The Rise and Fall of Baseball Teams Based in Bangor

Believe it or not, our Queen City of the East has a long history of hosting baseball squads. Successful? Well, that’s another story.

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Firstly, Baseball-Reference is a widely used website that provides statistics for every player in Major League Baseball history. It is often utilized by major media organizations and baseball broadcasters as a reliable statistical source. This has been an extremely helpful resource for gathering data on these organizations.

According to Baseball-Reference, baseball began in Bangor with the 1894 Bangor Millionaires, who joined the eight-team New England League. In their inaugural season, the Millionaires finished with an even 48-48 record, concluding the season 13.5 games behind the first-place Fall River Indians.

In 1895, the Millionaires continued in the New England League, finishing third with a slightly better 55-49 record. The following year, they joined the independent Maine State League, which folded during the season, leaving Bangor with a 12-19 record and a third-place standing.

Resuming minor league play in 1901, Bangor initially rejoined the independent New England League but relocated to Brockton, Massachusetts mid-season. The franchise disbanded in July of 1901.

After an absence from minor league baseball, Bangor returned in 1907 as the Bangor Cubs in the reformed eight-team Maine State League. The team clinched the 1907 Maine State League Championship with a 47–31 record, as the league had no playoffs.

Continuing their success, Bangor became the Bangor White Sox in the now six-team 1908 Maine State League, securing a second consecutive championship. Despite the league's permanent folding due to the forfeiture by other teams, Bangor was still awarded the 1908 championship, once again based on their record. Thus, Bangor went back-to-back, like the cover artwork for the 1987 Action/Crime movie Lethal Weapon.

Baseball reappeared in Bangor with the Bangor Maroons in 1913 as members of the four-team New Brunswick-Maine League. Unfortunately, the Maroons finished in last place, and the league folded after just one season.

After an 80-year hiatus, minor league baseball returned to Bangor in 1994 with the Bangor Blue Ox, members of the independent Northeast League. However, the team only lasted two years before being sold and relocated.

In 2003, the Bangor Lumberjacks revived independent baseball in the city as members of the Northeast League. Like their predecessors, the Lumberjacks folded after two seasons. They played in Orono in 2003 and at Bangor's Winkin Sports Complex in 2004.

Now, as Bangor approaches nearly two decades without a baseball organization, the question arises: when will we see another attempt? Will it be another 80 years before baseball returns to our city?