Lynn Shoemakers
The Lynn Shoemakers were an early minor league baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts. The "Shoemakers" and other Lynn teams played as members of the New England League beginning in 1877 and continuing through the 1915 season. Lynn played the 1916 season as members of the Eastern League, after the New England League was renamed. The Lynn "Shoemakers" nickname corresponded with Lynn's large shoemaking industry in the era.
The Lynn teams hosted home minor league home games at the West Lynn Grounds, Glenmere Park and Ocean Park.
In 1906, Thomas F. Burke, of the Lynn Shoemakers died after being hit in the temple by a pitch during a home game in Lynn.
Four Baseball Hall of Fame members played for Lynn teams. Candy Cummings was a player/manager for the Lynn Live Oaks in 1877 and Bud Fowler played for the 1878 Live Oaks, breaking the color barrier in the International Association for organized baseball. Billy Hamilton served as player/manager for the 1909 and 1910 Lynn Shoemakers. Pitcher Waite Hoyt played for the 1916 Lynn Pipers at age 16.
The 1926 Lynn Papooses resumed Lynn's tenure as a member of the New England League.
History
Early minor league teams 1877 to 1891
In the 1877 season, Lynn, Massachusetts first hosted minor league baseball. The Lynn "Live Oaks" became members of the newly formed New England League, also known as the New England "Association." The league began play on May 3, 1877, as an eight–team league and ended the season as a four-team league. The league championship was won by the Lowell Ladies Men, with a 33–7 record; Lowell finished 4.0 games ahead of the second place Manchester Reds, who had a 29–11 record. Lowell and Manchester were followed by the Fall River Cascades and Providence Rhode Islanders teams in the final standings. The Lynn Live Oaks, Fitchburg, Haverhill and Lawrence Indians teams all folded before the 1877 New England Association season ended on October 15, 1877. Candy Cummings served as player/manager for Lynnm who also accumulated a 1-9 record in International Association contests. The New England Association folded after the 1877 season.In the winter of 1877, Baseball Hall of Fame member Candy Cummings declined a major contract. Instead, Cummings joined the Lynn Live Oaks as the team's player/manager. That winter, Cummings attended the convention that created the new player-controlled league, and the delegates elected him as the first president of the International Association. However, Cummings did not stay long with the Live Oaks as the team in late June, Cummings then signed with the Cincinnati Red Stockings to complete the 1877 season. Cummings was a charter member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 1939.
In 1878, the Lynn Live Oaks team continued play as members of the International Association. There were 12 member teams in the association. During the season, the Live Oaks merged with Worcester on June 1, 1878. The team ended the International Association 1878 season with a record of 9–26, placing tenth in the twelve-team league's final standings. George Brackett served as manager and Lynn ended the season 17.0 games behind the first place Buffalo Bisons. The International Association permanently folded and did not return to play in 1979.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler played for the Lynn Live Oaks in 1878. On May 17, 1878, while playing for Lynn, Bud Fowler became the first Black player in to appear in a game in organized baseball. In the game, Fowler pitched for Lynn in place of an injured player and defeated the London Tecumsehs by the score of 5–0. Fowler played for Lynn until June 1, 1878, when the Lynn team merged with the Worcester team and paired its roster. Fowler went on to have a playing career that lasted over 30 years, playing through the 1909 season.
After a decade hiatus, the Lynn "Lions" resumed minor league play during the 1886 New England League season. On August 14, 1886, the Newburyport Clamdiggers moved to Lynn. The Clamdiggers had a record of 35–34 at the time of the relocation. After compiling a 20–18 record while based in Lynn, the team ended the season with an overall record of 53–52. Lynn ended the season in third place in the six-team league. The Newburyport/Lynn team was managed by Dan Shannon, Ed Flanagan and Fred Doe, as the team finished 14.5 games behind the first place Portland team. Lynn's Sam LaRocque had 134 total hits to lead the New England League, white teammates Guerdon Whiteley and Tug Wilson tied for the league lead with 11 home runs. Lynn pitcher Tom Lovett led the league with 32 wins, 300 strikeouts and a 1.27 ERA in a dominant season.
