Michigan State League
The first Michigan State League ran from 1889-1890.
The name was revived for one season in 1895.
There was a one season class D Michigan State League in 1902.
In 1911 the name was revived when the former West Michigan League expanded. This new class D operation lasted for four seasons before folding.
In mid-season 1926, the class B Michigan-Ontario League and the class C Central League merged to form yet another Michigan State League. It only lasted through the end of that year.
Finally a class C Michigan State League formed in 1940 but ran for just two years.
Cities Represented Teams & Stats[edit]
1889-1890[edit]
- Flint, MI: Flint Flyers 1889-1890
- Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Shamrocks 1889-1890
- Greenville, MI: Greenville 1889
- Jackson, MI: Jackson Jaxons 1889
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1889
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Senators 1889-1890
- Manistee, MI: Manistee 1890
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon 1890
- Port Huron, MI: PortHuron 1890
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw 1889
1889 Michigan State League
President: M. H. Ford/D. Z. Curtis
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jackson Jaxons | 60 | 37 | .619 | - | James Tray |
Saginaw | 59 | 40 | .586 | 2 | Louis Williams / John Murphy |
Grand Rapids Shamrocks | 53 | 44 | .546 | 7 | John Roushkolb / Harry Smith / Edward Eagan |
Lansing Senators | 42 | 56 | .429 | 18.5 | Walter Mumby |
Greenville | 42 | 58 | .400 | 19.5 | John Foster |
Kalamazoo Kazoos/Flint Flyers # | 38 | 59 | .392 | 22 | James Lombard |
# Kalamazoo (32-42) transferred to Flint September 3.
Note: 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 pennant, but Saginaw protested. President Curtis awarded the championship banner to Saginaw.
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
President: Orlando F. Barnes
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Rapids Shamrocks # | 17 | 8 | .680 | - | Edward Eagan |
Manistee | 16 | 8 | .667 | .5 | John Murphy |
Flint Flyers | 13 | 10 | .565 | 3 | J. A. Sanford |
Port Huron | 11 | 14 | .440 | 6 | Joe Walsh |
Muskegon | 10 | 14 | .417 | 6.5 | John Roushkolb |
Lansing Senators | 4 | 17 | .190 | 11 | C. A. Briggs |
# Grand Rapids left to join the International League June 12
The league disbanded June 13.
Cities Represented Teams & Stats[edit]
1895[edit]
- Adrian, MI: Adrian Demons
- Battle Creek, MI: Battle Creek Adventists
- Jackson, MI: Jackson Jaxons
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Kazoos
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Senators
- Owosso, MI: Owosso Colts
- Port Huron, MI: Port Huron Marines
1895 Michigan State League - schedule
President: Walter H. Mumby
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 | E. F. Mayo/Oliver Hungerford |
Battle Creek Adventists## / Jackson Jaxons | 36 | 53 | .404 | 22 | 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) was replaced by Jackson August 8
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 |
Cities Represented Teams & Stats[edit]
1897[edit]
- Bay City, MI: Bay City
- Flint, MI: Flint
- Jackson, MI: Jackson
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Senators
- Port Huron, MI: Port Huron
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw Lumbermen
1897 Michigan State League
President: Walter H. Mumby
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bay City | 42 | 38 | .525 | - | Jay Faatz |
Saginaw Lumbermen | 38 | 43 | .469 | 4.5 | George Black (June) / William Phillips |
Port Huron | 29 | 42 | .408 | 8.5 | Gobel (7/__) / D. McCarron (disbanded Aug) |
Kalamazoo / 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) transferred to Flint July 12
& Jackson disbanded July 20
% Lansing disbanded July 27
The league disbanded August 16
Cities Represented Teams & Stats[edit]
1902[edit]
- Battle Creek, MI: Battle Creek Cero Frutos
- Flint, MI: Flint
- Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Colts
- Jackson, MI: Jackson
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Senators
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon Reds
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw White Sox
1902 Michigan State League - schedule
President: G.E. Morrison
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battle Creek Cero Frutos | 53 | 31 | .631 | - | Jacob Weickgenant/W.E. Woods |
Saginaw White Sox/Jackson # | 50 | 39 | .562 | 5.5 | Doggie Miller |
Flint | 47 | 41 | .534 | 8 | 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.
