The Youngstown Athletics, or Youngstown A's, was the final name of a baseball team in the Mid-Atlantic League that was based in Youngstown, Ohio, between 1939 and 1941 and 1946 and 1951.
The team was first established as the Youngstown Browns, an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, in 1939. The team's overall performance was uneven, but it peaked during its second season.[1]
In 1939, the Browns ranked seventh in the eight-team league, but the team rebounded the following year. In 1940, the Browns were poised to take the championship but lost to the Akron Yankees.[1] The Browns disbanded when the Mid-Atlantic League suspended operations at the outset of America's entry into World War II.[1] The team is best remembered for its role in launching the career of major league player Floyd Baker, who married a Youngstown native and made the city his honorary hometown.[2]
Youngstown Gremlins and Colts: 1946–1948edit
After the war, Youngstown fielded a new team for the Middle Atlantic League, the Youngstown Gremlins.[3] The club made its debut in 1946, the sixth consecutive season in which the National Amateur Baseball Federation tournament was held in Youngstown, Ohio.[4] The team was owned by the Pittsburgh sportsmen Bill Koval and Nick Andolina, who "bankrolled" the reorganization of the Mid-Atlantic League in 1946.[5] The team went 67–62, good for third place in the six-team league. They were defeated in the first round of the playoffs, three games to one, to the Erie Sailors. The owners acknowledged that the team had been a losing venture at the close of the 1946 season but indicated to Frank Ward, sports editor of The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, that they would continue to sponsor the club in 1947.[6]
Youngstown's star performer was Johnny Kucab, who eventually moved on to the major leagues. As a pitcher for the Gremlins, Kucab posted a 13–1 record, followed up by 12–4.[5] He had the best winning percentage and pitched four shutouts in his 15 starts, tying him for second in the Mid-Atlantic League in whitewashes. Kucab was brought up by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1951.[5]
The team was renamed as the Youngstown Colts in 1947.[5] The Gremlins' brief run coincided with the 33rd NABF sandlot "world series", which won recognition for Youngstown among national observers.[7] A local newspaper editorial stated: "If any other city has comparable equipment, it is not generally known. Baseball Commissioner Chandler exclaimed in surprise that our sandlot fields are better than the parks of many professional teams".[4]
Youngstown Athletics: 1949–1951edit
In 1949 the team's name changed to Youngstown Athletics and the team enjoyed a working relationship with the Philadelphia Athletics.[5] The team posted a 74–64 record, for third-place in the league in 1949. The following year the team posted a 51–61 record, for fourth-place. However the 1951 season, would be the team's last as the club relocated to Oil City, Pennsylvania on June 2, 1951. The Oil City club then disbanded 2 months later on August 6. That year also turned out to be the last for the Mid-Atlantic League, as the organization soon folded. Minor league baseball would not return to the Mahoning Valley until 1999, when nearby Niles, Ohio became the home for the Cleveland Indians’ affiliate in the New York–Penn League, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.[8]
^ abcdeLandolf, Charles A. (April 1, 1977). "Youngstown Once Main Link In Minor Loop Baseball Chain". Youngstown Vindicator. p. 7.
^Ward, Frank B. (September 18, 1946). "Along the Sports Rialto". The Youngstown Vindicator.
^"Youngstown Selected; Picked As The Site of Amateur Baseball Event in Fall". The New York Times. February 27, 1944. p. S-3.
^Guerrieri, Vince. "Youngstown Baseball Has a History Dating Back to 19th Century". Did the Indians Win Last Night?.
