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From Major Leagues by David Pietrusza:
Also in January 1915 the Feds lashed out on another front, endeavoring to form their own
farm system. In early 1914 John Montgomery Ward had proposed “easternâ€� and â
€œwesternâ€� circuits, but nothing came of his pronouncement. In June of that year rumors
circulated that the Feds were out to lasso the Class D Atlantic League, centered largely in
New Jersey. Again nothing happened, and the Atlantic League folded at season’s end.
The league they did choose was the existing New England—based Colonial League. Each
club in this economically operated Class C “trolley league� had travelled by interurban
transit to its games and returned home by nightfall to cut down on travel expenses. Its
franchises were Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Pawtucket, Taunton and Woonsocketâ
€”all one-time members of the New England League.
Reports persisted throughout 1914 that the Colonial League was playing footsie with the
Feds. In August 1914 the Boston Red Sox cancelled an exhibition with Woonsocket due to
the Fed rumors.
In January 1915 Gilmore and Ward met with representatives of the circuit in New Haven to
formalize matters. Woonsocket was dropped and three clubs—New Haven, Hartford and
Springfield—from the defunct Class B Eastern Association were added. The Feds would
supply six players to each club; in return each Colonial League team would recompense the
Feds $200 per month per player. If the player’s salary exceeded that amount, the Feds
would pay the difference.
Most of the Feds’ deficit for 1914 ($25,000), it was revealed, had been picked up by
Brooklyn’s Ward brothers. In 1915 the arrangement was formalized with a member of
the family, William S. Ward, being named league treasurer.
The Colonial League still avoided overnight trips, but was, nonetheless, in poor financial
shape. Minor league ball—whether organized or outlaw—was in the doldrums in 1915. By
July 10, both Fall River and Taunton had disbanded.
Standings on July 10:
W L PCT.
Hartford 23 18 .561
New Bedford 23 18 .561
New Haven 24 19 .558
Springfield 21 19 .525
Brockton 21 21 .500
Pawtucket 19 20 .487
Fall River 22 24 .478
Taunton 14 28 .333
Play resumed as a six-club league on July 11, but without much improvement at the gate.
Pawtucket drew so poorly it had to play all of its last month’s
games on the road and was renamed the “Orphans.�
Playing talent was fair at best. Former major league second baseman Jim Delahanty (he’d
started the 1915 season with the Brookfeds) managed the strong Hartford club and paced the
circuit in batting with a .379 mark. United States League alumnus “Big Jeff� Pfeffer had
managed Pawtucket in 1914. Former A’s outfielder Danny Murphy appeared for both
New Haven and Pawtucket in 1915.
The most-noteworthy player to graduate from Colonial ranks was hard-hitting Brockton
outfielder Merwin “Jake� Jacobson, who became a star for the great Orioles teams of
the 1920s and eventually made it briefly to the big leagues. Also graduating to higher ranks
was outfielder Mike Menosky, farmed to New Haven by Pittsburgh, who played nine
seasons of major league ball.
Second half standings:
CLUB W L PCT.
Hartford 55 42 .567
Brockton 57 44 .564
New Bedford 56 45 .554
New Haven 52 50 .510
Springfield 47 50 .485
Pawtucket 37 57 .394
Peace, Peace, But There Is No Peace!
Peace talks were held again in April 1915. Sporting News editor J. G. Taylor Spink
arranged for Ban Johnson and Phil Ball to meet at McTeague’s Restaurant in St. Louis.
Two weeks later the duo got together again at Comiskey Park. Ball was heard to mutter
something about the pity of the battles being fought in the courtroom and not on the diamond,
but nothing came of the conferences.
Player raids continued in 1915. From the A’s the Feds got pitchers Chief Bender and
Eddie Plank; from the Braves outfielder Leslie Mann and third baseman Chuck Deal; from the
Cardinals versatile Lee Magee; from the Pirates, first baseman “Big Ed� Konetchy and
third baseman Harry “Mike� Mowrey; from the Phils infielder Milton Reed; from the
Giants, pitcher “Hooks� Wiltse; from the Red Sox, pitcher Hugh Bedient and second
baseman Steve Yerkes; from the Reds, infielder Marty Berghammer; from the Tigers, pitcher
Alex Main; from Brooklyn, catcher Bill Fischer and outfielder Jack Dalton; from the White
Sox, infielder Harry Lord; from the Senators rapidly aging second baseman “Germany�
Schaefer.
