The Raymond Cougars were a minor league baseball team based in

Raymond, Washington Raymond is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,882 at the 2010 census. The 2020 census showed the population of 3,081, an increase of 6.4%. The town's economy has traditionally been based on logging and fish ...

. In 1910 and 1911, the Raymond Cougars and Raymond "Venetians" teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level

Washington State League The Washington State League was a Class-D minor league baseball circuit in Washington state that existed for three seasons—from 1910 to 1912. Teams in the league included the Aberdeen Black Cats, Chehalis Gophers, Hoquiam Loggers, Centralia ...

, with the Cougars winning the 1910 league championship. Raymond hosted minor league home games at the Lions Club Park.

History

Minor league baseball began in Raymond, Washington in 1910, when the Raymond "Cougars" became charter members of the six–team Class D level

. The

Aberdeen Black Cats The Aberdeen Black Cats were a minor league baseball team, based in Aberdeen, Washington that played sporadically in various Washington based leagues between 1903 and 1918. External linksBaseball Reference Chehalis Gophers The Chehalis Gophers was the first nickname of the minor league baseball teams based in Chehalis, Washington. From 1910 to 1912, the Chehalis Gophers (1910), Chehalis "Proteges" (1911) and Chehalis "Farmers" teams played exclusively as members of t ...

Hoquiam Loggers The Hoquiam Loggers was the name of at least three different baseball teams based in Hoquiam, Washington. The first incarnation of the team was formed in as the Hoquiam Perfect Gentlemen and played in the Southwest Washington League until (the t ...

Montesano Farmers The Montesano Farmers were a minor league baseball team based in Montesano, Washington. In 1905 and 1910, the Montesano Farmers played as members of the 1905 Class D level Southwest Washington League and 1910 Washington State League, winning the ...

and Tacoma Cubs eams joined Raymond as charter members in league play. The Washington State League was organized in Hoquiam, Washington at a meeting held on March 6, 1910. The league was formed as a six–team league, playing a 21-week schedule. The franchises voted to split the shares of tickets equally between the home and away teams. Ten percent of the ticket earnings were to be given to the league for travel expenses. At the initial meeting, Walter A. MacFarlane was elected league president and W. E. Campbell was elected vice president. During the 1910 season, the salary cap was set, with a limit of $850.00 per month. With the team being managed by Fred Dunbar in 1910, local newspapers called the team "Dunbar's Cougars." Cougars and mountain lions are indigenous to the mountainous region. Beginning play on May 10, 1910, the Raymond Cougars won the Washington State League championship in their first season of play. The Cougars ended the season with a record of 37–19, playing under Fred Dunbar. The Cougars finished just 1.0 game ahead of the second place Chehalis Gophers (35–19) in the final standings. They were followed by the Aberdeen Black Cats (24–29), Montesano Farmers (22–31), Hoquiam Loggers (12–18) and Tacoma Cubs (8–21). Pitcher James Jachs of Raymond led the Washington State League with both 15 wins and 164 strikeouts. In 1911, the Raymond Venetians continued play as the

reduced franchises and became a four–team league. The

Centralia Pets Centralia may refer to: Places Australia *Central Australia, sometimes called "Centralia" Canada * Centralia, Ontario ** RCAF Station Centralia, a former Royal Canadian Air Force training base ** Centralia (Essery Field) Aerodrome United States ...

, Chehalis Proteges and

South Bend River Rats The South Bend River Rats were a minor league baseball team based in South Bend, Washington. In 1911, the South Bend River Rats played as members of the Class D level Washington State League in their only season of play, finishing last in the fo ...

joined Raymond in 1911 league play. In their final season, the 1911 Raymond Venetians placed third in the Washington State League. The Venetians ended the season with a record of 25–29, playing the season under manager C.D. Wineholt. Raymond finished 12.5 games behind the first place

(38–17) in the final standings, followed by the second place Chehalis Proteges (36–20), with Raymond finishing ahead of the fourth place South Bend River Rats (11–44). Player/manager C.D. Wineholt led the league with 8 home runs and 49 runs scored. The Raymond franchise permanently folded following the 1911 season. Raymond, Washington has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The Raymond teams hosted minor league home games at the Lions Club Park. Reportedly, the ballpark had another name in the era. Lions Club Park is still in use today as a public park in Raymond.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

No alumni of the Raymond minor league teams advanced to the major leagues.

References

{{reflist

External links

Raymond - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Washington (state) Baseball teams established in 1910 Baseball teams disestablished in 1910 Pacific County, Washington Washington State League teams