In 1887, the New England league expanded from six teams to eight-teams to begin the season, as Lynn continued play in the league. Managed by George Brackett and Henry Murphy, the Lynn Lions ended the 1887 season with a record of 40–64, placing sixth in the New England League. Lynn ended the New England League season 31.0 games behind the first place Lowell Browns in the final standings of the eight-team league, which had reduced to six teams by the end the season, leaving Lynn in last place of the remaining teams.
Shortstop Sadie Houck played for Lynn in 1887. In 1882, as a result of a decision at the National League convention, Houck had been blacklisted from organized baseball for being "addicted to drink". He was barred from playing for or against any National League teams. Houck was eventually reinstated after missing the entire 1882 season before and resuming play in 1883.
The 1888 Lynn "Shoemakers" continued New England League play to begin the season in the eight-team league, before folding during the season. On July 20, 1888, Lynn folded. The Shoemakers ended their 1888 season with a record of 37–26 as the returning George Brackett served as manager. The first place Lowell Chippies won the championship in the eight-team league. Lynn pitcher Jim Devlin led the New England League with an 1.84 ERA. The New England League folded after the 188 season and did not return to play until 1891.
The Lynn "Shoemakers" nickname for the baseball team corresponds with Lynn history and local industry in the era. Shoes were manufactured in the city beginning as early as 1683, with the shoe industry growing in the 19th century to include numerous shoe factories within the city. Lynn was known as the Shoe Capiton of the World.
The 1891 Lynn team rejoined the eight-team Class B level New England League to begin the season. On July 20, 1891, Lynn folded. After folding, Lynn ended their season with a 18–45 record, as the eight–team league lost three teams during the season. Playing the season under managers Harry Putnam, Herbert Nichols and Charles Cook, the league was won by the first place Worcester team in the final standings.
1901, 1905 to 1910 – New England League
The Lynn franchise returned to the reformed 1901 New England League in the middle of the season. The Augusta Live Oaks, Bangor Millionaires, Haverhill Hustlers, Lewiston, Lowell Tigers, Manchester, Nashua and Portland teams began league play on May 15, 1901.In 1901, the Augusta Live Oaks relocated during the season as new members in the independent level New England League. On June 30, 1901, the team had a 10–23 record while playing under manager John Leighton when the franchise was relocated to Lynn, Massachusetts to become the Lynn Live Oaks. The Augusta/Lynn franchise the disbanded on July 6, 1901, finishing with a 11–25 overall record.
After a three year hiatus from minor league play, the Lynn Shoemakers rejoined the 1905 New England League and ended the season in third place. The Shoemakers ended the season with a record of 60–48, playing the season under managers Fred Lake and Frank Leonard, who began a six-year tenure as manager. Lynn ended the season finishing 9.0 games behind the first place Concord Marines in the final standings of the eight-team Class B level league, as no playoffs were held. Lynn player Clarence Lovell led the New England League with 6 home runs.
During the 1906 season, a fatal beaning occurred during a minor league game at Lynn home game. On August 9, 1906, Thomas F. Burke, the left fielder for the Lynn Shoemakers was at the plate in a game at Lynn's Ocean Park. Pitching for the visiting Fall River Indians was Joseph J. Jerger. Jerger threw a pitch that broke inside and struck Burke in the temple. Burke was immediately knocked unconscious, and he was caught by the umpire as he fell. Burke underwent surgery, but never regained consciousness and died on August 11, 1906. In the aftermath, Jerger was initially charged with manslaughter. Judge Berry of the Lynn Police Court, who had been in attendance at the game, presided over a brief hearing on August 20, 1906. Six witnesses testified on Jerger's behalf. The Boston Evening Transcript reported that Berry ruled " was in no way to blame for the death of Burke."