Cities Represented Teams & Stats[edit]
1911-1912-1913-1914[edit]
- Belding, MI: Belding Champs 1914
- Boyne City, MI: Boyne City Boosters 1911-1914
- Cadillac, MI: Cadillac Chiefs 1911-1914
- Holland, MI: Holland Wooden Shoes 1911
- Ludington, MI: Ludington Mariners 1912-1914
- Manistee, MI: Manistee Colts 1911; Manistee Champs 1912-1914
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon Reds 1911; Muskegon Speeders 1912-1914
- Traverse City, MI: Traverse City Resorters 1911-1914
1911 Michigan State League - schedule
President: Emerson Dickerson
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manistee Colts | 74 | 45 | .622 | - | Ed R. Somerlott / Earl Zook / Connie Lewis |
Muskegon Reds | 73 | 45 | .619 | .5 | Arthur DeBaker |
Cadillac Chiefs | 73 | 45 | .619 | .5 | Calvin Wenger |
Traverse City Resorters | 62 | 56 | .525 | 11.5 | William Hawker / Henry Collett |
Holland Wooden Shoes | 48 | 71 | .403 | 26 | McNutt / Penfold (Aug 8) / Ed McDonough / W. Schaefer |
Boyne City Boosters | 24 | 92 | .207 | 48.5 | Peter Partlow (June 14)/ Jack Ryan (ryanja02) (June 22) / Partlow (July 1) / Lou Criger |
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
President: Emerson Dickerson
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 | Art DeBaker |
Cadillac Chiefs | 35 | 82 | .299 | 47.5 | Calvin Wenger / Tom Railing |
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
President: Emerson Dickerson
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 | Peg Bemis / Sandy Murray |
Boyne City Boosters | 57 | 63 | .475 | 16 | Grover Gillen |
Cadillac Chiefs | 53 | 66 | .445 | 19.5 | Homer Warner |
Ludington Mariners | 53 | 67 | .442 | 20 | Bob Grogran / Harry Arndt |
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
President: Emerson Dickerson
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Muskegon Speeders | 73 | 46 | .613 | - | Sandy Murray |
Ludington Mariners | 69 | 50 | .580 | 4 | Bob Grogan / Jim Sager |
Cadillac Chiefs | 67 | 51 | .568 | 5.5 | Jay Parker |
Manistee ##Belding Champs | 57 | 64 | .471 | 17 | 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 | 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 |
Cities Represented Teams & Stats[edit]
1926[edit]
- Bay City, MI: Bay City Wolves, from Michigan-Ontario League
- Charlotte, MI: Charlotte Giants
- Flint, MI: Flint Vehicles, from Michigan-Ontario League
- Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Black Sox, from Central League
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Celery Pickers, from Central League
- Ludington, MI: Ludington Tars, from Central League
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon Reds, from Central League
- Port Huron, MI: Port Huron Saints, from Michigan-Ontario League
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw Aces, from Michigan-Ontario League
1926 Michigan State League - schedule
President: Thomas J. Halligan
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bay City Wolves | 64 | 30 | .681 | - | Bob Prysock |
Port Huron Saints | 56 | 38 | .596 | 8 | Johnny Carlin |
Saginaw Aces | 55 | 41 | .573 | 10 | Les Nunamaker |
Grand Rapids Black Sox | 51 | 43 | .543 | 13 | Jess Runser/Pat Devereaux |
Ludington Tars | 45 | 51 | .469 | 20 | Ovid Nicholson |
Muskegon Reds | 39 | 56 | .411 | 25.5 | Buck Wheat |
Kalamazoo Celery Pickers | 39 | 59 | .398 | 27 | Boss Schmidt / George Hutton |
Flint Vehics/Charlotte Giants # | 32 | 63 | .337 | 32.5 | Ray Dunn |
# Flint (18-26) moved to Charlotte July 22, first home game July 25
This league was created June 15 by the mid-season merger of the Central and Michigan-Ontario leagues.
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 |
Cities Represented Teams & Stats[edit]
1940-1941[edit]
- Flint, MI: Flint Gems 1940; Flint Indians 1941
- Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Dodgers 1940; Grand Rapids Colts 1941
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Lancers 1940; Lansing Senators 1941
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon Reds 1940-1941
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw Athletics 1940; Saginaw White Sox 1941
- St. Joseph, MI: St. Joseph Autos 1940-1941
1940 Michigan State League
President: Thomas J. Halligan
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 | Burleigh Grimes |
Muskegon Reds | 49 | 57 | .462 | 17 | Jack Tighe |
Lansing Lancers | 44 | 62 | .415 | 22 | Jesse Altenburg |
Playoffs: Saginaw 3 games, Grand Rapids 1; St. Joseph 3 games, Flint 2.
Finals: Cancelled due to inclement weather.
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
President: Thomas J. Halligan
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flint Indians | 70 | 38 | .648 | - | Jack Knight |
St. Joseph Autos | 64 | 50 | .561 | 9 | Elmer Kirchoff |
Grand Rapids Colts | 59 | 55 | .518 | 14 | Charlie Lucas |
Muskegon Reds | 61 | 57 | .517 | 14 | 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 StatisticsPlayer | 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 |
Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]
- Honus Wagner, 1895 Adrian Demons
Source[edit]
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second and Third Editions.
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