The New Bedford Whalers were a minor league baseball team based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Between 1895 and 1933, New Bedford teams played as members of the New England League (1895–1898, 1902–1913), Colonial League (1914–1915), New England League (1929 and 1933) and 1934 Northeastern League, winning the 1910 and 1933 league championships. New Bedford was nicknamed the "Whalers" in each season, with the exceptions of the "Browns" in 1896 and the "Millmen" in 1928. New Bedford hosted home minor league games at Olympic Field beginning in 1893 through 1898 and at Sargent Field from 1903 until their final season of 1934.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Rabbit Maranville played for the 1911 and 1912 New Bedford Whalers
History
New England League 1895 to 1898
The Whalers were preceded in minor league play by the 1878 New Bedford team, that briefly played as members of the International Association for Professional Base Ball Players before relocating to first New Haven, Connecticut and then to Hartford, Connecticut, where the team was folded after playing 12 total games, compiling 1-11 record. Baseball Hall of Fame members Candy Cummings and Roger Connor played for the 1878 team.
In 1895 the New Bedford Whalers joined the eight–team Class B level New England League Augusta Kennebecs, Bangor Millionaires, Brockton Shoemakers, Fall River Indians, Lewiston, Pawtucket Maroons and Portland joined New Bedford in beginning league play on April 27, 1895.
The New Bedford use of the "Whalers" nickname corresponds with the local whaling industry and history. The New Bedford area was first developed as a whaling port in the mid 1700s. The city gained a reputation as the greatest whaling port in the world and claimed to be the richest city per capita in the world. The city remains home to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
Today, New Bedford High School teams have long held the "Whalers" nickname. The school was founded in 1827.
The 1895 New Bedford Whalers placed second as the New England League played in their first season as a Class B level league. With Fred Doe managing the Whalers, the team finished behind the first place Fall River Indians, who ended the regular season with a 67–39 record and finished 6.5 games ahead of New Bedford, who had a 60-45 record in the final standings of the eight–team league. New Bedford hosted home games at Olympic Field.
The New Bedford "Browns" continued New England League play in 1896 and placed fourth in the eight-team league. The Browns completed the season with a record of 57–48, playing the season under returning manager Fred Doe. New Bedford finished 5.5 games behind the first place Falls River Indians in the final standings.
The New Bedford resumed the "Whalers" nickname and the team placed last in the six-team 1897 New England League. New Bedford ended the 1897 New England League season with a 38–67 record, as Con Murphy and Michael McDermott served as managers. The Whalers finished 33.5 games behind the co-champion Brockton Shoemakers and Newport Colts (tie) in the six–team New England League final standings.
The 1898 New Bedford Whalers relocated after beginning the season as members of the six–team 1898 Class B New England League. On June 14, 1898, the New Bedford franchise moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, with a 18-20 record. After seven games based in Worcester, the team folded and ended play with an overall record of 22–23. The team played their partial season under managers Charles Rice and Fred Doe before folding, as the first place Brockton Shoemakers captured the league championship. New Bedford played its final minor league games at Olympic Field in 1898.
The New Bedford franchise did not return to the 1899 New England League.
New England League 1903 to 1913
In 1903, the New Bedford Whalers resumed minor league play, returning to the eight–team Class B level New England League during the season. On June 23, 1903, the Brockton Shoemakers moved to New Bedford with an 18-23 record. The Whalers joined the Concord Marines, Fall River Indians, Haverhill Hustlers, Lawrence Colts, Lowell Tigers, Manchester and Nashua teams in league play.
Finishing our the season, theNew Bedford Whalers placed seventh in the 1903 New England League standings. With an overall record of 46–63 record, the Whalers finished 24.0 games behind the first place Lowell Tigers in the final standings. Fred Doe served his second season as the manager in New Bedford. New Bedford began playing home games at Sargent Field, which would host minor league baseball until the Whalers played their last season in 1934.