1907 Winter Meetings
The 1907 Winter Meetings were held in Carefree this year to commemorate the moving of the Havasu franchise to the Maricopa County town (Flagstaff agreed to this move, even though they won the 1907 title). It was a very festive time for everyone, with Carefree giving anyone and everyone associated with the Arizona League the royal treatment...
"We will take good care of them in Carefree," one official said. "We may be small in numbers, but I can tell you we love our baseball here. Folks north of Phoenix now have a local alternative."
The Carefree officials did take numerous questions on keeping "Blues" as a nickname. "It sounds kind of depressing to me," Jerome's manager told the Arizona Republic newspaper. "Oh well, they were a depressing franchise for the past seven years, so I guess that fits. We'll get much better competition from Prescott..."
The restructing of the Arizona League is now set for 1908, with Prescott moving to the Northern League.
Here is the breakdown of the two, eight-team divisions now:
NORTHERN
Cottonwood Monsoon
Flagstaff Lumberjacks
Grand Canyon River Runners
Jerome Copper Miners
Kayenta Turquoise Warriors
Payson Longhorns
Prescott Antelopes
Sedona Scorpions
SOUTHERN
Bisbee Prospectors
Carefree Blues
Nogales Apaches
Phoenix Dust Devils
Tempe Sun Devils
Tombstone Epitaphs
Tucson Saguaros
Yuma Prisoners
Retirements
Lots of players hanging it up this season:
Jesse Burkett retires ...
Jimmy Collins retires ...
Ed Delahanty retires ...
Jack Doyle retires ...
Bill Everitt retires ...
John Gochnauer retires ...
Pink Hawley retires ...
Jack Mccarthy retires ...
Barney Mcfadden retires ...
John Warner retires ...
George Yeager retires ...
Jack Thoney retires ...
Tommy Raub retires ...
Tom Fisher retires ... (career ending injury at 26)
Rube Vickers retires ...
FLG: Ike Butler retires ...
FLG: Ed Walker retires ... (pitcher from England, 0-3 career record)
GCA: Bill Phillips retires ...
JER: Cy Vorhees retires ...
LAK: Hughie Jennings retires ... (had a 28-game hitting streak in '04)
PAY: Bill Carrick retires ...
PAY: Dick Harley retires ...
KAY: Bill Hoffer retires ...
CTW: Roger Denzer retires ...
CTW: George Van haltren retires ...
CTW: Tom Leahy retires ...
PHX: Billy Lauder retires ...
PHX: Charlie Babb retires ...
YUM: Joe Mcginnity retires ...
PRE: Jock Menefee retires ... (won two rings with Prescott)
PRE: John Dunn retires ... (won three rings with Prescott)
TEM: Archie Stimmel retires ...
TEM: George Hogriever retires ...
NOG: Ed Scott retires ...
TOM: Emmet Heidrick retires ...
BIS: Aleck Smith retires ...
The most prominent on the list is LF
"Big Ed" Delahanty. He played his entire career in Phoenix before being released in July of 1907. He was a two-time Big Stick Award Winner (1903 and '04) and was a five-time All-Star. Commissioner
Phinieus "Doc" Victory bestowed upon Delahanty a Player of Distinction award.
Jesse "Crab" Burkett was the 1901 Big Stick Award winner for the SL, playing for Prescott. He also has been tabbed a Player of Distinction. He had three five-hit games and once had a 20-game hitting streak.
Pitcher
Roger Denzer, another Player of Distinction, was the Best Young Player (Rookie of the Year) for 1901 and the Top Hurler for 1902, playing in Cottonwood. He was a three-time All-Star, who finished with a career 90-52 record and 2.42 ERA...
CF
Emmet Heidrick spent his entire career in Tombstone, garnering Player of Distinction honors. He was beloved by the Epis, a five-time All-Star, a lifetime .292 hitter (with 1,100+ hits). He tore up his rib cage in the 1907 playoffs, ending his career at age 31. A tragic story for a great player...