The Ogdensburg Maples was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in

Ogdensburg, New York Ogdensburg ( moh, Kaniatarahòn:tsi) is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 10,436 at the 2019 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and de ...

. Between 1900 and 1940, earlier Ogdensburg teams played as members of the

Northern New York League The Northern New York League was a Minor League Baseball circuit that operated in a span of six seasons between 1900 and 1905. League franchises were located in New York and Vermont. For the majority of its existence it operated as an independen ...

in 1900 and 1901 and the

Canadian–American League The Canadian–American League, nicknamed the Can-Am League, was a class C level minor league baseball circuit which ran from 1936 through 1951, with a three-year break during World War II. Teams *Amsterdam Rugmakers, 1938–1942, 1946–19 ...

from 1936 to 1940. The Maples played as members of the Class C level

Border League The Border League, is the oldest established rugby union league in the World, having been formed in 1901. Currently known as the Booker Border League, after its sponsors, teams from all over the Scottish Borders as well as Berwick RFC from Nor ...

from 1946 to 1951. Overall, Ogdensburg teams won three league championships and one pennant. The Maples hosted home games at Winter Park. Ogdensburg teams played as a minor league affiliate of the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

in 1940 and

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. ...

in 1948.

History

Northern New York League 1900–1901

Minor league baseball started in Ogdensburg, New York in 1900. The Ogdensburg team was a charter member of the five–team Independent level

. Ogdensburg finished 4–14 and placed 5th in the 1900 Northern New York League, playing under manager S.H Cook. The Ogdensburg franchise folded from the league after the 1901 season.

Canadian–American League The Canadian–American League, nicknamed the Can-Am League, was a class C level minor league baseball circuit which ran from 1936 through 1951, with a three-year break during World War II. Teams *Amsterdam Rugmakers, 1938–1942, 1946–19 ...
1936–1940

The Ogdensburg Colts became charter members of the 1936 Class C level

. The 1936 final league standings featured the Brockville Pirates (43–36), Ogdensburg Colts (38–45), Oswego Netherlands (32–51), Ottawa Senators (53–37), Perth Blue Cats/Royals (50–30) and

Watertown Grays Watertown may refer to: Places in China In China, a water town is a type of ancient scenic town known for its waterways. Places in the United States *Watertown, Connecticut, a New England town **Watertown (CDP), Connecticut, the central village ...

/ Massena Bucks (35–52). The 1936 Ogdensburg Colts finished with a Canadian-American League regular season record of 38–45. Their 4th-place finish in the CCL under managers George Lee and Bernard Fasulo qualified the team for the playoffs. In the 1936 playoffs, the Perth Blue Cats/Royals defeated the Ogdensburg Colts 3 games to 2. The 1937 Ogdensburg Colts were the Canadian-American League Champions. The Colts ended the season with a record of 55–47, placing 4th in the Canadian-American League regular season. On August 21, 1937, Colts pitcher Leo Pukas threw a no–hitter in a 9–0 victory over the

Ottawa Braves The Ottawa Braves are the athletic teams that represent Ottawa University, located in Ottawa, Kansas, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Kansas Collegi ...

. Playing under manager George Lee, the Ogdensburg Colts defeated the Oswego Netherlands 3 games 1 in the playoff semi–final. In the league Finals, the Ogdensburg Colts and Gloversville Glovers played to a seven–game series, with the cColts winning 4 games to 3. The Colts' season attendance was 27,827, an average of 546 per home game. In the 1938 season, the Ogdensburg Colts finished 3rd in the Canadian-American League regular season standings. Ogdensburg finished with a record of 66–52, playing under manager George Lee. On September 5, 1938, Ogdensburg pitcher Ed Lauer threw a perfect game in a 7–inning game, as Lauer and the Colts defeated the Ottawa Braves 7–0. In the 1938 Playoffs, the Cornwall Bisons swept the Ogdensburg Colts 4 games to 0. The 1938 Colts' season attendance was 27,016, an average of 458. The 1939 season was the final one for Ogdensburg under the "Colts" moniker. Ogdensburg finished with a record of 60–58, placing 5th in the Canadian-American League regular season standings. Their manager was again George Lee. The 1939 Attendance was 19,849, an average of 336. The Ogdensburg Colts franchise folded after the 1939 season. In 1940, Ogdensburg partnered with

Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

in creating a franchise that played home games both cities. The Ottawa-Ogdensburg Senators won the 1940 Canadian-American League pennant. The Ottawa Senators franchise played half their 1940 Canadian-American League season in Ogdensburg. The team was an affiliate of the

. Under manager

Cy Morgan Harry Richard "Cy" Morgan (November 10, 1878 – June 28, 1962) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds between 1903 and 1913. Morgan batted and threw ...

