Michigan State League

Michigan State LeagueClassification| Independent (1889–1890, 1895, 1897)
Class D (1902, 1911–1914)
Class B (1926)
Class C (1940–1941)

|

Sport| Minor League Baseball
First season| 1889
Ceased| 1941
President| M. 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 teams| 22
Country| United States of America
Most titles| 3
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]

* Adrian, Michigan: Adrian Reformers 1895
* Battle Creek, Michigan: Battle Creek Adventists 1895; Battle Creek Cero Frutos 1902
* Bay City, Michigan: Bay City 1897; Bay City Wolves 1926
* Belding, Michigan: Belding Champs 1914
* Boyne City, Michigan: Boyne City Boosters 1911–1914
* Cadillac, Michigan: Cadillac Chiefs 1910–1914
* Charlotte, Michigan: Charlotte Giants 1926
* Flint, Michigan: Flint Flyers 1889–1890; Flint 1897, 1902; Flint Vehicles 1926; Flint Gems 1940; Flint Arrows 1941
* Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids 1889–1890; Grand Rapids Colts 1902; Grand Rapids Black Sox 1926; Grand Rapids Dodgers 1940; Grand Rapids Colts 1941
* Greenville, Michigan: Greenville 1889
* Holland, Michigan: Holland Wooden Shoes 1910–1911
* Jackson, Michigan: Jackson Jaxons 1889, 1895; Jackson 1897, Jackson White Sox 1902
* Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1889; Kalamazoo Celery Eaters 1895; Kalamazoo 1897; Kalamazoo Celery Pickers 1926
* Lansing, Michigan: Lansing Farmers 1889–1890; Lansing Senators 1895, 1897, 1902, 1941; Lansing Lancers 1940
* Ludington, Michigan: Ludington Mariners 1912–1914; Ludington Tars 1926
* Manistee, Michigan: Manistee 1890; Manistee Colts 1911; Manistee Champs 1912–1914
* Muskegon, Michigan: Muskegon 1890; Muskegon Speed Boys 1910; Muskegon Speeders 1912–1914; Muskegon Reds 1902, 1911, 1926, 1940–1941
* Owosso, Michigan: Owosso Colts 1895
* Port Huron, Michigan: Port Huron 1890; Port Huron Marines 1895; Port Huron 1897; Port Huron Saints 1926
* Saginaw, Michigan: Saginaw 1889; Saginaw Lumbermen 1897; Saginaw Aces 1926; Saginaw Athletics 1940; Saginaw White Sox 1902, 1941
* St. Joseph, Michigan: St. Joseph Autos 1940–1941
* Traverse City, