Boston Beaneaters

Officially Known as: Boston Base Ball Association (May 1, 1883-Nov. 28, 1906)

Also known as: Boston Beaneaters

• Boston Red Stockings (1883-86)
• Boston Reds (1880s)

• Win-Loss Record: 1742-1465-52-4 (.542)
• National League Pennants: 1891, 1892, 1893, 1897, 1898
• Pre-World Series: 1892
• Temple Cup: 1897
• Ballparks: South End Grounds I: (1882-1887) 176-106-2 (.623); South End Grounds II: (1888-1894) 283-128-9 (.685); Congress Street Grounds: (1894) 20-7 (.741); South End Grounds III: (1894-1906) 528-364-14-1 (.590)

Team History

Starting around 1883 and going to 1911, the Boston Base Ball Association was formally known as either Boston, Bostons and occasionally the Boston Nationals whenever a second Boston team would appear. The Boston Beaneaters was the name by which the Boston, MA National League franchise was known from the 1880s to the early 1900s. The name, which refers to Boston's nickname of "Beantown", derived from the supposed culinary preferences of some of its immigrant inhabitants, was never an official one. In fact a contemporary source from the 19th century does not even use the Beaneater moniker. It should also be noted that the name was even used on the Boston Americans.

The 1883 season saw the newly dubbed Beaneaters win their seventh pennant, and third in the NL under the leadership of Jack Burdock and John Morrill. The team would not win another pennant the rest of the decade, but was in heavy close contention for the pennant in 1884, 1889 and early contention in 1887 and 1888. During this this time the team changed managers four times, including a second managerial stint by Morrill. Prior to the start of the 1890 season, the team would hire Frank Selee to run the team. Selee had previously managed in the minors, where he won 2 pennants in his five seasons in the minors.

Under the guidance of Selee, the Beaneaters would win 5 pennants, and make two early World Series appearances in 1892 (defeating the Cleveland Spiders) and in 1897 (losing the Temple Cup to the Baltimore Orioles). Of course all good things must come to an end. At the turn of the century, the Beaneaters would post their only losing season with Selee as manager. In 1901 a new Boston team arose, this was the Boston Americans of the American League which was also Selee's last season with the team. During the off-season, Selee left for the Chicago Orphans. Selee's successor, Al Buckenberger guided the team to it's last winning season until 1914. After the 1906 season, long time owner Arthur Soden decided to get out of baseball, and sold the team to a group led by the Dovey Brothers. The team would then be dubbed by the press the Boston Doves.

Further Reading

• A History of the Boston Base Ball Club ...: A Concise and Accurate History of Base Ball from Its Inception, M.F. Quinn & Company, 1897.
• William J. Craig: A History of the Boston Braves: A Time Gone, The History Press, 2012.
• Peter Filichia: Green Cathedrals: The Ultimate Celebrations of All 273 Major League and Negro League Ballparks Past and Present, Addison Wesley Publishing Company, 1993.
• Harold Kaese: Boston Braves: 1871-1953, Northeastern University Press, Boston, MA 2004. ISBN 978-1555536176. Originally published in 1948.
• Bob LeMoine and Bill Nowlin, eds.: The Glorious Beaneaters of the 1890s, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2019. ISBN 978-1-970159-19-6
• Troy Soos: Before the Curse: The Glory Days of New England Baseball, 1858-1918, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2006.

Related Sites

• Boston Pilgrims