Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Professional Baseball History

Athletic Park
Photo: courtesy of Lackawanna County Historical Society

Late 1860’s Wyoming Baseball Club of Scranton and Susquehanna Club of Wilkes-Barre are first organized amateur clubs.

1869 – Hugh Jennings born in Pittston and soon moved to Moosic. Turned
pro in 1890 and eventually played for Baltimore orioles as shortstop.
Managed the Detroit Tigers and Ty Cobb. Was inducted into hall of fame in 1945.

1875-1886 - Modocs of Scranton; Eurekas of North Scranton and Luzernes
of Wilkes-Barre played in a non-organized league. Some teams employed a handful of professional players.

Christy Matthewson
Photo: courtesy of Lackawanna County Historical Society

1880 – Christy Mathewson Born in Factoryville (1936 one of first 5 elected to Hall of Fame)

Late 1880s - Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons
and Scranton Indians compete in the International league (1887). Along with
name changes to the “Barons” and “Miners” respectively, both cities joined the Central League the following year (1888).

1892– Both cities teams joined the
Pennsylvania State League. The teams
went on to play in the Eastern League
(Scranton: 1894-1897, Wilkes-Barre:
1893-1898) and Atlantic League
(Both: 1899-1900) to finish the century.

1894 – Athletic Park constructed along Providence Road in Scranton.

Welsh Hill, Plymouth 1900
Photo: courtesy of Luzerne County Historical Society

Early 1900s - Scranton Miners started from the Schenectady franchise of
the NY State League (1904) and captured first and second League pennant
for Scranton (1906 & 1908) Since Scranton law forbade games on Sunday,
the team would skirt the law by playing at Poplar Park in Old forge and the Crystal Gardens in Dickson City. Joining in 1905, The Wilkes-Barre Barons were three-peat league champions from 1909-1911. Both teams remained in the NY State League until the league disbanded during WWI (1917).

Luzerne Reds 1903, Wyoming League Champs
Photo: courtesy of Luzerne County Historical Society

Midevale Federals 1916
Photo: courtesy of Luzerne County Historical Society

1920s & 30s – Both teams joined the newly-formed New York-
Pennsylvania League (1923-1937). During this time, Babe Ruth (who
was known to visit friends in Scranton and hunt in Dalton and around
Lake Wallenpaupack) played in exhibition games against the Miners,
bringing along players like Lou Gehrig, Bill Dickey and Tony Lazzeri
(Oct. 14, 1926, Aug. 2, 1931 & Aug. 10, 1932). The  Barons were
champions of the league in 1930 and 1932. The Miner’s first NY-PENN championship prompted a victory dinner at the Hotel Jermyn on Sept. 14, 1926; they won the crown again ten years later.

1926 New York/ Pennsylvania Champs
Photo: courtesy of Lackawanna County Historical Society

1938 – NY-PENN League was re-named the Eastern League and was
a stop on the way to the majors for players like Whitey Ford, Warren
Spahn and Lefty Gomez. The Barons were one of the innagural teams.

1939 – Scranton Red Sox join the Eastern League as a farm team of
their Boston namesake. They won championships in 1939, 1942, 1946
and 1948. The Wilkes-Barre Barons became a farm team of the
Cleveland Indians (1939-1948), and were managed by Tony Lazzeri
for a year (1943).

1940s – Constructed Scranton Stadium off Monroe Ave in Dunmore
(May 5, 1940 new stadium opened). Chet Covington pitches perfect
game against Springfield rifles (May 23, 1943). Detroit Tigers play
Scranton Miners in exhibition game. Arrived via Lackawanna Railroad
and were guests at chamber of commerce dinner before going to NY
to play Yankees (1943). Scranton Red Sox Defeat Wilkes-Barre Barons
in Governor’s Cup Semifinals and went on to win Gov Cup (1946). MLB
Red Sox played SRS in exhibition game including Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio (1948). The Barons were re-named the Wilkes-Barre Indians
after their major league affiliate (1949-1951) Less than 2 years after
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, an all-black outfield played for Wilkes-Barre (1949).

Pete Gray
Photo: courtesy of Luzerne County Historical Society

1950s – Wilkes-Barre won Governer’s cup (1950), Scranton Red Sox
win Gov Cup and June 15, Tom Herrin pitched no-hitter (1951). Scranton team became part of St. Louis Browns farm system and the Miners
name was revived again (1952). The Miners then became farm team
of the Washington Senators (1953). The Barons re-joined the Eastern
League (1953) and were then affiliated with the Detroit Tigers (1954)
and New York Giants (1955) until the team moved to Johnstown
mid-season.

Late 1970s – John McGee forms group to study reviving minor-league baseball locally.

1984 – Commissioners Joe Corcoran and Ray Alberigi form Northeastern Baseball, Inc. with McGee to sell advance-sales season tickets and used
the money to purchase a AA club.

1989 – Pro-baseball comes back to the area with the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, the affiliate of the Philadelphia
Phillies. Construction was completed on Lackawanna County Stadium
to host the first game on April 26.

1995 – Lackawanna County Stadium hosts International League All
Star Game. Danny Sandoval is named International League Batting
Champ (.331 average).

2007 – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team changes affiliates, and takes
on the Yankees name in honor of their new parent club. Lackawanna
County Stadium is renamed PNC Field.

For more in-depth history, read A History of Scranton Professional
Baseball 1865-1953 by Nicholas E. Petula or Diamonds in the
Coalfields by William C. Kashatus, visit baseball-reference.com
or stop by the Lackawanna Historical Society at The Catlin
House in Scranton.