Minneapolis Millers Year-by-Year

Minneapolis Millers
Year-by-Year Finishes

Compiled by Stew Thornley
Author of On to Nicollet: The Glory and Fame of the Minneapolis Millers

Northwestern League

Year Won Lost Place Manager

1884 29 43 Ben Tuthill

1884 7 5 Ben Tuthill

    In 1884, the Northwestern League season was suspended in mid-August after nine of the teams (Muskegon, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Bay City, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, Peoria, Quincy, and Stillwater) disbanded or were kicked out for non-payment of league dues.
    A new schedule was drawn up for the remaining three teams—Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Milwaukee—as well as for a new team, Winona, Minnesota. In early September, Minneapolis and Winona disbanded, leaving only Milwaukee and St. Paul. Both of the surviving teams finished their 1884 seasons in the Union Association, a major league in its only season of existence. Thus, St. Paul became the first major league team in Minnesota. It played all of its games on the road, winning 2, losing 6, and tying 1. Click here for more information on the 1884 St. Paul Unions and the 1884 Northwestern League season.
    There was no professional baseball in Minnesota in 1885, but Minneapolis had a team in a new Northwestern League in 1886.

1886 35 42 6^th Eddie Whitcomb

1887 54 65 5^th Robert O. Foster

Western Association

Year Won Lost Place Manager

1888 28 52 8^th W. E. Gooding

    In 1888, the Minneapolis franchise transferred to Davenport in August. The Millers’ record was 28-52 when the team moved. The combined record of the Minneapolis-Davenport team in 1888 was 31-74.

1889 66 56 3^rd Sam Morton (home) and Moxie Hengle (road)

1890 78 45 2^nd Sam Morton, Tim Hurst

1891 58 45 Charles Harrington, Sam Morton

    In 1891, Minneapolis was in first place when the team disbanded on August 21.

Western League

Year Won Lost Place Manager

1892 19 22 Charles Morton

1892 3 2 Charles Morton

    In 1892, the Western League disbanded in July. As had been the case in 1884, a new schedule was drawn up among the remaining six teams after teams in Fort Wayne and Milwaukee had disbanded.
    There was no professional baseball in Minnesota in 1893, but Minneapolis had a team in a new Western League—one that was formed by sportswriter Ban Johnson with the intent to eventually turn it into a major league—in 1894.

1894 63 62 4^th John Barnes

1895 64 59 4^th John Barnes

1896 89 47 1^st Walter Wilmot

1897 43 95 6^th Walter Wilmot, George “Doggie” Miller

1898 48 92 7^th Gus Schmelz, Charles Reilly, Walter Wilmot

1899 76 50 2^nd Walter Wilmot

American League

Year Won Lost Place Manager

1900 53 86 8^th Walter Wilmot

    In 1900, the Western League’s name changed to the American League. The following year, the American League became a major league, without Minneapolis (as well as without several other cities that had teams in the league in 1900).

Western League

Year Won Lost Place Manager

1901 55 63 6^th A. B. Beall

    Minneapolis played in a new Western League in 1901. The following season, it became a charter member—along with teams in Columbus, Toledo, Louisville, Indianapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Kansas City—in a new minor league called the American Association.

Northern League

Year Won Lost Place Manager

1913 65 59 5^th Bob Unglaub

    While the Minneapolis entry in the American Association was the city’s primary professional team during the first half of the 20^th century, there were two Minneapolis teams in 1913. In addition to the Association Millers, Minneapolis had a team in the Northern League. It was known both as the Roughriders and the Little Millers and also played its games at Nicollet Park.

American Association

Year Won Lost Place Manager

1902 54 86 7^th Walter Wilmot

1903 50 91 7^th Walter Wilmot, George Yeager

1904 78 67 4^th W. H. Watkins

1905 88 62 3^rd W. H. Watkins

1906 79 66 3^rd Mike Kelley

1907 80 74 3^rd Mike Cantillon

1908 77 77 5^th Mike Cantillon

1909 88 79 3^rd Jimmy Collins

1910 107 61 1^st Joe Cantillon

1911 99 66 1^st Joe Cantillon

1912 105 60 1^st Joe Cantillon

1913 97 70 2^nd Joe Cantillon

1914 75 93 7^th Joe Cantillon

1915 92 62 1^st Joe Cantillon

1916 88 76 3^rd Joe Cantillon

1917 68 86 6^th Joe Cantillon

1918 34 42 7^th Joe Cantillon

1919 72 82 5^th Joe Cantillon

1920 85 79 4^th Joe Cantillon

1921 92 73 2^nd Joe Cantillon

1922 92 75 2^nd Joe Cantillon

1923 74 92 6^th Joe Cantillon

1924 77 89 6^th Mike Kelley

1925 86 80 4^th Mike Kelley

1926 72 94 7^th Mike Kelley

1927 88 80 5^th Mike Kelley

1928 97 71 2^nd Mike Kelley

1929 89 78 3^rd Mike Kelley

1930 77 76 4^th Mike Kelley

1931 80 88 6^th Mike Kelley

1932 100 68 1^st Donie Bush

    In the 1932 Junior World Series, the Millers lost, 4 games to 2, to the Newark Bears of the International League.
    This was the series that featured the infamous Play of Six Decisions.

