Montana State League

The Montana State League was a minor league baseball league that played various seasons between 1892 and 1925 as an Independent league. As the name implies, the Montana State League consisted of teams based in exclusively in Montana, with the exception of the 1909 season when Idaho and Utah were represented. The Montana State League played just the three documented minor league seasons and had several other seasons of professional play without official records.

Montana State League
ClassificationIndependent (1887, 1891)
Class B (1892)
Independent (1898, 1900, 1905, 1909, 1925)
SportMinor League Baseball
Inaugural season1892
Ceased1925
PresidentWilliam Henry Lucas (1900)
No. of teams9
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1
Butte (1892)
Great Falls Indians (1900)
Helena (1909)
Related
competitions		Northern Utah League

History

The Montana State League first began play as a non–classified league in 1887. The league also played a season in 1891. The teams are unknown in both seasons, with no official records available.[1][2]

In 1892, the Montana State League reformed as six–team Class B level minor league.[3][4] The league played a split–season schedule. The Bozeman and Great Falls franchises disbanded on July 23, 1892, after the conclusion of the first half. The overall standings were led by Helena (29–21), who were followed by the Butte (26–22), Philipsburg Burgers (22–23) and Missoula (18–29) teams.[5] Bozeman had a record of 10–8 and the Great Falls Smelter Cities 6–10 when they folded. Butte won the first–half championship and Missoula won the second–half title. Butte won the overall championship. Helena allegedly forfeited over complaints regarding money and umpiring.[6]

Baseball Hall of Fame member Clark Griffith played for Missoula in 1892. It was reported Griffith pitched so well in one game that Missoula fans showered him with gold coins after the game. Griffith later bought property and built a home in Montana.[7][8][9][10]

After the 1892 season, there were strong allegations of betting and cheating. The league did not return in 1893.[7][9]

The league played a season in 1898 with no records existing and the league was not classified.[11]

In 1900, the Montana State League reformed as a four–team Independent minor league.[12][13] The league president was William Henry Lucas.[14] The overall league standings featured the Anaconda Serpents (34–37), Butte Smoke Eaters (30–40), Great Falls Indians (39–32)[15] and Helena Senators (39–33).[16] Helena won the first–half championship and Great Falls won the second–half title.[8][9][17]

Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe Tinker played for both the Great Falls Indians and Helena Senators in 1900 at age 19.[8][9]

The Montana State League played a season in 1905, Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula composed the league. No league standings or records are available.[18]

In 1909, the Montana State League played as a four–team league, adding teams in Idaho and Utah. The league comprised Helena (35–16), the Salt Lake City Cubs (34–17), Butte (20–31) and Boise (13–38).[18]

In 1925, the Montana State League played a final season as a four team Independent minor league. Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula played in the league, which has no official results.[19]

Montana State League teams
Team name(s) City represented Ballpark Year(s) active
Anaconda Serpents Anaconda, Montana Mountain View Park[20] 1900
Boise Boise, Idaho Unknown 1909
Bozeman Bozeman, Montana Unknown 1892
Butte, Butte Smoke Eaters Butte, Montana Mt. Columbia Grounds[21] 1892, 1900, 1905, 1909, 1925
Great Falls Smelter Cities, Great Falls Indians Great Falls, Montana Black Eagle Park[22] 1892, 1900, 1905, 1925
Helena, Helena Senators Helena, Montana Unknown 1892, 1900, 1905, 1909, 1925
Missoula Missoula, Montana Unknown 1892,1905, 1925
Philipsburg Burgers[23] Philipsburg, Montana Unknown 1892
Salt Lake City Cubs Salt Lake City, Utah Unknown 1909

[24]

Standings and statistics

1892 Montana State League
TeamWLPct.GBManager
Helena2921.580–Con Strothers
Butte2622.5421.0Jim Powell
Philipsburg Burgers2223.4894.5Charlie Hoover
Missoula1829.3838.5Marin
Bozeman1038.208NAB.E. Vaile
Great Falls Smelter Cities610.375NAMeilli

[6]

1900 Montana State League
TeamWLPct.GBManager
Great Falls Indians3932.549-Kinsella / John McCloskey
Helena Senators3833.5351.0Carl Wood
Paddy Ryan / Jack Flannery
Anaconda Serpents3436.4854.5Jack Grim
Butte Smoke Eaters3040.4288.5James Powell

[25][17]

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Charles McIntryeAnaconda/HelenaBA.441Solly SalisburyHelenaW19
Dave ZearfossGreat FallsRuns88C.E. WrightGreat FallsPct.696; 16–7
Dave ZearfossGreat FallsHits106Bert SchilsAnacondaHR19

1909 Montana State League
TeamWLPct.GBManager
Helena3516.686–Unknown[26]
Salt Lake City Cubs3833.5351.5Unknown[27]
Butte2031.3927.5Unknown[28]
Boise1338.25511.5John Strouthers / Joe Marshall[29]

[30]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

References
  1. "1887 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1891 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1892 Montana State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1892 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "1892 Missoula Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1892 Montana State League (MSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "Montana State League". Baseball History Daily.
  8. Standard, RICHARD I. GIBSON for The Montana. "Mining City History: Baseball in Butte started in the 1890s". Montana Standard.
  9. History, SKYLAR BROWNING & JEREMY WATTERSON Montana Baseball. "From Brownie to the Black Sox: Montana baseball history's 10 gee-whiz moments". 406 MT SPORTS.
  10. "Users". missoulian.com.
  11. "1898 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1900 Montana State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1900 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  15. "1900 Great Falls Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. "1900 Helena Senators Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. "1900 Montana State League (MSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. "1905 Montana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. "1925 Montana State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  20. "Mountain View Park in Anaconda, MT history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. "Mt. Columbia Grounds in Butte, MT history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "Black Eagle Park in Great Falls, MT history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  23. Briggeman, Kim. "March 26, 1892". missoulian.com.
  24. "Montana State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. "1900 Montana State League schedule". The Anaconda Standard. 1900-05-20. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  26. "1909 Helena Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  27. "1909 Salt Lake City Cubs Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. "1909 Butte Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  29. "1909 Boise Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  30. "1909 Montana State League (MSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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