York White Roses
Encyclopedia
The York White Roses was the name of a minor league
baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania
, USA, that existed from 1894–1969.
after the Harrisburg Olympics folded. The team remained in the Eastern League until the 1893 season when York joined the Pennsylvania State League.
as the York Penn Parks in 1904. The name was quickly changed back to White Roses for the 1905 season. The 1906 season was full of controversy when the rival Lancaster Maroons
changed their name to the Red Roses. George Heckert, White Roses manager, publicly denounced Lancaster's team and predicted that Lancaster would end the season in last place after it unveiled new jerseys and a new name days before the season opener against York. Yorkers viewed the change as a copycat maneuver since York had called itself the White Roses since 1884. The Red Roses went on to win the first game, 9–4, and an even heavier rivalry began. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's Wars of the Roses
.
In 1907, the York franchise was moved to Reading, Pennsylvania
, and became the Reading Pretzels for the 1908 season. The White Roses returned to York for the 1909 season. They made another move in 1914 when rival Lancaster Red Roses moved to Atlantic City. After a bad start to the season in York, the White Roses moved to Lancaster and became the Red Roses for the second half of the 1914 season. The franchise remained in Lancaster until The Tri State league broke up at the end of the 1914 season.
The White Roses were unaffiliated until the 1933 season when they became part of the Brooklyn Dodgers
minor league system. Financial hardships due to the Great Depression
limited play in the 1930s. The team came out of the dark in 1936 but only lasted the season when the New York-Penn league ended play due to economic reasons.
The White Roses joined the Interstate League
in 1943, spending most of their seasons in this league (1943–1952) as an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
until 1950. From 1953 to 1955, the White Roses were members of the Piedmont League
, affiliated with the St. Louis Browns
from 1952 to 1953 and the Baltimore Orioles
from 1954 to 1955.
The White Roses re-joined the Eastern League, affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals
, in the 1958 season and played there until the end of the 1959 season. The York White Roses returned in 1962 as a member of the Eastern League, as the Johnstown Red Sox moved to York. The Boston Red Sox
affiliation lasted only that season. They were affiliated with the Washington Senators
from 1963 to 1967.
In 1968, the team was renamed as the York Pirates, affiliated once again with Pittsburgh
. Sunday, April 21, 1968, marked a historic event in York baseball history when the York Pirates and Reading Phillies
played the first outdoor game on artificial turf at York's Memorial Stadium. York lost 5–3 but the 6,248 audience was also the largest crowd in York's minor-league history.
The 1969 season was the last season of York minor-league baseball in the 20th century. After many dismal seasons in the 1960s the York Pirates made it to the Finals against the Pittsfield Red Sox
. Pittsfield won the first game of the series 7–4 but the remaining games of the Championship were rained out and York was named champions (York was in first place in the league that season).
, to Memorial Stadium in York. York's minor-league clubs continued to play at Veterans Memorial Stadium/Bob Hoffman Stadium until the York Pirates folded at the end of the 1969 season.
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, USA, that existed from 1894–1969.
Early years
The York White Roses began as members of the short-lived Keystone Association in 1884. The league disbanded after only 20 games. The White Roses transferred to the Eastern LeagueInternational League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
after the Harrisburg Olympics folded. The team remained in the Eastern League until the 1893 season when York joined the Pennsylvania State League.
Turn of the 20th century
York joined the Tri-State LeagueTri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
as the York Penn Parks in 1904. The name was quickly changed back to White Roses for the 1905 season. The 1906 season was full of controversy when the rival Lancaster Maroons
Lancaster Red Roses
The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of...
changed their name to the Red Roses. George Heckert, White Roses manager, publicly denounced Lancaster's team and predicted that Lancaster would end the season in last place after it unveiled new jerseys and a new name days before the season opener against York. Yorkers viewed the change as a copycat maneuver since York had called itself the White Roses since 1884. The Red Roses went on to win the first game, 9–4, and an even heavier rivalry began. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
.
