Greenhood and Moran team, circa 1884. From left to right, Back row: manager Tom Robinson, Jack Donovan, McCurdy, James Moran, Harry Nolan, Darby Robinson, Jacob Greenhood; Middle Row: Charles Hannan, George Van Haltren, Al Edwards; Bottom Row: mascot Charles Van Haltren, Dave Grand and Danny Long 1
The Greenhood & Morans were a charter member of the California State League. Jacob Greenhood and James T Moran, owners of an Oakland clothes store were the sponsors and namesakes. Colonel Tom Robinson was the manager and also promoter and scandal-monger. Later he served as his owner, as Greenhood and Moran were only the sponsors for 3 years. This team was very popular and had some good, well-known players. Eventually the G&Ms left the California State League for the California League. 2
While in the California League, the G&Ms were very popular. Oakland fans often travelled with the team to Sacramento.
In 1887 the G&Ms finished in last place, although they had a lot of talent. Part of this was due to the loss of George Van Haltren to professional baseball and part of it was due to insubordination: the team just wasn't very good at cooperating. Pitcher George Borchers, 19, was great on the mound when he felt like it. One day he pitched a no-hitter; one day he didn't even show up. 1
George Van Haltren was a future major leaguer: a left-handed pitcher who could also hit. He played in the Major Leagues for 17 years and put together a sterling career as both a pitcher and a hitter. Later he came back to Oakland and served as a manager-player for 5 years, starting in 1905 at age 39. 2 After that, he was a manager and umpire for the Pacific Coast League. It is possible that he was tricked into signing his first pro contract: at 20 years old W.A. Nimick of the Detroit team may have liquored him up before getting him to sign for the Pittsburgh minor league team. After Van Haltren thought about it, he decided to stay in Oakland with the G&Ms, then went pro. 1
Danny Long, a teammate of Van Haltren, later managed the San Francisco Seals and scout for the Chicago White Sox.
Willard Brown (actually Fred W Lange) caught for the G&Ms in 1886 then caught for the New York Giants for 7 years. He is the author of History of Baseball in California and the Pacific Coast Leagues, 1847-1938. 2
Photo of G&Ms the year they entered the California League. From Left; Back Row: Abe Callahan, Martin Warde, Jacob Greenhood, unknown, unknown, James Moran, Fred Lange, Jack donovan; Seated: Bill Gurnett, Willard "California" Brown, manager Tom Robinson, George Van Haltren, George Fisher; Bottom Row: Danny Long, Jim Cusick, Charles Hannan. 1
The 1887 G&Ms, including several future major leaguers. From Left; Top Row: Danny Long, Bob Blakiston, Tim McCord; Middle Row: Bill Gurnett, Phil Knell, manager, Tom Robinson, George Borchers, Jack Ryan; Bottom Row: Joe Shea, Jim McDonald and Jack Donovan
Links and References
- Spalding, John E. Always on Sunday: The California Baseball League 1886-1915. Kansas: Ag Press, 1992.
- Dobbins, Dick and Jon Twichell. Nuggets on the Diamond: Professional Baseball in the Bay Area from the Gold Rush to the Present. San Francisco: Woodford Press, 1994.
