The Lewiston Twins was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in

Lewiston, Maine Lewiston (; ; officially the City of Lewiston, Maine) is the second largest city in Maine and the most central city in Androscoggin County. The city lies halfway between Augusta, the state's capital, and Portland, the state's most populous cit ...

between 1891 and 1930. Lewiston teams played as long time members of the

New England League The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played intermittently in five of the six New England states (Vermont excepted) between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League ...

(1891–1896, 1901, 1914–1915, 1919, 1926–1930) and also in the 1907 Maine State League and 1908 Atlantic Association, winning the 1919 league championship. Lewiston hosted home minor league games at A.A.A. Park from through 1919 and the Lewiston Athletic Park from 1926 to 1930.

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball ...

member

Jesse Burkett Jesse Cail Burkett (December 4, 1868 – May 27, 1953), nicknamed "Crab", was an American professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1890 to 1905 for the New York Giants, Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Pe ...

managed the Lewiston Twins in 1928 and 1929. On August 7, 1915, Lewiston pitchers Oscar Tuero and Otto Rettig threw back–to–back

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher w ...

s in a double header against the

Lowell Grays Lowell may refer to: Places United States * Lowell, Arkansas * Lowell, California * Lowell, Florida * Lowell, Idaho * Lowell, Indiana * Lowell, Bartholomew County, Indiana * Lowell, Maine * Lowell, Massachusetts ** Lowell National Historical ...

History

Early teams 1891–1908

Minor league baseball began in Lewiston, Maine in 1891. Lewiston fielded a team in the Class B level

, joining the league on June 10, 1891 and completing the season. Lewiston finished with an 11–28 record in their first season, playing under manager Jeremiah Scannell. Lewiston finished in 8th place in the eight–team league by winning percentage. Continuing play in 1892, the team used the Lewiston-Auburn Gazettes moniker for one season, reflecting partnership with neighboring

Auburn, Maine Auburn is a city in south-central Maine within the United States. The city serves as the county seat of Androscoggin County. The population was 24,061 at the 2020 census. Auburn and its sister city Lewiston are known locally as the Twin Citi ...

in the name. The Gazettes finished with a 53–45 record to place 3rd in the eight–team New England League. Lewiston-Auburn finished 12.0 games behind 1st place Woonsocket, playing under managers Forrest Keay and

Frank Leonard Frank E. Leonard (January 2, 1896 – August 1, 1970), better known as Lank Leonard, was an American cartoonist artist who created the long-running comic strip '' Mickey Finn'', which he drew for more than three decades. Biography Early life and ...

. In 1893, Lewiston returned and had a 56–37 record in New England League play. Lewiston finished in 2nd place, ending the season 5.5 games behind the 1st place

Fall River Indians Autumn, also known as fall in American English and Canadian English, is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September ( Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Sout ...

. The Lewiston manager in 1893 was John Leighton. Lewiston finished in 5th place in the eight–team 1894 New England League final standings. Playing under managers John Leighton and

Sam LaRocque Simeon Henry Jean LaRocque (February 26, 1863 – May 31, 1933) was a professional baseball player. He was a second baseman over parts of three seasons (1888, 1890–91) with the Detroit Wolverines, Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates and Louisvi ...

, Lewiston ended the season with a record of 46–50, finishing 15.5 games behind champion Fall River Indians. In 1895 New England League play, Lewiston again finished in 5th place in the eight–team league. With a final record of 47–54, Lewiston finished 17.5 games behind the 1st place Fall River Indians in the final standings. Mike Slattery and Michael Garrity managed Lewiston in 1895. The Lewiston team did not complete the 1896 New England League season. Lewiston disbanded on August 12, 1896 with a 29–53 record under managers Michael Garrity, Ed Flanagan and Henry Slater. The league was won again by the Fall River Indians. Lewiston returned to the New England League in 1901, beginning play at A.A.A. Park. Lewiston finished in 5th place with a 42–50 record. In the final standings, Lewiston was 13.0 games behind 1st place Portland. Lewiston played the 1901 season under manager Fred Doe. In 1907, Lewiston returned to play in a new league before disbanding again. Lewiston became members of the Class D level Maine State League. The team disbanded on August 3, 1907. Lewiston a 24–23 record under managers George Boardman and Heald when the franchise folded. Lewiston briefly played in the short–lived 1908 Class D level

Atlantic Association The Atlantic Association was a minor league baseball organization that operated between 1889 and 1890 and again in 1908 in the Northeastern United States. History First Demise In each of the two seasons 4 or more teams failed to finish the season ...