, the Senators finished with a 84–39 record, placing 1st in the regular season standings. In the 1940 Playoffs, the Amsterdam Rugmakers defeated the Ottawa-Ogdensburg Senators 4 games to 1. Neither Ottawa or Ogdensburg fielded a team in 1941. Ogdensburg NY

Border League 1946–1951

Minor league baseball returned when the 1946 Ogdensburg Maples became charter members of the Class C level

. The 1946 six–team league standings featured the

Auburn Cayugas The Auburn Cayugas was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Auburn, New York and their namesake Cayuga County, New York between 1877 and 1951. Auburn teams played as members of the 1877 League Alliance, 1888 Central New Yo ...

(72–44), Granby Red Sox (54–60), Kingston Ponies (58–55), Ogdensburg Maples (50–68), Sherbrooke Canadians (46–71) and

Watertown Athletics The Watertown Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, New York.. The Athletics played from 1946 to 1951 and were preceded by the 1936 Watertown Greys and an 1888 Watertown team. Watertown teams played as members of the 1888 ...

(69–51) In their initial season, the 1946 Ogdensburg Maples finished with a record of 50–68, placing 5th in the Border League standings. Led by manager Bobby Dill, the Maples did not qualify for the playoffs. Resuming play at Winter Park, the 1946 season home attendance was 28,395, an average of 481 per contest. The Ogdensburg Maples reached the Border League Finals in 1947. Finishing the regular season at 61–65, placing 4th in the Border League, manager

Steve Yerkes Stephen Douglas Yerkes (May 15, 1888 – January 31, 1971) was a professional baseball player. History Yerkes played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball between 1909 and 1916, primarily as a second baseman. He played for the ...

led the Maples to the playoffs. In the 1947 playoffs, the Ogdensburg Maples advanced by defeating the Watertown Athletics in a seven-game series 4 games to 3. In the Finals, the Ottawa Nationals defeated the Ogdensburg Maples 4 games 2. Ogdensburg's season attendance was 63,486, an average of 1,008. The 1948 Ogdensburg Maples won the Border League championship. Playing as an affiliate of the

, the Maples finished the regular season with a record of 69–60, placing 3rd in the standings, playing under manager Russ Wein. In the playoffs, the Ogdensburg Maples advanced by defeating the Ottawa Senators 4 games to 1. In the 1948 Finals, the Ogdensburg Maples won the championship by sweeping the Watertown Athletics 4 games to 0. The Maples season attendance was 60,116. The Ogdensburg Maples again advanced to the Border League playoffs in 1949. Finishing in 3rd place with a regular season record of 70–60, the team was again managed by Russ Wein. The Maples lost in the playoffs, defeated by the Geneva Robins 4 games to 3. The season attendance was 58,749. The 1950 Ogdensburg Maples won their second Border League Championship. After a 2nd place 74–54 finish under manager Russ Wein, the Maples qualified for the playoffs. In the 1950 playoffs, the Ogdensburg Maples advanced to the Finals by defeating the Watertown Athletics 4 games to 1. In the Finals, the Ogdensburg Maples won the championship by defeating the Ottawa Senators 4 games to 2. The 1950 Maples season attendance was 55,291, an average of 864 per game. The Border League folded during the 1951 season. Managed by John Sosh and Irvin Schupp, the Ogdensburg Maples had a record of 29–35, and were in 2nd place when the Border League permanently disbanded on July 16, 1951. Ogdensburg has not hosted another minor league baseball team after the 1951 Ogdensburg Maples and the Border League folded.

The ballpark

The Ogdensburg Colts and Ogdensburg Maples teams were both noted to have played minor league home games at Winter Park. The site had previously hosted a skating rink. The dimensions were (left–center–right) 260–450–386. The ballpark seated 1,800 and had no lights when hosting the Colts. Lighting was installed by the Ogdensburg Maples. The ballpark grandstand once collapsed during a game. Today, the park has been renamed to "Father Martin Field." Still in use, the ballpark is located next to the Knights of Columbus at 721 Hasbrouck Street, Ogdensburg, New York.

