Professional baseball in Connecticut
There have been numerous professional baseball teams in Connecticut since the late 1800s. Most have been minor league teams, however, some early major league teams played in Connecticut. The last major league team was the Hartford Dark Blues, which played its final season in Hartford as a charter member of the newly-established modern National League in 1876.
History[edit]
New Britain/Bristol[edit]
Minor League Baseball in New Britain has had a wide variety of teams and notable players, famous players such as Roger Clemens, David Ortiz and Curt Schilling have played for New Britain; The individual considered the fastest pitcher in professional baseball, Steve Dalkowski, also grew up in New Britain.[1] The Boston Red Sox former AA Pawtucket Red Sox moved to Bristol in 1973, and then to New Britain in 1983. In 1995 the New Britain Red Sox became the Minnesota Twins affiliate and changed their name to the Rock Cats. The team switched its affiliation to the Colorado Rockies prior to the 2015 season and left New Britain in favor of Hartford at the end of the 2015 season, but was replaced by the Independent New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League.[2]
At the end of the 2019 season, the New Britain Bees announced the franchise was leaving the Atlantic League, and reorganizing as an amateur team in the New England–based Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL).[3] The nearby Bristol Blues transferred from the FCBL to the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) at the end of 2019, creating a vacancy in the league for the Bees.
Hartford[edit]
Hartford had nearly continuous baseball from 1874 to 1952, including early major league baseball teams from 1874 to 1877. Notable events include five league titles by the Hartford Senators. In 2016, the former minor league club from New Britain began play as the Hartford Yard Goats, but did not play a home game in Hartford until 2017.
Waterbury[edit]
Several different Minor League Baseball teams have been located in the city of Waterbury, Connecticut since 1884. These include 1884–1888, 1891, 1894–1895, 1897–1902, 1906–1914, 1918–1928, 1947–1950, 1966–1971, and 1973–1986. Teams won their respective league championships three times in 1924, 1925, and 1970.
The earliest Waterbury teams played in the Connecticut State League between 1884 and 1912. These teams went by several different nicknames during this period, including the Brassmen, Brass City, Indians, Pirates, Rough Riders, Authors, Invisibles, Finnegans, Champs and Spuds. The Waterbury Brasscos (also called the Nattatucks) played in the old Eastern League from 1918–1928. They won two league titles in 1924 and 1925. The Waterbury Timers played in the Colonial League between 1947 and 1950.
Waterbury became home to professional baseball again in 1966 when the Waterbury Giants, an affiliate of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants came to town. From 1966 to 1986 (with the exception of 1972), the Waterbury team played in the Eastern League as an affiliate of the Giants, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds and California Angels. The team name changed every time the affiliation agreement changed hands. Waterbury did not have an Eastern League team at the start of the 1972 season. However, in the middle of the season, flooding made the ballpark in Elmira, New York unusable, and so the Elmira Pioneers played their "home games" in the second half of the 1972 season in Waterbury.
The Independent Northeast League chose to place a team in Waterbury in 1997 as the Waterbury Spirit, but they moved after the 2000 season to become the North Shore Spirit.
