The Anaconda Serpents were a minor league baseball team based in Anaconda, Montana. In 1900, the Anaconda Serpents played the season as members of the Independent level Montana State League. The Anaconda Serpents were the only minor league team hosted in Anaconda and played minor league home games at Mountain View Park.
| Anaconda Serpents | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Independent (1900) |
| League | Montana State League (1900) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Anaconda Serpents (1900) |
| Ballpark | Mountain View Park (1900) |
History
editMinor league baseball began in Anaconda, Montana in 1900, when the Anaconda "Serpents" became members of the Independent level Montana State League. The Butte Smoke Eaters, Great Falls Indians and Helena Senators teams joined Anaconda in beginning league play.[1][2][3]
The 1900 Anaconda Serpents had an overall record of 34–37 and placed third in the four–team Montana State League standings.[4] Anaconda finished behind the first place Great Falls Indians (39–32) and Helena Senators (39–33) and ahead of the fourth place Butte Smoke Eaters (30–40) in the final standings. The 1900 Anaconda Serpents were first managed by player/manager John "Jack" Grim, who resigned to become an umpire in the league, being replaced as Anaconda manager by Dad Clarkson.[5][6][7][2][8]
Jack Grim's resignation letter as manager of the Anaconda Serpents was reported to have said, "I cannot do myself justice while laboring under these conditions." Grim later went on to manage other minor league teams.[7]
The Montana State League folded after the 1900 season.[9] 1900 was the only season of play for the Anaconda Serpents and Anaconda, Montana has not hosted another minor league team.[6][10][2][4][11]
The ballpark
editThe Anaconda Serpents hosted home minor league games at Mountain View Park.[12] Cricket games were later played at Mountain View Park. Today, the park is still in use as a public park. Mountain View Park is located on South Alice Street in Anaconda, Montana.[13][14]
Year–by–year record
edit| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 34–37 | 3rd | Jack Grim / Dad Clarkson | No playoffs held |
Notable alumni
edit- Kid Carsey (1900)
- Dad Clarkson (1900, MGR)
- Walter Coleman (1900)
- Mike Lynch (1900)
- Jim McHale (1900)
- Charlie Swindells (1900)[8]
References
edit- ^ "1900 Montana State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b c "1900 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (November 5, 2008). "Montana State League".
- ^ a b "1900 Anaconda Serpents Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1900 Anaconda Serpents Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b "1900 Montana State League (MSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b "Anaconda Serpents". Baseball History Daily.
- ^ a b "1900 Anaconda Serpents Statistics".
- ^ "Anaconda, Montana Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Jim McHale – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ Warnock, James (1991). "Entrepreneurs and Progressives: Baseball in the Northwest, 1900-1901". The Pacific Northwest Quarterly. 82 (3): 92–100. JSTOR 40491201 – via JSTOR.
- ^ "Mountain View Park in Anaconda, MT history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ Standard, RICHARD I. GIBSON for The Montana. "Mining City History: Cricket in Butte". Montana Standard.
- ^ "Pickleball Courts at Mountain View Park".