Portland Greengages Explained

Portland Greengages
Allyears:1903
City:Portland, Oregon
Past Class Level:Class A
League:Pacific National League
Pastmajorleague:None
Pastnames:None
Pastparks:East 8th Street at Hawthorne Avenue
Leaguechamps:None

The Portland Greengages were a minor league baseball team based in Portland, Oregon who played in the Class A Pacific National League during the 1903 season. Portland's manager was Jack Grim.

History

At the start of the 1903 season, the Greengages played their home games at a baseball park noted in newspapers as "National Park". According to the city directory, it was on the northeast corner of East 8 Street and Hawthorne Avenue in East Portland.[1] Portland lost their first game 3–2 in 14 innings against the Spokane Indians, on April 14.[2] On April 26 in a game against the Tacoma Tigers two members of the Greengages were fined US$5 for arguing a strike call.[3] The Greengages were losing money according to team president Dr. Emmett Drake. In June it was rumored that the team was going to be relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, which the team management denied.[4] On July 1, the league officials announced they were transferring the Portland team to Salt Lake City.[5] Several players refused to play out of protest for the team's relocation from Portland. They were ultimately replaced.[6] In Salt Lake City, the team was known as the "Salt Lake City Elders".[7]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. News: Pacific National League ready; Will play opening game of schedule in Portland, April 14. The Oregonian. 6 April 1903. 5.
  2. News: Fourteen inning Nationals ready. The Oregonian. 6 April 1903. 5.
  3. News: Two players fined. The Oregonian. 27 April 1903.
  4. News: Portland to stay; Greengages protest against being cut out; Salt Lake scheme not good local. The Oregonian. 27 June 1903. 6.
  5. News: Home club out; Portland franchise goes to Salt Lake City; Grim and team go, too. The Oregonian. 1 July 1903. 2.
  6. News: Grim's team on a strike. The Oregonian. 29 July 1903. 11.
  7. Web site: 1903 Portland Green Gages/Salt Lake City Elders. Baseball-Reference.com. 2 February 2014.