The 1906 Lynn Shoemakers continued New England League play, as the league remained a Class B level league with eight teams. The Shoemakers finished in second place as Frank Leonard continued as manager. With a 66–49 record, Lynn finished 7.5 games behind the first place Worcester Busters in the final standings. Lynn player Clarence Lovell hit 4 home runs, which tied for the league lead, while Lynn pitcher Henry Labelle won 23 games to lead the New England League.
George Barclay played for the Lynn Shoemakers in 1906 and 1907 in his final seasons of professional baseball after stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Beaneaters. Barclay also played football and is credited with inventing the first football helmet, while playing collegiately for Lafayette. Barclay invented the first-ever football helmet in 1894, in a quest to design a helmet that would prevent the development of cauliflower ears. Barclay's first helmet was constructed by a saddle-maker from Easton, Pennsylvania and gained attracted national attention when Lafayette played a game agaginst Penn on Oct. 24, 1896.
The Lynn Shoemakers were the runner up for the second consecutive season in the 1907 New England League, as Frank Leonard again managed the Shoemakers. The Shoemakers ended the 1907 season with a 61–49 record, ending the season 14.0 games behind the first place Worcester Busters, who were managed by Baseball Hall of Fame member Jesse Burkett in the Class B level league. Lynn pitcher Elmer Steele led the New England League hurlers with 24 wins.
For the 1907 season, Lynn manager Frank Leonard had signed Elmer Steele in hopes of improving the team's pitching depth. Steele proceeded to pitch to a 24–11 record on the season. Fred Lake, the former Lynn manager, now scouting for the Boston Americans recommended that Boston sign Steele to their roster after having scouted many games that Steele pitched. Boston followed Lake's recommendation and purchased the rights to Steele's contract on July 8, 1907. Steele was scheduled to report to Boston and make his major league debut after the New England League season ended on Labor Day. Steele made his first start for Boston on September 12, 1907.
The 1908 Lynn Shoemakers were managed by Frank Leonard as the team finished in sixth place in the eight-team New England League final standings. The Shoemakers had a 54–70 final record, finishing 26.0 games behind the New England League champion Worcester Busters in the final standings of the Class B level league, which held no playoffs.
Lynn hired Baseball Hall of Fame member "Sliding" Billy Hamilton to be a player/manager for the Shoemakers team for the 1909 season. After playing in the major leagues, Hamilton had previously managed the Haverhill team in the New England League. In ceremonies before the game, Hamilton raised the team flay on the opening day at Lynn in 1909.
At the conclusion of the 1909 season, the Lynn Shoemakers again placed third in the eight–team Class B level New England League. Managed during the season by Billy Hamilton, the Shoemakers ended the season with a record of 74–69. In a close race, Lynn finished 2.5 games behind the first place Worcester Busters in the final standings. Billy Hamilton won the 1909 New England League batting championship, as the player/manager hit.332 for Lynn.
File:William Robert Sliding Billy Hamilton, Left Field, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series for Old Judge Cigarettes MET DP845846.jpg|thumb|left|Baseball Hall of Fame member Billy Hamilton, Kansas City Cowboys. Old Judge baseball card series. Hamilton served as player/maanger for Lynn in 1909 and 1910.
At age 44, Baseball Hall of Fame member Billy Hamilton continued as the player/manager for the Lynn Showmakers in 1910, in what was his final season as a professional player. Hamilton had left the major leagues in 1902 with a lifetime batting average of.344, ranking eighth all time, His on base percentage of.455 ranked fourth all time. His 914 stolen bases were the most of all time, until surpassed by Lou Brock and Rickey Henderson.
The 1910 Lynn Shoemakers finished in second place in the eight-team league, an improvement from their third-place finish in the New England League standings the previous season. The Shoemakers ended the season with a record of 68–52. In his final season as manager, Billy Hamilton led Lynn as the Shoemakers finished the season7.5 games behind the first place New Bedford Whalers in the final standings of the Class B level league. Shoemaker player Jim Wallace won the New England League batting championship, with a.312 average.