1933 86 67 2^nd Dave “Beauty” Bancroft

1934 85 64 1^st Donie Bush

1935 91 63 1^st Donie Bush

1936 78 76 5^th Donie Bush

1937 87 67 3^rd Donie Bush

1938 78 74 6^th Donie Bush

1939 99 55 2^nd Tom Sheehan

1940 86 59 3^rd Tom Sheehan

1941 83 70 4^th Tom Sheehan

1942 76 78 6^th (tie) Tom Sheehan

1943 67 84 6^th Tom Sheehan

1944 54 97 7^th Rosy Ryan

1945 72 81 5^th Rosy Ryan

1946 76 75 4^th Zeke Bonura, Rosy Ryan, Tom Sheehan

1947 77 77 4^th Tom Sheehan

1948 77 77 5^th Frank Shellenback, Chick Genovese, Billy Herman

1949 74 78 4^th Tommy Heath

1950 90 64 1^st Tommy Heath

1951 77 75 5^th Tommy Heath

1952 79 75 4^th Chick Genovese

1953 76 78 5^th Chick Genovese, Fred Fitzsimmons

1954 78 73 3^rd Bill Rigney

1955 92 62 1^st Bill Rigney

    In the 1955 Junior World Series, the Millers beat the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, 4 games to 3. The final game of the series was also the last game played at Nicollet Park.
    The Millers got to the Junior Series by defeating the Denver Bears and Omaha Cardinals in the American Association playoffs. The series with Omaha featured a strange scene in which Bob Lennon of the Millers broke up a no-hitter—twice in the same game.

1956 78 74 4^th Eddie Stanky

1957 85 69 3^rd John “Red” Davis

1958 82 71 3^rd Gene Mauch

    In the 1958 Junior World Series, the Millers beat the Montreal Royals of the International League, 4 games to 0.

1959 95 67 2^nd Gene Mauch

    In the 1959 Junior World Series, the Millers lost to the Havana Sugar Kings of the International League, 4 games to 3.
    The Millers had another strange series against the Omaha Cardinals in the American Association playoffs and had a win wiped out after an Omaha protest—regarding the Millers use of an ineligible player—was upheld.

1960 82 72 5^th Eddie Popowski

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Northwestern League
Year	Won	Lost	Place	Manager
1884	29	43		Ben Tuthill
1884	7	5		Ben Tuthill
In 1884, the Northwestern League season was suspended in mid-August after nine of the teams (Muskegon, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Bay City, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, Peoria, Quincy, and Stillwater) disbanded or were kicked out for non-payment of league dues. A new schedule was drawn up for the remaining three teams—Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Milwaukee—as well as for a new team, Winona, Minnesota. In early September, Minneapolis and Winona disbanded, leaving only Milwaukee and St. Paul. Both of the surviving teams finished their 1884 seasons in the Union Association, a major league in its only season of existence. Thus, St. Paul became the first major league team in Minnesota. It played all of its games on the road, winning 2, losing 6, and tying 1. Click here for more information on the 1884 St. Paul Unions and the 1884 Northwestern League season. There was no professional baseball in Minnesota in 1885, but Minneapolis had a team in a new Northwestern League in 1886.
1886	35	42	6^th	Eddie Whitcomb
1887	54	65	5^th	Robert O. Foster

Western Association
Year	Won	Lost	Place	Manager
1888	28	52	8^th	W. E. Gooding
In 1888, the Minneapolis franchise transferred to Davenport in August. The Millers’ record was 28-52 when the team moved. The combined record of the Minneapolis-Davenport team in 1888 was 31-74.
1889	66	56	3^rd	Sam Morton (home) and Moxie Hengle (road)
1890	78	45	2^nd	Sam Morton, Tim Hurst
1891	58	45		Charles Harrington, Sam Morton
In 1891, Minneapolis was in first place when the team disbanded on August 21.

Western League
Year	Won	Lost	Place	Manager
1892	19	22		Charles Morton
1892	3	2		Charles Morton
In 1892, the Western League disbanded in July. As had been the case in 1884, a new schedule was drawn up among the remaining six teams after teams in Fort Wayne and Milwaukee had disbanded. There was no professional baseball in Minnesota in 1893, but Minneapolis had a team in a new Western League—one that was formed by sportswriter Ban Johnson with the intent to eventually turn it into a major league—in 1894.
1894	63	62	4^th	John Barnes
1895	64	59	4^th	John Barnes
1896	89	47	1^st	Walter Wilmot
1897	43	95	6^th	Walter Wilmot, George “Doggie” Miller
1898	48	92	7^th	Gus Schmelz, Charles Reilly, Walter Wilmot
1899	76	50	2^nd	Walter Wilmot

American League
Year	Won	Lost	Place	Manager
1900	53	86	8^th	Walter Wilmot
In 1900, the Western League’s name changed to the American League. The following year, the American League became a major league, without Minneapolis (as well as without several other cities that had teams in the league in 1900).

