The Plainfield Crescent Cities were a minor league baseball team based in

Plainfield, New Jersey Plainfield is a city in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, known by its nickname as "The Queen City."

. In 1891 and 1892, the Crescent Cities teams played exclusively as members of the

Central New Jersey League The Central New Jersey League was a minor league baseball league that played in 1891 and 1892. The n Independent level Central New Jersey League member teams were based exclusively in New Jersey. Baseball Hall of Fame member Willie Keeler played ...

, reportedly winning championships in both Seasons. Plainfield hosted home minor league games at the Crescent League Base Ball Grounds.

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 ...

member

Willie Keeler William Henry Keeler (March 3, 1872 – January 1, 1923), nicknamed "Wee Willie" because of his small stature, was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn ...

played for the Plainfield Crescent Cities in 1891 and 1892, leading the league in hitting in 1891.

History

Minor league baseball play began in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1891. The Plainfield Crescent Cities began play when the Central New Jersey League was formed for the 1891 season as an

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

level minor league. The Westfield and Somerville teams were also among the teams in the league, with statistics of the 1891 season unknown. It was reported that Plainfield won the championship.

member

played as a member of the 1891 Plainfield team and reportedly helped lead the Crescent Cities to the championship. Keeler hit .376 to lead the league while making $60.00 per month. The Plainfield Crescent Cities continued play in the four–team 1892 Central New Jersey League. Plainfield began play in the Independent level league on May 26, 1892. The Plainfield Crescent Cities joined the Elizabeth team from

Elizabeth, New Jersey Elizabeth is a city and the county seat of Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.New J ...

, the Somerville West Ends from

Somerville, New Jersey Somerville is a borough and the county seat of Somerset County, New Jersey, United States.New Je ...

and Westfield Athletics from

Westfield, New Jersey Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States, located southwest of Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States census, the town's population was 30,316, The season concluded on September 24, 1892, with Plainfield tied for 1st place, playing under managers Charles Reed and Tom Keller. The Elizabeth and Westfield franchises both disbanded on September 3, 1892 with 5–11 records. The Plainfield Crescent Cities and Somerville West Ends were in a tie for 1st place with 12–6 records. However, Plainfield disbanded before a playoff with Somerville could be played. Willie Keeler continued play as a member of the 1892 Plainfield Crescent Cities, at age 20. Keeler left the Plainfield team in June to join Birmingham of the Eastern League before making his major league debut later in the 1892 season. Keeler debuted with the

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. ...

on September 30, 1892 at the

Polo Grounds The Polo Grounds was the name of three stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used mainly for professional baseball and American football from 1880 through 1963. The original Polo Grounds, opened in 1876 and demolished in 1889, was built fo ...

. Before his release from the team in August, 1892, Crescent Cities player Willie Murphy started and operated a shooting gallery in Plainfield. The Central New Jersey League permanently folded following the 1892 season. Plainfield has not hosted another minor league team. On February 21, 1910, Plainfield fans held a banquet and reception for Willie Keeler at the Hotel Iroquis in Plainfield, presenting him with a silver cup. In a speech, Keeler expressed he was thankful for the support of the Plainfield fans and the franchise for being supportive and offering assistance in his career advancement.

The ballpark

The Plainfield Crescent Cities teams were noted to have played minor league home games at the Crescent League Base Ball Grounds. At the time, the ballpark was located at Somerset Street & Grandview Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey.http://www.digifind-it.com/plainfield/DATA/PDP/1890/1890-08-07.pdf North Avenue, Plainfield, NJ - view 1

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

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 ...
alumni

(1891–1892) Inducted, 1939

Notable alumni

Tuck Turner George A. Turner (February 13, 1867 – July 16, 1945) was an American Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Browns. Career Born in West New Brighton, Staten Island, Turner began his baseball career as a paid p ...

(1892) *

Bob Murphy Robert, Rob, Bob or Bobby Murphy may refer to: Sports Ice hockey *Robert Ronald Murphy or Ron Murphy (1933–2014), Canadian ice hockey player * Bob Murphy (ice hockey) (born 1951), Canadian retired professional ice hockey player * Rob Murphy (ice ...

(1892) * Willie Murphy (1892) Willie Keeler

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in New Jersey Baseball teams established in 1891 Baseball teams disestablished in 1892 Plainfield, New Jersey Central New Jersey League teams Union County, New Jersey

History

The ballpark

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

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 ... alumni

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links

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 ...
alumni