The Nazareth Barons were a minor league baseball team based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. From 1946 to 1950, Nazareth teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level North Atlantic League, qualifying for the 1946 playoffs and finishing in last place in both of their final two seasons. Nazareth was a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers in 1947. Nazateth hosted home minor league home games at Nazareth Borough Park.
History
Minor league baseball began in Nazareth in 1907, when the Nazareth team played the season as members of the independent Blue Mountain League.[1] A printed postcard of the 1907 Nazareth team identified them as the "pennant winners" of the Blue Mountain League.[2][3]
The Nazareth Cement Dusters qualified for the 1946 playoffs in their first season of play in the North Atlantic League. The Cement Dusters ended the 1946 season with a 78–40 record, placing second in the standings, playing under manager Stan Benjamin. Nazareth finished 6.0 games behind the first place Peekskill Highlanders. In the first round of the playoffs, the Carbondale Pioneers defeated the Nazareth four games to one. It would be the only playoff appearance for Nazareth.[8][9][5][10][7]
In 1947, Nazareth played as a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and adopted the "Tigers" nickname for the season.[11] John Mueller served as manager as the Tigers placed fifth in the regular season with a record of 64–66, finishing 17.5 games behind the first place Kingston Dodgers in the regular season standings and missing the league playoffs.[12][13][5][14][7]
Nazareth continued North Atlantic League play in 1948, becoming known as the "Nazareth Barons."[15] Ending the 1948 season with a record of 52–72, the Barons placed sixth in the regular season standings, finishing 27.5 games behind the 1st place Peekskill Highlanders. Playing under player/Manager Bill Burich, Nazareth did qualify for the four-team playoffs.[16][17][5][18][7]
Local newspapers nicknamed the 1948 team "Burich's Barons."[19]
The 1949 Nazareth finished last in the eight-team North Atlantic League, their first of two consecutive last place finishes in the league standings.[20] Placing eighth with a record of 52–86, the Barons were managed by Dick Errickson and Charles Heath. Nazareth finished 49.5 games behind the first place 101-35 Stroudsburg Poconos and did not qualify for the four–team playoffs.[21][22][5][23][7]
In their final season of play, the Nazareth Barons again finished last in the North Atlantic League Standings. The Barons placed eighth and did not qualify for the playoffs.[24] Nazareth ended the 1950 season with a record of 35–90, finishing 48.0 games behind the first place Lebanon Chix, playing under manager Irvin Fortune in their final season.[25][26][5][27][28][7]
The North Atlantic League permanently folded after the conclusion of the 1950 season.[7] Nazareth has not hosted another minor league team.[29][7]
The ballpark
The Nazareth teams played home North Atlantic League minor league games at Nazareth Borough Park.[30] The park was constructed beginning in 1935 as a Works Progress Administration project.[31] Still in use today as a public park with a ballfield, "Nazareth Borough Park" is located on North Broad Street.[32]
