Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball)
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a minor league team that existed on and off from 1888 to 1955. They began in the Central League in 1888, but the league disbanded after that season. Their next incarnation came about in 1905, when they began playing in the New York State League. They played in that league until 1917. From 1923 to 1937, they played in the New York-Penn League and from 1938 to 1948 they played in the Eastern League. Until 1939, they did not have any affiliations, however from 1939 to 1948 they were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians. From 1953 to 1955, they played in the Eastern League as well, and in 1954 they were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. In 1955, they were affiliated with the New York Giants.[1]
One ballpark they played their home games at was Artillery Park.
Year-by-year record
(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | 59-48 | 3rd | James Donnelly / John Irwin | none | |
| 1905 | 70-52 | 3rd | John Sharrott | none | |
| 1906 | 52-76 | 8th | John Sharrott / Mike Donovan | none | |
| 1907 | 69-66 | 5th | Abel Lizotte | none | |
| 1908 | 60-77 | 7th | Abel Lizotte / Robert Drury | none | |
| 1909 | 88-53 | 1st | Malachi Kittridge | League Champs | |
| 1910 | 85-53 | 1st | Bill Clymer | League Champs | |
| 1911 | 82-61 | 1st | Bill Clymer | League Champs | |
| 1912 | 81-57 | 2nd | Bill Clymer | none | |
| 1913 | 84-56 | 2nd | Joe McCarthy | none | |
| 1914 | 79-55 | 2nd | Joe McCarthy | none | |
| 1915 | 54-60 | 6th | Peter Noonan | none | |
| 1916 | 62-63 | 4th | Joe McCarthy | none | |
| 1917 | 81-37 | 1st | Jack Calhoun | League Champs | |
| 1923 | 47-74 | 5th | Tom Downey | none | |
| 1924 | 51-82 | 7th | Tom Downey / Dutch Brannan / Joe Wall | none | |
| 1925 | 60-71 | 7th | James Sharp / George Maisel | ||
| 1926 | 56-73 | 7th | George Maisel / Earl Potteiger | none | |
| 1927 | 80-56 | 2nd | Earl Potteiger | none | |
| 1928 | 71-65 | 3rd | Mike Konnick | none | |
| 1929 | 50-86 | 8th | Mike Konnick / Don Sykes / Punch Knoll | none | |
| 1930 | 79-59 | 1st | Mike McNally | League Champs | |
| 1931 | 80-59 | 2nd | Mike McNally | none | |
| 1932 | 78-61 | 1st | Mike McNally | League Champs | |
| 1933 | 71-67 | 3rd | Elmer Yoter | none | |
| 1934 | 66-67 | 5th | Elmer Yoter | ||
| 1935 | 79-57 | 2nd | Elmer Yoter | ||
| 1936 | 62-75 | 7th | Jake Pitler | ||
| 1937 | 77-57 | 2nd | Mike McNally | Lost League Finals | |
| 1938 | 51-87 | 8th | Mike McNally | ||
| 1939 | 58-82 | 8th | Eddie Phillips | ||
| 1940 | 56-76 | 8th | Earl Wolgamot | ||
| 1941 | 87-51 | 1st | Earl Wolgamot | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1942 | 79-61 | 4th | Earl Wolgamot | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1943 | 77-61 | 4th | Tony Lazzeri | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1944 | 51-89 | 8th | Jack Sanford | ||
| 1945 | 78-59 | 2nd | Dick Porter / Mike McNally | Lost League Finals | |
| 1946 | 76-62 | 3rd | Dick Porter | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1947 | 80-60 | 3rd | Bill Norman | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1948 | 48-91 | 8th | Bill Norman | ||
| 1953 | 54-95 | 7th | Danny Litwhiler | ||
| 1954 | 80-59 | 1st | Danny Carnevale | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1955 | 59-78 overall | -- | Mike McCormick | Wilkes-Barre moved to Johnstown July 1 | |