January 01, 1970
youngstown, athletics, youngstown, final, name, baseball, team, atlantic, league, that, based, youngstown, ohio, between, 1939, 1941, 1946, 1951, 1939, 1951, 1939, 1941, 1946, 1951, youngstown, ohiominor, league, affiliationsprevious, classesclass, cleaguemidd. The Youngstown Athletics or Youngstown A s was the final name of a baseball team in the Mid Atlantic League that was based in Youngstown Ohio between 1939 and 1941 and 1946 and 1951 Youngstown Athletics1939 1951 1939 1941 1946 1951 Youngstown OhioMinor league affiliationsPrevious classesClass CLeagueMiddle Atlantic League 1939 1941 1946 1951 Major league affiliationsPrevious teamsPhiladelphia Athletics 1949 1950 St Louis Browns 1939 1941 Team dataPrevious namesYoungstown Oil City Athletics 1951 Youngstown Athletics 1949 1950 Youngstown Colts 1947 1948 Youngstown Gremlins 1946 Youngstown Browns 1939 1941 Previous parksIdora Park Contents 1 Youngstown Browns 1939 1941 2 Youngstown Gremlins and Colts 1946 1948 3 Youngstown Athletics 1949 1951 4 ReferencesYoungstown Browns 1939 1941 editThe team was first established as the Youngstown Browns an affiliate of the St Louis Browns in 1939 The team s overall performance was uneven but it peaked during its second season 1 In 1939 the Browns ranked seventh in the eight team league but the team rebounded the following year In 1940 the Browns were poised to take the championship but lost to the Akron Yankees 1 The Browns disbanded when the Mid Atlantic League suspended operations at the outset of America s entry into World War II 1 The team is best remembered for its role in launching the career of major league player Floyd Baker who married a Youngstown native and made the city his honorary hometown 2 Youngstown Gremlins and Colts 1946 1948 editAfter the war Youngstown fielded a new team for the Middle Atlantic League the Youngstown Gremlins 3 The club made its debut in 1946 the sixth consecutive season in which the National Amateur Baseball Federation tournament was held in Youngstown Ohio 4 The team was owned by the Pittsburgh sportsmen Bill Koval and Nick Andolina who bankrolled the reorganization of the Mid Atlantic League in 1946 5 The team went 67 62 good for third place in the six team league They were defeated in the first round of the playoffs three games to one to the Erie Sailors The owners acknowledged that the team had been a losing venture at the close of the 1946 season but indicated to Frank Ward sports editor of The Youngstown Daily Vindicator that they would continue to sponsor the club in 1947 6 Youngstown s star performer was Johnny Kucab who eventually moved on to the major leagues As a pitcher for the Gremlins Kucab posted a 13 1 record followed up by 12 4 5 He had the best winning percentage and pitched four shutouts in his 15 starts tying him for second in the Mid Atlantic League in whitewashes Kucab was brought up by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1951 5 The team was renamed as the Youngstown Colts in 1947 5 The Gremlins brief run coincided with the 33rd NABF sandlot world series which won recognition for Youngstown among national observers 7 A local newspaper editorial stated If any other city has comparable equipment it is not generally known Baseball Commissioner Chandler exclaimed in surprise that our sandlot fields are better than the parks of many professional teams 4 Youngstown Athletics 1949 1951 editIn 1949 the team s name changed to Youngstown Athletics and the team enjoyed a working relationship with the Philadelphia Athletics 5 The team posted a 74 64 record for third place in the league in 1949 The following year the team posted a 51 61 record for fourth place However the 1951 season would be the team s last as the club relocated to Oil City Pennsylvania on June 2 1951 The Oil City club then disbanded 2 months later on August 6 That year also turned out to be the last for the Mid Atlantic League as the organization soon folded Minor league baseball would not return to the Mahoning Valley until 1999 when nearby Niles Ohio became the home for the Cleveland Indians affiliate in the New York Penn League the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 8 References edit a b c Youngstown s Million Dollar Playground Newcolonist com Retrieved 2007 03 07 Landolf Charles A April 1 1977 Youngstown Once Main Link in Minor Loop Baseball Chain Youngstown Vindicator Filchia Peter 1993 Professional Baseball Franchises From the Abbeville Athletics to the Zanesville Indians New York Facts on File p 258 a b Ward Frank B September 17 1946 Along the Sports Rialto The Youngstown Vindicator a b c d e Landolf Charles A April 1 1977 Youngstown Once Main Link In Minor Loop Baseball Chain Youngstown Vindicator p 7 Ward Frank B September 18 1946 Along the Sports Rialto The Youngstown Vindicator Youngstown Selected Picked As The Site of Amateur Baseball Event in Fall The New York Times February 27 1944 p S 3 Guerrieri Vince Youngstown Baseball Has a History Dating Back to 19th Century Did the Indians Win Last Night Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Youngstown Athletics amp oldid 1159259507, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