Summary of franchises by city[edit]
 |
Bridgeport[edit]
Former Bridgeport teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport Bluefish | 1997–2017 | N/A | Atlantic League (Independent of MLB) |
N/A | Harbor Yard, Bridgeport |
| Bridgeport Bees | 1947–1950 | B | Colonial League | N/A | Candlelite Stadium, Bridgeport |
Hartford[edit]
Hartford Yard Goats (active)[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford Yard Goats | Since 2016 Bristol/New Britain since 1973 |
AA | Eastern League | Colorado Rockies | Dunkin' Donuts Park, Hartford (from 2017) Dodd Stadium early 2016 |
Former Hartford teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford Dark Blues Hartfords of Brooklyn (1877) |
1874–1877 | MLB | National Association (1874–75) National League (1876–1877) |
-- | Hartford Ball Club Grounds |
| New Bedford/New Haven/Hartford | 1878 | N/A | International Association | -- | -- |
| Hartford Babies (1885)/ Hartford (1884) |
1884–1885 | N/A | Connecticut State League (1884–1885) Southern New England League (1885) |
-- | -- |
| Hartford Dark Blues | 1885–1886 | N/A | Eastern League (original) | -- | -- |
| Hartford | 1889–1890 | N/A | Atlantic Association | -- | -- |
| Hartford | 1891 | E | Connecticut State League | -- | -- |
| Hartford Cooperatives (1898) Hartford Bluebirds (1895–1897) |
1895–1898 | B (1897–1898) | Atlantic League (1896–1899) Connecticut State League (1895) |
-- | -- |
| Hartford Indians/ Wooden Nutmegs |
1899–1901 | A | Eastern League (original) | -- | -- |
| Hartford Senators | 1902–1945
(also known as the Bees and the Laurels) |
A (1919–1933) B (1905–1918, 1934) *varies |
Eastern League (1916–1933) Northeastern League (1934) Colonial League (1915) Eastern Association (1913–1914) Connecticut State League (1902–1912) |
-- Brooklyn Dodgers (1932)
-- Boston Bees (1938-1940) -- Boston Braves (1941-1945) |
Morgan G. Bulkeley Stadium |
| Hartford Chiefs (1946–52) Hartford Bees (1939–45) Hartford Laurels (1938,1944) |
1938–1952 | A | Eastern League | -- | Morgan G. Bulkeley Stadium |
- Note: Clubs frequently changed leagues in early baseball history; franchise dates are approximate. From Baseball-Reference.[4]
New Britain/Bristol[edit]
Active former professional teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Britain Bees* | Since 2016 |
N/A | Futures Collegiate Baseball League (Amateur)[3] Atlantic League 2016-2019 |
N/A | New Britain Stadium |
Former New Britain teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Britain Rock Cats (1997–2015)*/ New Britain Red Sox (1983–94)/ Bristol Red Sox (1973–82) |
1983–2015 (New Britain) 1973-1982 (Bristol) |
AA | EL | Colorado Rockies (2015–2017)* Minnesota Twins (1995–2014) Boston Red Sox-AL (1973–94) |
New Britain Stadium (1995–2015) Beehive Field 1983-94 (Both at Willow Brook Park) Muzzy Field, Bristol (1973–82) |
| New Britain Sinks[5] | 1908–1914 | B | Eastern Association | ||
| New Britain Brass City[5] | 1891 | E | Connecticut State League | ||
| New Britain[5] | 1884–1885 | N/A | Southern New England League |
- Note1: Also known as the "Hardware City Rock Cats" circa 1995-1996
- Note2: Team moved to Hartford at the conclusion of the 2015 season
Former Bristol teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Owls[6] | 1949-1950 | B | Colonial League | N/A | Muzzy Field |
Middletown[edit]
Former Middletown teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown Mansfields[7] | 1872 | MLB | National Association | N/A | Mansfield Club Grounds |
Norwich[edit]
Norwich Sea Unicorns (active)[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Tigers (2010-2019)/ Norwich Sea Unicorns (2020-Present) |
Since 2010 | A-Short Season (2010-2020) | New York-Penn League (2010-2020) Futures Collegiate Baseball League (2021-Present) |
Detroit Tigers 2010-2020 |
Dodd Stadium |
- Note: Due to the 2020 MLB Takeover of the MiLB, The New York-Penn League and the entire Class A-Short Season system was shut down. The Norwich Sea Unicorns have been a part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League since 2021.
Former Norwich teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich Navigators (1995–05)/ Connecticut Defenders (2006–09) |
1995–2009 | AA | EL | New York Yankees-AL (1995-02) San Francisco Giants-NL (2003–09) |
Dodd Stadium |
- Note: Team relocated to Richmond, Virginia at the end of 2009.
