St. Paul Freezers
| St. Paul Freezers | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Independent (1886) |
| League | Northwestern League (1886) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | St. Paul Freezers (1886) |
| Ballpark | West Seventh Street Park (1886) |
The St. Paul Freezers were a minor league baseball team based in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1886, the "Freezers" played as members of the Independent level Northwestern League, 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
[edit]Organized baseball in St. Paul was reported in local newspapers as early as 1859.[1] Minor league baseball in St. Paul began in 1877, when the St. Paul "Red Caps" joined the League Alliance, which organized numerous teams under some common opponents.[2][3] The 1884 St. Paul Apostles of the Northwestern League preceded the St. Paul Freezers in minor league play.[4]
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.[5]
In 1886, the St. Paul "Freezers" began play as members of the six-team Independent level Northwestern League, which had reformed after not playing in 1885.[6] The Duluth Jayhawks, Eau Claire Lumbermen, Milwaukee Brewers, Minneapolis Millers and Oshkosh teams joined St. Paul in beginning league play on May 6, 1886.[7][8]
Playing the season under manager John Barnes, 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.[9]
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.[9]
In 1887, the team was renamed and the St. Paul Saints continued play under returning manager John Barnes, with the franchise remaining as members of the Northwestern League.[10][11] The "Saints" is a nickname that has remained in use in the over one century of play since.[12]
Today, the St. Paul Saints continue minor league play as the Class AAA level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins in the International League.[13]
The ballpark
[edit]The 1886 St. Paul Freezers hosted minor league home games at the new West Seventh Street Park, also called the "St. Paul Grounds." The St. Paul Apostles 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.[14][15][16]
Year–by–year record
[edit]| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1886 | 37–43 | 4th | John Barnes | No playoffs held |
Notable alumni
[edit]- John Barnes (1886, MGR)
- Elmer Cleveland (1886)
- Billy Colgan (1886)
- Hugh Daily (1886)
- Jesse Duryea (1886)
- Pete McShannic (1886)
- Billy O'Brien (1886)
- Harry Sage (1886)
- Jim Tray (1886)
- Walt Wilmot (1886)
References
[edit]- ^ "The Rise of Baseball in Minnesota – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ "1877 St. Paul Red Caps Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Perry Werden's Record-Setting 1895 Season and the 1890s Minneapolis Millers – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ "1884 St. Paul Apostles Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Worth, Richard (February 21, 2013). Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011. McFarland. ISBN 9780786491247 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "1886 St. Paul Freezers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1886 Northwestern League (NL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1886 Northwestern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ a b "1886 Northwestern League (NL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1887 St. Paul Saints Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "2023 St. Paul Saints Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1887 Northwestern League (NL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "St. Paul, Minnesota Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "West Seventh Street Park in St. Paul, MN minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Fort Street Grounds (St. Paul, MN) – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ St. Clair Playground (Map). Google Maps.