Welch Miners

Minor league baseball team

Welch Miners

* 1937–1955
* (1937–1942, 1946–1955)
* Welch, West Virginia

Minor league affiliations
Previous classes| Class D

Previous leagues

* Appalachian League (1946–1955)
* Mountain State League (1937–1942)

Major league affiliations
Previous teams|

* Philadelphia Athletics (1953–1955)
* Boston Braves (1952)
* Cincinnati Reds (1951)
* Philadelphia Athletics (1947–1950)
* Boston Braves (1942)

Minor league titles
League titles | 1952–1953

The Welch Miners were a Minor League Baseball team based in Welch, West Virginia. The team operated from 1937 through 1942 in the Mountain State League and in the Appalachian League from 1946 to 1955.

Over the course of nineteen seasons, the Welch Miners were affiliated with the Boston Braves (1942, 1952), Philadelphia Athletics (1947–1950, 1953–1955), and Cincinnati Reds (1951).

The team won consecutive league titles in 1952 and 1953, and moved to Marion, Virginia, during the 1955 season, changing their name to the Marion Athletics.

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Vern Bickford (1939–1942) MLB All-Star
* Dave Bristol (1951)
* Max Butcher (1946)
* Sam Gray (1939)

## Team history

[edit]

Year | Record | Finish | Manager(s) | Playoffs

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1937 | 59–43 | 2nd | Eddie Krajnik | Lost in 2nd round
1938 | 56–64 | 4th | Eddie Krajnik
Charles Bowie
Carlos Ratliff | Lost in 1st round
1939 | 72–57 | 2nd | Sam Gray | Lost in 1st round
1940 | 63–62 | 4th | Tex Stuart
Roy Hall | Lost in 1st round
1941 | 64–62 | 4th | Fred Neisler | Lost in league finals
1942 | 67–55 | 2nd | Don Manno | Lost in 1st round
1946 | 33–84 | 8th | Steve Secik
George Smiley
Jim McNeish
Joe Santomauro |
1947 | 49–74 | 8th | Walter Youse
Joe Bird |
1948 | 70–53 | 2nd | Woody Wheaton | Lost in 1st round
1949 | 48–73 | 6th | William Hoffner
Mike Kreshka |
1950 | 46–76 | 6th | Eddie Morgan
Woody Wheaton |
1951 | 54–74 | 6th | Mike Blazo |
1952 | 59–57 | 3rd | Jack Crosswhite | League Champs
1953 | 82–43 | 2nd | Jack Crosswhite | League Champs
1954 | 59–54 | 4th | Jack Crosswhite | Lost in 1st round
1955 | 45–77 | 8th | Herb Mancini |

## Sources

[edit]

* BR - Appalachian League
* BR - Mountain State League

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