. Lewiston was in 2nd place with an 8–4 record under George Beede and

Ed McDonough Edward Sebastian McDonough (September 11, 1886 – September 2, 1926) was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He attended Notre Dame, and played his first major league game on August 3, 1909 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Biography McDonough ...

when the league folded on May 21, 1908. Lewiston was 0.5 behind the

Portland Blue Sox The Portland Blue Sox were a class-D minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine which played from 1907 to 1908 in the Maine State League and the Atlantic Association before folding. The Blue Sox were relaunched in 1919 to make up for the los ...

when the league permanently folded. Other references have Lewiston in 1st place with a 6–3 record.

New England League 1914–1930

Minor league baseball returned to Lewiston in 1914, with the Lewiston Cupids rejoining the New England League. The Cupids placed 6th in the eight–team, Class B level New England League. Lewiston had a final record of 57–66 and finished 27.0 games behind the

Lawrence Barristers Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparato ...

. Lewiston played under managers John McMahon, Joe Judge and

Art McGovern Arthur John McGovern (February 27, 1882 – November 14, 1915) was a reserve catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Americans during the season. Listed at 5' 10", 160 lb., McGovern batted and threw right-handed. He was bo ...

. On August 7, 1915, a baseball rarity occurred. Lewiston Cupid pitchers Oscar Tuero and Otto Rettig threw back–to–back

s in a double header against the

. First, Tuero defeated the Grays 5–0 in a conventional 9–inning, complete game no–hitter. In the second game, Rettig no–hit Lowell over 5–innings in an official game that ended with a 1–1 tie. Overall, the 1915 Lewiston Cupids placed 5th in the New England League final standings. The Cupids ended the season with a 50–59 record to place 5th in the eight–team league. Lewiston finished 22.0 games behind the 1st place Portland Duffs in the final standings. The Lewiston Cupids' manager and part–owner was

Arthur Irwin Arthur Albert Irwin (February 14, 1858 – July 16, 1921), nicknamed "Doc", "Sandy", "Cutrate" or "Foxy", was a Canadian-American shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) during the late nineteenth century. He played regularly i ...

. The New England league folded after the 1915 season, as did many minor leagues due to

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

. The New England League reformed briefly for a partial 1919 season and Lewiston had two separate teams in the league. The Lewiston Red Sox began the season playing in the six team league. The Red Sox had a 21–23 record under manager

Freddy Parent Alfred Joseph Parent (November 11, 1875 – November 2, 1972 was an professional baseball player. He played all or part of eleven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), between 1899 and 1911, for the St. Louis Perfectos, Boston Americans and Ch ...

when the team folded on July 20, 1919. On July 14, the

franchise moved to Lewiston and began play as the Lewiston-Auburn Twins, in partnership with neighboring

, where Lewiston–Auburn are twin cities. On August 2, 1919, the Twins were in 1st place with a 38–25 overall record under manager Mike Hayden when the New England League folded. In 1926, the New England League reformed as a Class B level league with eight teams. The Lewiston Twins began play, keeping the "Twins" moniker first adopted in 1919. The Lewiston Twins finished with a 50–43 record to place 3rd in the final standings. Lewiston finished 7.5 games behind the 1st place Manchester Blue Sox. The 1926 Lewiston manager was Joe Murphy. The Lewiston Twins were led by returning manager Joe Murphy in 1927. The Twins placed 4th in the eight–team New England League final standings. Lewiston had a 46–45 record in the regular season, finishing 14.0 games behind the 1st place Lynn Papooses. Lewiston-Auburn, ME 1973 & 2012 (8091525680)

Lewiston-Auburn, ME 1973 & 2012 (8091525680)

The 1928 Lewiston Twins were managed by

member

and finished in 3rd place in the New England League standings. Lewiston had a 51–46 final record, finishing 3.5 games behind the New England League champion Lynn Papooses. In 1929, the Lewiston Twins played their final full season and were led by returning manager Jesse Burkett. The Twins placed 4th in the eight–team New England League, finishing with a record of 61–56. Lewiston was 15.0 games games behind the 1st place Manchester Red Sox in the final standings. Season attendance at Lewiston Athletic park was 40,000. The Lewiston Twins played their final season in 1930. The Twins permanently disbanded on June 16, 1930. After the 1930 New England League began play with six teams, the Lewiston Twins had a record of 12–12 under manager Bill Slattery when the team folded. The

