Fremont Pathfinders


The Fremont Pathfinders were a minor league baseball team, based in Fremont, Nebraska from 1910–1913. The Fremont Pathfinders were charter members of the Class D Nebraska State League, winning championships in 1910 and 1912. Fremont won played their home games at Association Lot.
Fremont previously hosted a team in the 1892 Nebraska State League. In 2019, the Fremont Moo, a Collegiate summer baseball franchise, began play.

History

Fremont briefly had a minor league team in 1892, playing in the new six-team Nebraska State League. Fremont was 11–18 when the team disbanded on June 20, 1892. The 1892 Nebraska State League, which was an integrated league, fully disbanded in July 1892.
In 1910, minor league baseball returned to Fremont, when the Pathfinders were charter members of the reformed Class D Nebraska State League. Other members of the eight-team league were the Columbus Discoverers, Grand Island Collegians, Hastings Brickmakers, Kearney Kapitalists, Red Cloud, Nebraska, Seward Statesmen and Superior Brickmakers. The 1910 Nebraska State League set a salary limit of $900.00 and a roster limit of 12.
In the first season, Fremont won the 1910 Nebraska State League Championship. The Pathfinders finished 63–42, 4.5 games ahead of 2nd place Columbus. There were no playoffs. Their manager, "Pug" Bennett, also pitched and played outfield. Fremont drew 16,966 fans, an average of 320 per game.
In 1911, Fremont was 69–43, finishing 2nd, 2.0 games behind the Superior Brickmakers. On opening day 1911, all Fremont businesses were closed and students released from school to participate in a parade to the ballpark and attend the game. This parade became an opening day tradition. Fremont held a "pennant day" in 1911, unveiling an 18-foot banner for the 1910 championship. Fremont had contentious games with Superior, with Superior appealing to the President of the league to reverse some losses to Superior. Their appeal was denied.
The 1912 Fremont Pathfinders played to a 66–45 record for 1st place. However, the 66–45 record was matched by Hastings. At the end of the season, Fremont and Hastings both had claims against each other involving roster inflation, teams losing games against the other on purpose, forfeited games, etc. The league called a meeting of directors, who reviewed the accusations and declared the two teams in a tie. The teams wished to play a playoff series. The league President ruled that a playoff series would have the first two games in Hastings, but Fremont disagreed, wanting the first two games at Fremont. Fremont refused to play, the situation was not resolved, and no playoffs were held.
At the 1913 Nebraska State League spring league meetings, a 1912 Kearney win over Hastings was reversed. This reversal gave Hastings a 1912 record of 67–44, one game ahead of Fremont.
The Fremont Pathfinders had a record of 56–56 in 1913, finishing in 4th place. Fremont found themselves with a $500 deficit after the season. The team tried a subscription drive and playing in a tournament to erase the debt, but both were unsuccessful. The franchise was sold to Norfolk, Nebraska, and the team moved to become the Norfolk Drummers in 1914.
In 2019, Fremont became home to the Fremont Moo, a Collegiate summer baseball franchise, playing in the Expedition League.

Ballpark

The Fremont Pathfinders played at Association Lot. The ballpark was located in an area south of East Main Street, Fremont, Nebraska.

Notable alumni

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
189211–185thNorman L. BakerDisbanded June 20
191063–421stL.D. BennettLeague Champions
191169–432ndL.D. Bennett-
191266–451st L.D. BennettCo-League Champions*
191356–564thH.A. Welch-