Tri-State League (OH-WV-MI-PA)

There have been five different entries known as the Tri-State League and they have varied widely in composition.

The first Tri-State League (OH-WV-MI-PA) operated in 1887-1890. Ohio supplied most of the teams, West Virginia supplied one, while Michigan was the third state from 1887-1888, and Pennsylvania was the third state in 1890. The league Played as the Ohio State League in 1887. Sixteen cities represented the league during this run. Twelve were from Ohio, two from Michigan, one from Pennsylvania and the other from West Virginia.

Cities Represented

• Akron, OH: Akron Akrons 1890
• Canton, OH: Canton 1888; Canton Nadjys 1889-1890
• Columbus, OH: Columbus Senators 1888
• Dayton, OH: Dayton Reds 1889-1890
• Hamilton, OH: Hamilton 1889
• Jackson, MI: Jackson Jaxons 1888
• Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1888
• Lima, OH: Lima Lushers 1888
• Mansfield, OH: Mansfield Indians 1889-1890
• McKeesport, PA: McKeesport 1890
• Sandusky, OH: Sandusky Fish Eaters 1888
• Springfield, OH: Springfield 1889-1890
• Toledo, OH: Toledo Maumees 1888
• Wheeling, WV: Wheeling Nail Cities 1888; Wheeling Nailers 1889-1890
• Youngstown, OH: Youngstown Giants 1890
• Zanesville, OH: Zanesville Kickapoos 1888

Teams & Statistics

1888

1888 Tri-State League - schedule
President: W.H. McDermith

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Lima Lushers	74	35	.679	-	William Harrington
Wheeling Nail Cities	71	43	.623	5.5	Bill Otterson/Al Buckenberger
Columbus Senators	64	50	.561	12.5	James Curry/Frank Arnold
Canton	50	64	.439	26.5	William Zecher/J.H. Harmon
Toledo Maumees	46	68	.403	30.5	Harry Smith/Frank Mountain/Robert Wood
Mansfield	43	74	.368	35	Frank Torreyson/Frank O'Brien/James Green/Ed Darrow
Jackson Jaxons	30	83	.264	46	Burbridge/Curry/Moore/Tray
Kalamazoo Kazoos #	62	37	.626	NA	Norris O'Neil
Zanesville Kickapoos #	63	39	.618	NA	Peter McShannic (6/__) /Al Swift (7/27) William Harrington
Sandusky Fish Eaters #	44	54	.449	NA	Horace Lockwood/James Hever/W.E. Rutter

# Kalamazoo, Zanesville and Sandusky disbanded prior to the end of the season.
No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot
John Kirby	Lima	BA	.369
Sam Nichol	Wheeling	Runs	112
Buck West	Colum/Wheel	Hits	150
Sam Nichol	Wheeling	Hits	150
George Rooks	Lima	HR	13
Henry Fuller	Lima	SB	103

1889

President: W.H. McDermith

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Canton Nadjys	67	37	.644	-	William Harrington
Springfield	61	48	.560	8.5	Walter Jennison / Lewis Hill / Harry Fisher
Mansfield Indians	59	50	.541	10.5	Christopher Meisel / Robert Carey / Jack Remsen
Dayton Reds	52	54	.491	16	Frank Jones / Timothy Donovan / Frank O'Brien
Hamilton	41	65	.387	27	D.C. Blandy / Edward Hengle
Wheeling Nailers	41	67	.380	28	Sullivan / Nichol / Howell / Dunn / Wright / Crogan

No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
John Ryn	Canton	BA	.358		Henry Morrison	Mansfield	W	23
Dusty Miller	Canton	Runs	129		R.J. Riley	Canton	PCT	.813 13-3
John Ryn	Canton	Hits	150
Joseph Sharpe	Canton	SB	83

1890

President: W.H. McDermith

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Mansfield Indians	49	25	.662	-	George Greer
Wheeling Nailers	39	32	.549	8.5	Bob Glenalvin / Bill George
Youngstown Giants	38	33	.535	9.5	Harry Morton / Michael Cody
Akron Akrons	38	38	.500	12	Charles Pike
McKeesport	36	44	.450	16	Alexander Voss / Frank Torreyson
Canton Nadjys	26	48	.351	23	Heingartner / Peeples / Hiner /Grogan
Dayton Reds #	31	27	.534	NA	Timothy Donovan
Springfield ##	24	34	.414	NA	Harry Fisher

# Dayton disbanded July 8.
## Springfield disbanded July 9.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Fred Osborne	Wheeling	BA	.397
Frank Goodryder	Mansfield	Runs	81
Fred Betts	Spring/Wheel	Hits	113
Frank Motz	Akron	HR	14

Hall of Fame Alumni

• Ed Delahanty, 1888 Wheeling Nail Cities
• Cy Young, 1890 Canton

Source

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second and Third Editions.