Michigan State League

The Michigan State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in various seasons between 1889 and 1941. The league franchises were based exclusively in Michigan, with the league forming on six different occasions. Twenty two different cities hosted teams in the Michigan State league.

Michigan State League
ClassificationIndependent (188–1890, 1895, 1897)
Class D (1902, 1911–1914)
Class B (1926)
Class C (1940–1941)
SportMinor League Baseball
Inaugural season1889
Ceased1941
PresidentM. H. Ford (1889)
D. Z. Curtis (1889)
Orlando F. Barnes (1890)
Walter H. Mumby (1895, 1897)
G.E. Morrison (1902)
Emerson Dickerson (1911–1914)
Thomas J. Halligan (1926, 1940–1941)
No. of teams22
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles3
Manistee
Related
competitions
Central League
West Michigan League
Michigan–Ontario League

History

Five of the six Michigan State League incarnations operated only one or two baseball seasons and the other four seasons. Jointly they covered eleven baseball seasons from 1889 to 1941.

The first two Michigan State Leagues, 18891890 and 1895, predated the establishment of present-day Minor League Baseball, an umbrella organization of minor leagues. The third was a "Class D" league during 1902 only, the first season for the organized minors.

In 1911, the West Michigan League expanded and became the fourth Michigan State League as a "Class D" minor league through 1914.

In 1926, the Michigan–Ontario League merged with the Central League to form the fifth MSL, which played only the one season.

The sixth Michigan State League operated in 1940 and 1941.

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1889 to 1890

1889 Michigan State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Jackson Jaxons6037.619-James Tray
Saginaw5940.5862.0Louis Williams / John Murphy
Grand Rapids Shamrocks5344.5467.0John Roushkolb /
Harry Smith / Edward Eagan
Lansing Senators4256.42918.5Walter Mumby
Greenville4258.40019.5John Foster
Kalamazoo Kazoos /
Flint Flyers
3859.39222.0James Lombard

Kalamazoo (32-42) transferred to Flint September 3.
Jackson and Saginaw finished in a virtual tie for first place. Jackson played some of their make-up games to gain enough victories to win the championship. Saginaw protested. President Curtis awarded the championship banner to Saginaw.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTot
Joe KatzGreenvilleBA.364
Joe KatzGreenvilleHits154
Fred PopkayJacksonRuns109
Joe KatzGreenvilleHR14

1890 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Grand Rapids Shamrocks178.680-Edward Eagan
Manistee168.6670.5John Murphy
Flint Flyers1310.0.5653.0J. A. Sanford
Port Huron1114.4406.0Joe Walsh
Muskegon1014.4176.5John Roushkolb
Lansing Senators417.19011.0C. A. Briggs

Grand Rapids left to join the International League June 12
The league disbanded June 13.

1895

1895 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Adrian Demons5730.655-R.G. Taylor
Lansing Senators5636.6093.5R.N. Parshall / Alfred Manassau
Kalamazoo Kazoos5041.5499.0E. F. Mayo / Oliver Hungerford
Battle Creek Adventists /
Jackson Jaxons
3653.40422.0Mittenhal /
Todd / Leigh Lynch
Owosso Colts3447.420NAFred Craves / Frank Wickine
Port Huron Marines2751.346NAJoe Walsh / George Brown /
Charles Schaub / Boocher

Owosso & Port Huron disbanded September 3.; Battle Creek (14-40) moved to Jackson August 8

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jack DalyLansingBA.397George WilsonAdrianW29
Jack DalyLansingRuns124George WilsonAdrianPct.879; 29-4
Jack DalyLansingHits143
Jack DalyLansingHR25
M. H. JusticeAdrianSB65

1897

1897 Michigan State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Bay City4238.525-Jay Faatz
Saginaw Lumbermen3843.4694.5George Black / William Phillips
Port Huron2942.4088.5Gobel / D. McCarron
Kalamazoo /
Flint
3251.38611.5Fred Popkay / E.F. Mayo
Lansing Senators4131NAThomas Robinson
Jackson4623.667NALefty Davis / Charlie Cushman

Kalamazoo (23-41) transferred to Flint July 12; Jackson disbanded July 20; Lansing disbanded July 27
The league disbanded August 16

1902

1902 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Battle Creek Cero Frutos5331.631-Jacob Weickgenant / W.E. Woods
Saginaw White Sox/
Jackson White Sox
5039.5625.5Doggie Miller
Flint4741.5348.0Arlie Latham / Ed Zimran
Muskegon Reds4047.46014.5Arthur DeBaker
Lansing Senators3562.36124.5H.A. Bowie / Walter Niles
Grand Rapids Colts2934.460NAEmerson Dickerson

Saginaw (35-28) moved to Jackson July 20.; Grand Rapids disbanded July 20; Lansing disbanded August 20, causing the league to fold.

