The Cortland Wagonmakers were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team based in

Cortland, New York Cortland is a city and the county seat of Cortland County, New York, United States. Known as the Crown City, Cortland is in New York's Southern Tier region. As of 2024, the estimated population of Cortland, New York, is 17,196, reflecting a dec ...

. Between 1897 and 1905, Cortland teams played as members of the

New York State League The New York State League was an independent baseball league that played six seasons between 2007 and 2012 in New York State and the New York City metro area. Over 500 NYSL players have been signed by professional teams. Players from forty-eigh ...

from 1897 to 1901 and the

Empire State League The Empire State League was a Minor league baseball circuit which operated in the 1913 in baseball, 1913 season. It was a Class-D, six-team league, with teams based exclusively in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, U.S. In 1914, the league evolved ...

in 1905. The 1897 team was known as the Cortland "Hirelings."

History

Cortland first began minor league baseball play in 1897, when the Cortland Hirelings became charter members of the Class C level

. The Cortland franchise joined the league on June 2, 1897, after the season had already begun. Cortland completed the season and had a 29–36 record with a winning percentage that placed fifth in the league standings. The team was managed by George Geer and Otis Smith as the Hirelings finished behind the first place Canandaigua Rustlers The Cortland Wagonmakers continued play in the 1898 the New York State League as the league became an eight-team league. The Wagonmakers finished in fifth place with a record of 45–49. Thomas McGuirk, Ed Delaney and Frank Leonard managed the team in 1898, as the Wagonmakers finished 8.5 games behind the first place Canandaigua Rustlers. The Cortland use of the "Wagonmakers" moniker corresponds to local industry in Cortland, New York in the era. The city was home to numerous carriage and wagon manufacturers in the era, including the Brockway Carriage Works. Finishing above .500 for the first time in 1899, the Cortland Wagonmakers placed third in the eight–team New York State League. Finishing with a 56–46 record, the Wagonmakers were managed by Henry Ramsey. Cortland finished 17.0 games behind the first place Rome Romans in the final standings, as the league did not hold playoffs for its duration. Cortland improved to place in second place in 1900. Managed by J.D. Roche, the Wagonmakers had a 70–43 record in the New York State League final standings. Cortland finished 2.0 games behind the first place Utica Reds. The Cortland franchise relocated in 1901. On July 11, 1901, the Cortland Wagonmakers had a 22–34 record when the franchise moved to Waverly, New York. Completing the season as the Waverly Wagonmakers, the team had an overall record of 36–68, placing seventh in the New York State League under managers William A. Smith and M.T. Roche. After a three-season hiatus, the 1905 Cortland team resumed minor league play. Cortland joined the Independent level

for the 1905 season. The franchise folded from the league on July 18, 1905. The Cortland record and standing from 1905 are unknown. Cortland has not hosted another minor league baseball team. In 2008, a vintage baseball game was held honoring the Cortland Wagonmakers. The team honoring the Cortland Wagonmakers played against a team from Truxton, honoring the Truxton Giants. The teams played a double header using rules from the era.

The ballpark

The name of the Cortland minor league home ballpark(s) is not known.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

* Larry Battam (1898) * Elmer Bliss (1901) * Buttons Briggs (1899) * Matt Broderick (1901) * Tun Berger (1897) *

Wid Conroy William Edward "Wid" Conroy (April 5, 1877 – December 6, 1959) was an American Major League Baseball player active during the first decade of the 20th century. Career Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 5, 1877, Conroy made his major ...

(1899) *

Dan Coogan Daniel George Coogan (February 16, 1875 – October 28, 1942) was an American baseball player and coach. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he played professionally for 11 seasons, including one in Major League Baseball wi ...

(1900–1901) * Fred Donovan (1901) *

Mal Eason Malcolm Wayne (Mal) Eason (March 13, 1879 – April 16, 1970) was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Orphans (1900–1902), Boston Beaneaters (1902), Detroit Tigers (1903) and Brooklyn Superbas (1905� ...

(1900) * Frank Foutz (1898) *

Bill Friel William Edward Friel (April 1, 1876 – December 24, 1959) was an American professional baseball player. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball, as a second baseman, third baseman and outfielder. Friel began his career in the minor le ...

(1897–1898) * Billy Gannon (1899–1901) * Billy Ging (1901) * Ed Householder (1898) *

Jim Jones James Warren Jones (May 13, 1931 – November 18, 1978) was an American cult leader, preacher and mass murderer who founded and led the Peoples Temple between 1955 and 1978. Jones and the members of his inner circle planned and orchestrat ...

(1898) * Fred Ketchum (1897–1899) *

Frank LaPorte Frank Breyfogle Laporte (February 6, 1880 – September 25, 1939) was an American baseball player. Biography Born in Uhrichsville, Ohio, he began his major league career with the New York Highlanders (present day New York Yankees) in 190 ...

(1898) * Jim McCormick (1900–1901) * Sandy McDougal (1901) * Sam McMackin (1898) * Kohly Miller (1898) *

Carlton Molesworth Carlton Molesworth (February 15, 1876 – July 25, 1961) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Molesworth played for the Washington Senators in the 1895 season. He played just four games in his career, having two losses in three games started ...

(1898, 1901) *

Pat Moran Patrick Joseph Moran (February 7, 1876 – March 7, 1924) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1901 to 1914. The year after his retirement, he became a manager, and he led two ...

(1898) *

Jack O'Neill Jonathan J. "Jack" O'Neill is a fictional character in the MGM's military science fiction franchise ''Stargate'', primarily as one of the main characters of the television series ''Stargate SG-1''. Richard Dean Anderson played O'Neill in all th ...

(1897) * Pete O'Brien (1900–1901) *

Mark Polhemus Mark S. Polhemus (October 14, 1860 – November 14, 1923) nicknamed "Humpty Dumpty", was a Major League Baseball player. Polhemus started the 1887 season with Haverhill of the New England League. He hit .456 in 51 games and was then acquired by ...

(1898) * Bobby Rothermel (1899) * Danny Shay (1898) *

Bucky Veil Frederick William "Bucky" Veil (August 2, 1881 – April 16, 1931) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903 and 1904. Career Frederick played both baseball and football at Williamsport ...

(1900) * Joe Wall (1901) * Stan Yerkes (1897–1898) * Cortland Wagonmakers players *

Cortland Hirelings players Cortland may refer to: Places In space * 27776 Cortland, an asteroid United States * Cortland, Illinois, a town * Cortland, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Cortland, Nebraska, a village * Cortland, New York, a city * Cortland, Ohio, a cit ...

* Cortland (minor league baseball) players

References

{{reflist

External links

Cortland - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in New York (state) New York State League teams Baseball teams established in 1898 Baseball teams disestablished in 1905 1898 establishments in New York (state) 1905 disestablishments in New York (state) Professional baseball teams in New York (state) Cortland County, New York