The Great Falls Electrics were a minor league baseball team that operated out of Great Falls, Montana. The team was formed in 1911 as part of the old Union Association league. They also played in the Northwestern League from 1916 to 1917. The team disbanded at that time and then was reformed as part of the Pioneer League in 1948. They became an affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952 and remained with the Dodgers through 1963. The team was briefly called the Great Falls Dodgers during the 1957 season and the Great Falls Electrics in 1949–1950.
| Great Falls Electrics | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Previous classes |
|
| League | Pioneer League (1948–1963) |
Previous leagues |
|
| Major league affiliations | |
| Previous teams | Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1952–1963) |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | 5 (1913, 1917, 1951, 1954, 1961) |
| Team data | |
Previous names |
|
Previous parks | Centene Stadium |
In 1969, the team now known as the Great Falls Voyagers began play as the Great Falls Giants and they have remained active under different names since.
The ballpark
editThe Electrics played at Centene Stadium then called Legion Park, located at 1015 25th Street North Great Falls, Montana. The park is still in use today, as home of the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League.[1]
Electrics name change
editOn February 24, 1949, the advisory board of directors of the Great Falls Baseball Club agreed to change the name of the team to the Selectrics.[2] Great Falls Breweries, Inc., the owner of the club, originally had hoped to rename the team the "Selects" to advertise its beer, but the Pioneer League rejected the proposed name change because it advertised a commercial product.[2] The Pioneer League approved the name "Selectrics," however, which was a portmanteau of the Great Falls Breweries "Select" beer and the previous team name, "Electrics."[3]
Notable alumni
editHall of Fame alumni
edit- Bobby Cox (1963) Inducted, 2014
- Joe Tinker (1900) Inducted, 1946
Notable alumni
edit- Tony Boeckel (1916-1917)
- Joe Bowman (1949-1950)
- Bennie Daniels (1951)
- John Roseboro (1953) 6 x MLB All-Star
- Larry Sherry (1954) 1959 World Series Most Valuable Player
Year-by-year record
edit| Year | League | Affiliation | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Union Association | none | 90-46 | 1st | George Reed | League Champs |
| 1912 | Union Association | none | 72-61 | 3rd | George Reed | none held |
| 1913 | Union Association | none | 78-42 | 1st | Harry Hester | League Champs |
| 1916 | Northwestern League | none | 60-61 | 4th | Dick Hurley / Herb Hester | none held |
| 1917 | Northwestern League | none | 42-29 | 1st | Herb Hester | League Champs |
| 1948 | Pioneer League | none | 51-75 | 7th | Rich Gyselman | None |
| 1949 | Pioneer League | none | 62-62 | 5th | Joe Bowman | None |
| 1950 | Pioneer League | none | 68-57 | 4th | Joe Bowman / John Angelone | Lost first round |
| 1951 | Pioneer League | none | 76-60 | 3rd | Buck Elliott | League Champs |
| 1952 | Pioneer League | Brooklyn Dodgers | 67-64 | 4th | Lou Rochelli | Lost first round |
| 1953 | Pioneer League | Brooklyn Dodgers | 77-54 | 2nd | Lou Rochelli | Lost League Finals |
| 1954 | Pioneer League | Brooklyn Dodgers | 70-62 | 4th | Lou Rochelli | League Champs |
| 1955 | Pioneer League | Brooklyn Dodgers | 74-58 | 2nd | Lou Rochelli | Lost first round |
| 1956 | Pioneer League | Brooklyn Dodgers | 64-68 | 6th | Lou Rochelli | None |
| 1957 | Pioneer League | Los Angeles Dodgers | 48-77 | 8th | Jack Banta | None |
| 1958 | Pioneer League | Los Angeles Dodgers | 63-70 | 5th | Stan Wasiak | Lost playoffs |
| 1959 | Pioneer League | Los Angeles Dodgers | 60-70 | 4th | Brandy Davis | Lost first round |
| 1960 | Pioneer League | Los Angeles Dodgers | 55-75 | 5th | Spider Jorgensen | None |
| 1961 | Pioneer League | Los Angeles Dodgers | 75-58 | 2nd | Al Ronning | League Champs |
| 1962 | Pioneer League | Los Angeles Dodgers | 60-70 | 5th | Al Ronning | None |
| 1963 | Pioneer League | Los Angeles Dodgers | 69-59 | 3rd | Al Ronning | Lost first round |
References
edit- ^ "Centene Stadium - In The Ballparks". www.intheballparks.com.
- ^ a b "Great Falls Pioneer League Club Changes Name to 'Selectrics'". The Billings Gazette. February 25, 1949. p. 14.
- ^ "Great Falls Club Now The 'Selectrics'". The Spokesman-Review. February 26, 1949. p. 32.