Bi-State League

From BR Bullpen

There were two different entries called the Bi-State League in minor league history. The first, a class D league which operated in 1915, was the successor of the Wisconsin-Illinois League. The 1915 league was represented by five teams fom Illinois and one from Wisconsin. The league had no success at all and was disbanded on July 7. In 1934 another league with the same name formed with teams in Virginia and North Carolina. The league held together for nine seasons, being represented by ten cities from North Carolina and eight from Virginia. Only One team played in each of the nine seasons. The Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets a team that was a combination of those three cities from North Carolina was able to make the entire nine year run. This combination also captured the league title in two seasons, 1935 and 1941. However the squad from Bassett, VA, won four league titles during the span, coming out on top three times in a row, 1936, '37, '38 and closing it out with the 1940 crown.This league's final season was 1942 and it was not revived after World War II.


1915 (IL-WI) Cities Represented[edit]

1915 Teams & Statistics[edit]

1915 Bi-State League - schedule
President: B. M. Parsons

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Streator Boosters 30 18 .625 0 Jack Herbert
Racine Belles 30 20 .600 1 Frank Reynolds / James Sheffield
Elgin Watch Makers # 27 26 .509 5.5 Dennis Blake
Aurora Foxes # 25 27 .481 7 Clarence Marshall
Freeport Pretzels 23 29 .442 9 Doc Cummings
Ottawa Indians 20 35 .364 13.5 Lou Erghott

# Elgin & Aurora disbanded July 5. The league disbanded July 7.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Albert "Bull" Durham Racine BA .356 Eddie Wise Streator HR 5
James Sheffield Racine Runs 40 Art Mueller Elgin HR 5
Clay Schoonover Racine Hits 67 Clay Schoonover Racine HR 5

1934-1942 (NC-VA) Cities Represented[edit]


1934-1938 Teams & Statistics[edit]

1934 Bi-State League
President: J. Frank Wilson

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Danville Leafs 53 25 .679 0 Herb Brett
Martinsville Manufacturers 46 29 .613 5.5 Jimmy Sanders
Fieldale Virginians 36 41 .468 16.5 D. L. Hodge
Mt. Airy Graniteers 33 43 .434 19 Cecil Harris / G. Thomas
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 32 45 .416 20.5 Oscar Langley / Blackie Carter
Mayodan Senators 29 46 .387 22.5 Payne / Eadmon / Monroe Mitchell

Playoff: Danville 4 games, Martinsville 1;

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jimmy Sanders Martinsville BA .423 Cletus Voss Fieldale W 17
Woodrow Williams Leaksville Runs 86 Cletus Voss Fieldale SO 126
Zip Payne Mayodan Hits 134 Spencer Bruce Danville Pct .813; 13-3
Eddie Weston Mayodan HR 26


1935 Bi-State League
President: Dr. J. E. Taylor

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 71 44 .617 0 Blackie Carter
Danville Leafs 68 46 .596 2.5 Herb Brett
Bassett Furniture Makers 68 47 .591 3 Lefty Jenkins
Mt. Airy Reds 67 47 .588 3.5 Mickey Shader
Mayodan Mills 51 62 .451 19 Phil Lundeen
Fieldale Towlers 50 64 .439 20.5 Dixie Parker
Martinsville Manufacturers 42 71 .372 28 Harold Bohl
Reidsville Luckies 39 75 .342 31.5 Glenn Bickerstaff / L.J. Perry

layoff: Danville 4 games, Bassett 3;

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ralph Hodgin Fieldale BA .387 Fred Pipgras Danville W 25
Woody Williams (williwo01) Leaksville Runs 111 Jeff Jeffcoat Leaksville SO 222
Ralph Hodgin Fieldale Hits 187 Fred Pipgras Danville Pct .806; 25-6
Blackie Carter Leaksville HR 30


1936 Bi-State League
President: Jake Wells

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bassett Furniture Makers 74 43 .632 0 Lefty Jenkins
Danville Leafs 74 45 .622 1 Herb Brett
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 65 51 .560 8.5 Clyde Sukeforth
Martinsville Manufacturers 59 58 .504 15 Jimmy Sanders
Reidsville Luckies 54 61 .470 19 Jimmy Maus
Mt. Airy Reds 53 63 .457 20.5 Shader / Conway / Packard
Fieldale Towlers 52 62 .456 20.5 Joe Guyon / Red Smith
Mayodan Orphans 35 83 .297 39.5 Phil Lundeen / Bill Ragsdale

