Watertown Athletics

Minor league baseball started in Watertown, New York in 1888. Watertown played as a member of the four–team 1888 Eastern International League. On August 10, 1888, Watertown was in 2nd place in the league under Manager Lee Kingsley. With a 14–26 record, Watertown disbanded, causing the league to fold.[1][2]

Professional baseball returned in 1936, when the Watertown Grays, also known as the "Bucks," were charter members of the Class C level Canadian–American League, playing as an affiliate of the Boston Bees. Watertown drew 41 total fans on Opening Day in bad weather. Watertown finished with a record of 35–52 under manager Admiral Martin, 5th in the six–team Can-Am League. The league 1946 league standings also included the Brockville Pirates (43–36), Ogdensburg Colts (38–45), Oswego Netherlands (32–51), Ottawa Senators (53–37) and Perth Blue Cats/Royals (50–30). On June 24, 1936, Watertown had a record of 13–15 when the franchise briefly moved to Massena, New York before returning to Watertown. The Massena Grays were 4–9 in Massena when the franchise returned to Watertown on July 12, 1936. The franchise folded after the 1936 season.[3][4][5][6][7]

In 1946, the Watertown Athletics where charter members of the Class C level Border League. The six–team league standings featured the Auburn Cayugas (72–44), Granby Red Sox (54–60), Kingston Ponies (58–55), Ogdensburg Maples (50–68), Sherbrooke Canadians (46–71) and Watertown Athletics (69–51).[8][9]

Watertown won the 1946 Border League Championship. The Athletics finished the regular season 69–51, finishing 2nd place in the league standings under Manager Jim Scott. In the playoffs, the Watertown Athletics defeated the Granby Red Sox 3 games to 1. In the Finals, the Watertown Athletics defeated the Kingston Ponies 4 games to 2 to claim the championship. 1946 season attendance was 53,605, an average of 893.[10][11][8][12]

The Watertown Athletics qualified for the 1947 playoffs. With a 70–54 regular season 2nd place finish in the Border League, Manager Bob Shawkey led the team into the 1947 Playoffs. There, the Ogdensburg Maples defeated the Watertown Athletics 4 games to 3. Watertown season attendance was 53,600.[13][11]

The 1948 Watertown Athletics advanced to the Border League Finals. Manager Fred Gerken led the team to a 63–65, 4th place regular season finish. In the Playoffs, the Watertown Athletics defeated the Geneva Robins 4 games to 3. In the Finals, the Ogdensburg Maples swept the Watertown Athletics 4 games 0. The season attendance was 65,590, an average of 1,025.[14][8][11][15]

The Watertown Athletics finished 58–71, 5th in the 1949 Border League. Playing under Manager Franklin Heller, the Athletics did not qualify for the playoffs. Their 1949 attendance was 61,026, averaging 946 per game.[16]

The 1950 Watertown Athletics returned to the playoffs, led again by Manager Franklin Heller. The Athletics finished 4th, with a 60–68 record in the Border League regular season standings, qualifying for the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Athletics fell in the first round of playoffs. The Ogdensburg Maples defeated the Watertown Athletics 4 games to 1. The Athletics had a total season attendance of 65,329, an average of 1,021 per game.[17][8][11]

The Watertown Athletics folded midway through the 1951 season. On July 1, 1951, with a 22–30 record under Manager Bob Shawkey, the Watertown franchise folded. The season attendance to that date was 18,055, an average of 694. The Border League folded permanently on July 10, 1951.[11][18][19][20]

Watertown next hosted another professional baseball team when the Watertown Pirates joined the New York-Penn League in 1983. Today, a summer collegiate baseball team, the Watertown Rapids, play as members of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.[21][11]

The Watertown Athletics played at Duffy Fairgrounds. Still in use today, the ballpark is located at 970 Coffeen Street, Watertown, New York. The summer collegiate baseball team, the Watertown Rapids of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League are among the current tenants utilizing Duffy Fairgrounds.[22][23][24][25]

• Baseball Reference