1911 to 1914

1911 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Manistee Colts7445.622-Ed R. Somerlott /
Earl Zook / Connie Lewis
Cadillac Chiefs7345.6190.5Calvin Wenger
Traverse City Resorters6256.52511.5William Hawker / Henry Collett
Holland Wooden Shoes4871.40326.0Clyde McNutt / Ted Penfold /
Ed McDonough / W. Schaefer
Boyne City Boosters2492.20748.5Peter Partlow / Jack Ryan /
Partlow / Lou Criger
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Earl ComstockMuskegonBA.354Ray WilliamsManisteeW25
Otto PfeiferTraverse CityRuns120Ray WilliamsManisteeSO169
Bunny BriefTraverse CityHits169Ray WilliamsManisteePct.833; 25-5
Bunny BriefTraverse CityHR10
Otto PfeiferTraverse CitySB85

1912 Michigan State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Manistee Champs8335.703-Connie Lewis
Traverse City Resorters7940.6644.5James Hamilton
Ludington Mariners6059.50423.5Frank Warrender / Claude Stark
Boyne City Boosters5069.42033.5Bo Slear
Muskegon Speeders4870.40735.0Art DeBaker
Cadillac Chiefs3582.29947.5Calvin Wenger / Tom Railing
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Al PlatteCadillacBA.367Omer BennManisteeW22
Carl JonesManisteeRuns80Al BowmanMuskegonSO213
Bunny BriefTraverse CityHits152La Rue KirbyTraverse CityPct.857; 18-3
Bunny BriefTraverse CityHR13
Al PlatteCadillacSB42

1913 Michigan State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Manistee Champs7347.608-Connie Lewis
Traverse City Resorters6257.52110.5Jack Pendry /
James Hamilton / Carl Wenger
Muskegon Speeders6159.50812.0Peg Bemis / Sandy Murray
Boyne City Boosters5763.47516.0Grover Gillen
Cadillac Chiefs5366.44519.5Homer Warner
Ludington Mariners5367.44220.0Bob Grogran / Harry Arndt
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Sid MillerMuskegonBA.359Babe RobertsBoyne CityW18
Pete AllisonCadillacRuns84John RadloffManisteeW18
Bill VarleyBoyne CityRuns84John RadloffManisteeSO235
Carl DunckelMuskegonRuns84Henry NegakeMuskegonPct.750; 9-3
Pete AllisonCadillacHits157
Grover ProughManisteeHR14

1914 Michigan State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Muskegon Speeders7346.613-Sandy Murray
Ludington Mariners6950.5804.0Bob Grogan / Jim Sager
Cadillac Chiefs6751.5685.5Jay Parker
Manistee /
Belding Champs
5764.47117.0Louis Haidt
Boyne City Boosters4851.485NAGrover Gillen
Traverse City Resorters2274.229NALeo Speer /
Carl Wenger / Harry Kunkel

Traverse City & Boyne City both withdrew September 1; Manistee (56-51) was expelled and the franchise moved to Belding September 9.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Gil PattersonTrCity/Manis/BelBA.314Neal LeifersMuskegonW25
Raleigh BaumCadillacRuns86Neal LeifersMuskegonSO194
Raleigh BaumCadillacHits138Neal LiefersMuskegonPct.758; 25-8
Carl TennantLudingtonHR7

1926

1926 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Bay City Wolves6430.681-Bob Prysock
Port Huron Saints5638.5968.0Johnny Carlin
Saginaw Aces5541.57310.0Les Nunamaker
Grand Rapids Black Sox5143.54313.0Jess Runser / Pat Devereaux
Ludington Tars4551.46920.0Ovid Nicholson
Muskegon Reds3956.41125.5Buck Wheat
Kalamazoo Celery Pickers3959.39827.0Boss Schmidt / George Hutton
Flint Vehics/Charlotte Giants3263.33732.5Ray Dunn

The league was created June 15 by the mid-season merger of the Central League and Michigan-Ontario League. Flint (18-26) moved to Charlotte July 22.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Dan BealLudingtonBA.375Saraphin GoodBay CityW19
Al BashangBay CityRuns107Sid DyerSaginawSO148
Dan BealLudingtonHits134Saraphin GoodBay CityPct.826; 19-4
Harry GreenKalamazooHR11

1940 to 1941

1940 Michigan State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Flint Gems6741.620-Jack Knight
Saginaw Athletics5348.52510.5Dallas Avery / Henry Camilli
St. Joseph Autos5251.50512.5Conrad Fisher / Elmer Kirchoff
Grand Rapids Dodgers5056.47216.0Burleigh Grimes
Muskegon Reds4957.46217.0Jack Tighe
Lansing Lancers4462.41522.0Jesse Altenburg

Playoffs: Saginaw 3 games, Grand Rapids 1; St. Joseph 3 games, Flint 2.
Finals: Cancelled due to inclement weather.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Robert OgleGrand RapidsBA.374Vernon KohlerFlintW18
Elmer SidloFlintRuns109Suvern WrightSaginawSO159
Robert OgleGrand RapidsHits171Clarence GannMuskegonERA2.80
Jerry BurmeisterLansingRBI86Herb NorquistSt. JosephPct.846; 11-2
Joe WojeyGrand RapidsHR20

1941 Michigan State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Flint Indians7038.648-Jack Knight
St. Joseph Autos6450.5619.0Elmer Kirchoff
Grand Rapids Colts5955.51814.0Red Lucas
Muskegon Reds6157.51714.0Jack Tighe
Saginaw White Sox5162.45121.5Bill Prince / Walden McMullen
Lansing Senators3578.31037.5Danny Taylor / Russ Wein

No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Gene WoodlingFlintBA.394Frank SchulzFlintW17
Johnny LiponMuskegonRuns126Tom HamillGrand RapidsSO188
Johnny LiponMuskegonHits176Steve GromekFlintERA2.90
Johnny LiponMuskegonRBI115Steve GromekFlintPCT.875 14-2
Norm SnyderSt. JosephRBI115
Johnny LiponMuskegonHR35

[1]

Hall of Fame alumni

References

  1. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "Burleigh Grimes Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Honus Wagner Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.

Sources

  • The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, and Third Editions.

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.