The Portland Blue Sox were a class-D minor league baseball team in

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

which played from 1907 to 1908 in the Maine State League and the Atlantic Association before folding. The Blue Sox were relaunched in 1919 to make up for the loss of the Portland Duffs, which folded in 1917 and played in the Eastern League. The 1919 Blue Sox were added to the New England League, but only lasted one season.

History

Portland first played minor league baseball in the 1897 Maine State League. Portland had two franchises when the Maine State League was formed for the 1907 season as an eight–team Class D minor league. The Maine State League began play in the 1907 season hosting franchises from

Augusta, Maine Augusta is the capital of the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat of Kennebec County. The city's population was 18,899 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth-most populous city in Maine, and third-least populous state capital in the Un ...

(

Augusta Senators Augusta may refer to: Places Australia * Augusta, Western Australia Brasil * Rua Augusta (São Paulo) Canada * Augusta, Ontario * North Augusta, Ontario * Augusta Street (Hamilton, Ontario) France * Augusta Suessionum ("Augusta of the Sue ...

Bangor, Maine Bangor ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat of Penobscot County. The city proper has a population of 31,753, making it the state's 3rd-largest settlement, behind Portland (68,408) and Lewiston (37,121). Modern Bangor ...

( Bangor Cubs), Biddeford, Maine (

Biddeford Orphans The Biddeford Orphans were a minor league baseball team based in Biddeford, Maine. Preceded in minor league play by the 1885 Biddeford "Clamdiggers," who played as members of the 1885 Eastern New England League, the Orphans were members of the ...

Lewiston, Maine Lewiston (; ; officially the City of Lewiston, Maine) is List of cities in Maine, the second largest city in Maine and the most central city in Androscoggin County, Maine, Androscoggin County. The city lies halfway between Augusta, Maine, August ...

(Lewiston), Manchester, New Hampshire (Manchester), Portland, Maine (Pine Tree Capers), a second team in Portland (Portland Blue Sox) and

Waterville, Maine Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The city is home to Colby College and Thomas College. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census the populatio ...

(Waterville). The 1907 Maine State League began play on May 24, 1907 and two new Portland franchises joined the league. During the 1907 season, the league lost several franchises before the season concluded, but the Portland teams remained. Both Manchester and Waterville folded in June, Manchester with a 1–7 record and Waterville with an 8–14 record. The Augusta franchise disbanded on July 29, 1907, with a 27–28 record. Lewiston was 24–24 when that franchise folded on August 3, 1907. With four teams remaining, the Portland teams finished 3rd and 4th in the standings as the Bangor Cubs won the 1907 Maine State League Championship. Bangor had a 47–31 final record, followed by the Biddeford Orphans (30–27), Portland Blue Sox (39-41) and Pine Tree Capers (27–32) in the 1907 standings. The Augusta Senators (27–28), Lewiston (24–23), Manchester (1–7) and Waterville (8–14) all folded before the completion of the season. In 1908, Portland had the best record in the Maine State League, when the franchise folded. Augusta, the Bangor White Sox, Biddeford, and the Portland Blue Sox comprised the 1908 league members who remained after the Pine Tree and York Beach franchises disbanded during the season. The Maine State League began play on June 10, 1908 and had both Portland franchises in the league. Pine Tree (15–13) and York Beach (10–15) both disbanded on July 19, 1908. When the Portland Blue Sox withdrew on August 28, 1908, it caused the remaining Maine State League to fold. The Portland Blue Sox were in 1st place with a 32–20 record when disbanding. Portland finished ahead of the Bangor White Sox (31–22), Lewiston/Augusta (20–26) and Biddeford (18–30) in the standings. However, since Portland folded, Bangor was awarded the 1908 Maine State League Championship.

The ballpark

Portland also hosted a second team in the Maine State League in 1907 and 1908, the Pine Tree Capers. Both teams played at Back Cove Park in Portland.

Notable alumni

Cuke Barrows of

Gray, Maine Gray is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 8,269 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland– South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. Gray is located at the intersection of ...

, who went on to play with the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

, played on the 1907 Portland Blue Sox.

References

External links

Baseball history of Portland, ME., Baseball-Reference.com
{{Portland, Maine Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball in Portland, Maine Defunct baseball teams in Maine New England League teams Maine State League teams Baseball teams established in 1907 Baseball teams disestablished in 1919 Atlantic Association teams