The 1906 Columbus Senators

The Columbus Senators Minor league baseball team was created in 1888 as a founding member of the Tri-State League. After that, the Senators played in the Western League (1896-1899), Interstate League (1900), Western Association (1901), and American Association (1902–1930). The team represented Columbus, Ohio, and played their home games at Recreation Park and Neil Park.

In their first season, the Senators finished in third place with a 64-50 record. The nickname was used again in 1897, when the Columbus team in the Western League changed its name from the Columbus Buckeyes to the Senators. Columbus competed until July 1899, when Loftus removed the team to Grand Rapids (see Grand Rapids (baseball) because of continued poor attendance. In 1900, Columbus also had a Senators club in the Interstate League, moving to the Western Association in 1901.

By 1902, the Senators became one of the founding members of the new American Association. Before the 1905 season, the team owner built Neil Park, the first concrete-and-steel stadium in the minor leagues. From 1905 through 1907, the Senators won the league title, losing the Junior World Series in 1906 and 1907. The team declined after that, and never finished higher than fourth place between 1919 and 1930. The 1905 Senators were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.

In 1931, the St. Louis Cardinals took control of the Columbus team as part of their developing minor league system and renamed them the Columbus Red Birds.

Season-by-season records

YearRecordFinishManagerLeagueNotes
188864–503rdJames Curry Frank ArnoldTSL
189652-907thTom LoftusWL
189789–472ndGeorge TebeauWL
189873–605thTom Loftus George TebeauWL
189963–625thTom Loftus George TebeauWL
190058–786thBob QuinnISL
190155–867thFrank Metz Jimmy Gardner Ed ZinramWA
190258–786thFrank Leonard Jack GrimAA
190356–846thFrank Leonard Bob Quinn Jimmy BannonAA
190488–612ndBill ClymerAA
1905100–521stBill ClymerAAChampionship title
190691–571stBill ClymerAAChampionship title Lost Junior World Series to the Buffalo Bisons
190790–641stBill ClymerAAChampionship title Lost Junior World Series to the Toronto Maple Leafs
190886–683rdBill ClymerAA
190980–877thBill Clymer Bill FrielAA
191088–773rdBill FrielAA
191187–783rdBill FrielAA
191298–683rdBill FrielAA
191393–744thBill HinchmanAA
191486–774thBill HinchmanAA
191554–918thRudy HulswittAA
191671–907thRudy Hulswitt Bob Quinn William JohnsAA
191784–694thJoe TinkerAA
191841–322ndJoe TinkerAA
191970–846thGrover HartleyAA
192066–997thBill ClymerAA
192169–968thPants RowlandAA
192263–1028thPants RowlandAA
192379–894thCarlton MolesworthAA
192475–937thCarlton MolesworthAA
192561–1068thCarlton MolesworthAA
192639–1258thHank Gowdy George McQuillanAA
192760–1088thIvey WingoAA
192868–1007thNemo LeiboldAA
192975–916thNemo LeiboldAA
193067–866thNemo LeiboldAA

Hall of Fame alumni

Specific

General

  • The American Association: A Baseball History, 1902-1991 – Bill O'Neal. Publisher: Eakin Press, 1992. Language: English. Format: Paperback, 410pp. ISBN0-89015-812-6
  • Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 1993. Language: English. Format: Paperback, 420pp. ISBN0-9637189-1-6