The Paterson Silk Weavers were a minor league baseball team based in

Paterson, New Jersey Paterson ( ) is the largest City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Atlantic League, winning the 1896 league championship amidst controversy.

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...

charter member Honus Wagner played for the 1896 and 1897 Paterson Silk Weavers, before making his major league debut in 1897. Fellow Hall of Fame member Ed Barrow was Wagner's manager in 1896, after scouting him and signing him to the team. Barrow managed the Paterson team again in 1899.

History

In 1896, the Paterson "Silk Weavers" became charter members of the eight–team Class A level Atlantic League, the highest level of minor leagues at the time. The Hartford Bluebirds,

Lancaster Maroons The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named fo ...

New Haven Texas Steers 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 ...

Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, the team became the Oaklan ...

, New York Metropolitans,

Newark Colts The Newark Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. From 1896 to 1900, the Colts played exclusively as members of the Atlantic League, winning the 1896 league championship. The Colts hosted home games at the Hamburg P ...

and Wilmington Peaches joined Newark in beginning league play on April 23, 1896. The "Silk Weavers" nickname corresponds to the silk weaving industry in Paterson in the era. Paterson was known as "Silk City."

member Ed Barrow was the owner and manager of the 1896 Silk Weavers. Barrow first met Baseball Hall of Fame charter member Honus Wagner, in 1895, as Wagner was throwing lumps of coal at a railroad station in Pennsylvania. Barrow signed Wagner to his first professional contract and then signed Wagner again to play for him in Paterson in 1896. In 1897, Wagner's talents were obvious and the Louisville Colonels of the National League (NL) purchased Wagner from Paterson for $2,100 ($ in current dollar terms). The Paterson Silk Weavers placed third in the 1896 Atlantic League regular season in their first season of play. A controversial playoff ensued. Playing under manager Ed Barrow, the Silk Weavers ended the 1896 season with a final record of 74–60, finishing 3.5 games ahead of the pennant winning Newark Colts in the final standings of the seven–team league. The Wilmington Peaches (58–79), New York Metropolitans/Philadelphia Athletics (57–69), Lancaster Maroons (26–30) and New Haven Texas Steers (21–38) followed Paterson in the final standings. Lancaster and New Haven folded before the end of the season, leaving five teams to complete the 1896 season. Ed Barrow 1903

After the 1896 season, Hartford challenged Newark's final record, contesting that their record was unfairly inflated due to a dozen extra games played. It was argued that Newark also used suspended pitcher Joseph Frye, who had left Hartford during the season. As a result, the second place Hartford Bluebirds challenged Newark to a seven–game series to decide the championship. Newark declined the invitation and remained champions as decided by the league. The third place Paterson Silk Weavers then accepted the Hartford invitation to play a series. Paterson prevailed over Hartford five games to two in what was called the "Soby Cup." The Soby Cup, is an actual cup, made of silver, that was given to the Atlantic League by tobacco businessman Charles Soby of

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...

, in September 1896. In its first season, the cup was to be awarded to the winner of a postseason series between the league's top two teams; in subsequent years, the holder of the cup would play a series against the league's top finishing team. Today, the physical cup resides in the

charter member Honus Wagner played for Paterson in 1896, at age 22, hitting.313 in 109 games with 6 home runs and 48 RBI. Wagner was in his second season of professional baseball. Manager Ed Barrow had seen Wagner play in 1895 and signed him to play for Paterson in 1896. Paterson Pitcher

Sam McMackin Samuel McMackin (November 24, 1872 – February 11, 1903) was an American professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. He appeared in two games in the majors in 1902, one for the Chicago White Sox on September 4, and the other for the D ...

had a strong season in 1896, ending with a record of 25–16 and a 2.83

ERA An era is a span of time defined for the purposes of chronology or historiography, as in the regnal eras in the history of a given monarchy, a calendar era used for a given calendar, or the geological eras defined for the history of Earth. Compa ...

in 384.1

innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one innin ...

. This despite being suspended for several games for pitching while

drunk Alcohol intoxication, also known as alcohol poisoning, commonly described as drunkenness or inebriation, is the negative behavior and physical effects caused by a recent consumption of alcohol. In addition to the toxicity of ethanol, the main ps ...

. McMackin lead the team in wins and innings pitched. After the season, the '' Sporting Life'' wrote that: "No two men (McMackin and teammate Jack Kellackey) worked harder for the success of the local team during the past season than did these two, and the people here appreciate it. McMackin has been made night timekeeper in one of the large iron factories here, and has already started in." The 1897 Paterson Silk Weavers continued play as members of the eight–team Class B level Atlantic League. Managed by

Jim Gilman James Joseph Gilman (June 14, 1870 – December 21, 1912) was a professional baseball third baseman who played for the Cleveland Spiders of the National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the Nationa ...

and

Heinie Smith George Henry "Heinie" Smith (October 24, 1871 – June 25, 1939) was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the Louisville Colonels (1897–1898), Pittsburgh Pirates (1899), New York Giants (1901� ...

