Welch Miners
Minor league baseball team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Welch Miners were a Minor League Baseball team based in Welch, West Virginia. The team operated from 1937 through 1942 in the Mountain State League and in the Appalachian League from 1946 to 1955.
ClassClass D
League
- Appalachian League (1946–1955)
- Mountain State League (1937–1942)
Team
- Philadelphia Athletics (1953–1955)
- Boston Braves (1952)
- Cincinnati Reds (1951)
- Philadelphia Athletics (1947–1950)
- Boston Braves (1942)
League titles (2)
- 1952
- 1953
| Welch Miners | |
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| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D |
| League |
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| Major league affiliations | |
| Team |
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| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (2) |
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| Team data | |
| Name | Welch Miners (1937–1942, 1946–1955) |
| Ballpark | Blakely Field |
Over the course of nineteen seasons, the Welch Miners were affiliated with the Boston Braves (1942, 1952), Philadelphia Athletics (1947–1950, 1953–1955), and Cincinnati Reds (1951).
The team won consecutive league titles in 1952 and 1953, and moved to Marion, Virginia, during the 1955 season, changing their name to the Marion Athletics.[1]
Notable alumni
- Vern Bickford (1939–1942) MLB All-Star
- Dave Bristol (1951)
- Max Butcher (1946)
- Sam Gray (1939)
Team history
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager(s) | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 59–43 | 2nd | Eddie Krajnik | Lost in 2nd round |
| 1938 | 56–64 | 4th | Eddie Krajnik Charles Bowie Carlos Ratliff | Lost in 1st round |
| 1939 | 72–57 | 2nd | Sam Gray | Lost in 1st round |
| 1940 | 63–62 | 4th | Tex Stuart Roy Hall | Lost in 1st round |
| 1941 | 64–62 | 4th | Fred Neisler | Lost in league finals |
| 1942 | 67–55 | 2nd | Don Manno | Lost in 1st round |
| 1946 | 33–84 | 8th | Steve Secik George Smiley Jim McNeish Joe Santomauro | |
| 1947 | 49–74 | 8th | Walter Youse Joe Bird | |
| 1948 | 70–53 | 2nd | Woody Wheaton | Lost in 1st round |
| 1949 | 48–73 | 6th | William Hoffner Mike Kreshka | |
| 1950 | 46–76 | 6th | Eddie Morgan Woody Wheaton | |
| 1951 | 54–74 | 6th | Mike Blazo | |
| 1952 | 59–57 | 3rd | Jack Crosswhite | League Champs |
| 1953 | 82–43 | 2nd | Jack Crosswhite | League Champs |
| 1954 | 59–54 | 4th | Jack Crosswhite | Lost in 1st round |
| 1955 | 45–77 | 8th | Herb Mancini |
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