Notable alumni

Merle Anthony George Merlyn Anthony (April 26, 1926 – February 2, 1993) was an American professional baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1975. Anthony umpired the 1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the 1973 American League ...

(1946) *

Joe Camacho Joseph James Norita Camacho (born ?) is a Northern Mariana Islands lawyer and politician. He is a Representative in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, as of 2009, and served as the House's floor leader in the 16th Northern Mari ...

(1949) *

Frank Fanovich Frank Joseph "Lefty" Fanovich (January 11, 1923 – August 27, 2011) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. The left-hander played for the Cincinnati Reds during the season and the Philadelphia Athletics during the season. During his ML ...

(1946) * Jim Galvin (1938) *

Dixie Howell Millard Fleming "Dixie" Howell (November 24, 1912 – March 2, 1971) was an American football and baseball player and coach. He played college football as a halfback at the University of Alabama from 1932 to 1934 and with the Washington Redski ...

(1940)

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(1970) *

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(1940) *

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(1946) *

Ken Jungels Kenneth Peter Jungels (June 23, 1916 – September 9, 1975) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for five seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 1937 to 1938 and 1940 to 1941 and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1942. Jungels' lone ...

(1949) *

Garland Lawing Garland Frederick Lawing (August 29, 1918 – September 27, 1996) was an American professional baseball player. He appeared in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and pinch hitter in ten games during the season for the Cincinnati Reds and Ne ...

(1948) *George Lee (1937–1939, MGR)

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (french: Temple de la renommée du baseball canadien) is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museum commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada. His ...

(1998) *

Jake Livingstone Jacob M. Livingstone (January 1, 1880 – March 22, 1949) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played in with the New York Giants. He was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia and died in Wassaic, New York Wassaic is a hamlet (place), hamlet and ...

(1901) *

Hal Marnie Harry Sylvester "Hal" Marnie (July 6, 1918 – January 7, 2002) was an American professional baseball player. Born in Philadelphia, he was a second baseman and shortstop who appeared in 96 games in Major League Baseball over parts of three season ...

(1940) *

Paul Masterson Paul Kevin Masterson is a Northern Irish DJ and record producer, originally from Belfast and now living in London. He is best known for recording as Yomanda. He is also part of the dance music duo Hi-Gate, along with BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jul ...

(1940) *

Bill Peterman William David Peterman (March 20, 1921 – March 13, 1999) was an American Major League Baseball catcher. Peterman played for the Philadelphia Phillies in the season. In 1 career game, he had 1 hit in 1 at-bat, having a 1.000 career batting avera ...

(1940) *

Johnny Podgajny John Sigmund Podgajny (June 10, 1920 – March 2, 1971) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for five seasons. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1940 to 1943, the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1943 and the Cleveland Indians The ...

(1940) *

Doc Scanlan William Dennis Scanlan (March 7, 1881 – May 29, 1949) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed ...

(1901) *

Lou Sleater Louis Mortimer Sleater (September 8, 1926 – March 25, 2013) was a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1950 to 1952 and from 1955 to 1958 for the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Brav ...

(1947–1948) * Maurice Van Robays (1937) *

(1947, MGR)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Philadelphia Phillies minor league affiliates Defunct baseball teams in New York (state) New York Giants minor league affiliates San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates St. Lawrence County, New York Baseball teams disestablished in 1951 Baseball teams established in 1946 Border League teams

History

Northern New York League 1900–1901

Canadian–American League The Canadian–American League, nicknamed the Can-Am League, was a class C level minor league baseball circuit which ran from 1936 through 1951, with a three-year break during World War II. Teams *Amsterdam Rugmakers, 1938–1942, 1946–19 ... 1936–1940

Border League 1946–1951

The ballpark

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links

Canadian–American League The Canadian–American League, nicknamed the Can-Am League, was a class C level minor league baseball circuit which ran from 1936 through 1951, with a three-year break during World War II. Teams *Amsterdam Rugmakers, 1938–1942, 1946–19 ...
1936–1940