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
First 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

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.

History

[edit]

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, 1889–1890 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

[edit]

Standings & statistics

[edit]

1889 to 1890

[edit]

1889 Michigan State League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Jackson Jaxons 60 37 .619 - James Tray
Saginaw** 59 40 .586 2.0 Louis Williams / John Murphy
Grand Rapids Shamrocks 53 44 .546 7.0 John Roushkolb /
Harry Smith / Edward Eagan
Lansing Farmers 42 56 .429 18.5 Walter Mumby
Greenville 42 58 .400 19.5 John Foster
Kalamazoo Kazoos /
Flint Flyers
38 59 .392 22.0 James Lombard

Kalamazoo (32-42) moved 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
Player Team Stat Tot
Joe Katz Greenville BA .364
Joe Katz Greenville Hits 154
Fred Popkay Jackson Runs 109
Joe Katz Greenville HR 14

1890 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Grand Rapids Shamrocks 17 8 .680 - Edward Eagan
Manistee 16 8 .667 0.5 John Murphy
Flint Flyers 13 10.0 .565 3.0 J. A. Sanford
Port Huron 11 14 .440 6.0 Joe Walsh
Muskegon 10 14 .417 6.5 John Roushkolb
Lansing Farmers 4 17 .190 11.0 C. A. Briggs

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

1895

[edit]

1895 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Adrian Demons 57 30 .655 - R.G. Taylor
Lansing Senators 56 36 .609 3.5 R.N. Parshall / Alfred Manassau
Kalamazoo Kazoos 50 41 .549 9.0 E. F. Mayo / Oliver Hungerford
Battle Creek Adventists /
Jackson Jaxons
36 53 .404 22.0 Mittenhal /
Todd / Leigh Lynch
Owosso Colts 34 47 .420 NA Fred Craves / Frank Wickine
Port Huron Marines 27 51 .346 NA Joe Walsh / George Brown /
Charles Schaub / Boocher

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

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Daly Lansing BA .397 George Wilson Adrian W 29
Jack Daly Lansing Runs 124 George Wilson Adrian Pct .879; 29-4
Jack Daly Lansing Hits 143
Jack Daly Lansing HR 25
M. H. Justice Adrian SB 65

1897

[edit]

1897 Michigan State League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bay City 42 38 .525 - Jay Faatz
Saginaw Lumbermen 38 43 .469 4.5 George Black / William Phillips
Port Huron 29 42 .408 8.5 Gobel / D. McCarron
Kalamazoo Celery Eaters/
Flint
32 51 .386 11.5 Fred Popkay / E.F. Mayo
Lansing Senators 41 31 NA Thomas Robinson
Jackson 46 23 .667 NA Lefty Davis / Charlie Cushman

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

1902

[edit]

1902 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Battle Creek Cero Frutos 53 31 .631 - Jacob Weickgenant / W.E. Woods
Saginaw White Sox/
Jackson White Sox
50 39 .562 5.5 Doggie Miller
Flint 47 41 .534 8.0 Arlie Latham / Ed Zimran
Muskegon Reds 40 47 .460 14.5 Arthur DeBaker
Lansing Senators 35 62 .361 24.5 H.A. Bowie / Walter Niles
Grand Rapids Colts 29 34 .460 NA Emerson 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

[edit]

1911 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Manistee Colts 74 45 .622 - Ed R. Somerlott /
Earl Zook / Connie Lewis
Cadillac Chiefs 73 45 .619 0.5 Calvin Wenger
Traverse City Resorters 62 56 .525 11.5 William Hawker / Henry Collett
Holland Wooden Shoes 48 71 .403 26.0 Clyde McNutt / Ted Penfold /
Ed McDonough / W. Schaefer
Boyne City Boosters 24 92 .207 48.5 Peter Partlow / Jack Ryan /
Partlow / Lou Criger
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Earl Comstock Muskegon BA .354 Ray Williams Manistee W 25
Otto Pfeifer Traverse City Runs 120 Ray Williams Manistee SO 169
Bunny Brief Traverse City Hits 169 Ray Williams Manistee Pct .833; 25-5
Bunny Brief Traverse City HR 10
Otto Pfeifer Traverse City SB 85

1912 Michigan State League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Manistee Champs 83 35 .703 - Connie Lewis
Traverse City Resorters 79 40 .664 4.5 James Hamilton
Ludington Mariners 60 59 .504 23.5 Frank Warrender / Claude Stark
Boyne City Boosters 50 69 .420 33.5 Bo Slear
Muskegon Speeders 48 70 .407 35.0 Art DeBaker
Cadillac Chiefs 35 82 .299 47.5 Calvin Wenger / Tom Railing
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Al Platte Cadillac BA .367 Omer Benn Manistee W 22
Carl Jones Manistee Runs 80 Al Bowman Muskegon SO 213
Bunny Brief Traverse City Hits 152 La Rue Kirby Traverse City Pct .857; 18-3
Bunny Brief Traverse City HR 13
Al Platte Cadillac SB 42

