The Cumberland Valley League was a four–team Independent level baseball minor league that played in the 1896 season. The Cumberland League featured franchises based in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Cumberland Valley League permanently folded after playing the 1896 season.
History Before becoming a minor league, a semi–professional league named the "Cumberland Valley League" played in the 1895 season.
The Cumberland Valley League was first organized as a minor league on May 15, 1896. The Cumberland Valley League formed as an Independent level league. The Carlisle Colts, Chambersburg Maroons, Hagerstown Lions and Hanover Tigers were the charter members beginning play the four–team league. The league president was Eugene S. Faber.
The Cumberland Valley League began play on June 10, 1896. During the season, the Hanover Lions relocated to York, Pennsylvania, on August 1, 1894, and back to Hanover on August 8. On August 7, 1894, the Chambersburg Maroons folded, causing the Cumberland Valley League to permanently fold on August 9, 1896, with only three teams remaining.
The Final Cumberland Valley League standings were led by the first place Hagerstown Lions. Hagerstown had a 26–12 record. The Chambersburg Maroons finished 3.0 games behind Hagerstown with a 22–14 record, followed by the Carlisle Colts (14–13) and Hanover Tigers/York (12–25).
The Cumberland Valley League played only the 1896 season as a minor league.
Cumberland Valley League teams Team name(s)City representedBallparkYear activeCarlisle ColtsCarlisle, PennsylvaniaUnknownChambersburg MaroonsChambersburg, PennsylvaniaWolf ParkHagerstown LionsHagerstown, MarylandUnknownHanover Tigers Hanover, PennsylvaniaUnknownYorkYork, PennsylvaniaLeague Park
Standings & statistics 1896 Cumberland Valley League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Hagerstown Lions2612.684– UnknownChambersburg Maroons2214.6113 Clay Henninger / Billy Goeckel Carlisle Colts1423.37811½ UnknownHanover Tigers /York 1225.32413½ Barnie Mulhall / Bobby Rothermel +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotNatty NattressHagerstownRuns40Thomas LippHagerstownW10 William GraffiusHagerstownHits52Charlie GettigHanoverSO73Harry TateHagerstownHR6Thomas LippHagerstownPCT.833; 10–2
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