Great Falls Electrics

(Redirected from Great Falls Smelter Cities)

The Great Falls Electrics were a minor league baseball team that operated out of Great Falls, Montana. The team was formed in 1911 as part of the old Union Association league. They also played in the Northwestern League from 1916 to 1917. The team disbanded at that time and then was reformed as part of the Pioneer League in 1948. They became an affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952 and remained with the Dodgers through 1963. The team was briefly called the Great Falls Dodgers during the 1957 season and the Great Falls Electrics in 1949–1950.

Great Falls Electrics
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1963)
  • Class C (1948–1962)
  • Class B (1892, 1916–1917)
  • Class D (1911–1913)
  • Independent (1900, 1905)
LeaguePioneer League (1948–1963)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsBrooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1952–1963)
Minor league titles
League titles 5 (1913, 1917, 1951, 1954, 1961)
Team data
Previous names
  • Great Falls Electrics (1951–1963)
  • Great Falls Selectrics (1949–1950)
  • Great Falls Electrics (1911–1913, 1916–1917, 1948)
  • Great Falls Indians (1900, 1905)
  • Great Falls Smelter Cities (1892)
Previous parks
Centene Stadium

In 1969, the team now known as the Great Falls Voyagers began play as the Great Falls Giants and they have remained active under different names since.

The ballpark

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The Electrics played at Centene Stadium then called Legion Park, located at 1015 25th Street North Great Falls, Montana. The park is still in use today, as home of the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League.[1]

Electrics name change

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On February 24, 1949, the advisory board of directors of the Great Falls Baseball Club agreed to change the name of the team to the Selectrics.[2] Great Falls Breweries, Inc., the owner of the club, originally had hoped to rename the team the "Selects" to advertise its beer, but the Pioneer League rejected the proposed name change because it advertised a commercial product.[2] The Pioneer League approved the name "Selectrics," however, which was a portmanteau of the Great Falls Breweries "Select" beer and the previous team name, "Electrics."[3]

Notable alumni

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Hall of Fame alumni

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Notable alumni

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Year-by-year record

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Year League Affiliation Record Finish Manager Playoffs/Notes
1911 Union Association none 90-46 1st George Reed League Champs
1912 Union Association none 72-61 3rd George Reed none held
1913 Union Association none 78-42 1st Harry Hester League Champs
1916 Northwestern League none 60-61 4th Dick Hurley / Herb Hester none held
1917 Northwestern League none 42-29 1st Herb Hester League Champs
1948 Pioneer League none 51-75 7th Rich Gyselman None
1949 Pioneer League none 62-62 5th Joe Bowman None
1950 Pioneer League none 68-57 4th Joe Bowman / John Angelone Lost first round
1951 Pioneer League none 76-60 3rd Buck Elliott League Champs
1952 Pioneer League Brooklyn Dodgers 67-64 4th Lou Rochelli Lost first round
1953 Pioneer League Brooklyn Dodgers 77-54 2nd Lou Rochelli Lost League Finals
1954 Pioneer League Brooklyn Dodgers 70-62 4th Lou Rochelli League Champs
1955 Pioneer League Brooklyn Dodgers 74-58 2nd Lou Rochelli Lost first round
1956 Pioneer League Brooklyn Dodgers 64-68 6th Lou Rochelli None
1957 Pioneer League Los Angeles Dodgers 48-77 8th Jack Banta None
1958 Pioneer League Los Angeles Dodgers 63-70 5th Stan Wasiak Lost playoffs
1959 Pioneer League Los Angeles Dodgers 60-70 4th Brandy Davis Lost first round
1960 Pioneer League Los Angeles Dodgers 55-75 5th Spider Jorgensen None
1961 Pioneer League Los Angeles Dodgers 75-58 2nd Al Ronning League Champs
1962 Pioneer League Los Angeles Dodgers 60-70 5th Al Ronning None
1963 Pioneer League Los Angeles Dodgers 69-59 3rd Al Ronning Lost first round

References

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  1. ^ "Centene Stadium - In The Ballparks". www.intheballparks.com.
  2. ^ a b "Great Falls Pioneer League Club Changes Name to 'Selectrics'". The Billings Gazette. February 25, 1949. p. 14.
  3. ^ "Great Falls Club Now The 'Selectrics'". The Spokesman-Review. February 26, 1949. p. 32.
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