Piqua Picks

The Piqua Picks were a minor league baseball teams based in Piqua, Ohio. In 1911, the Piqua Picks played a partial season as members of the Class D level Ohio State League, joining the league during the season and hosting home games at the Ash Street Ball Grounds. Piqua finished in fifth place in the final 1911 standings, with Picks player Bert Blue winning the league batting title.

Piqua Picks
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1911)
LeagueOhio State League (1911)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NamePiqua Picks (1911)
BallparkAsh Street Ball Grounds (1911)

History

Minor league baseball play was first hosted in Piqua, Ohio in 1911, when the Picks became members of the eight–team Class D level Ohio State League during the season. The Chillicothe Infants, Hamilton Mechanics, Lancaster Lanks, Lima Cigarmakers, Marion Diggers, Portsmouth Cobblers and Springfield Reapers joined Piqua in completing league play.[1][2]

The use of the "Picks" nickname corresponds with Piqua agriculture in the era, which featured apple orchards.[3]

The 1911 Ohio State League had expanded from six teams to eight teams. On June 22, 1911, the Newark Newks franchise moved from Newark, Ohio to Piqua, Ohio with a record of 29–33. The team compiled a 43–32 record while based in Piqua. Ending the season, the team placed fifth in the final standings with an overall record of 72–65. Playing under manager Al Newnham, the Newark/Piqua team finished 11.0 games behind the first place Springfield Reapers in the Ohio State League final standings. Piqua player Bert Blue won the Ohio State League batting title, hitting .347 with a league leading 176 total hits.[1][4][5][6]

The final 1911 Ohio State League standings were led by the Springfield Reapers (84–55), followed by the Marion Diggers (80–59), Portsmouth Cobblers (78–61), Chillicothe Infants (78–62), Newark Newks/Piqua Picks (72–65), Lima Cigarmakers (62–77), Lancaster Lanks (53–84) and Hamilton Mechanics (48–92).[1][7]

The 1912 Ohio State League reduced franchises to again become six–team league and the Piqua franchise did not return to league play in 1912.[1]

Piqua, Ohio has not hosted another minor league team.[8]

The ballpark

The Piqua Picks minor league team hosted 1911 home games at the Ash Street Ball Grounds. The Piqua Baseball Company first established a playing field in the location in 1883. Later, the location was noted to have become known as Roosevelt Park. Today, the site hosts Wertz Stadium, which was a long–time football venue and now hosts soccer. The stadium location is 421 Ash Street in Piqua.[9][10][11][12][13]

(2020) Piqua, Ohio.

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs / notes
191172–655thAl NewnhamNewark (29–33) moved to Piqua June 22

Notable alumni

See also

Piqua Picks players

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. "1911 Ohio State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Johnston Farm and Indian Agency - Piqua, Ohio". www.johnstonfarmohio.com.
  4. "1911 Newark Newks/Piqua Picks minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1911 Newark Newks/Piqua Picks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "The president who owned a minor league baseball team". www.sportingnews.com.
  7. "1911 Ohio State League (OSL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "Piqua, Ohio sports teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "Ash Street Ball Grounds in Piqua, OH minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "Community Center Campus Plan – City of Piqua, Ohio" (PDF).
  11. "Imagine Piqua – City of Piqua, Ohio".
  12. Pendleton, Marc F. "Piqua officials have dreams of bigger games on new field". dayton-daily-news.
  13. "Wembley to Wertz Stadium: Wigan's Trip to Small-Town America". Bleacher Report.
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