Fremont Pathfinders

The Fremont Pathfinders were a minor league baseball team, based in Fremont, Nebraska from 1910 to 1913. The Fremont Pathfinders were members of the Nebraska State League in 1892 and 1910 to 1913, winning championships in 1910 and 1912. Fremont played home games at Association Lot.

Fremont Pathfinders
1892–1913
(1892, 1910–1913)
Fremont, Nebraska
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass B (1892)
Class D (1910–1913)
Previous leagues
Nebraska State League (1892, 1910–1913)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
  • None
Minor league titles
League titles 2 1910, 1912*
Team data
Previous names
  • Fremont (1892)
  • Fremont Pathfinders (1910–1913)
Previous parks
Association Lot (1910–1913)

In 2019, the Fremont Moo, a Collegiate summer baseball franchise, began play.

History

Fremont briefly had a minor league team in 1892, playing as charter members of the six–team Nebraska State League. Fremont was 11–18 under Manager Norman L. Baker when the franchise disbanded on June 20, 1892. The 1892 Nebraska State League, which was an integrated league, fully disbanded in July, 1892.[1]

In 1910, minor league baseball returned to Fremont, when the Pathfinders were charter members of the reformed Class D Nebraska State League. Other members of the eight–team league were the Columbus Discoverers, Grand Island Collegians, Hastings Brickmakers, Kearney Kapitalists, Red Cloud, Nebraska, Seward Statesmen and Superior Brickmakers. The 1910 Nebraska State League set a salary limit of $900.00 and a roster limit of 12.[2][3]

In the first season, Fremont won the 1910 Nebraska State League Championship. On September 4, 1910, Fremont pitcher Sullivan Campbell threw a no–hitter in a 5–0 victory over the Seward Statesmen. The Pathfinders finished 63–42 in 1910, 4.5 games ahead of 2nd place Columbus. There were no playoffs. Their manager, L.D. "Pug" Bennett, also pitched and played outfield. Fremont drew 16,966 fans, an average of 320 per game.[1][4][5][6][7]

On opening day 1911, all Fremont businesses were closed and students released from school to participate in a parade to the ballpark and attend the game. This parade had become an opening day tradition. Fremont held a "pennant day" in 1911, unveiling an 18–foot banner for the 1910 championship. In the 1911 season, Fremont had a 69–43 regular season record under Manager L.D. Bennett, finishing 2nd, 2.0 games behind the Superior Brickmakers. Fremont had contentious games with Superior, with Superior appealing to the President of the league to reverse some losses to Superior. Their appeal was denied.[8][1][9][10]

The 1912 Fremont Pathfinders played to a 66–45 regular season which left them in a 1st place tie with the Hastings Brickmakers. Their Manager was again L.D. Bennett. At the conclusion of the season, Fremont and Hastings both had claims against each other involving roster inflation, teams losing games against the other on purpose, forfeited games, etc. The Nebraska State League called a meeting of directors, who reviewed the accusations and declared the two teams in a tie. The teams wished to play a playoff series. The league President ruled that a playoff series would have the first two games in Hastings, but Fremont disagreed, wanting the first two games at Fremont. Fremont refused to play, the situation was not resolved, and no playoffs were held to break the tie.[8][11][12][1]

At the 1913 Nebraska State League spring league meetings, a 1912 Kearney win over Hastings was reversed. This reversal gave Hastings a 1912 record of 67–44, one game ahead of Fremont. Fremont pitcher Harold Hinkley threw a no–hitter on July 27, 1913, as Fremont defeated the Beatrice Milkskimmers 12–0.[1][7]

In their final season, the Fremont Pathfinders had a record of 56–56 in 1913 under Manager H.A. Welch, finishing in 4th place in the Nebraska State League. Fremont found themselves with a $500 deficit after the season. The team tried a subscription drive and playing in a tournament to erase the debt, but both were unsuccessful. The franchise was sold to Norfolk, Nebraska, and the team moved to become the Norfolk Drummers in 1914.[3][1]

In 2019, Fremont became home to the Fremont Moo, a Collegiate summer baseball franchise, playing in the Expedition League.[13]

Ballpark

The Fremont Pathfinders played at Association Lot. The exact address is unknown, but the ballpark was reported to have been located in an area south of East Main Street, Fremont, Nebraska.[14][5]

Year-by-year record

(from BR Bullpen)

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
189211–185thNorman L. BakerDisbanded June 20
191063–421stL.D. BennettLeague Champions
191169–432ndL.D. BennettNone
191266–451st (tie)L.D. BennettCo-League Champions*
191356–564thH.A. WelchNone

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Nebraska State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "1910 Nebraska State League (NSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "Nebraska Minor League Baseball Fremont Pathfinders". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  4. "Fremont Pathfinders - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Nebraska Minor League Baseball Fremont Pathfinders". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  6. "1910 Fremont Pathfinders Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "Minor League No-Hitters 1910-1919 - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "1912 Nebraska State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "Nebraska Minor League Baseball Fremont Pathfinders". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  10. "1911 Nebraska State League (NSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "Nebraska Minor League Baseball Fremont Pathfinders". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  12. "1912 Nebraska State League (NSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "Home Page | Fremont Moo". fremontmooex.pointstreaksites.com.
  14. "Association Lot in Fremont, NE history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.