The St. Paul Freezers were a minor league baseball team based in

St. Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center o ...

. In 1886, the "Freezers" played as members of the

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

Northwestern League The Northwestern League was a sports league that operated in the Central United States during the early years of professional baseball for five seasons: 1879, 1883–1884, and 1886–1887. After the 1887 season, the league was replaced by the We ...

, placing fourth in the six-team league. The St. Paul Freezers hosted minor league home games at the West Seventh Street Park. The team became known as the "Freezers" after a cold spring forced early season games to be postponed.

History

Organized baseball in St. Paul was reported in local newspapers as early as 1859. Minor league baseball in St. Paul began in 1877, when the St. Paul "Red Caps" joined the

League Alliance The League Alliance was the first semi-affiliated minor league baseball league. Proposed by Al Spalding on January 15, 1877. Independent baseball teams were to affiliate with National League teams, which would honor their respective contracts. The ...

, which organized numerous teams under some common opponents. The 1884

St. Paul Apostles ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...

of the

preceded the St. Paul Freezers in minor league play. The St. Paul "Freezers" nickname was given to the team by local reporters after cold spring temperatures in 1886 caused the cancellation of some St. Paul games. In 1886, the St. Paul "Freezers" began play as members of the six-team

level Northwestern League, which had reformed after not playing in 1885. The Duluth Jayhawks, Eau Claire Lumbermen,

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...

Minneapolis Millers The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, through 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League. The team played first in ...

and Oshkosh teams joined St. Paul in beginning league play on May 6, 1886. Playing the season under manager

John Barnes John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE (born 7 November 1963) is a former professional football player and manager. He currently works as an author, commentator and pundit for ESPN and SuperSport. Initially a quick, skilful left winger, he moved to cent ...

, the Freezers ended the 1886 season in fourth place. With a record of 37–43, the Freezers finished 9.5 games behind the champion Duluth Jayhawks when the Northwestern League season schedule ended on September 30, 1886. The league held no playoffs. Overall, the St, Paul Freezers finished behind Duluth (46–33), Eau Claire (43–36), Oshkosh (39–39) and ahead of the Minneapolis Millers (36–26) and Milwaukee Brewers in the 1886 Northwestern League final standings. In 1887, the team was renamed and the

St. Paul Saints The St. Paul Saints are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and have played their home games at CHS Field since 2015. They prev ...

continued play under returning manager John Barnes, with the franchise remaining as members of the Northwestern League. The "Saints" is a nickname that has remained in use in the over one century of play since. Today, the

continue minor league play as the

Class AAA Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL ...

level affiliate of the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

in the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

The ballpark

The 1886 St. Paul Freezers hosted minor league home games at the new West Seventh Street Park, also called the "St. Paul Grounds." The

had played at a nearby ballpark of the same name the previous two seasons. The relocated ballpark was located on Jefferson Street between Toronto Avenue & Warsaw Street, near West 7th Street. Nearby was the Short Line railroad tracks. Today, the St. Clair Playground park is across from the former ballpark site.

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

(1886, MGR) *

Elmer Cleveland Elmer Ellsworth Cleveland (September 15, 1862 – October 8, 1913) was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He began his professional career in the Western Interstate League in 1883 and then joined the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds of the ...

(1886) * Billy Colgan (1886) *

Hugh Daily Hugh Daily (July 17, 1847 – after 1923), nicknamed "One Arm" Daily, was an Irish born professional right-handed pitcher who played six seasons, for seven different teams; the Buffalo Bisons, the Cleveland Blues, and the St. Louis Maroons of ...

(1886) *

Jesse Duryea James Newton "Jesse" Duryea (September 7, 1859 – August 19, 1942) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for six seasons. He made his big league debut for Cincinnati Red Stockings as a 29-year-old on April 20, 1889. He came to stay in ...

(1886) * Pete McShannic (1886) * Billy O'Brien (1886) *

Harry Sage Harry Sage (March 16, 1864 – May 27, 1947), nicknamed "Doc", was a Major League Baseball catcher in 1890 for the Toledo Maumees of the American Association. He was a native of Rock Island, Illinois. In his only major league season, Sage pl ...

(1886) *

Jim Tray James Tray (February 14, 1860 – July 28, 1905) was a Major League Baseball catcher for the 1884 Indianapolis Hoosiers Indianapolis Hoosiers was the name of three major league and at least three minor league baseball clubs based in Indianapolis. ...

(1886) *

Walt Wilmot Walter Robert Wilmot (October 18, 1863 – February 1, 1929) was an American professional baseball player. He played all or parts of 10 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Washington Nationals (1888–89), Chicago Colts (1890–95), and Ne ...

(1886) *

St. Paul Freezers players ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

St. Paul - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Professional baseball teams in Minnesota Defunct baseball teams in Minnesota Baseball teams established in 1886 Baseball teams disestablished in 1886 Sports in Saint Paul, Minnesota Northwestern League teams