Nashua Millionaires The Nashua Millionaires were a minor league baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire. Between 1926 and 1933, the Millionaires played as members of the Class B level New England League. The Millionaires were preceded in New England League play b ...

franchise disbanded the same day. After continuing play briefly as a four–team league, the New England League folded on June 22, 1930. The Lewiston–Auburn area has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballparks

In the seasons between 1901 and 1919, Lewiston teams played at A.A.A. Park. The Lewiston Twins played home games at Lewiston Athletic Park beginning in 1926. The ballpark was located at Sabattus Street & Vale Street. Today, the park is still in use as a public park with baseball, football, lacrosse, field hockey and football facilities. The present public park is located at 65 Central Avenue, Lewiston, Maine.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball ...
alumni

(1928–1929, MGR) Inducted, 1946

Notable alumni

* Marty Bergen (1894) * Don Brennan (1926) * Dan Burke (1895) *

Joe Casey Joe Casey is an American comic book writer. He has worked on titles such as '' Wildcats 3.0'', ''Uncanny X-Men'', ''The Intimates'', '' Adventures of Superman'', and '' G.I. Joe: America's Elite'' among others. As part of the comics creator group ...

(1914) *

Frank Connaughton Frank Henry Connaughton (January 1, 1869 – December 1, 1942) was a Major League Baseball shortstop and outfielder. His professional career lasted from 1891 to 1913 and included three brief stints as a minor league baseball manager. In 146 game ...

(1892–1893) *

Dan Cotter Daniel Joseph Cotter (April 14, 1867 – September 4, 1935), was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played with the Buffalo Bisons (PL), Buffalo Bisons of the Players' League in . Cotter played in one game for the Bisons on July 16, 1890. He ...

(1892) *

Pat Crisham Patrick J. Crisham (born June 4, 1877 in Amesbury, Massachusetts – June 12, 1915 in Syracuse, New York) was an American baseball player who played infielder in Major League Baseball in 1899. He played for the Baltimore Orioles The Balti ...

(1895) * Fred Doe (1907, MGR) *

Tim Donahue Timothy Cornelius Donahue (June 8, 1870 – June 12, 1902) was a catcher in Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is com ...

(1892) *

Alex Ferson Alexander "Colonel" Ferson (July 14, 1866 – December 5, 1957) was a 5'9", 165 pound right-handed baseball pitcher who played from 1889 to 1890 and in 1892 for the Washington Nationals (1886-89), Washington Nationals, Buffalo Bisons (PL), ...

(1893–1894) *

Mike Flynn Michael Thomas Flynn (born December 24, 1958) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and conspiracy theorist who was the 24th U.S. National Security Advisor for the first 22 days of the Trump administration. He resigned in light of ...

(1895) * Ed Flanagan (1896, MGR) * Pat Friel (1896) *

Chick Gagnon Harold Dennis "Chick" Gagnon (September 27, 1897 – April 30, 1970) was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for the Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete ...

(1927–1928) *

Billy Gilbert William Gilbert Barron (September 12, 1894 – September 23, 1971), known professionally as Billy Gilbert, was an American actor and comedian. He was known for his comic sneeze routines. He appeared in over 200 feature films, short subjects a ...

(1897) * Jack Gilbert (1895) * Mike Hickey (1892) * Mike Hines (1895) *

(1915, MGR) * Joe Judge (1914, MGR) *

Marty Karow Martin Gregory Karow ''orn Karowsky' (July 18, 1904 – April 27, 1986) was an All-American college football player and a professional baseball player. He was a fullback on the Ohio State University football team from 1924 through 1926. In 192 ...

(1927) * John Keefe (1892) *

Nate Kellogg Nathaniel Monroe Kellogg (September 28, 1858July 19, 1923) was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played in five games for the 1885 Detroit Wolverines. He continued to play in the minor leagues through 1891, primarily in the New England League ...

(1891) * John Kiley (1891) *

Henry Killeen Henry F. Killeen (May 1872 – October 16, 1916) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in one game for the Cleveland Spiders of the National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the N ...

(1897) *

Fred Klobedanz Frederick Augustus "Duke" Klobedanz (June 13, 1871 – April 12, 1940) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Boston Beaneaters in five seasons and had a lifetime major league win–loss record of 53–25. Career Klobedanz, ...

