the 1899 league title. The New Castle Quakers hosted home minor league games at Pearson Park through 1897 before moving to the new Cascade Park for the next two seasons.

History

1895 Iron & Oil League

The city first hosted minor league baseball in 1883, when the New Castle "Nashannocks" team played as members of the Western Interstate League. In 1884, the team continued play in the Iron & Oil Association, finishing in fourth place with a 20–24 record. The New Castle "Quakers" resumed minor league play in 1895, as the team became charter members of the eight-team, Class C level

. The Franklin Braves, Oil City Oilers, Sharon, Titusville, Twin Cities Twins,

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and

Wheeling Nailers The Wheeling Nailers are a professional ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey Lea ...

teams joined New Castle in beginning league play on May 15, 1895. In their first season of play, the Quakers finished in fourth place. New Castle ended the season with a record of 40–33. Playing the season under manager Will Thompson, the Quakers finished 2.5 games behind the first place Franklin Braves in the final standings. The Iron and Oil League folded following the season.

1896 to 1900 Interstate League

In 1896, New Castle continued hosting minor league play, with the franchise joining a new league. The Quakers became members of the reformed six–team Class C level

. The 1896 team was also referred to under the "Salamanders" nickname. The Fort Wayne Farmers, Jackson Wolverines, Saginaw Lumbermen, Toledo Swamp Angels,

Washington Little Senators Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...

and Youngstown Puddlers teams joined New Castle in beginning league play on May 6, 1896. In their first season of play in the new league, the Quakers placed fifth in the 1896 Interstate League standings. Completing the season with an overall record of 53–59, New Castle finished 20.0 games behind the first place Toledo Swamp Angels, with

Jay Faatz Jayson S. Faatz (October 24, 1860 – April 10, 1923) was an American Major League Baseball player born in Weedsport, New York, who played at first base for three teams during his four-season career. Career After his season, he returned to ...

and M. C. Whitehill serving as managers. Jake Ganzel of New Castle led the league with 17 home runs. The 1897 New Castle Quakers placed third in the Interstate League final standings, as the league became a Class B level league. The Quakers ended the season with a record of 63–54 as Paul Russell served as manager. New Castle ended the season 11.0 games behind the first place

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A Mud Hens team has played in ...

. In 1898, the Quakers placed fourth in the Interstate League final standings, as the league continued play as an eight-team. Class B level league. Compiling a record of 81–69, playing the season under manager Dad Lytle, New Castle finished 3.5 games behind the first place Dayton Old Soldiers. Pitcher Charlie Smith of New Castle led the league with 184 strikeouts. The 1899 New Castle Quakers won the Interstate League Championship. With a regular season record of 87–53, New Castle was managed by Pat Wright. After beginning the season with a 42–39 record through July 27, the team then went 45–14 to capture the league championship. In the final regular season standings, the Drillers finished just 1.0 game ahead of the second place Mansfield Haymakers (86-54). The 1899 Quakers had the distinction of having four 20-game winners on their pitching staff: Charlie Smith (20-9), Jack Wadsworth (24-13),

Oscar Streit Oscar William Streit (July 7, 1873 – March 16, 1935) was a Major League Baseball pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the ...

(21-13) and

Frank Figgemeier Frank Y. Figgemeier (April 22, 1873 – April 15, 1915), was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the 1894 Philadelphia Phillies of the National League. He pitched in one game for the Phillies, a complete game start on September 25 ...

(20-13). All four pitchers advanced to the major leagues. In their final season of Interstate League play, the 1900 New Castle Quakers finished last in the eight-team league after winning the championship the season before. New Castle ended the season with a record of 44–95 as Pat Wright returned as manager. The Quakers finished 49.0 games behind the first place

Dayton Veterans Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...

in the final standings. The Fort Wayne Indians won a playoff with Dayton to claim the championship. The Interstate League did not return to play in 1901. New Castle next hosted minor league baseball when the 1906 New Castle Outlaws began play as members of the Class C level Ohio-Pennsylvania League.

