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Lewiston Twins

The Lewiston Twins were the final minor league baseball team based in Lewiston, Maine. Between 1891 and 1930, Lewiston teams played under various nicknames as long time members of the New England League (1891–1896, 1901, 1914–1915, 1919, 1926–1930) and also in the 1907 Maine State League and 1908 Atlantic Association, winning the 1919 league championship. Lewiston hosted home minor league games at A.A.A. Park from through 1919 and the Lewiston Athletic Park from 1926 to 1930.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Jesse Burkett managed the Lewiston Twins in 1928 and 1929.

On August 7, 1915, Lewiston pitchers Oscar Tuero and Otto Rettig threw back–to–back no-hitters in a double header against the Lowell Grays.

History

Early teams 1891–1908

Minor league baseball began in Lewiston, Maine in 1891. Lewiston fielded a team in the Class B level New England League, joining the league on June 10, 1891, and completing the season. Lewiston finished with an 11–28 record in their first season, playing under manager Jeremiah Scannell. Lewiston finished in eighth place in the eight–team league by winning percentage.

Continuing play in 1892, the team used the Lewiston-Auburn Gazettes moniker for one season, reflecting partnership with neighboring Auburn, Maine in the name. The Gazettes finished with a 53–45 record to place third in the eight–team New England League. Lewiston-Auburn finished 12.0 games behind first place Woonsocket, playing under managers Forrest Keay and Frank Leonard.

In 1893, Lewiston returned and had a 56–37 record in New England League play. Lewiston finished in second place, ending the season 5.5 games behind the 1first place Fall River Indians. The Lewiston manager in 1893 was John Leighton.

Lewiston finished in fifth place in the eight–team 1894 New England League final standings. Playing under returning manager John Leighton and Sam LaRocque, Lewiston ended the season with a record of 46–50, finishing 15.5 games behind the champion Fall River Indians.

In 1895 New England League play, Lewiston again finished in fifth place in the eight–team league. With a final record of 47–54, Lewiston finished 17.5 games behind the first place Fall River Indians in the final standings. Mike Slattery and Michael Garrity managed Lewiston in 1895.

The Lewiston team did not complete the 1896 New England League season. On August 12, 1896, Lewiston disbanded with a 29–53 record, playing the season under managers Michael Garrity, Ed Flanagan and Henry Slater. The league championship was won again by the Fall River Indians.

Lewiston returned to the New England League in 1901, beginning play at A.A.A. Park. Lewiston finished in fifth place with a 42–50 record. In the final standings, Lewiston was 13.0 games behind first place Portland. Lewiston played the 1901 season under manager Fred Doe.

In 1907, Lewiston returned to play in a new league before disbanding again. Lewiston became members of the Class D level Maine State League. The team disbanded on August 3, 1907, with a 24–23 record under managers George Boardman and Heald when the franchise folded.

Lewiston briefly played in the short–lived 1908 Class D level Atlantic Association. Lewiston was in second place with an 8–4 record under George Beede and Ed McDonough when the league folded on May 21, 1908. Lewiston was 0.5 behind the Portland Blue Sox when the league permanently folded. Other references have Lewiston in first place with a 6–3 record.

New England League 1914–1930

Minor league baseball returned to Lewiston in 1914, with the Lewiston Cupids rejoining the New England League. The Cupids placed sixth in the eight–team, Class B level New England League. Lewiston had a final record of 57–66 and finished 27.0 games behind the Lawrence Barristers. Lewiston played the season under managers John McMahon, Joe Judge and Art McGovern.

On August 7, 1915, a baseball rarity occurred. Lewiston Cupid pitchers Oscar Tuero and Otto Rettig threw back–to–back no-hitters in a double header against the Lowell Grays. First, Tuero defeated the Grays 5–0 in a conventional 9–inning, complete game no–hitter. In the second game, Rettig no–hit Lowell over 5–innings in an official game that ended with a 1–1 tie.

Overall, the 1915 Lewiston Cupids placed fifth in the New England League final standings. The Cupids ended the season with a 50–59 record to place fifth in the eight–team league. Lewiston finished 22.0 games behind the first place Portland Duffs in the final standings. The Lewiston Cupids' manager and part–owner was Arthur Irwin. The New England league folded after the 1915 season, as did many minor leagues due to World War I.

The New England League reformed briefly for a partial 1919 season and Lewiston had two separate teams in the league. The Lewiston Red Sox began the season playing in the six-team league. The Red Sox had a 21–23 record under manager Freddy Parent when the team folded on July 20, 1919. On July 14, the Lowell Grays franchise moved to Lewiston and began play as the Lewiston-Auburn Twins, in partnership with neighboring Auburn, Maine, where Lewiston–Auburn are twin cities. On August 2, 1919, the Twins were in first place with a 38–25 overall record under manager Mike Hayden when the New England League folded.

In 1926, the New England League reformed as a Class B level league with eight teams. The Lewiston Twins began play, keeping the "Twins" moniker first adopted in 1919. The Lewiston Twins finished with a 50–43 record to place third in the final standings. Lewiston finished 7.5 games behind the first place Manchester Blue Sox. The 1926 Lewiston manager was Joe Murphy.

The Lewiston Twins were led by returning manager Joe Murphy in 1927. The Twins placed fourth in the eight–team New England League final standings. Lewiston had a 46–45 record in the regular season, finishing 14.0 games behind the fifst place Lynn Papooses.

The 1928 Lewiston Twins were managed by Baseball Hall of Fame member Jesse Burkett and finished in third place in the New England League standings. The Twins had a 51–46 final record, finishing 3.5 games behind the New England League champion Lynn Papooses.

In 1929, the Lewiston Twins played their final full season and were led by returning manager Jesse Burkett. The Twins placed fourth in the eight–team New England League, finishing with a record of 61–56. Lewiston was 15.0 games behind the first place Manchester Red Sox in the final standings. Season attendance at Lewiston Athletic park was 40,000.

The Lewiston Twins played their final season in 1930. The Twins permanently disbanded on June 16, 1930. After the 1930 New England League began play with six teams, the Lewiston Twins had a record of 12–12 under manager Bill Slattery when the team folded. The Nashua Millionaires franchise disbanded the same day. After continuing play briefly as a four–team league, the New England League folded on June 22, 1930.

The Lewiston–Auburn area has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballparks

In the seasons between 1901 and 1919, Lewiston teams played at A.A.A. Park.

The Lewiston Twins played home games at Lewiston Athletic Park beginning in 1926. The ballpark was located at Sabattus Street & Vale Street. Today, the park is still in use as a public park with baseball, football, lacrosse, field hockey and football facilities. The present public park is located at 65 Central Avenue, Lewiston, Maine.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links