Youngstown Ohio Works

• Location: Youngstown, OH
• League: Ohio-Pennsylvania League 1905-1906
• Affiliation:
• Ballpark:

The Youngstown Ohio Works team appeared in 1903, under the sponsorship of the McDonald family, local industrialists. In 1905, the Ohio Works joined the Class C Division Ohio-Pennsylvania League. From the beginning, the Ohio Works club was managed by ex-major leaguer Marty Hogan, a former outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Browns. In September 1905, Hogan led the Youngstown, OH team to the league championship, though sources disagree on the club's final record. As baseball researcher John Zajc writes, "The Reach Guide (1906) credits Youngstown with an 84-32 won-lost record, where the Spalding Guide of the same year lists a 90-35 record. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball tells a third story, giving Youngstown an 88-35 mark."

According to an article that appeared in the Youngstown Daily Vindicator on October 10, 1906, the Ohio Works team won three "state pennants" under Hogan's leadership. Disagreements over managerial control and funding, however, culminated in the club's sale and relocation in early 1907. An article published in the Zanesville (Ohio) Signal on February 19, 1907, reported that Hogan received permission from the McDonalds to negotiate a $3,000 deal for the sale of the team (including its players) to a group of Zanesville investors. In the same article, Hogan was quoted as saying, "Youngstown couldn't or didn't raise enough money to cover a sparrow's blanket." The new Zanesville club ultimately failed in its bid to become part of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League and instead joined the Pennsylvania-Ohio-Maryland League. (In 1908, the club became known as the Zanesville Infants and joined the Central League.)

The Youngstown Ohio Works is remembered for its role in launching the career of Hall of Fame umpire Billy Evans. On September 1, 1903, Evans, a reporter at the Youngstown Daily Vindicator, was assigned to cover a game between the Ohio Works and the Homestead (Pennsylvania) Library Athletic Club at Youngstown's South Side Park. Club manager Hogan offered Evans $15 to fill an umpire vacancy. By the end of the 13-inning game, Hogan was so impressed with Evan's skill that he recommended him as a league umpire. (In 1905, Evans received another career boost from Youngstown native Jimmy McAleer, who recommended Evans to the American League.)

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1905	88-35	1st	Marty Hogan
1906	84-53	1st	Marty Hogan

References

• The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio, October 10, 1906.
• The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio, October 14, 1906.
• The Zanesville Signal, Zanesville, Ohio, February 19, 1907.
• The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, February 24, 1907.
• The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, Sept. 16-18, 1946.
• The Valley Voice, Youngstown, Ohio, July 1-7, 2005.