The Mount Carmel Reliance 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

Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania Mount Carmel is a borough in Northumberland County, located in the Coal Heritage Region of Central Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River Valley, United States. The population was 5,725 at the 2020 census. It is located 88 miles (141 km) n ...

. In 1887 and 1888, the Reliance played exclusively as members of the independent

Central Pennsylvania League The Central Pennsylvania League was a minor league baseball league which operated in several Pennsylvania cities from 1887 to 1888 and again from 1896 to 1898. Cities represented * Ashland, PA: Ashland 1887–1888 *Bloomsburg, PA: Bloomsburg B ...

History

After playing in the semi–professional Central Pennsylvania league in 1886, the 1887 Mount Carmel "Reliance" team became the first

team based in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. The 1887 Central Pennsylvania League was accorded protection under the National Agreement, becoming a certified minor league. The Reliance became charter members of the

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

eight–team

, beginning league play on June 18, 1887. In their first season of play, the 1887 Mount Carmel team finished the season in fourth place with a record of 21–21. Playing under manager Charlie Gessner, Mount Carmel ended the season 6.0 games behind the first place Shamokin Maroons in the final Central Pennsylvania League standings. Continuing minor league play in 1888, the Mount Carmel Reliance placed fifth in the Central Pennsylvania League. After the team began the season with a record of 11–20, manager Kendrick was replaced by player J. B. Young, who led the Reliance to a 7–11 record under his direction. The Reliance ended the season with an overall record of 17–31, playing under managers Kendrick and Young. In the final standings, Mount Carmel ended the season 12.0 games behind the first place Hazelton Pugilists. Mount Carmel player/manager J.B. Young was a native of Mount Carmel. The Central Pennsylvania League did not play in the 1889 season. Mount Carmel later hosted teams in the 1908 and 1909 Atlantic League and 1928

Anthracite League The Anthracite League, also referred to as the Anthracite Association, was a short-lived American football Minor league football (gridiron), minor league comprising teams based in coal-mining towns in eastern Pennsylvania (hence the league name' ...

, both leagues playing as independent leagues.

The ballpark

The name of the Mount Carmel Reliance home minor league ballpark in 1887 and 1888 is not directly referenced. The Mount Carmel Town Park was in use in the era, having been established in 1853 and is still in use today.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

John Cullen Barry John Cullen (born August 2, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for the Boston University Terriers, where he was a standout play ...

(1887) * Jim Dee (1888) * Charlie Gessner (1887, MGR) *

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. ...

(1888) *

Billy Taylor Billy Taylor (July 24, 1921 – December 28, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and from 1994 was the a ...

(1887) * George Wetzel (1888) * J. B. Young (1887), (1888, MGR)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Mount Carmel - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams established in 1887 Baseball teams disestablished in 1888 1887 establishments in Pennsylvania 1888 disestablishments in Pennsylvania Defunct baseball teams in Pennsylvania Sports in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Central Pennsylvania League teams Baseball teams in Pennsylvania