1913 Michigan State League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Manistee Champs 73 47 .608 - Connie Lewis
Traverse City Resorters 62 57 .521 10.5 Jack Pendry /
James Hamilton / Carl Wenger
Muskegon Speeders 61 59 .508 12.0 Peg Bemis / Sandy Murray
Boyne City Boosters 57 63 .475 16.0 Grover Gillen
Cadillac Chiefs 53 66 .445 19.5 Homer Warner
Ludington Mariners 53 67 .442 20.0 Bob Grogran / Harry Arndt
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Sid Miller Muskegon BA .359 Babe Roberts Boyne City W 18
Pete Allison Cadillac Runs 84 John Radloff Manistee W 18
Bill Varley Boyne City Runs 84 John Radloff Manistee SO 235
Carl Dunckel Muskegon Runs 84 Henry Negake Muskegon Pct .750; 9-3
Pete Allison Cadillac Hits 157
Grover Prough Manistee HR 14

1914 Michigan State League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Muskegon Speeders 73 46 .613 - Sandy Murray
Ludington Mariners 69 50 .580 4.0 Bob Grogan / Jim Sager
Cadillac Chiefs 67 51 .568 5.5 Jay Parker
Manistee /
Belding Champs
57 64 .471 17.0 Louis Haidt
Boyne City Boosters 48 51 .485 NA Grover Gillen
Traverse City Resorters 22 74 .229 NA Leo 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
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Gil Patterson TrCity/Manis/Bel BA .314 Neal Leifers Muskegon W 25
Raleigh Baum Cadillac Runs 86 Neal Leifers Muskegon SO 194
Raleigh Baum Cadillac Hits 138 Neal Liefers Muskegon Pct .758; 25-8
Carl Tennant Ludington HR 7

1926

[edit]

1926 Michigan State League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bay City Wolves 64 30 .681 - Bob Prysock
Port Huron Saints 56 38 .596 8.0 Johnny Carlin
Saginaw Aces 55 41 .573 10.0 Les Nunamaker
Grand Rapids Black Sox 51 43 .543 13.0 Jess Runser / Pat Devereaux
Ludington Tars 45 51 .469 20.0 Ovid Nicholson
Muskegon Reds 39 56 .411 25.5 Buck Wheat
Kalamazoo Celery Pickers 39 59 .398 27.0 Boss Schmidt / George Hutton
Flint Vehicles /
Charlotte Giants
32 63 .337 32.5 Ray 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
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dan Beal Ludington BA .375 Saraphin Good Bay City W 19
Al Bashang Bay City Runs 107 Sid Dyer Saginaw SO 148
Dan Beal Ludington Hits 134 Saraphin Good Bay City Pct .826; 19-4
Harry Green Kalamazoo HR 11

1940 to 1941

[edit]

1940 Michigan State League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Flint Gems 67 41 .620 - Jack Knight
Saginaw Athletics 53 48 .525 10.5 Dallas Avery / Henry Camilli
St. Joseph Autos 52 51 .505 12.5 Conrad Fisher / Elmer Kirchoff
Grand Rapids Dodgers 50 56 .472 16.0 Burleigh Grimes
Muskegon Reds 49 57 .462 17.0 Jack Tighe
Lansing Lancers 44 62 .415 22.0 Jesse Altenburg

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

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Robert Ogle Grand Rapids BA .374 Vernon Kohler Flint W 18
Elmer Sidlo Flint Runs 109 Suvern Wright Saginaw SO 159
Robert Ogle Grand Rapids Hits 171 Clarence Gann Muskegon ERA 2.80
Jerry Burmeister Lansing RBI 86 Herb Norquist St. Joseph Pct .846; 11-2
Joe Wojey Grand Rapids HR 20

1941 Michigan State League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Flint Indians 70 38 .648 - Jack Knight
St. Joseph Autos 64 50 .561 9.0 Elmer Kirchoff
Grand Rapids Colts 59 55 .518 14.0 Red Lucas
Muskegon Reds 61 57 .517 14.0 Jack Tighe
Saginaw White Sox 51 62 .451 21.5 Bill Prince / Walden McMullen
Lansing Senators 35 78 .310 37.5 Danny Taylor / Russ Wein

No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Gene Woodling Flint BA .394 Frank Schulz Flint W 17
Johnny Lipon Muskegon Runs 126 Tom Hamill Grand Rapids SO 188
Johnny Lipon Muskegon Hits 176 Steve Gromek Flint ERA 2.90
Johnny Lipon Muskegon RBI 115 Steve Gromek Flint PCT .875 14-2
Norm Snyder St. Joseph RBI 115
Johnny Lipon Muskegon HR 35

[1]

Hall of Fame alumni

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ "Burleigh Grimes Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "Honus Wagner Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.

Sources

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

Further reading

[edit]