{{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name =South Bend River Rats | firstseason =1911 | lastseason = | allyears = | city =South Bend, Washington | logo = | uniformlogo = | class level =Class D (1911) | league =Washington State League (1911) | majorleague =None | nickname ='''South Bend River Rats '''(1911) | ballpark =Unknown (1911) | classnum = | classchamps = | leaguenum =0 | leaguechamps =None | confnum = | conferencechamps = | divnum = | divisionchamps = | wildcardnum = | wildcardberths = }} The '''South Bend River Rats''' were a minor league baseball team based in South Bend, Washington. In 1911, the South Bend River Rats played as members of the Class D level Washington State League in their only season of play, finishing last in the four-team league standings.
==History== Minor league baseball began in South Bend, Washington in 1911. The South Bend "River Rats" became members of the four–team Class D level Washington State League.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1911 South Bend River Rats Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Centralia Pets, Chehalis Proteges and Raymond Venetians joined South Bend in 1911 league play, as the league reduced from six teams to four.<ref name="encyc"/> The 1910 Aberdeen Black Cats, Montesano Farmers, Hoquiam Loggers and Tacoma Cubs franchises did not return to league play in 1911, as the Centralia and South Bend franchises joined Chehalis and Raymond.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=c39a164b|title=1911 Washington State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-WASL/y-1911|title=1911 Washington State League (WSL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>
South Bend's "River Rats" nickname corresponds to local geography. South Bend, Washington sits on Willapa Bay and along the Willapa River.<ref name="willapaharbor">{{cite web|url=https://willapaharbor.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Historic-WH-brochure-March2013.pdf|date=2013-04-01|title=Discovery Awaits! Historic Willapa Harbor|access-date=2021-11-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southbend-wa.gov/|title=Home|website=www.southbend-wa.gov}}</ref> thumb|(1910) South Bend, Washington
Beginning play on May 6, 1911, the South Bend River Rats finished last in the Washington State League final standings.<ref name="auto"/> The River Rats placed fourth in the final standings with a record of 11–44, finishing 27.0 games behind the first place Centralia Pets. In the final league standings Centralia (38–17) finished 2.5 games ahead of the second place Chehalis Proteges (36–20) to win the championship, they both were followed by the Raymond Venetians (25–29) and South Bend River Rats (11–44).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-sr14630/y-1911|title=1911 South Bend River Rats minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref> Ted Reed of South Bend won the Washington State League batting title, hitting .333.<ref name="encyc"/>
The South Bend River Rats folded following the 1911 season, replaced in the four–team 1912 Washington State League by the Hoquiam Cougars.<ref name="encyc"/> The league permanently folded during the 1912 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=e29d8073|title=1912 Washington State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
South Bend, Washington has not hosted another minor league team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=South Bend, Washington Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
==The ballpark== The name of the 1911 South Bend River Rats' home minor league ballpark is not directly referenced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2563|title=Unknown in South Bend, WA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> South Bend High School facilities were in use during the era. The high school building was founded in 1891 and the original building sat on a hill, accessible only by trail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southbend.wednet.edu/domain/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.southbend.wednet.edu%2Fsite%2Fdefault.aspx%3FDomainID%3D151|title=South Bend School History / South Bend School History|website=www.southbend.wednet.edu}}</ref>
==Year-by-year record== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year!! Record!! Finish!! Manager!! Playoffs/Notes |- align=center | 1911 || 11–44 ||4th || NA || No playoffs held |- align=center |}
==Notable alumni== *Ted Reed (1911)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=South%20Bend&state=WA&country=US South Bend - Baseball Reference]
Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams Category:Defunct baseball teams in Washington (state) Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1911 Category:Baseball teams established in 1911 Category:Pacific County, Washington Category:Washington State League teams Category:1911 establishments in Washington (state) Category:1911 disestablishments in Washington (state)