Butte Miners

Minor league baseball began in Butte, Montana in 1892, when the Butte team played as members of the Class B level Montana State League. Playing as charter members in the Montana State League, Butte finished as the 1892 Montana State League Champions. The league played a split season as Butte won the first half title and Missoula won the second half title, while Helena had the best overall record. Butte had a 26–22 overall record under Manager Jim Powell. Powell had moved to Butte to work as manager of Maguire’s Opera House in Butte after his major league career. As Butte won the first–half championship and Missoula won the second–half title, Butte was awarded the overall championship after Helena reportedly forfeited over complaints regarding money and umpiring. The Montana State League folded after the 1892 season.[1] [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The Montana State League reformed in 1900 under the direction of president William Henry Lucas. The Butte Smoke Eaters were a member of the four–team league, along with the Anaconda Serpents, Great Falls Indians and Helena Senators. The 1900 Helena Senators had a 30–40 record, finishing 4th in the Montana State League. The Butte Smoke Eaters were managed by James Powell. The Montana State League did not return to play in 1901.[9][1][10][11]

The Butte Miners became members of the Class B level Pacific Northwest League in 1902 and won the first of back–to–back championships.[12]

In 1902, Butte had a 73–47 record under manager John McCloskey. The Pacific Northwest League had no playoffs. The Butte Miners finished 3.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Seattle Clamdiggers in the six–team league. Seattle (70–50) was followed by the Helena Senators (65–54), Portland Webfoots (58–62), Tacoma Tigers (48-72) and Spokane Smoke Eaters (46–75) in the final standings.[13][14][15][16]

The Butte Miners won a second consecutive league championship in 1903. The Butte franchise continued play as the Pacific Northwest League became a Class A level league and was renamed the Pacific National League, expanding to eight teams. Under managers Jerry Kane and Walt Wilmot, Butte finished with a 85–62 record, 4.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Spokane Indians (82–68) as only four teams finished the season. They were followed by the Seattle Chinooks (78–71) and Portland Green Gages/Salt Lake City Elders (56–91). The Helena Senators (40–62) and Tacoma Tigers (46–60) both disbanded on August 16, 1903. The Los Angeles Angels (65–42) and San Francisco Pirates (56–52) disbanded August 21, 1903.[17][18][19]

The 1904 Pacific National League played as a four–team Class B league and Butte finished in 3rd place. The Butte Miners finished with a 54–75 record under manager Walt Wilmot, ending the season 27.0 games behind the champion Boise Fruit Pickers. The 1904 Butte team was also called the Butte Fruit Pickers in some references.[17][20][21][22]

Butte played in the 1905 four–team Montana State League, which operated as an Independent league. Great Falls, Helena and Missoula were the other members. No 1905 league standings are known.[23][24]

In 1906, the Butte Miners became members of the Northwestern League, where they would continue play for the next four seasons. The Butte Miners finished with a 43–42 record, placing 2nd under manager Charles McIntyre. Butte finished 8.5 games behind the 1st place Tacoma Tigers, no playoffs were held. On July 29, 1906, Butte Miners pitcher Oscar Bandelin threw a no-hitter in a 15–0 victory over the Spokane Indians.[20][25][26][27][28][29]

The Butte Miners finished in 4th place in the 1907 Northwestern League. The Miners had a 70–73 record under manager Russ Hall. Butte finished 18.5 games behind the 1st place Aberdeen Black Cats in six–team league final standings.[20][25][30][31][32]

The 1908 Butte Miners played their final Northwestern League season. Butte finished with a 63–73 record, playing again under Russ Hall. The Miners were in 5th place, 16.5 games behind the 1st place Vancouver Beavers.[25][20][33][34][35]

In 1909, the Butte Miners played in two leagues. Butte first began the season becoming charter members of the Class D four–team Inter-Mountain League. The Miners were in 3rd place with a 21–36 record when the Inter-Mountain League disbanded on July 25, 1909. The Butte manager in 1909 was John Barnes. Butte switched leagues and played as member of the Montana State League for the remainder of the 1909 season finishing 20–31. Butte joined franchises from Boise, Idaho, Helena and Salt Lake, Utah in the 1909 Montana State League portion of the season.[20][36][37][38][39]

The six–team Union Association was formed in 1911, with William Henry Lucas again leading a new league. The Butte Miners were charter members of the Class D league. The 1911 Butte Miners finished in 3rd place with a 77–60 record under manager John McCloskey, 13.5 games behind Great Falls.[40][20][41][42]

In 1912, the Butte Miners finished 5th in the six–team Union Association. The Miners had a 53–82 record under managers Charles McCaffery and Jesse Stovall, finishing 30.5 games behind 1st place Missoula. On July 23, 1912, Butte pitcher Wheezer Dell threw a no-hitter in a 1–0 Miners victory over the Ogden Canners.[40][20][43][44][45]

The Butte Miners finished 3rd in the 1913 Union Association standings. Butte finished with a 54–64 record under managers Arthur Merkle and Frank Kafora, ending 23.0 games behind the champion Great Falls Electrics.[40][20][46][47]

The 1914 Union Association folded on August 5, 1914. Butte was in 3rd place with a 44–40 record under manager Ducky Holmes when the league disbanded. The Union Association permanently disbanded on August 5, 1914. The top two teams in the Union Association standings, the Ogden Canners and Salt Lake City Skyscrapers played out their 1914 seasons, with 16 games against each other. Butte had been 7.0 games behind Salt Lake City for 2nd place.[40][20][48][49][50][5]

The 1916 Butte Miners returned to play as members of the Class B Northwestern League. Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe McGinnity was a player/manager the 1917 Butte Miners. Butte finished with a 68–59 record, placing second in the league, 11.0 games behind the champion Spokane Indians. McGinnity had a 20–13 record, while pitching 291 innings for Butte at age 45.[51][52][53][54][25][20]

In 1917, Joe McGinnity again managed the Butte Miners, but did not pitch. The 1917 Miners had a final record of 31–38. Butte was 5th in the Northwestern League final standings playing under managers, Hall of Famer McGinnity and Cliff McCarl. The Miners finished 10.0 games behind the 1st place Great Falls Electrics. The 1917 league season was shortened to July 15 with National Association approval.[55][53][56][25][20][57][58]

Butte played the 1925 season in the Independent Montana State League. No standings or statistics are available for the 1925 league.[59][60]

Butte was without minor league baseball until the Butte Copper Kings began play in the 1978 Pioneer League. Butte had a franchise in the Pioneer League from 1978-1985 and 1987-2000.[61][62][63][64][5]