Playoff: Bassett 4 games, Leaksville 2;

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Gene Handley Mt. Airy BA .403 Lefty Jenkins Bassett W 25
Ken Keltner Fieldale Runs 120 Weaver Nowlin Leaksville SO 167
Ken Keltner Fieldale Hits 175 Lefty Jenkins Bassett Pct .833; 25-5
Woody Traylor Danville HR 34 Woody Traylor Danville RBI 120


1937 Bi-State League - schedule
President: Win Clark

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bassett Furniture Makers 68 45 .602 0 Ray White
Mayodan Senators 69 46 .600 0 Harry Daughtry
Danville Leafs 68 47 .591 1 Herb Brett
Martinsville Manufacturers 63 50 .558 5 Arnold Anderson
Mt. Airy Reds 52 61 .460 16 Walt Novak
Reidsville Luckies 51 65 .440 18.5 Charley Moore
South Boston Twins 43 68 .387 24 Jimmy Shelton
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 41 73 .360 27.5 Blethen / Lawless / Wills

Playoff: Bassett 3 games, Danville 1; Martinsville 3 games, Mayodan 2, (one tie).
Finals: Bassett 4 games, Martinsville 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Doug Wheeler Mayodan BA .359 Jesse Plummer Mayodan W 21
Doug Wheeler Mayodan Runs 111 Weaver Nowlin Reidsville SO 168
Cecil Payne Mayodan Hits 167 Jack Zerblis Bassett ERA 2.23
Doug Wheeler Mayodan RBI 71 Herb Leary Reidsville HR 29


1938 Bi-State League
President: Joseph Garrett

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bassett Furniture Makers 76 40 .655 0 Walter Novak
Mayodan Millers 73 46 .613 4.5 Harry Lee Daughtry
Reidsville Luckies 71 48 .597 6.5 Jim Poole (pooleji01)
Danville Leafs 63 55 .534 14 Red Barnes
Martinsville Manufacturers 61 56 .521 15.5 Arnold Anderson
Mt. Airy Graniteers 49 69 .415 28 Dick Goldberg
South Boston-Halifax Wrappers 43 77 .358 35 James Calleran
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 37 82 .311 40.5 Joe Feori

Playoff: Bassett 3 games, Reidsville 2; Danville 3 games, Mayodan 0.
Finals: Bassett 4 games, Danville 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Americo Rossomando Bassett BA .390 Wes Livengood Bassett W 21
Ray Scantling Reidsville Runs 130 Raymon Voight Reidsville SO 200
Harry Lee Daughtry Mayodan Hits 174 Wes Livengood Bassett ERA 3.06
Ray Scantling Reidsville RBI 147 Ray Scantling Reidsville HR 33

1939-1942 Teams & Statistics[edit]

1939 Bi-State League
President: Joseph Garrett

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs 70 44 .614 0 Red Barnes
Leaksville-Spray-Draper Triplets 67 48 .583 3.5 Arnold Anderson
Bassett Furnituremakers 60 51 .541 8.5 Walter Novak
Martinsville Manufacturers 61 52 .540 8.5 Jim Poole (pooleji01) / Al Krupski / Daughtry
Mayodan Millers 58 57 .504 12.5 Harry Daughtry / Ramon Couto / Chink Outen
Reidsville Luckies 48 65 .425 21.5 Watty Clark / Broaddus Culler / Watty Clark
South Boston Wrappers 46 65 .414 22.5 Dixie Parker
Mt. Airy Graniteers 42 70 .375 27 Guy Lacy / Walter Stephenson

Playoff: Leaksville 4 games, Martinsville 1; Danville 4 games, Bassett 3.
Finals: Danville 4 games, Leaksville 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Sam Gentile Danville BA .392 Joseph Weir Danville W 19
Jim Gruzdis Leaksville Runs 145 George Kadis Danville SO 199
Sam Gentile Danville Hits 199 Frank Hoerst Mayodan ERA 2.82
James Payne Leaksville RBI 126 Amerigo Scagliarini Mayodan HR 27


1940 Bi-State League
President: Joseph Garrett

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Bassett Furnituremakers 73 44 .624 0 Einar Sorenson
Martinsville Manufacturers 68 49 .581 5 Harry Daughtry
Mt. Airy Graniteers 63 56 .529 11 Walter Novak
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs 59 58 .504 14 Red Barnes
South Boston Wrappers 56 60 .483 16.5 Jack Crosswhite / H.A. Mobley
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 56 63 .471 18 Arnold Anderson
Mayodan Millers 53 66 .445 21 Pete Siciliano
Reidsville Luckies 43 75 .364 30.5 Jim Callahan /Jim Gruzdis

