Massachusetts State Association

The Massachusetts State Association was a minor league baseball league that played briefly in the 1884 season. The Non-Signatory, Independent level league consisted of franchises based exclusively in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts State Association was an eight–team league that permanently folded after playing a partial 1884 season.

Massachusetts State Association
ClassificationIndependent (1884)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1884
CeasedAugust 15, 1884
PresidentM. H. Nichols (1884)
No. of teams8
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1
Springfield (1884)
Related
competitions
New England Association

League member Boston Reserves were owned and operated by the major league Boston Beaneaters and may have been the first true baseball farm team.

History

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Formed for the 1884 season, the Massachusetts State Association began play on May 1, 1884, as an eight–team league, with teams scheduled for one or two games per week. The league was a Non-Signatory Independent level league under president M. H. Nichols. The league lost four teams during the season, on July 21, 1884.[1][2][3]

The Massachusetts State Association played in 1884. The charter members were the Boston Reserves and teams from Holyoke, Massachusetts, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Lynn, Massachusetts, Salem, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts, Waltham, Massachusetts and Worcester, Massachusetts.[4]

The 1884 Boston Reserves were the first minor league baseball team to play in Boston, Massachusetts. The Reserves were owned and operated by the Boston Beaneaters of the National League and may have been the first true baseball farm team.[5][4][6][7][8][9]

On July 21, 1884, the Worcester, Waltham, Lynn and Salem teams all disbanded, leaving the Massachusetts State Association with four remaining teams. The league concluded play on August 15, 1884. The Massachusetts State Association standings were led by first place Springfield with a 12–5 record, 1.0 games ahead of the second place Boston Reserves (13–8), followed by Holyoke (7–11) and Lawrence (7–15). Lynn (4–8), Salem (2–11), Waltham (9–6) and Worcester (11–4) had previously folded.[1][4][10]

After the season, the Massachusetts State Association permanently folded, playing only the 1884 season.[1]

Massachusetts State Association teams

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Team name City represented Ballpark Year(s) active
Boston Reserves Boston, MA[5] Unknown 1884
Holyoke Holyoke, MA[11] Unknown 1884
Lawrence Lawrence, MA[12] Association Grounds[13] 1884
Lynn Lynn, MA[14] Unknown 1884
Salem Salem, MA[15] Unknown 1884
Springfield Springfield, MA[16] Pynchon Park[17] 1884
Waltham Waltham, MA[18] Unknown 1884
Worcester Worcester, MA[19] Driving Park[20] 1884

Standings & statistics

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1884 Massachusetts State Association

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Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Springfield 12 5 .706 Charles Shaw
Boston Reserves 13 8 .619 1.0 John Morrill / S. R. Brown
Holyoke 7 11 .389 5.5 Horace Rescott (5/8)
Lawrence 7 15 .318 7.5 Harry Clarke / L. S. Dow /
Charles Freleigh / Matthew Barry / Frank Selee
Worcester 11 4 .733 NA David McGarvey (5/21) / Matthew Barry
Waltham 9 6 .600 NA Frank Selee
Lynn 4 8 .333 NA Wallace Fessenden (7/2) / Edward Chamberlain
Salem 2 11 .154 NA F. W. Doyle

Worcester, Waltham, Lynn and Salem disbanded July 21.[1]

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Alexander Gardner Lawrence BA .396 George Fish Waltham/Lawrence W 14
Timothy Brosnan Springfield Runs 24 George Fish Waltham/Lawrence SO 113
Maurice Bresnahan Waltham/Lawrence Hits 37 George Fish Waltham/Lawrence PCT .824 14–3
Michael Bradley
Edward Chamberlain
Henry Parry
Lawrence
Lynn/Boston
Waltham
HR 1

[1]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ "1884 Massachusetts State Association (MSA) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ "Massachusetts State Association (No Classification) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. ^ a b c "1884 Massachusetts State Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ a b "1884 Boston Reserves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ^ "1884 Boston Reserves/Colts Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "1884 Massachusetts State Association (MSA) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "John Connor – Society for American Baseball Research".
  9. ^ "1884 Boston Beaneaters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "1884 Massachusetts State Association (MSA) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ "1884 Holyoke Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1884 Lawrence Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "1884 Lawrence minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. ^ "1884 Lynn Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ "1884 Salem Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "1884 Springfield Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "Pynchon Park in Springfield, MA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. ^ "1884 Waltham Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. ^ "1884 Worcester Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "Driving Park in Worcester, MA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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