Guthrie Senators Explained

Guthrie Senators
Allyears:1904-1906, 1909-1910, 1912, 1914, 1922-1924
City:Guthrie, Oklahoma
Past Class Level:Class D (1904, 1906, 1912, 1922-1924)
Class C (1905, 1909-1910, 1914)
Past League:Oklahoma State League (1912, 1922-1924)
Western Association (1905, 1909-1910, 1914)
South Central League (1906)
Southwestern League (1904)
Pastnames:Guthrie Linters (1922–1924)
Guthrie Orphans (1914)
Guthrie Spas (1912)
Guthrie Senators (1905-1906, 1909-1910)
Guthrie Blues (1904)
Pastparks:Island Park (1904)
Electric Park (1905-1906, 1909-1910)
Fairgrounds Park (1912, 1914, 1922-1924)

Guthrie Senators was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Guthrie, Oklahoma, United States.

History

The Guthrie Senators played in the Western Association (1905, 1909 - 1910) and South Central League (1906).[1] Later, Guthrie teams played in the Oklahoma State League (1912, 1922–1924) as the Guthrie Spas in 1912.[2] and the Guthrie Linters in 1922 and 1923.[3] Guthrie also was represented in the Western Association for a brief time during 1914,[4] under the name Guthrie Orphans.[5]

The ballparks

Although the Guthrie ballpark had different names over the years, it was consistently located in what is now known as Mineral Wells Park.[6]

The field used by the 1904 Guthrie Blues was known as the Island Park diamond.[7] Island Park was renamed Mineral Wells Park in 1910.[8] The Island Park athletic field, which later in 1904 hosted the first Bedlam Series football game between Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, was located just across Cottonwood Creek from the current park gazebo.[9]

Beginning in 1905, Guthrie's ballpark was known as Electric Park.[10] Electric Park was also located immediately across Cottonwood Creek from the “island” portion of Island/Mineral Wells Park.[11] The Guthrie Senators used Electric Park as their home field through 1910.[12]

In 1911, the City of Guthrie purchased Electric Park from the streetcar owners who developed it and consolidated the land, including the ballpark, into Mineral Wells Park.[13] Further amenities were added, including a race track and fairgrounds, around the existing ballpark.[14] [15] Guthrie teams continued to play at the fairgrounds ballpark through the final days of minor league baseball there in 1924.[16]

Notable alumni

Notable players include Red Downs, Eddie Hickey, Tex Jones, Bill McGill and Clare Patterson. They were managed for part of the 1906 season by Charlie Bennett.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Guthrie, Oklahoma Register History. Baseball-Reference.com. 2016-07-16.
  2. Web site: "Spas Take First Game," Guthrie Daily Leader, May 1, 1912, p. 6. gateway.okhistory.org.
  3. Web site: " Guthrie 'Linters' Win First League Game," Guthrie Daily Leader, May 26, 1922, p. 6. chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
  4. Web site: The Reach Official Base Ball Guide 1914-1915, p. 290. library.si.edu. 1883 .
  5. Web site: "Spas Take First Game," Guthrie Daily Leader, May 1, 1912, p. 6. gateway.okhistory.org.
  6. Web site: "Mineral Wells Park" =. www.cityofguthrie.com.
  7. Web site: "Guthrie, 10; Chickasha, 2," Guthrie Daily Leader, May 9, 1904, p. 8. gateway.okhistory.org.
  8. Web site: "Island Park Re-Christened," Guthrie Daily Leader, Dec. 9, 1910, p. 8. gateway.okhistory.org.
  9. Web site: "Oklahoma Bedlam Beginnings - Guthrie, OK". www.waymarking.com.
  10. Web site: "Two More Games Won," Guthrie Daily Leader, June 19, 1905, p. 8. gateway.okhistory.org.
  11. Web site: "More Land for Mineral Wells Park," Guthrie Daily Leader, Apr. 21, 1911, p. 1. gateway.okhistory.org.
  12. Web site: "The 'Bug' Season Is Now Here," Guthrie Daily Leader, Apr. 29, 1909, p. 8. gateway.okhistory.org.
  13. Web site: "Electric Park Deal Is Closed," Guthrie Daily Leader, May 6, 1911, p. 5. gateway.okhistory.org.
  14. Web site: "To Put in Half Mile Track," Guthrie Daily Leader, Dec. 12, 1912, p. 5. gateway.okhistory.org.
  15. Web site: "1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Oklahoma (OK) - Logan County - Guthrie - ED 42-8 to 23," showing location of Fair Park. catalog.archives.gov.
  16. Web site: "Guthrie To Remain in Oklahoma State League," Guthrie Daily Leader, Apr. 17, 1924, p. 1. gateway.okhistory.org.