The Cambridge Cantabs were a minor league baseball team based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1934, the Cantabs briefly played as members of the Northeastern League before relocating during the season. The Cantabs played home games at Russell Field.
| Cambridge Cantabs | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class B (1934) |
| League | Northeastern League (1934) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Cambridge Cantabs (1934) |
| Ballpark | Russell Field (1934) |
History
editThe 1899 Cambridge Orphans played in the New England League before the franchise transferred to Lowell during the season.[1][2]
In 1934, the Cambridge "Cantabs" returned to minor league play as members of the eight–team Class B level Northeastern League. Cambridge entered the league at the beginning of the second half of the season, along with the Watertown Townies, expanding the league from six teams to eight. The Hartford Senators, Lowell Hustlers, Manchester Indians, New Bedford Whalers, Springfield Ponies and Worcester Rosebuds resumed 1934 play with the two new members.[3][4][5]
The team use of the "Cantabs" moniker was noted to have derived from Cambridge, England being known as Cantabulum, in Roman times.[6]
On July 17, 1934, Cambridge began their schedule with a 1–12 record when the franchise moved to become the Wayland Birds. The Cambridge Cantabs/Wayland Birds of the Northeastern League ended the 1934 season with a record of 19–42, as Bill Morrell, Mack Hillis, Dick Phelan and Tom O'Brien served as managers. Wayland did not return to play in 1935.[7][8][5]
Cambridge, Massachusetts has not hosted another minor league team.[9]
The ballpark
editThe Cambridge Cantabs hosted 1934 minor league home games at Russell Field. Russell Field is still in use today with a multipurpose stadium and adjacent ballfields. The site is off of Rindge Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[10][11][12]
Year–by–year record
edit| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 19–42 | 8th | Bill Morrell / Mack Hillis / Dick Phelan / Tom O'Brien |
Began play in 2nd half (1–12) Moved to Wayland July 17 |
Notable alumni
edit- Mack Hillis (1934, MGR)
- Bill Morrell (1934, MGR)
- Tom Smith (1899)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "1899 Cambridge/Lowell Orphans minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1899 Cambridge Orphans/Lowell Orphans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1934 Northeastern League (NL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1934 Northeastern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ a b Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ Worth, Richard (February 21, 2013). "Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011". McFarland – via Google Books.
- ^ "1934 Cambridge Cantabs/Wayland Birds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1934 Cambridge Cantabs/Wayland Birds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Cambridge, Massachusetts Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Russell Field in Cambridge, MA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "New England League (Class B) Gallery of Ballparks". digitalballparks.com.
- ^ "Russell Field - CDD - City of Cambridge, Massachusetts". www.cambridgema.gov.