The ballparks

New Castle teams played in two ballparks between 1895 and 1900. From 1895 to 1897, the New Castle Quakers teams hosted home Interstate League minor league games at Pearson Park. Located within the Neshannock Township, Pearson Park is still in use today as a public park, with 105 acres containing two ballfields and other amenities. The park is located at 179 Pearson Park Drive, New Castle. After the 1898, season, the Quakers moved to the new Cascade Park ballpark. The ballpark was located at East Washington Street & Cascade Boulevard in New Castle. In 1897, the New Castle Traction Company (later known as the Pennsylvania Power Company), bought the property from Col. Levi Brinton, who had purchased the land in 1892. Named after a waterfall within the park, Cascade Park opened on May 29, 1897. In 1898, park owners added a carousel, the baseball park, theater, and dance pavilion to the park. The pavilion is still standing today. In the era, the dance pavilion was noted to be the largest in the state of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. A trolly system ran to the park in the era, transporting as many as 7,200 people in a day via trolly. Today, Cascade Park is still in use as a public park. It is located at 1928 East Washington Street in New Castle.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Charlie Babb Charles David Babb (born February 4, 1950) is a former Safety (American football position), safety for the Miami Dolphins (1972–1979). He is a graduate of Charleston High School (Missouri), Charleston High School in Charleston, Missouri. Refe ...

(1896) * Bobby Cargo (1899-1900) * Fred Donovan (1896-1898) * Davey Dunkle (1897) * John Farrell (1899) *

(1896, MGR) *

(1899-1900) * Tom Fleming (1897) * Fred Frank (1900) * John Ganzel (1896) * Whitey Guese (1898) * Jake Hewitt (1896-1898) *

Charlie Hickman Charles Taylor Hickman (May 4, 1876 – April 19, 1934) was an American professional baseball player and college baseball coach. He played all or part of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a utility player for seven different franchis ...

(1896-1897) * Charlie Jordan (1900) *

Tacks Latimer Clifford Wesley "Tacks" Latimer (November 30, 1875 – April 24, 1936) was an American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants, Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, a ...

(1900) * Tom Lipp (1897) * Dad Lytle (1897; 1898, MGR) * Walter McCredie (1900) * Monte McFarland (1900) * Bert Miller (1897-1898) * Kohly Miller (1897, 1899–1900) *

Tim O'Rourke Timothy Patrick O'Rourke, nicknamed ''Voiceless Tim'', was a Major League Baseball player. He played five seasons in the majors, from until , for six different teams. He was primarily an infielder, playing two-thirds of his games at either third ...

(1897) *

Abner Powell Abner Charles Powell (December 15, 1860 – August 7, 1953) was a Major League Baseball player who was a member of the Washington Nationals of the Union Association in 1884. He later played for the Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Red Stockin ...

(1897) *

Joe Rickert Joseph Francis Rickert (1876–1943) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1898 and the Boston Beaneaters in 1901. he also managed the New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American ...

(1896-1898) * Paul Russell (1897, MGR) * Charlie Smith (1899) *

Bill Sowders William Jefferson "Little Bill" Sowders (November 29, 1864 – February 2, 1951) was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of three seasons (1888–1890) with the Boston Beaneaters and Pittsburgh Alleghenys. F ...

(1896) * John Sowders (1896) *

(1899-1900) * Suter Sullivan (1896) * Cy Swaim (1896) *

Deacon Van Buren Edward Eugene Van Buren (December 14, 1870 in LaSalle County, Illinois – June 29, 1957 in Portland, Oregon), was a professional baseball player who played outfield The outfield, in cricket, baseball and softball is the area of the field of p ...

(1899-1900) *

Rube Vickers Harry Porter "Rube" Vickers (May 17, 1879–December 9, 1958) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Superbas, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Athletics during the early 20th century. H ...

(1900) * Jack Wadsworth (1899-1900) * Pete Woodruff (1897) * Pat Wright (1899-1900, MGR) *

New Castle Quakers 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, ...

* New Castle Salamanders players

References

{{reflist

External links

New Castle - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams established in 1895 Baseball teams disestablished in 1900 Defunct Interstate League teams Defunct baseball teams in Pennsylvania New Castle, Pennsylvania Iron and Oil League teams