Camden Ouachitas Explained

Camden Ouachitas
Firstseason:1884
Lastseason:1906
Allyears:1894, 1906
City:Camden, Arkansas
Class Level:Class D (1894, 1906)
League:Arkansas State League (1894)
Arkansas-Texas League (1906)
Majorleague:None
Nickname:Camden Yellow Hammers (1893–1894)
Camden Ouachitas (1906)
Ballpark:Recreation Park (1894)
Leaguenum:0
Leaguechamps:None

The Camden Ouachitas were a minor league baseball team based in Camden, Arkansas in 1906. Preceded by the 1894 Camden Yellow Hammers, the Camden teams played as members of the Class D level Arkansas State League in 1894 and Arkansas-Texas League in 1906. Camden hosted home minor league games at Recreation Park.

History

After fielding a semi-pro team in 1893, minor league baseball first came to Camden, Arkansas when the 1894 Camden Yellow Hammers became members of the Class D level Arkansas State League.[1] [2] The league began play on May 30, 1894. The Camden franchise, along with the Hot Springs, Arkansas based Hot Springs Bathers franchise, both folded one month into the 1894 season, causing the four–team league to fold. Camden, also referred to as the "Rainmakers" by some references, finished with a 7–10 record to place third in the league standings. Camden finished 4.5 games behind the first place Little Rock Rose Buds, who ended with an 11–5 record.[3] [4]

In 1906, the Camden "Ouachitas" became charter members of the Class D level Arkansas-Texas League.[5] Camden was joined by the Hot Springs Vapors, Pine Bluff Barristers and Texarkana Shine-Oners as the charter members of the four–team league.[6]

The Camden "Ouachitas" moniker corresponds to Camden being within Ouachita County and the Ouachita River that runs east of the city.[7]

Beginning league play on June 21, 1906, Camden ended the Arkansas-Texas League regular season with a record of 29–28. Camden finished in second place in the final standings, playing under managers Arthur Riggs and Cleve Turner.[8] [9] The Camden Ouachitas finished behind the first place Pine Bluff Barristers (32–26) and ahead of the third place Texarkana Shine-Oners/Hope Tigers (29–30) and Hot Springs Vapors (25–32) in the final standings.[10] [3]

Camden, Arkansas has not hosted another minor league team.[3] [11]

The ballpark

The 1894 Camden Yellow Hammers played minor league home games at Recreation Park.

Timeline

Year(s)
  1. Yrs.
Team Level League
18941 Camden Yellow Hammers Class D
19061Camden OuachitasArkansas-Texas League

Year–by–year records

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs/Notes
1894 7–10 3rdNATeam and League folded
190629–28 2nd Arthur Riggs / Cleve TurnerNo playoffs held

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia | Camden Yaller Hammers (1893-1894). Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia.
  2. Web site: 1894 Camden Yellow Hammers/Rainmakers Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Book: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball . Lloyd . Johnson . Miles . Wolff . Third . . 2007 . 978-1932391176.
  4. Web site: Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia | Arkansas State League (1894).
  5. Web site: Arkansas-Texas League (D) Encyclopedia and History. Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. Web site: 1906 Arkansas-Texas League (AAL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com. www.statscrew.com.
  7. Web site: Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  8. Web site: 1906 Camden Ouachitas minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com. www.statscrew.com.
  9. Web site: 1906 Camden Ouachitas Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. Web site: 1906 Arkansas-Texas League (AAL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com. www.statscrew.com.
  11. Web site: Camden, Arkansas Encyclopedia. Baseball-Reference.com.