HISTORY OF THE HARRISBURG SENATORS
"As the 1993 Harrisburg Senators were named one of the top 100 minor league teams of all-time, Baseball America looked into the History of teams from Harrisburg."
Baseball in Harrisburg dates back to 1907, when the local team played in the class "D" Tri-State League. After the 1952 season, the then Harrisburg Senators and the class "B" league they played in at the time called it quits, but not before the team created some shocking controversy....
You play ball like a.... GIRL!
In 1952 the club signed twenty-four-year-old Eleanor Engle, a local (yes, female) stenographer to play shortstop, saying "She can hit a lot better than some of the fellows." For four days in June, Engle suited up for the Senators, but she never played. What an uproar! Even the team manager didn't want a "girl" playing on the team.
Eventually NAPBL president George Trautman voided her signing. Some thought the whole thing was a publicity stunt, but a reporter, after watching her practice wrote the Eleanor "...scooped up hard grounders and threw to first base like a pro."
Modern Day Incarnations
In 1987, the sport came back to a brand-new ballpark. The Eastern League franchise was named in honor of the previous tenants, linking the modern day to the past. The Senators have been phenomenally successful... over the past 12 years they have sent up more than 100 players to the Major Leagues.
Following their long tradition of baseball excellence, in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 the Senators proved they were a force to contend with by winning the Eastern League Championship! Harrisburg is the first team in league history to win four Eastern League titles in a row.
Harrisburg Senators Chronology
 1880s |
Harrisburg "Patriot" News carries Major League baseball scores on page one daily. |
| 1889 & 90 |
Harrisburg Ponies win championship of Middle States League. |
| 1901 |
Harrisburg Baseball Club organizes. |
| 1902 |
"Chief" Bender, future Hall of Fame member, pitches for Harrisburg for a salary of $125.00 per month. |
| 1904 |
Tri-State Association forms with William Farnsworth of Harrisburg as President. Farnsworth cup awarded to champs. |
| 1912 & 14 |
Harrisburg wins league championship under Manager George Cockhill of Steelton. |
| 1915 |
Newark, NJ, Class "AA" team moves to Harrisburg as part of International League. Jim Thorpe plays for Harrisburg. |
| 1916 |
Harrisburg Joins New York State League and finishes last. |
| 1917 - 23 |
Only sandlot teams. West End League, with future stars Les Bell, Fred Frankhouse and Dittie Cocklin. |
| 1924 |
Harrisburg part of NYPEN (New York - Pennsylvania) League |
| 1925 |
Joe Munson hits Senator record .400 average, 33 home runs. Oscar Charleston, future Hall of Fame member, manages Harrisburg Giants and hits .430. |
| 1927 |
League Champions. |
| 1928 |
League Champions. |
| 1931 |
League Champions. |
| 1936 |
Flood washes away Island Field and ends baseball in Harrisburg. |
| 1940 |
Harrisburg joins Inter-State League, Les Bell Manager. Team affiliates with Pittsburgh Pirates. |
| 1941 |
League champions with stars Billy Cox and Dennis Taylor. |
| 1943 |
Senators' franchise moves to York |
| 1946 |
Senators reorganize as a Cleveland Indians farm team. |
| 1952 |
Senators finish in last place. League and team disband. |
| 1987 |
Harrisburg Senators reform as a Pittsburgh Pirates farm team. League champions of Class "AA" Eastern League. |
| 1991 |
Affiliation switches to Montreal Expos. |
| 1993 |
Eastern League champions with win over Canton. |
| 1994 |
Dave Jauss, Expo Scout, named Manager. |
| 1995 |
Pat Kelly named Manager. |
| 1996 |
City of Harrisburg buys team to keep it from moving to Springfield, MA. |
| 1996 |
Eastern League Champions |
| 1997 |
Eastern League Champions |
| 1998 |
Eastern League Champions |
| 1999 |
Eastern League Champions |
| 2003 |
Sueng Song pitches first no-hitter in modern history |
| 2004 |
RiverSide Stadium renamed Commerce Bank Park |
| 2005 |
Senators' affiliation switches to Washington Nationals |
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