New Haven[edit]
Former New Haven and metro area teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven County Cutters | 2004–2007 | N/A | Can-Am League (independent) | N/A | Yale Field |
| New Haven Ravens | 1994–2003 | AA | EL | St. Louis Cardinals (2001–2002) Seattle Mariners (1999–2000) Colorado Rockies (1994–1998) |
Yale Field |
| West Haven Yankees (1972–80) West Haven White Caps (1980) West Haven A's (1981–82) |
1972–1982 | AA | EL | New York Yankees (1972-1980) Oakland Athletics (1980-1982) |
Quigley Stadium |
| New Haven Elm Citys | 1875 | MLB | National Association | N/A | Howard Avenue Field |
- Note: New Haven Ravens relocated to New Hampshire at the end of 2003.
- Note: West Haven Yankees known as White Caps for 1980 season, switched to the West Haven A's for the 1981 and 1982 seasons before folding.
Waterbury[edit]
Former Waterbury teams[edit]
| Franchise name | Years active | Level | League | MLB affiliate | Home venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury Spirit[citation needed] | 1997–2000 | Northeast League (1997–1998)
Northern League East (1999–2000) |
Independent | Municipal Stadium | |
| Waterbury Indians | 1985–1986 | Class AA (1966–1986) |
Eastern League (1966–1986) |
Cleveland Indians (1985–1986) | Municipal Stadium |
| Waterbury Angels | 1984 | California Angels (1984) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Reds | 1980–1983 | Cincinnati
Reds (1980–1983) |
Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury A's | 1979 | Oakland Athletics (1979) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Giants | 1977–1978 | San Francisco Giants (1977–1978) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Dodgers | 1973–1976 | Los Angeles Dodgers (1973–1976) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Pirates | 1970–1971 | Pittsburgh Pirates (1970–1971) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Indians | 1968–1969 | Cleveland Indians (1968–1969) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Giants | 1966–1967 | San Francisco Giants (1966–1967) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Timers | 1947–1950 | Class B (1947–1950) | Colonial League (1947–1950) | Municipal Stadium | |
| Waterbury Brasscos | 1920–1928 | Class A (1919–1928) | Eastern League (1918–1928) | Municipal Stadium | |
| Waterbury Nattatucks | 1918–1919 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Class B (1906–1914, 1918) | |||||
| Waterbury Contenders | 1913–1914 | Eastern Association (1913–1914) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Spuds | 1912 | Connecticut State League (1900–1902,
1906–1912) |
Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Champs | 1911 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Waterbury Finnegans | 1910 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Waterbury Invincibles | 1909 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Waterbury Authors | 1906–1908 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Waterbury Rough Riders | 1899–1902 | Class D (1902) | Connecticut League (1899) | Municipal Stadium | |
| Class F (1897–1901) | Connecticut State League (1888, 1891, 1894–1898) | ||||
| Waterbury Pirates | 1898 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Waterbury Indians | 1897 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Waterbury Brassmen | 1895 | Class B (1894) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury | 1888, 1891, 1894 | Class E (1891) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Brass City | 1887 | Eastern League (1885–1887) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Waterbury Brassmen | 1886 | Municipal Stadium | |||
| Waterbury | 1884–1885 | Southern New England League (1885) | Municipal Stadium | ||
| Connecticut State League (1884–1885) |
References[edit]
- ^ Wendel, Tim (6 April 2013). "Steve Dalkowski:The Fastest Ever?". The National Pastime Museum. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "New Britain Bees lose in home-opener to York Revolution". 22 April 2016.
- ^ a b "New Britain Bees set to leave Atlantic League, will join Futures Collegiate Baseball League". The Hartford Courant. October 28, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
- ^ "Hartford, Connecticut Register City Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ a b c "New Britain, Connecticut Minor League City Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "About Muzzy Field". Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- ^ Middletown Mansfields 1866-1872