Helena Senators
The Helena Senators was a minor league baseball team based in Helena, Montana. Helena minor league teams played as members of the Montana State League, Pacific Northwest League, Pacific National League, Montana State League, Inter-Mountain League and Union Association.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe Tinker played for the 1900 Helena Senators.
History
Minor league baseball began in Helena, Montana in 1892, when Helena had a team in the Montana State League. Playing as charter members in the Independent league, Helena finished as the 1892 Montana State League Champions. The team had a 29–21 record under Manager Con Strothers to capture the league championship. The Montana State League folded after the 1892 season.The Montana State League reformed in 1900, with the Helena Senators as a member. The 1900 Helena Senators has a record of 39–33, finishing 2nd in the Montana State League. The Helena managers were Carl Wood, Patrick "Paddy" Ryan and Jack Flannery. Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe Tinker played for the 1900 Helena Senators at age 19. Tinker is part of the famed Tinker to Evers to Chance trio with the Chicago Cubs. Playing in his first professional season, Tinker came to Helena after being purchased from fellow Montana State League member Great Falls Indians for $200.00. Tinker hit.322 for the season, making $90.00 a month. The Montana State League permanently folded after the 1900 season.
The Helena Senators became members of the Class B Pacific Northwest League in 1902. The Pacific Northwest League's president was William Henry Lucas, who had previously been president of the Montana State League. The 1902 Helena Senators finished 65–54, 3rd in the six–team Pacific Northwest League under Manager Jack Flannery. Helena drew a season attendance of 25,000, an average of 420 per game.
In 1903, Helena continued play as the Pacific Northwest League became a Class A league, was renamed the Pacific National League and expanded to eight teams. Helena finished 8th in 1903 behind the Butte Miners, Los Angeles Angels Portland Green Gages/Salt Lake City Elders, San Francisco Pirates, Seattle Chinooks, Spokane Indians and Tacoma Tigers. Helena had a 40–62 record when the team was disbanded on August 16, 1903, along with Tacoma.
Helena played again in the 1905 Montana State League, which operated as an Independent league that season.
After a 3–year hiatus, the 1909 Helena Senators again began play, as the Senators became member of the Class D Inter-Mountain League, under league president William Henry Lucas. The Helena Senators won the 1909 Inter-Mountain League Championship by default. Helena was in 1st place with a 43–19 record when the Inter-Mountain League disbanded on July 25, 1903. The Helena manager in 1909 was Jack Huston.
The six–team Union Association was formed in 1911 under the leadership of William Henry Lucas. The Helena Senators were charter members of the Class D league. The 1909 Helena Senators finished in 5th place with a 60–78 record. The Senators were managed by Charles Irby.
In 1912, the Helena Senators continued play as members of the Union Association. The 1912 Senators finished last in the six–team Union Association with a record of 50–83. The Helena manager was again Charles Irby.
The Helena Senators finished 5th in the 1913 Union Association standings. Helena finished 52–67, playing under Manager Danny Shay.
The 1914 Union Association folded in mid–season. Helena finished 4th overall in the league standings with a 27–53 record under managers Jess Garrett and Bill Quigley. The Union Association permanently disbanded on August 5, 1914. The top two teams in the Union Association standings, the Ogden Canners and Salt Lake City Skyscrapers played out their 1914 seasons, with 16 games against each other.
Helena was without minor league baseball until the Helena Phillies began play in the 1978 Pioneer League. Today, the Helena Senators moniker has been adopted by Helena youth baseball.
The ballparks
The name and location of the Helena Senators minor league ballpark is unknown. It is possible the Senators' ballpark was Fort Harrison Park, as other organized baseball was played there during the era.Notable alumni
[Baseball Hall of Fame] alumni
- Joe Tinker Inducted, 1946
Notable alumni
- Del Baker
- Pat Bohen
- George Bristow
- Ed Bruyette
- Fred Carisch
- Dad Clark
- Walter Coleman
- George Darby
- Andy Dunning
- Ralph Frary
- Julie Freeman
- Bill George
- Russ Hall
- Pat Hannivan
- Bill Hassamaer
- Gil Hatfield
- Tom Hernon
- Ed Holly
- Jim Kelly
- Jack Kibble
- Joe Marshall
- Harry Maupin
- Gus McGinnis
- Joe Miller
- Hap Morse
- Ambrose Puttmann
- Don Rader
- Skipper Roberts
- Solly Salisbury
- Walt Slagle
- Jack Sullivan
- Gus Thompson
- Harry Thompson
- Art Twineham
- Jimmy Wiggs
- Mutt Williams
- Charlie Ziegler
Year-by-year record
| Year | League | Affiliation | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
| 1892 | Montana State League | none | 29–21 | 1st | Con Strothers | League Champions |
| 1900 | Montana State League | none | 38–33 | 2nd | Carl Wood/Paddy Ryan/Jack Flannery | none |
| 1902 | Pacific Northwest League | none | 65–54 | 3rd | Jack Flannery | none |
| 1903 | Pacific National League | none | 40–62 | 8th | John Flannery / Fred Carish | Disbanded August 16 |
| 1905 | Montana State League | none | 00–00 | N/A | Jack Flannery | 1905 league records unknown |
| 1909 | Inter-Mountain League | none | 43–19 | 1st | John Huston | League disbanded July 25 |
| 1911 | Union Association | none | 60–78 | 5th | Charles Irby | none |
| 1912 | Union Association | none | 50–83 | 6th | Charles Irby | none |
| 1913 | Union Association | none | 52–67 | 5th | Danny Shay | none |
| 1914 | Union Association | none | 27–53 | 4th | Jess Garrett/William Quimby | none |