In 1907, the York franchise was moved to Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, and became the Reading Pretzels for the 1908 season. The White Roses returned to York for the 1909 season. They made another move in 1914 when rival Lancaster Red Roses moved to Atlantic City. After a bad start to the season in York, the White Roses moved to Lancaster and became the Red Roses for the second half of the 1914 season. The franchise remained in Lancaster until The Tri State league broke up at the end of the 1914 season.
New era of White Roses
York is one of the six original teams of the New York-Penn League, joining for the inaugural season in 1923. The White Roses quickly became one of the powerhouse franchises in the League and won their first league championship on September 25, 1925, defeating the Williamsport Grays 5–3, in 11 innings in the fourth and final game of a best-of-five series. York first baseman Del Bissonette homered in the bottom of the 11th to clinch the title.The White Roses were unaffiliated until the 1933 season when they became part of the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
minor league system. Financial hardships due to the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
limited play in the 1930s. The team came out of the dark in 1936 but only lasted the season when the New York-Penn league ended play due to economic reasons.
The White Roses joined the Interstate League
Interstate League
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. The longest tenured of these was the last incarnation, which played in the Middle Atlantic States from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor...
in 1943, spending most of their seasons in this league (1943–1952) as an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
until 1950. From 1953 to 1955, the White Roses were members of the Piedmont League
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
, affiliated with the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
from 1952 to 1953 and the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
from 1954 to 1955.
The White Roses re-joined the Eastern League, affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, in the 1958 season and played there until the end of the 1959 season. The York White Roses returned in 1962 as a member of the Eastern League, as the Johnstown Red Sox moved to York. The Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
affiliation lasted only that season. They were affiliated with the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
from 1963 to 1967.
York Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Sunday, April 21, 1968, marked a historic event in York baseball history when the York Pirates and Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
played the first outdoor game on artificial turf at York's Memorial Stadium. York lost 5–3 but the 6,248 audience was also the largest crowd in York's minor-league history.
The 1969 season was the last season of York minor-league baseball in the 20th century. After many dismal seasons in the 1960s the York Pirates made it to the Finals against the Pittsfield Red Sox
Pittsfield Red Sox
The Pittsfield Red Sox was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, from 1965 through 1969. It was the Double-A Eastern League affiliate in the Boston Red Sox farm system and produced future Major League Baseball players such as George Scott,...
. Pittsfield won the first game of the series 7–4 but the remaining games of the Championship were rained out and York was named champions (York was in first place in the league that season).
Stadium
The White Roses had numerous ballparks during the first half of the 20th century. In 1947, York moved its minor-league team from Memorial Field in West York, PennsylvaniaWest York, Pennsylvania
West York is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,617 at the 2010 census.-Geography:West York is located at ....
, to Memorial Stadium in York. York's minor-league clubs continued to play at Veterans Memorial Stadium/Bob Hoffman Stadium until the York Pirates folded at the end of the 1969 season.