, Paterson ended the 1897 season with a record of 68–79, placing sixth and finishing 28.0 games behind the first place Lancaster Maroons. Honus Wagner began the 1897 season playing for Paterson, before making his major league debut at the end of the season. On May 5, 1897, Wagner led Paterson to victory over Lancaster with an RBI triple, driving in two runs early in the game, before winning the game with a three-run home run. Wagner was hitting .379 when he joined the Louisville Colonels of the National League, making his major league debut on July 19, 1897. Ed Barrow had contacted Louisville president Barney Dreyfuss, secretary Harry Pulliam, and player-manager

Fred Clarke Fred Clifford Clarke (October 3, 1872 – August 14, 1960) was an American Major League Baseball player from 1894 to and manager from 1897 to 1915. A Hall of Famer, Clarke played for and managed both the Louisville Colonels and Pittsburgh Pirat ...

to travel to Paterson to see Wagner play. 1897 Honus Wagner

Following the 1897 season, the Soby Cup series should have been contested between Lancaster, that year's top team, and Paterson, who had won the cup in 1896. However, league officials decided to have the top two teams of 1897—Lancaster and Newark—play for the cup. After Lancaster and Newark could not agree to terms for a series, the Soby Cup was awarded to Lancaster, the pennant winner. Prior to the 1898 season, the Atlantic League discontinued the postseason Soby Cup format, and returned the physical cup to Charles Soby. By 1951, the cup was at the

, where it remains . The Paterson Silk Weavers or "Weavers" placed fourth in the 1898 Atlantic League. Paterson ended the 1898 season with a record of 58–71, as

Sam LaRocque Simeon Henry Jean LaRocque (February 26, 1863 – May 31, 1933) was a professional baseball player. He was a second baseman over parts of three seasons (1888, 1890–91) with the Detroit Wolverines, Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates and Louisville ...

served as manager. Newark finished 19.0 games behind the first place

Richmond Bluebirds The Richmond Bluebirds were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia. Between 1895 and 1901, the Bluebirds played as members of the Virginia League in 1895 and 1896, Atlantic League (1896–1900), Atlantic League from 1897 to 1899, ...

in final standings of the eight–team league. In their final season of play, the 1899 Paterson team continued play as the Atlantic League was elevated to a Class A level league. The team switched nicknames to become the Paterson "Giants." The Giants folded before the end of the season. On July 9, 1899, Paterson folded and ended the 1899 season with a record of 21–51. Rasty Wright, John Thornton, Ed Barrow and

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 ...

managed the Giants during the season, as Paterson finished 25.0 games behind the champion place Richmond Blue Birds in the final Atlantic League standings. After the Paterson Giants folded, the city was without a minor league team until the 1904

Paterson Intruders Paterson may refer to: People * Paterson (surname) * Paterson (given name) Places Australia *Paterson, New South Wales *Paterson River, New South Wales * Division of Paterson, an electoral district in New South Wales *Paterson, Queensland, a lo ...

began play as members of the

Hudson River League The Hudson River League was formed in 1903 as a class D minor baseball league after playing one season in 1886. Upgraded to Class C the next season, it continued through 1907 before collapsing. There were twelve cities that represented the league ...

. The Atlantic League resumed play for the 1914 season, with the Paterson "Silk Citys" as a member as the league folded following the season.

The ballpark

The name of the Paterson home ballpark in Atlantic League play is not directly referenced. East Side Park was in use in the era, hosting baseball, after first becoming a public park in the 1880s. Still in use today as a public park, and hosting baseball at Larry Doby Field within the park, East Side Park is located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way (Broadway) to the north, McLean Boulevard (State Route 20) to the east, Park Avenue to the south, and Derrom Avenue to the west.

Timeline

Year-by–year records

Notable alumni

* Ed Barrow (1896, 1899, MGR)

Inducted, 1953 * Honus Wagner (1896-1897)

Inducted, 1936 *

Bill Armour William Reginald Armour (September 3, 1869 – December 2, 1922) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He was the manager of the Cleveland Bronchos in 1902 when they signed Nap Lajoie to the most lucrative contract in baseball ...

(1896) * Charlie Bastian (1896) *

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(1896) *

Harry Bemis Harry Parker Bemis (February 1, 1874 – May 23, 1947) was a catcher in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Handsome Harry,"George Briston (1896) * Bill Byers (1899) *

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(1899) * Wid Conroy (1897) *

Dick Cogan Richard Henry Cogan (December 5, 1871 – May 2, 1948) was an American professional baseball player and manager who played three seasons in the major leagues. He was 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds.

(1896) *

Joe Delahanty Joseph Nicholas Delahanty (October 18, 1875 in Cleveland, Ohio – January 29, 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio), was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the major leagues from 1907 to 1909. He was one of five Delahanty brothers to p ...

