The Northeastern League was a minor league baseball league that last played in the 1934 season as an eight–team Class B level league. The 1934 league franchises were based in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. An earlier Northeastern League played as an Independent league in 1887 and 1895 to 1896, with teams based in New York and Vermont.
History The "Northeastern League" first played as a minor league in the 1887 season, beginning play on July 6, 1887, with the season concluding on September 5, 1887. The 1887 league was formed as an Independent league, composed of league members Burlington, Malone, Montpelier, Rutland and St. Albans. The 1887 Rutland team won the Northeastern League championship with a 16–6 record managed by James Harmon. The five–team league began play on July 6, 1887 and the Rutland was followed by St. Albans (19–9), Burlington (13–17), Malone (3–10) and Montpelier (2–13) in the final standings. The Burlington, Vermont team was managed by L.J. Smith and L.G. Burnham. Malone, New York was managed by Ryder. Montpelier, Vermont was managed by Fred Spaulding and William Lord. The Rutland, Vermont team was managed by James Harmon and St. Albans, Vermont was managed by Hunt. All the 1887 Northeastern League teams would become members of the Northern New York League, which began play in 1900. The Northeastern League played again as an Independent league in the 1895 and 1896 seasons, with teams and standings unknown.
The Northeastern League resumed play in 1934. The league played in 1934 as a Class B level league under the direction of President Roger E. Baker. The Northeastern League began play on May 16, 1934, as six–team league, playing a split–season schedule with members Hartford Senators, Lowell Honeys/Hustlers, Manchester Indians, New Bedford Whalers, Springfield Ponies and Waltham Rosebuds. On May 24, 1934, the Waltham Rosebuds, with a 6–2 record, moved to become the Worcester Rosebuds, playing their first home game in Worcester on June 1, 1934. The Lowell Honeys/Hustlers won the first half standings. At the start of the second half, the Northeastern League expanded to eight teams, adding the Watertown Townies and Cambridge Cantabs as new franchises. On July 17, 1934, Cambridge, with a 1–12 record, moved to become the Wayland Birds. Worcester won the second half standings. In the playoff Finals, Lowell won the championship 4 games to 1 over Worcester.
The Northeastern League permanently folded after the 1934 season. After the season ended, league owner Roger Baker, an accountant, reportedly was convicted of embezzlement from his clients and sentenced to serve time in prison.
Northeastern League cities Burlington, Vermont: Burlington (1887) Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cambridge Cantabs (1934) Hartford, Connecticut: Hartford Senators (1934) Lowell, Massachusetts: Lowell Honeys/Hustlers (1934) Malone, New York: Malone (1887) Manchester, New Hampshire: Manchester Indians (1934) Montpelier, Vermont: Montpelier (1887) New Bedford, Massachusetts: New Bedford Whalers (1934) Rutland, Vermont: Rutland (1887) Springfield, Massachusetts: Springfield Ponies (1934) St. Albans, Vermont: St. Albans (1887) Waltham, Massachusetts: Waltham Rosebuds (1934) Watertown, Massachusetts: Watertown Townies (1934) Wayland, Massachusetts: Wayland Birds (1934) Worcester, Massachusetts: Worcester Rosebuds (1934)
Standings and statistics 1887 Northeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Rutland166.727– James HarmonSt. Albans199.6791½ HuntBurlington1317.4336 L.J. Smith / L.G. BurnhamMalone213.23110½ RyderMontpelier213.13311 Fred Spaulding / William Lord 1934 Northeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Waltham Rosebuds / Worcester Rosebuds6643.555–Freddie Knight / Freddie MaguireLowell Hustlers6346.5293 Bill Hunnefield Manchester Indians5849.5427 Chief WerreHartford Senators5053.48513 Snake Henry / Pepper Rae Bill MorrellNew Bedford Whalers4660.43418½ Jean Dubuc Springfield Ponies4162.39822 Bobby Murray Watertown Townies4028.588NABill Barrett Cambridge Cantabs / Wayland Birds1942.311NAMack Hillis / Dick Phelan Tom O'Brien
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot John Jones Springfield / Worcester WatertownBA.365Gerald GruenwaldWorcesterW17 Thomas AdamsSpringfield / WorcesterRuns92Frank ColemanHartfordSO174 Snake HenryWorcesterHits131Jud McLaughlinManchesterPct.706; 12–5 Amit SavardLowellHR17
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