Smithfield (baseball)
The Smithfield team was a minor league baseball team based in Smithfield, Utah in 1921. Smithfield played as a charter member of the Class D level Northern Utah League. The team moniker was noted to be the "Blue Sox."
| Smithfield "Blue Sox" 1921 Smithfield, Utah | |
| Minor league affiliations | |
|---|---|
| Class | Class D (1921) |
| League | Northern Utah League (1921) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Smithfield (1921) |
| Ballpark | Unknown |
History
Smithfield became a charter member when the Northern Utah League first began play in the 1921. The Northern Utah League began the 1921 season as a six–team Class D level minor league. The Northern Utah League's charter franchises based in Brigham City, Utah (Brigham City "Peaches"), Lewiston, Idaho (Lewiston Broncs), Logan, Utah (Logan Collegians), Ogden, Utah (Ogden) and Tremonton, Utah (Tremonton) joined Smithfield, in the newly formed league.[1][2]
The 1921 Smithfield team using the "Blue Sox" moniker, corresponds with local semi–professional and collegiate summer baseball teams continually using the moniker every season since beginning play in the 1890s.[3][4][5]
Smithfield began Northern Utah League began play on May 4, 1921, as the league played a split season schedule. The second half began on July 4, 1921. The six–team league overall standings in database references consisted of Brigham City (7–9), the Lewiston Broncs (4–11), Logan Collegians (8–9), Ogden (11–5), Smithfield (6–10) and Tremonton (12–4). With their 12–4 record, Tremonton had the best record in the league. It was reported that Tremonton finished 15–5 in the second half standings to again finish in 1st place in the standings.[6][7][8]
Records conflict, but reports in the "1921 Northern Utah League Summary" by Ray Olson, the league secretary, have Smithfiled finishing in 2nd place in the first half of the season and in 5th place in the second half. Olson's report has the Brigham City "Peaches" winning the first half with a 12–4 records and Smithfield in 2nd place, 1.0 game behind with an 11–5 record. Reportedly, Tremonton won the second half, beating Ogden in a three–game playoff series after the two clubs finished the season tied for first place with 15–5 records. Smithfield was 8.0 games behind with a 7–13 record. In a five–game series for the league title, the Brigham City Peaches reportedly defeated the Tremonton "Bears" 3 games to 2. Smithfield's overall record as reported in the league summary was 18–18.[9]
On June 11, 1921, Smithfield turned a triple play in a game against the Logan Collegians.[10]
The Northern Utah League permanently folded as a minor league following the 1921 season.[11]
Smithfield, Utah has not hosted another minor league team.[11]
The ballpark
The name of the Smithfield home minor league ballpark is not referenced.[11]
Year–by–year records
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 6–10* | 4th | NA | "League summary" has team at 18–18 |
Notable alumni
No Smithfield alumni reached the major leagues.[2]
References
- "Northern Utah League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "1921 Smithfield Statistics".
- Huskinson, Tyler. "Blue Sox turn back the clock". The Herald Journal.
- "The lure and lore of the Blue Sox — three ISU baseball players join historical semi-pro team in Smithfield, Utah".
- http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/History/UtahCounties/HistoryOfCacheCounty1996Peterson.pdf
- "1921 Northern Utah League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "1921 Northern Utah League (NUL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "1921 Smithfield minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- https://www.diamondsinthedusk.com/uploads/articles/219-img2-DAVENPORT_Dave.pdf
- "1921-06-11 Northern Utah League triple play". The Salt Lake Tribune. June 12, 1921. p. 71 – via newspapers.com.
- "Smithfield, Utah Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.