Playoff: Martinsville 4 games, Danville 2; Bassett 4 games, Mt Airy 1.
Finals: Martinsville 4 games, Bassett 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dan Amaral Mayodan BA .387 Roy Peeler Bassett W 17
Alex Johnson (minors) Mayodan Runs 119 Flory Wojcik Bassett W 17
Alex Johnson (minors) Mayodan Hits 178 Flory Wojcik Bassett ERA 2.95
Clyde Vollmer Bassett RBI 117 Paige Dennis Reid/Mt.Air SO 187
Orville Nesselrode South Boston HR 25


1941 Bi-State League
President: J. P. Wells

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 64 46 .582 0 Tim Murchison / Wes Ferrell
Martinsville Manufacturers 63 49 .563 2 George Ferrell
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs 64 50 .561 2 Elmer Yoter
Sanford Spinners 58 54 .518 7 Zeb Harrington
Mt. Airy Graniteers 42 70 .375 23 Jimmy Maus
Mayodan Millers # 25 47 .347 NA Taylor Sanford

# Mayodan disbanded July 18.
Playoff: Sanford 4 games, Martinsville 3,(one tie).
Danville-Schoolfield, 4 games, Leaksville 1.
Finals: Sanford 4 games, Danville-Schoolfield 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Albert Behrends Martinsville BA .378 Dave Odom Sanford W 16
Richard Kalal Danville Runs 119 Charles Cuellar Leaksville W 16
Albert Behrends Martinsville Hits 171 Dave Odom Sanford SO 190
Tom Burnette Martinsville RBI 114 Roy Boles Mt. Airy Pct .714; 10-4
Tom Burnette Martinsville HR 29 George Ferrell Martinsville RBI 114


1942 Bi-State League
President: Dr. T. S. Wilson

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Wilson Tobs 69 53 .566 0 Bill Herring
Sanford Spinners 62 59 .512 6.5 Frank Rodgers
Rocky Mount Rocks 63 60 .512 6.5 George Ferrell
Burlington Bees 62 62 .500 8 Rube Wilson
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 57 66 .463 12.5 Zip Payne
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs 54 67 .446 14.5 Elmer Yoter

Playoff: Rocky Mount 4 games, Wilson 3.
Sanford 4 games, Burlington 1.
Finals: Rocky Mount 4 games, Sanford 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Richard Hoyle Wilson BA .338 Charles Cuellar Leaksville W 22
Richard Hoyle Wilson Runs 108 Charles Cuellar Leaksville SO 204
George Biershenk Rocky Mount Hits 151 Charles Cuellar Leaksville ERA 1.67
George Ferrell Rocky Mount RBI 105 Harry Soufas Rocky Mount HR 29

League Records 1934-1942[edit]

Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Mickey Witek Bassett GA 125 36 Zip Payne Lea/Dra/Spr GA 125 42
Jimmy Sanders Martinsville BA .423 34 George Biershenk Rocky Mt. AB 529 42
Jim Gruzdis Lea/Dra/Spr RUNS 145 39 Sam Gentile Danville HITS 199 39
Ray Scantling Reidsville RBI 147 38 Sam Gentile Danville 2B 54 39
Herb Freeman Danv/School 3B 17 40 Woody Traylor Danville HR 34 36
Ken Keltner Fieldale EBH 82 36 Ken Keltner Fieldale TB 335 36
Walter Novalk Bassett SAC 26 38 Jim Gruzdis Lea/Dra/Spr SB 46 39
Harry Pletersek Martinsville BB 106 39 Howard Briggs Danv/Reidsv HBP 16 35
Jim Gruzdis Lea/Dra/Spr HBP 16 39
Pitching
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Murray Wade South Boston GA 46 38 Murray Wade South Boston L 18 38
Paige Dennis Reids/Mt.Air CG 27 40 Charlie Cuellar Lea/Dr/Spr CG 27 42
Fred Pipgras Danville W 25 35 Ernie Jenkins Bassett W 25 36
Ramon Voight Reidsville BB 160 38 Ernie Jenkins Bassett PCT .833 36
Charlie Cuellar Lea/Dr/Spr ERA 1.67 42 Paige Dennis Reids/Mt.Air IP 280 40
Jeff Jeffcoat Lea/Dr/Spr SO 222 35

Sources[edit]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition

Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]

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