Western League
Year	Won	Lost	Place	Manager
1901	55	63	6^th	A. B. Beall
Minneapolis played in a new Western League in 1901. The following season, it became a charter member—along with teams in Columbus, Toledo, Louisville, Indianapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Kansas City—in a new minor league called the American Association.

Northern League
Year	Won	Lost	Place	Manager
1913	65	59	5^th	Bob Unglaub
While the Minneapolis entry in the American Association was the city’s primary professional team during the first half of the 20^th century, there were two Minneapolis teams in 1913. In addition to the Association Millers, Minneapolis had a team in the Northern League. It was known both as the Roughriders and the Little Millers and also played its games at Nicollet Park.

American Association
Year	Won	Lost	Place	Manager
1902	54	86	7^th	Walter Wilmot
1903	50	91	7^th	Walter Wilmot, George Yeager
1904	78	67	4^th	W. H. Watkins
1905	88	62	3^rd	W. H. Watkins
1906	79	66	3^rd	Mike Kelley
1907	80	74	3^rd	Mike Cantillon
1908	77	77	5^th	Mike Cantillon
1909	88	79	3^rd	Jimmy Collins
1910	107	61	1^st	Joe Cantillon
1911	99	66	1^st	Joe Cantillon
1912	105	60	1^st	Joe Cantillon
1913	97	70	2^nd	Joe Cantillon
1914	75	93	7^th	Joe Cantillon
1915	92	62	1^st	Joe Cantillon
1916	88	76	3^rd	Joe Cantillon
1917	68	86	6^th	Joe Cantillon
1918	34	42	7^th	Joe Cantillon
1919	72	82	5^th	Joe Cantillon
1920	85	79	4^th	Joe Cantillon
1921	92	73	2^nd	Joe Cantillon
1922	92	75	2^nd	Joe Cantillon
1923	74	92	6^th	Joe Cantillon
1924	77	89	6^th	Mike Kelley
1925	86	80	4^th	Mike Kelley
1926	72	94	7^th	Mike Kelley
1927	88	80	5^th	Mike Kelley
1928	97	71	2^nd	Mike Kelley
1929	89	78	3^rd	Mike Kelley
1930	77	76	4^th	Mike Kelley
1931	80	88	6^th	Mike Kelley
1932	100	68	1^st	Donie Bush
In the 1932 Junior World Series, the Millers lost, 4 games to 2, to the Newark Bears of the International League. This was the series that featured the infamous Play of Six Decisions.
1933	86	67	2^nd	Dave “Beauty” Bancroft
1934	85	64	1^st	Donie Bush
1935	91	63	1^st	Donie Bush
1936	78	76	5^th	Donie Bush
1937	87	67	3^rd	Donie Bush
1938	78	74	6^th	Donie Bush
1939	99	55	2^nd	Tom Sheehan
1940	86	59	3^rd	Tom Sheehan
1941	83	70	4^th	Tom Sheehan
1942	76	78	6^th (tie)	Tom Sheehan
1943	67	84	6^th	Tom Sheehan
1944	54	97	7^th	Rosy Ryan
1945	72	81	5^th	Rosy Ryan
1946	76	75	4^th	Zeke Bonura, Rosy Ryan, Tom Sheehan
1947	77	77	4^th	Tom Sheehan
1948	77	77	5^th	Frank Shellenback, Chick Genovese, Billy Herman
1949	74	78	4^th	Tommy Heath
1950	90	64	1^st	Tommy Heath
1951	77	75	5^th	Tommy Heath
1952	79	75	4^th	Chick Genovese
1953	76	78	5^th	Chick Genovese, Fred Fitzsimmons
1954	78	73	3^rd	Bill Rigney
1955	92	62	1^st	Bill Rigney
In the 1955 Junior World Series, the Millers beat the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, 4 games to 3. The final game of the series was also the last game played at Nicollet Park. The Millers got to the Junior Series by defeating the Denver Bears and Omaha Cardinals in the American Association playoffs. The series with Omaha featured a strange scene in which Bob Lennon of the Millers broke up a no-hitter—twice in the same game.
1956	78	74	4^th	Eddie Stanky
1957	85	69	3^rd	John “Red” Davis
1958	82	71	3^rd	Gene Mauch
In the 1958 Junior World Series, the Millers beat the Montreal Royals of the International League, 4 games to 0.
1959	95	67	2^nd	Gene Mauch
In the 1959 Junior World Series, the Millers lost to the Havana Sugar Kings of the International League, 4 games to 3. The Millers had another strange series against the Omaha Cardinals in the American Association playoffs and had a win wiped out after an Omaha protest—regarding the Millers use of an ineligible player—was upheld.
1960	82	72	5^th	Eddie Popowski