(1893) *

(1894, MGR) *

Mike Lehane Michael M. Lehane (April 15, 1865 – February 28, 1903) was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Columbus Solons of the American Association during the 1890 and 1891 seasons. Lehane also played in the minor league ...

(1895) * John Leighton (1893–1894, MGR) *

(1892, MGR) *

Abel Lizotte Abel Lizotte (April 13, 1870, in Lewiston, Maine – December 4, 1926, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1896. He made his major league debut on September 17, 1896, a ...

(1891–1893) * Dan Mahoney (1895, 1897) * Billy Maloney (1897) 1905 NL Stolen base leader * Pat Maloney (1914) *

Willard Mains Willard Eben Mains (July 7, 1868 – May 23, 1923) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He joined the National League at the age of 20 with the Chicago White Stockings and started two games in , winning one and losing the other. A ...

(1894–1895) * Pat Maloney (1914–1915) * Dick McCabe (1915) * Jim McCormick (1892–1894) *

Charlie McCullough Charles F. McCullough (1866 - April 13, 1898) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for one season. In 1890 he played for the Brooklyn Gladiators and the Syracuse Stars, both of the American Association. He was a native of Dublin, Ireland. ...

(1895) *

John McGlone John T. McGlone (1864–1927) was a professional baseball player from 1886–1888. He played in the minors through 1894. External links 1864 births 1927 deaths Sportspeople from Brooklyn Baseball players from New York City Major League B ...

(1894) *

(1914, MGR) * Frank McManus (1896) * Art Merewether (1926) * Tom Messitt (1896) *

Kohly Miller Frank Aloyvisous Miller (1874–1951) was a Major League Baseball Infielder. He played in one game at shortstop for the Washington Senators in 1892, one game at third base for the St. Louis Browns in 1892 and three games at second base for the ...

(1896) * Bill Moran (1892) * Bill Mundy (1914) * John O'Brien (1892) * John O'Connell (1895) *

(1919. MGR) *

Pat Pettee Patrick E. Pettee (January 10, 1863 – October 9, 1934) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball in the 19th century. He played for the Louisville Colonels of the American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * Amer ...

(1895–1896) *

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 ...

(1894) *

Frank Quinlan Francis Patrick Quinlan (March 9, 1869 – May 4, 1904) was a Major League Baseball player who played for one season. He played two games for the Boston Reds for two games on October 5, 1891 during the Reds' American Association championship. ...

(1895) * Otto Rettig (1915) *

John Rudderham John Edmund Rudderham (1863–1942) was a Major League Baseball player. He played one game for the Union Association The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for just the 1884 season. St. Louis won the pennant ...

(1891) *

George Sharrott George Oscar Sharrott (November 2, 1869 – January 6, 1932) was a 19th-century Major League Baseball pitcher. He played from 1893 to 1894 with the Brooklyn Grooms. External linksBaseball Reference 1869 births 1932 deaths 19th-century ba ...

(1895) * Biff Sheehan (1892–1893, 1896) * Mike Slattery (1894), (1895, MGR) * Paddy Smith (1915) *

Louis Sockalexis Louis Francis Sockalexis (October 24, 1871 – December 24, 1913), nicknamed the Deerfoot of the Diamond, was an American baseball player. Sockalexis played professional baseball in the National League for three seasons, spending his entire c ...

(1895) * Paul Speraw (1928) * John Stafford (1893–1894, 1896) *

Pussy Tebeau Charles Alston "Pussy" Tebeau (February 22, 1870 – March 25, 1950) was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Cleveland Spiders during the 1895 season. Tebeau batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Worcester, ...

(1891) * Oscar Tuero (1915) *

Cy Twombly Edwin Parker "Cy" Twombly Jr. (; April 25, 1928July 5, 2011) was an American painter, sculptor and photographer. He belonged to the generation of Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. Twombly is said to have influenced younger artists such as ...

(1929) * Geroge Wheeler (1892–1894) * Pop Williams (1895–1896) * Chuck Wolfe (1928–1929)

References

{{reflist

External links

Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Maine Baseball teams established in 1891 New England League teams Baseball teams disestablished in 1930 Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin County, Maine Auburn, Maine

History

Early teams 1891–1908

New England League 1914–1930

The ballparks

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball ... alumni

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball ...
alumni