Waterbury Indians (baseball)
The Waterbury teams played as a minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants (1966–1967), Cleveland Indians (1968–1969), Pittsburgh Pirates (1970–1971), Los Angeles Dodgers (1973–1976), San Francisco Giants (1977–1978), Oakland Athletics (1979), Cincinnati Reds (1980–1983), California Angels (1984) and Cleveland Indians (1985–1986) during their tenure in the league.
[10][9] The Bridgeport Bees, New London Raiders, Port Chester Clippers, Poughkeepsie Giants and Stamford Bombers teams joined with Waterbury to begin Colonial League play in on May 7, 1947.
[10] After winning the Colonial League pennant, the Timers lost in the first round of the four-team playoffs 4 games to 3 to eventual the champion Samford Bombers.
"[19] A rising minor league player, Shepard had returned to baseball after suffering major injuries while serving in World War II.
[22][23] The Timers finished in fourth place, playing under managers Bert Shepard and Leo Eastham amidst controversy.
Upon joining Waterbury as player/manager, Shepard had suggested to be paid a salary of $1 for the entire season, with the stipulation he receive $400 for each pitching victory he earned as a pitcher.
The situation was settled when a player's committee raised enough money from local merchants to pay Shepard to return as manager for the rest of the season.
The Waterbury Giants joined the Elmira Pioneers (Baltimore Orioles affiliate), Pawtucket Indians (Cleveland Indians), Pittsfield Red Sox (Boston Red Sox), Williamsport Mets (New York Mets) and York White Roses (Washington Senators) teams in beginning Eastern League play on April 23, 1966.
[28][29] The Waterbury Giants resumed play at Municipal Stadium, which would host Eastern League teams for the duration of the franchise.
[36] The 1969 Waterbury Indians finished in last place in the six-team Class AA Eastern League regular season standings.
[37] Waterbury ended the regular season with a 48–93 record, finishing in sixth place while playing under manager Clay Bryant.
[39][9] The newly named Pirates ended the 1970 season with a record of 79–62, finishing in first place, while playing under manager Red Davis.
[40] Waterbury ended the season 1.0 game ahead of the second place Reading Phillies (78–63) in the final standings of the six-team league.
The newly formed Waterbury "Dodgers" resumed play in the eight-team, Class AA level league.
[55] Waterbury played the season under returning manager Don LeJohn and did not qualify for the four-team playoffs won by the Thetford Mines Pirates.
Waterbury ended the regular season with an overall record of 77–59, finishing 6.0 games behind first place Reading Phillies in the final overall standings.
[58][57] Playing under returning manager Don LeJohn, Waterbury did not qualify for the final, where the Bristol Red Sox defeated Reading.
Playing again under manager Don LeJohn, the Waterbury Dodgers ended the season in fourth place in the four-team north Division.
[61] After pitching the season for Waterbury, Sutcliffe was called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers, making his major league debut on September 29, 1976.
[68] No playoff was held, as the Eastern League continued with a split season schedule and West Haven had the best record in both of the half-seasons.
[72] The Reds ended the regular season with a final record of 55–83 and finished in fourth place in the four-team Southern Division.
[73] Playing the season under manager George Scherger, Waterbury finished 24.5 games behind the division winner Bristol Red Sox.
[72] With their last place finish, the Reds did not qualify for the four team playoffs, eventually won by Bristol over the Glens Falls White Sox.
[9] After finishing in last place the previous season, the Waterbury Reds improved slightly in the Class AA level 1982 Eastern League final standings.
Waterbury ended the regular season in a second-place tie with the Glens Falls White Sox, with both teams finishing 6.0 games behind the first place Albany-Colonie A's.
[83] Qualifying for the four-team playoffs, the Waterbury Angels defeated Glens Falls White Sox 3 games to 1 in the first round to advance.
After folding in 2000, the franchise was reformed in 2003, but was relocated to Lynn, Massachusetts, where the team resumed play as the North Shore Spirit.
[91] Beginning with the 1947 season, Waterbury teams hosted home minor league games in Municipal Stadium, which was originally constructed in 1938 as a football facility.
[11] The site was first home to the privately owned Waterbury Driving Park, which also hosted baseball and other athletic activities including horse racing.
[93][94] On August 7, 1947, the New York Yankees with Baseball Hall of Fame members Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto played an exhibition game against the Waterbury Timers at the ballpark.