(1898) * Jim Duncan (1899) * Patsy Flaherty (1897-1898) *

Shorty Gallagher Charles William "Shorty" Gallagher (April 30, 1872 – June 23, 1924) was a Major League Baseball player who played for one season. He played two games for the Cleveland Bluebirds during the 1901 Cleveland Bluebirds season The 1901 Cleveland B ...

(1897) *

(1897, MGR) *

John Gochnaur John Peter Gochnaur (September 12, 1875 – September 27, 1929) was an American professional baseball player. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1901 to 1903, for the Brooklyn Superbas and Cleveland Broncos/Naps. He a ...

(1899) *

Irv Hach Irvin William Hach (1873–1936) was a Major League Baseball second baseman and third baseman. He played for the 1897 Louisville Colonels. Sources

Major League Baseball second basemen Major League Baseball third basemen Louisville Colonel ...

(1897) *

Charlie Hamburg Charles M. Hamburg (November 22, 1863 – May 18, 1931) was a Major League Baseball left fielder in the 19th century. The Louisville, Kentucky native played for his hometown team, the American Association Louisville Colonels, in 1890. Hambur ...

(1897) *

Scott Hardesty Scott Durbin Hardesty (January 26, 1870 - October 29, 1944) was an infielder 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 ...

(1896-1898) *

Emmet Heidrick R. Emmet "Snags" Heidrick (July 29, 1876 – January 20, 1916) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1898 to 1908. He played for the Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis Browns. He was known as a good defensive player w ...

(1896, 1898) *

Mike Jacobs Mike Jacobs may refer to: *Mike Jacobs (first baseman) (born 1980), American baseball player; first North American in professional sports to be tested positive for HGH *Mike Jacobs (shortstop) (1877–1949), played for the Chicago Cubs *Mike Jacobs ...

(1898) *

Abbie Johnson Ebenezer Tremayne Johnson (January 19, 1871 – November 24, 1960), was a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Louisville Colonels The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that also played in the Amer ...

(1897-1898) * Alex Jones (1897-1898) * Bill Keister (1897) *

Hi Ladd Arthur Clifford "Hi" Ladd (February 9, 1870 – May 7, 1948) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Beaneaters in 1898. Arthur is the great great grandfather of current NHL player Andrew Ladd ...

(1899) *

(1898, MGR) *

Jim Long Jim Long (born Timothy John Moynihan; February 7, 1943 – May 30 2022) was an American entrepreneur, whose pioneering marketing concepts and creative “firsts” are iconic in the broadcast music industry. Experienced in the development of int ...

(1899) * Dick Marsh (1899) *

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(1898) *

(1896) *

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(1898) *

Kid Nance William Gideon Nance (August 2, 1876 – May 28, 1958) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Louisville Colonels of the National League from 1897–1898, and then for the Detroit Tigers of the American League in 1901. ...

(1898) * John Newell (1897) *

Ed Pabst Edward D. A. Pabst (July 8, 1868 – June 19, 1940) was a Major League Baseball player. He played outfielder, outfield in four games for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Brows and eight games for the Philadelphia Athletics (American Association ...

(1899) *

Bill Pounds Jeared Wells "Bill" Pounds (March 11, 1878 – July 7, 1936) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He appeared in just two major league games, one each for the Cleveland Naps and Brooklyn Superbas in 1903. Bill Pounds was born in Paterson, ...

(1899) *

(1899, 1899) *

(1897, MGR) * John Stafford (1896) *

Tom Stouch Thomas Carl Stouch (December 2, 1869 – October 7, 1956) was an American Major League Baseball second baseman who played four games with the Louisville Colonels of the National League in 1898. He is best known for "discovering" Shoeless Joe Jack ...

(1896) * Billy Taylor (1896) * John Thornton (1899, MGR) * George Ulrich (1896) *

Lee Viau Leon A. Viau (July 5, 1866 – December 17, 1947) was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1888 to 1892. Viau played for the Cincinnati Red Stockings/Reds, Cleveland Spiders, Louisville Colonels, and Boston ...

(1896, 1898) *

Sam Woodruff Orville Francis "Sam" Woodruff (December 27, 1876 – July 22, 1937) was a professional baseball player. He played all of the 1904 season and part of the 1910 season for the Cincinnati Reds, primarily as a third baseman A third baseman, a ...

(1899) * Rasty Wright (1899, MGR) *

Henry Wilson Henry Wilson (born Jeremiah Jones Colbath; February 16, 1812 – November 22, 1875) was an American politician who was the 18th vice president of the United States from 1873 until his death in 1875 and a senator from Massachusetts from 1855 to ...

(1897)

References

{{reflist

External links

Paterson - Baseball Reference
Defunct baseball teams in New Jersey Baseball teams established in 1896 Baseball teams disestablished in 1898 Defunct Atlantic League teams Sports in Paterson, New Jersey

History

The ballpark

Timeline

Year-by–year records

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links