The Oswego Netherlands were a minor league baseball team based in Oswego, New York, United States. From 1936 to 1940, the Netherlands played as members of the Class C level

Canadian-American League Canadian Americans is a term that can be applied to American citizens whose ancestry is wholly or partly Canadian, or citizens of either country that hold dual citizenship. The term ''Canadian'' can mean a nationality or an ethnicity. Canadian ...

, serving as a minor league affiliate of the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

in 1937 and 1938 and Washington Senators in 1939. The Oswego Netherlands hosted minor league home games at Otis Park. At age 17, Baseball Hall of Fame member

Bob Lemon Robert Granville Lemon (September 22, 1920 – January 11, 2000) was an American right-handed pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Lemon was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. Lemon was raised in California ...

played for the 1938 Oswego Netherlands in his first professional season.

History

After minor league baseball began in 1885 with the Oswego Sweegs of the

New York State League The New York State League was an independent baseball league that played six seasons between 2007 and 2012 in New York State and the New York City metro area. Over 500 NYSL players have been signed by professional teams. Players from forty-eight ...

, the Oswego Netherlands were preceded by the 1907 Oswego Starchmakers, who won the championship in the final season of the Empire State League. In 1936, the Oswego "Netherlands" began play in the six–team, Class C level Canadian–American League. Oswego joined the

Brockville Pirates Brockville, formerly Elizabethtown, is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Although it is the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, it is politically independent of the county. It is included with Le ...

, Ogdensburg Colts, Ottawa Senators, Perth Blue Cats and Watertown Grays in beginning league play on May 20, 1936. The "

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

" nickname corresponds with Oswego's history and culture. The

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

had first established a settlement at and Forts at Oswego in 1722. In their first season of Canadian–American League play, the Oswego Netherlands finished last. Oswego ended the 1936 season with a record of 32–51 record, as John Dashner and George Kunes served as managers. Oswego placed sixth, finishing 20.5 games behind the first place Perth Blue Cats. Fort Ontario and Oswego

The 1937 Oswego Netherlands became a minor league affiliate of the

, placed second in the eight–team league and qualified for the playoffs. The Netherlands ended the Canadian–American League season with a record of 67–40. Riley Parker and Blane Kunes served as managers, as Oswego finished 1.5 games behind the first place Perth-Cornwall Grays. In the 1st round of the playoffs, the Ogdensburg Colts defeated Oswego 3 games to 1. The Oswego Netherlands continued an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1938. The Netherlands placed 6th in the1938 Canadian–American League standings with a record of 54–69, playing the season under manager Riley Parker. Oswego finished 27.0 games behind the 1st place Amsterdam Rugmakers. In his first professional season, at age 17, Baseball Hall of Fame member

played for Oswego in 1938. In 75 games, Lemon hit .312 with 7 home runs as a hitter for Oswego. After advancing to the major leagues as a hitter, Lemon switched to pitching in 1946, leading to his pitching career with 7 All-Star game selections and 207 career wins. Playing as an outfielder in 1938, Lemon has been signed by the Cleveland Indians to a contract for $100.00 per month before reporting to Oswego. The Oswego Netherlands placed second in 1939, becoming an affiliate of the Washington Senators. Oswego ended the eight–team Canadian–American League season with a record of 69–53, placing second and finishing 12.0 games behind the first place

Amsterdam Rugmakers The Amsterdam Rugmakers were a Canadian–American League baseball team based in Amsterdam, New York, USA, that played from 1938 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1951. They played their home games at Mohawk Mills Park (now Shuttleworth Park) and were affi ...

. Art Funk and Blaine Kunes served as managers. In the 1st round of playoff, Amsterdam Rugmakers defeated Oswego 4 games to 2. In their final season of play, the Oswego Netherlands placed sixth in the Canadian–American League and did not qualify for the playoffs. The Netherlands ended the 1940 season with a record of 58–63, as Blaine Kunes and Art Funk again served as managers. Oswego finished 25.0 games behind the first place Ottawa-Ogdensburg Senators in the final regular season standings. Oswego did not continue play in the 1941 Canadian–American League, as the franchise folded following the 1940 season. Oswego has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The Oswego Starchmakers played minor league home games at Otis Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,000 in 1936, with field dimensions of (Left, Center, Right): 550–585–428 in 1936 and 354–491–347 in 1939. The park was named for Oswego mayor John Otis. The grandstand was torn down in the 1950's, as Frederick Leighton Elementary School was built on the site. The ballpark was located at Hillside Avenue & Buccaneer Boulevard. Today, Leighton Elementary is located at 1 Buccaneer Boulevard.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

* Bill Kalfass (1940) *

(1938) Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame * Mike Naymick (1938) *

Frank Skaff Francis Michael Skaff (September 30, 1910 – April 12, 1988) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder, coach, manager and scout. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935 and for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1943, and served as act ...

(1906) *

Glenn Spencer Glenn Spencer may refer to: * Glenn Spencer (American football), American college football coach * Glenn Spencer (baseball), Major League Baseball pitcher {{hndis, Spencer, Glenn ...

(1940) *

Vince Ventura Vincent Ventura (April 18, 1917 – September 11, 2001) was an American professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators (1901–60), Washington Senators for 18 games during the 1945 Washingt ...

(1940)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Oswego - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams established in 1936 Baseball teams disestablished in 1940 1937 establishments in New York (state) 1940 disestablishments in New York (state) Defunct baseball teams in New York (state) Oswego, New York Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates Washington Senators minor league affiliates