Carbondale Pioneers

Carbondale first had minor league baseball in 1895, with a team in the Class B level Pennsylvania State League. In their first season of play, the Carbondale Anthracites finished 2nd in the Pennsylvania State League with a record of 55–48, 5.0 games behind 1st place Hazelton Barons. The 1895 Manager was Martin Swift. After being fined $100.00 and suspended from the nearby Scranton Coal Heavers team of the Eastern League for going into the stands during a game, Pat Luby joined Carbondale mid–season over the initial objections of Scranton. Scranton eventually released Luby from his contract and he played two seasons with Carbondale.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

In their second season of play, Carbondale continued play in the 1986 Pennsylvania State League, which folded mid–season. The Carbondale Anthracites were 26–15 when the Pennsylvania State League folded on July 11, 1896. Pat Luby had a 9–3 pitching record while hitting .391 in the 19 games. Carbondale had consolidated with the Pottsville Lambs on June 20, 1896.[8][9][3][4][10][11][7]

Minor league baseball returned to Carbondale in 1946. The franchise was formed when the Carbondale Baseball Association accepted the invitation for Carbondale to field a franchise in the new Class D level North Atlantic League. Subsequently, meetings were held in the Miners & Mechanics building, where an affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies was finalized and the franchise details were concluded. After the conclusion of World War II, 28 new minor leagues were formed in 1946.[12][13]

SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST SIDES - Miners and Mechanics Bank Building, 13 North Main Street, Carbondale, Lackawanna County, PA HABS PA,35-CARB,1-1

The Carbondale Pioneers became charter members of the Class D level North Atlantic League. The 1946 North Atlantic League standings featured the Peekskill Highlanders 82–32, Nazareth Cement Dusters 78–40, Stroudsburg Poconos 72–47, Carbondale Pioneers 69–48, Nyack Rockies 67–53, Bloomingdale Troopers 41–78, Mahanoy City Bluebirds 30–79 and Newburgh Hummingbirds/Walden Hummingbirds 27–89.[14][15][16][17]

The Pioneers opened their season on May 8, 1946, playing at Stroudsburg. The game was called with two outs in the top of the eighth inning because of darkness. The Carbondale Pioneers made the North Atlantic League Finals in their first season of play in the North Atlantic League. The Pioneers played as an Independent co–op team their first year, before the Phillies affiliation officially began. The Pioneers ended the 1946 season with a 69–48 record, 4th in the standings under Manager Pat Colgan. In the Playoffs, the Carbondale Pioneers defeated the Nazareth Cement Dusters 4 games to 1. In the Finals, the Peekskill Highlanders defeated Carbondale in a seven-game series. Walter Forwood hit .406 with 43 Doubles for the Pioneers. Beginning play at Russell Park, Carbondale had total home attendance of 62,617, an average of 1,070 per home game. After moving to Carbondale to manage and play, manager Pat Coglan had a career in baseball, but remained a resident of Carbondale, living in the same home with his wife and family and remaining active in the community until his death in 1992.[18][19][20][15][16][21][13][22][23]

The 1947 Carbondale Pioneers were North Atlantic League Champions. The Carbondale Pioneers officially became a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate, beginning a four–year association. Pat Colgan again served as manager and Carbondale finished 2nd with a record of 77–52, behind the Kingston Dodgers in the regular season standings. In the 1947 Playoffs, the Carbondale Pioneers defeated the Mahanoy City Bluebirds 4 games to 3 and advanced. In the Finals, Carbondale captured the championship by defeating the Peekskill Highlanders 4 games to 1. 1947 season attendance at Russell Park was 85,500, an average of 1,326 per home contest.[24][25][20][15][16][26][27][12]

In 1948, the Carbondale Pioneers repeated as North Atlantic League Champions. Ending the 1948 season with a record of 80–49, the Pioneers were 2nd in the regular season standings, finishing 2.0 games behind the Peekskill Highlanders. Under player/Manager Danny Carnevale the Pioneers qualified for the playoffs after Carnevale led the league in batting average (.380) and home runs (20). Carbondale won in the Playoffs, defeating the Mahanoy City Brewers 4 games to 3 to advance. Carbondale then swept the Peekskill Highlanders in four games to win consecutive championships. At Russell Park, the per game attendance was 1,294, with a total of 83,485.[28][29][20][15][16][30][31]

Some references have the 1949 Carbondale team playing under a slightly changed moniker in 1949, playing as the interchangeable "Pioneer Blues." Carbondale continued as a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate, finishing 5th with a record of 63–76. Managed by Barney Lutz, Carbondale finished 39.0 games behind the 101-35 Stroudsburg Poconos and did not qualify for the playoffs. Playing at Russell Park, Carbondale had season attendance of 28,000, an average of 403.[32][33][20][15][16][34][35]

In their final season of play, the Carbondale Pioneers finished 3rd in the North Atlantic League regular season and qualified for the playoffs. The Pioneers finished the 1950 season with a record of 76–55, 3rd in the standings, 10.0 games behind the 1st place Lebanon Chix, playing under Manager Joe Glenn. In the Playoffs, Lebanon defeated the Carbondale Pioneers 4 games to 3. In the last season at Russell Park, overall attendance was 37,548, an average of 573. The North Atlantic League permanently folded after the 1950 season. Minor league baseball play has not returned to Carbondale in the years since the Pioneers folded.[36][37][20][15][16][38][39]