Keystone Association (1894)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 10–10 | 2nd | Frank Burnham | none | Keystone Association disbanded June 7 |
Eastern League (1884)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–21 | 5th | John Murphy | none | York replaced the disbanded Harrisburg team July 18 | ||
Pennsylvania State League (1893)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | 51–55 | 6th | William Stevens / Bill Sharsig Bill Sharsig William A. Sharsig was an American Major League Baseball Co-owner, general manager, business manager and on field manager of the American Association Philadelphia Athletics, both their first incarnation and their second, which had migrated over from the Players' League... |
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Tri-State League (1909–1914)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 41–73 | 8th | Frank Reisling / William Poole William Poole William Poole , also known as Bill the Butcher, was a member of the New York City gang the Bowery Boys, a bare-knuckle boxer, and a leader of the Know Nothing political movement.-Early life:... |
none | ||
| 1910 | 37–74 | 8th | Louis Simmel / Jacob Weitzel / Curt Weigand | none | ||
| 1911 | 50–58 | 6th | Curt Weigand | none | ||
| 1912 | 45–65 | 7th | John Manning | none | ||
| 1913 | 59–52 | 4th | George Heckert | none | ||
| 1914 | 16–37 | – | George Heckert / Eddie Hooper | York moved to Lancaster Lancaster Red Roses The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of... (10–46) July 8 |
||
New York-Penn League (1923–1933, 1936)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | 73–51 | 2nd | Rube Dessau Rube Dessau Frank Rolland Dessau was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two games for the 1907 Boston Doves and in nineteen games for the 1910 Brooklyn Superbas.-External links:... |
none | ||
| 1924 | 80–48 | 2nd | Rube Dessau Rube Dessau Frank Rolland Dessau was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two games for the 1907 Boston Doves and in nineteen games for the 1910 Brooklyn Superbas.-External links:... |
none | ||
| 1925 | 77–55 | 1st (t) | Rube Dessau Rube Dessau Frank Rolland Dessau was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two games for the 1907 Boston Doves and in nineteen games for the 1910 Brooklyn Superbas.-External links:... |
League Champs | ||
| 1926 | 79–57 | 2nd | Rube Dessau Rube Dessau Frank Rolland Dessau was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two games for the 1907 Boston Doves and in nineteen games for the 1910 Brooklyn Superbas.-External links:... |
none | ||
| 1927 | 79–58 | 3rd | Rube Dessau Rube Dessau Frank Rolland Dessau was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two games for the 1907 Boston Doves and in nineteen games for the 1910 Brooklyn Superbas.-External links:... / Johnny Tillman |
none | ||
| 1928 | 65–72 | 5th | Win Clark | none | ||
| 1929 | 71–66 | 4th | Jack Bentley Jack Bentley (baseball) John Needles Bentley was a professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of nine seasons with the Washington Senators, New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. For his career, he compiled a 46-33 record in 138 appearances, with a 4.01 earned run average and 259... |
none | ||
| 1930 | 66–73 | 6th | Jack Bentley Jack Bentley (baseball) John Needles Bentley was a professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of nine seasons with the Washington Senators, New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. For his career, he compiled a 46-33 record in 138 appearances, with a 4.01 earned run average and 259... |
none | ||
| 1931 | 73–67 | 5th | Jack Bentley Jack Bentley (baseball) John Needles Bentley was a professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of nine seasons with the Washington Senators, New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. For his career, he compiled a 46-33 record in 138 appearances, with a 4.01 earned run average and 259... / Frank Uzmann |
none | ||
| 1932 | 72–66 | 3rd | Russ Wrightstone / Rube Dessau Rube Dessau Frank Rolland Dessau was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two games for the 1907 Boston Doves and in nineteen games for the 1910 Brooklyn Superbas.-External links:... |
none | ||
| 1933 | 59–78 | 8th | Rube Dessau Rube Dessau Frank Rolland Dessau was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in two games for the 1907 Boston Doves and in nineteen games for the 1910 Brooklyn Superbas.-External links:... |
none | ||
| 1936 | 24–45 | – | Dutch Dorman / Walter Smallwood | York moved to Trenton (16–54) July 2 | ||
Interstate League (1943–1952)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 73–66 | 4th | Bunny Griffiths | Lost League Finals | ||
| 1944 | 69–68 | 3rd | Bunny Griffiths | Lost in 1st round | ||
| 1945 | 49–90 | 6th | Bunny Griffiths | |||
| 1946 | 68–70 | 5th | Boom-Boom Beck Boom-Boom Beck Walter William "Boom-Boom" Beck was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the St. Louis Browns , Brooklyn Dodgers , Philadelphia Phillies , Detroit Tigers , Cincinnati Reds , and Pittsburgh Pirates... |
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| 1947 | 67–70 | 5th | Edward Turchin | |||
| 1948 | 77–62 | 3rd | Frank Oceak Frank Oceak Frank John Oceak was an American infielder and manager in minor league baseball and a coach in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons between and... |
Lost League Finals | ||
