Oswego Starchboxes
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (1886-1888)
LeagueInternational League (1886-1887)
Eastern International League (1888)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Division titles (1)1888
Team data
NameOswego Starchboxes (1886-1888)

The Oswego Starchboxes were a minor league baseball team based in Oswego, New York, and Oswego County, New York. The Starchboxes played as members of the 1886 and 1887 International League and 1888 Eastern International League. The Starchboxes hosted home games at Richardson Park in Oswego.

History

The Starchboxes were immediately preceded in minor league play by the 1885 Oswego Sweegs.[1] The Sweegs were the first minor league team based in Oswego and played the season as members of the New York State League, placing fifth in the final standings with a 35–51 record and finishing 15.5 games behind the first place Syracuse Stars.[2]

In 1886, the Oswego "Starchboxes" became members of the International League. The Binghamton Bingoes, Buffalo Bisons, Hamilton Clippers, Rochester Maroons, Syracuse Stars, Toronto Canucks and Utica Pent-Ups teams joined Oswego in beginning league play on May 8, 1886.[3][4] The league was also called by the interchangeable "International Association."[5]

The "Starchboxes" nickname corresponds with local history and the starch production industry. Oswego has been home to the Kingsford Starch Factory since 1848.[6][7][8]

(1892) Canadian Grocer advertisement

In their first season of play, the Starchboxes finished last in the eight-team International League standings.[9] The Oswego ended the 1886 season with a record of 23–72, finishing eighth in the International League standings. Buck West and Henry Ormsbee served as managers.[10] Oswego finished 48.5 games behind the first place Utica Pent-Ups in the final standings.[5][11]

After a poor record to begin the season, the 1887 Oswego Starchboxes folded during the International League season.[12] On May 31, 1887, Oswego folded with a 3–23 record. The team was managed by Wes Curry and Michael Gill. The Oswego franchise was replaced by Scranton in league play.[13][11]

In 1888, the Starchmakers reformed and the team played as a charter member of the four–team 1888 Eastern International League.[14] Teams from Belleville, Ontario, Kingston, Ontario and Watertown, New York joined Oswego in beginning league play on May 24, 1888.[15]

Oswego began the 1888 season with a 16–8 record and captured the first half championship in the league. However, the franchise folded on July 4, 1888.[14][16][11]

The Eastern International League folded following the 1888 season. Oswego next hosted minor league baseball when the 1898 Oswego Grays began play in the New York State League.[17][18] In 1905, the Oswego Starchmakers team was formed and began play as a member of the Independent level Empire State League.[19][20][11]

The ballpark

The Oswego Starchboxes teams played minor league home games at Richardson Park.[21] The ballpark hosted minor league teams from 1885 to 1907. A public works facility occupies the site today.[21] In the era, the ballpark was located at East Lith & Seneca Street with trolley service serving the park.[22]

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1886-18872Oswego StarchmakersIndependentInternational LeagueRichardson Park
18881Eastern International League

Year–by–year records

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
188623–728thHenry Ormsbee / Buck WestNo playoffs held
18873-23NAWes Curry, Michael GillTeam folded May 31
188816–8NAJames HarmonWon 1st half standings
Team disbanded July 4

Notable alumni

See also

Oswego Starchboxes players

References

  1. ↑ "1885 Oswego Sweegs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ↑ "1885 Oswego Sweegs minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ↑ "1886 International Association (IA) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ↑ "1886 International League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. 1 2 "1886 International Association (IA) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ↑ "Kingsford Starch Factory | Oswego New York".
  7. ↑ "Kingsford Starch". Oswego County Historical Society. 135 East Third Street, Oswego, New York. 2017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. ↑ "The Orphans, the Dudes and beyond: 16 bizarre old-timey baseball team names". MLB.com.
  9. ↑ "1886 Oswego Starchboxes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ "1886 Oswego Starchboxes minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  12. ↑ "1887 Oswego Starchboxes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ↑ "1887 Oswego Starchboxes minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. 1 2 "1888 Oswego Starchboxes minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. ↑ "1888 Eastern International League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ↑ "1888 Eastern International League (EIL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. ↑ "1898 Oswego Grays minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. ↑ "1898 Oswego Grays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. ↑ "1905 Oswego Starchmakers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. ↑ "1905 Empire State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. 1 2 "Richardson Park in Oswego, NY minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. ↑ "Oswego Palladium Times Archives, Jul 1, 1976, p. 11". NewspaperArchive.com. July 1, 1976.
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