pmeares17
05-15-2002, 03:53 PM
Altoona Mountain Citys
UA, 1884 (Partial Season)
Also Pride, Ottowas
With a population of 25 000 in the mid 1880's, Altoona was the smallest city in major league history and only one-third the size of the National League's population minimum of 75 000. Yet Altoona was hand picked by loop president Henry V. Lucas for his fledgling league. Lucas claimed that Altoona's location on the Pennsylvania Railroad would make it a convenient stopover for other UA teams travelling east and west.
In reality, though, Altoona was far too small, even by 1880's standards to support major league ball. The team, which had been initially formed in 1883 as a semi-pro club competing against other local teams, began raising money for the coming season by selling public shares in the team for $1 each. This netted the club approximately $2500 and Lucas himself donated another $2500 on March 8 to help the club get started.
By any standards, Altoona was not ready to become a major league city, and the team showed it. Of the 19 players who appeared in an Altoona uniform, only Jack Leary had any prior major league experience, and he batted .091. The club got off to a bad start when Lucas created a schedule that called for his St. Louis Maroons to play Altoona 8 out of their first 11 games. St. Louis set an all-time record by winning their first 20 games of the season and Altoona dropped their first 11 games before finally tallying a win. Their performance on the field ultimately took its toll on attendance. Averaging only 1000 patrons a game and with crowds as low as 200, the losses started piling up. Soon, the club fell into arrears in salary payments and the players either found their way to other teams or withheld their services until they were paid. On May 29, Altoona club directors met with Henry Lucas to disband the club. The team's spot in the Association was then given to Kansas City.
UA, 1884 (Partial Season)
Also Pride, Ottowas
With a population of 25 000 in the mid 1880's, Altoona was the smallest city in major league history and only one-third the size of the National League's population minimum of 75 000. Yet Altoona was hand picked by loop president Henry V. Lucas for his fledgling league. Lucas claimed that Altoona's location on the Pennsylvania Railroad would make it a convenient stopover for other UA teams travelling east and west.
In reality, though, Altoona was far too small, even by 1880's standards to support major league ball. The team, which had been initially formed in 1883 as a semi-pro club competing against other local teams, began raising money for the coming season by selling public shares in the team for $1 each. This netted the club approximately $2500 and Lucas himself donated another $2500 on March 8 to help the club get started.
By any standards, Altoona was not ready to become a major league city, and the team showed it. Of the 19 players who appeared in an Altoona uniform, only Jack Leary had any prior major league experience, and he batted .091. The club got off to a bad start when Lucas created a schedule that called for his St. Louis Maroons to play Altoona 8 out of their first 11 games. St. Louis set an all-time record by winning their first 20 games of the season and Altoona dropped their first 11 games before finally tallying a win. Their performance on the field ultimately took its toll on attendance. Averaging only 1000 patrons a game and with crowds as low as 200, the losses started piling up. Soon, the club fell into arrears in salary payments and the players either found their way to other teams or withheld their services until they were paid. On May 29, Altoona club directors met with Henry Lucas to disband the club. The team's spot in the Association was then given to Kansas City.