The Anaconda Serpents, based in Anaconda, Montana, played the 1900 season in the Montana State League and were the only professional baseball team the city ever hosted. They finished 34-37, third in a four-team league, playing home games at Mountain View Park.
The Serpents finished behind the Great Falls Indians at 39-32 and the Helena Senators at 39-33, and ahead of the Butte Smoke Eaters at 30-40. The club went through two managers in its single season. Player-manager John Grim resigned partway through to take a job as a league umpire and was replaced by Dad Clarkson, one of three brothers who pitched in the major leagues, along with Hall of Famer John Clarkson and Walter Clarkson.
Not everyone in town wanted the name. When Serpents was floated in the spring of 1900 it drew protests from Anaconda residents, and the Anaconda Standard dismissed the objectors as people taking a small thing too seriously. The paper argued that the name was short, musical and too good a play on the city's own name to avoid, and predicted that the other clubs in the league would use it whether Anaconda liked it or not. Smeltermen was the leading alternative. The Standard preferred Serpents, noting that serpents are proverbially wise and never let grass grow under their feet.
Anaconda existed because of copper. Marcus Daly built the town in the 1880s to house the smelter that processed ore from the Butte mines twenty-six miles away, and the town, the smelter and the company all took the Anaconda name. The 1900 league put Anaconda, Butte, Great Falls and Helena in the same four-team circuit, which meant the state's copper industry supplied three of the four clubs.
The Montana State League ran in scattered seasons between 1892 and 1925 and was made up entirely of Montana clubs in every year but 1909. In the 1800s and first half of the 1900s, teams existed in thousands of small towns across the United States, as Americans looked for recreational activities and entertainment in the era before TV.
Retro Baseball Revival celebrates historic baseball teams with unique apparel, honoring their legacy and bringing history to one-of-a-kind clothing with our old school retro baseball tees from defunct Minor League Baseball teams. All of our high quality apparel is designed, printed, and shipped within the USA. This collection features 100% original designs based on the history and nicknames of historic minor league teams.
Our premium lightweight shirts are the hugely popular Bella+Canvas brand 3001 tees. They are much lighter and thinner feeling than a traditional heavyweight tee. They also are more form fitting and feel more snug. These are generally 90% to 100% cotton, although please note that heather colors in this item are 52% cotton.
Size Guide: Fit is true to size or a little snug. Considering ordering one size up if you are normally between sizes.
Brand: Bella Canvas | Product ID: 3001
- Made with 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, a lightweight fabric (4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)) that is easy to layer, breathable. Perfect for active and leisure wear.
- The retail fit that is perfect for casual and semi-formal settings. The crew neckline adds a classic, neat style that's perfect for accessorizing.
- Bella+Canvas manufactures all its products in the US and internationally in humane, no-sweat-shop, sustainable way and is part of the Fair Labor Association as well as Platinum WRAP certified.
- The tear-away label minimizes skin irritations.
- Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism colors - 99% cotton, 1% polyester; Heather and Solid Blend colors - 52% cotton, 48% polyester; Athletic Heather and Black Heather - 90% cotton, 10% polyester.