| 1949 | 66–72 | 6th | Frank Oceak Frank Oceak Frank John Oceak was an American infielder and manager in minor league baseball and a coach in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons between and... |
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| 1950 | 65–73 | 6th | Frank Oceak Frank Oceak Frank John Oceak was an American infielder and manager in minor league baseball and a coach in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons between and... |
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| 1951 | 51–88 | 7th | Joe Bowman Joe Bowman Joseph Emil Bowman was pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from through . Bowman batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Kansas City, Kansas.... / Edward Waleski / Eugene Crumling |
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| 1952 | 74–62 | 3rd | Jim Crandall Jim Crandall James Mark Crandall was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach. In his only Major League service, Crandall served as a coach on the last St... |
Lost in 1st round | ||
Piedmont League (1953–1955)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 59–70 | 5th | Mark Christman Mark Christman Marquette Joseph Christman was an American professional baseball player. He had a nine-year career in Major League Baseball, primarily as a third baseman and shortstop, for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators... / Bill Enos / George Hausmann George Hausmann George John Hausmann was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Giants.-External links:... |
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| 1954 | 72–67 | 3rd | George Staller George Staller George Walborn Staller was an American outfielder, scout and coach in Major League Baseball. He served as first base coach on Earl Weaver's Baltimore Orioles staff from 1968-75, working on the Orioles' three consecutive American League championship teams and Baltimore's 1970 World Series... |
Lost in 1st round | ||
| 1955 | 64–65 | 3rd | George Staller George Staller George Walborn Staller was an American outfielder, scout and coach in Major League Baseball. He served as first base coach on Earl Weaver's Baltimore Orioles staff from 1968-75, working on the Orioles' three consecutive American League championship teams and Baltimore's 1970 World Series... |
Lost in 1st round | ||
Eastern League (1958–1969)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 68–61 | 3rd | Joe Schultz Joe Schultz Joseph Charles Schultz, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach and manager. Schultz was the first and only manager for the Seattle Pilots franchise during their lone season before they became the Milwaukee Brewers... |
Lost in 1st round | ||
| 1959 | 59–81 | 6th | Mike Ryba Mike Ryba Dominic Joseph "Mike" Ryba was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of De Lancey, Pennsylvania, he attended Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania.. He was a right-hander and played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox... / Ed Lyons Ed Lyons Edward Hoyte Lyons , nicknamed "Mouse", was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Washington Senators in .... |
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| 1963 | 63–77 | 5th | Danny O'Connell Danny O'Connell Daniel Francis O'Connell was an American infielder in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Milwaukee Braves , New York/San Francisco Giants andWashington Senators... / Johnny Schaive Johnny Schaive John Edward Schaive was a backup second and third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 8", 175 lb., Schaive batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Springfield, Illinois.Schaive spent 14 years in baseball as a player, manager, coach and scout... |
none | ||
| 1964 | 55–85 | 6th | Jim Lemon Jim Lemon James Robert Lemon was an American right and left fielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A powerful, right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder, Lemon teamed with first baseman Roy Sievers to form the most formidable home run-hitting tandem in the 60-year history of the... |
none | ||
| 1965 | 67–72 | 3rd | Billy Klaus Billy Klaus William Joseph Klaus was a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies . He played the end of the 1963 season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons... |
none | ||
| 1966 | 62–77 | 6th | Billy Klaus Billy Klaus William Joseph Klaus was a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies . He played the end of the 1963 season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons... |
none | ||
| 1967 | 43–95 | 8th | Billy Klaus Billy Klaus William Joseph Klaus was a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies . He played the end of the 1963 season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons... / George Case George Case George Washington Case was an American left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Washington Senators... |
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| 1968 | 58–82 | 5th | Joe Morgan Joe Morgan (manager) Joseph Michael Morgan is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.-Early life:... |
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| 1969 | 89–50 | 1st | Joe Morgan Joe Morgan (manager) Joseph Michael Morgan is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.-Early life:... |
* League Champs | ||
- *1969– Playoffs Rained out, York Pirates named Eastern League Champions