Camden Ouachitas
# Camden Ouachitas

The Camden Ouachitas were a minor league baseball team based in Camden, Arkansas in 1906. Preceded by the 1894 Camden Yellow Hammers, the Camden teams played as members of the Class D level Arkansas State League in 1894 and Arkansas-Texas League in 1906. Camden hosted home minor league games at Recreation Park.

## History

After fielding a semi-pro team in 1893, minor league baseball first came to Camden, Arkansas when the 1894 Camden Yellow Hammers became members of the Class D level Arkansas State League. The league began play on May 30, 1894. The Camden franchise, along with the Hot Springs, Arkansas based Hot Springs Bathers franchise, both folded one month into the 1894 season, causing the four–team league to fold. Camden, also referred to as the "Rainmakers" by some references, finished with a 7–10 record to place third in the league standings. Camden finished 4.5 games behind the first place Little Rock Rose Buds, who ended with an 11–5 record.

In 1906, the Camden "Ouachitas" became charter members of the Class D level Arkansas-Texas League. Camden was joined by the Hot Springs Vapors, Pine Bluff Barristers and Texarkana Shine-Oners as the charter members of the four–team league.

The Camden "Ouachitas" moniker corresponds to Camden being within Ouachita County and the Ouachita Mountains that lie within the Camden region.

Beginning league play on June 21, 1906, Camden ended the Arkansas-Texas League regular season with a record of 29–28. Camden finished in second place in the final standings, playing under managers Arthur Riggs and Cleve Turner. The Camden Ouachitas finished behind the first place Pine Bluff Barristers (32–26) and ahead of the third place Texarkana Shine-Oners/Hope Tigers (29–30) and Hot Springs Vapors (25–32) in the final standings.

Camden, Arkansas has not hosted another minor league team.

## The ballpark

The 1894 Camden Yellow Hammers played minor league home games at Recreation Park.

## Timeline

| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1894 | 1 | Camden Yellow Hammers | Class D | Arkansas State League |
| 1906 | 1 | Camden Ouachitas | Class D | Arkansas-Texas League |

## Year–by–year records

| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1894 | 7–10 | 3rd | NA | Team and League folded |
| 1906 | 29–28 | 2nd | Arthur Riggs / Cleve Turner | No playoffs held |

## Notable alumni

* Ralph McLaurin (1906)