Also in January 1915 the Feds lashed out on another front, endeavoring to form their own
farm system. In early 1914 John Montgomery Ward had proposed “easternâ€� and â
€œwesternâ€� circuits, but nothing came of his pronouncement. In June of that year rumors
circulated that the Feds were out to lasso the Class D Atlantic League, centered largely in
New Jersey. Again nothing happened, and the Atlantic League folded at season’s end.
The league they did choose was the existing New England—based Colonial League. Each
club in this economically operated Class C “trolley league� had travelled by interurban
transit to its games and returned home by nightfall to cut down on travel expenses. Its
franchises were Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Pawtucket, Taunton and Woonsocketâ
€”all one-time members of the New England League.
Reports persisted throughout 1914 that the Colonial League was playing footsie with the
Feds. In August 1914 the Boston Red Sox cancelled an exhibition with Woonsocket due to
the Fed rumors.
In January 1915 Gilmore and Ward met with representatives of the circuit in New Haven to
formalize matters. Woonsocket was dropped and three clubs—New Haven, Hartford and
Springfield—from the defunct Class B Eastern Association were added. The Feds would
supply six players to each club; in return each Colonial League team would recompense the
Feds $200 per month per player. If the player’s salary exceeded that amount, the Feds
would pay the difference.
Most of the Feds’ deficit for 1914 ($25,000), it was revealed, had been picked up by
Brooklyn’s Ward brothers. In 1915 the arrangement was formalized with a member of
the family, William S. Ward, being named league treasurer.
The Colonial League still avoided overnight trips, but was, nonetheless, in poor financial
shape. Minor league ball—whether organized or outlaw—was in the doldrums in 1915. By
July 10, both Fall River and Taunton had disbanded.
Standings on July 10:
W L PCT.
Hartford 23 18 .561
New Bedford 23 18 .561
New Haven 24 19 .558
Springfield 21 19 .525
Brockton 21 21 .500
Pawtucket 19 20 .487
Fall River 22 24 .478
Taunton 14 28 .333
Play resumed as a six-club league on July 11, but without much improvement at the gate.
Pawtucket drew so poorly it had to play all of its last month’s
games on the road and was renamed the “Orphans.�
Playing talent was fair at best. Former major league second baseman Jim Delahanty (he’d
started the 1915 season with the Brookfeds) managed the strong Hartford club and paced the
circuit in batting with a .379 mark. United States League alumnus “Big Jeff� Pfeffer had
managed Pawtucket in 1914. Former A’s outfielder Danny Murphy appeared for both
New Haven and Pawtucket in 1915.
The most-noteworthy player to graduate from Colonial ranks was hard-hitting Brockton
outfielder Merwin “Jake� Jacobson, who became a star for the great Orioles teams of
the 1920s and eventually made it briefly to the big leagues. Also graduating to higher ranks
was outfielder Mike Menosky, farmed to New Haven by Pittsburgh, who played nine
seasons of major league ball.
Second half standings:
CLUB W L PCT.
Hartford 55 42 .567
Brockton 57 44 .564
New Bedford 56 45 .554
New Haven 52 50 .510
Springfield 47 50 .485
Pawtucket 37 57 .394
Peace, Peace, But There Is No Peace!
Peace talks were held again in April 1915. Sporting News editor J. G. Taylor Spink
arranged for Ban Johnson and Phil Ball to meet at McTeague’s Restaurant in St. Louis.
Two weeks later the duo got together again at Comiskey Park. Ball was heard to mutter
something about the pity of the battles being fought in the courtroom and not on the diamond,
but nothing came of the conferences.
Player raids continued in 1915. From the A’s the Feds got pitchers Chief Bender and
Eddie Plank; from the Braves outfielder Leslie Mann and third baseman Chuck Deal; from the
Cardinals versatile Lee Magee; from the Pirates, first baseman “Big Ed� Konetchy and
third baseman Harry “Mike� Mowrey; from the Phils infielder Milton Reed; from the
Giants, pitcher “Hooks� Wiltse; from the Red Sox, pitcher Hugh Bedient and second
baseman Steve Yerkes; from the Reds, infielder Marty Berghammer; from the Tigers, pitcher
Alex Main; from Brooklyn, catcher Bill Fischer and outfielder Jack Dalton; from the White
Sox, infielder Harry Lord; from the Senators rapidly aging second baseman “Germany�
Schaefer.
| The Colonial League |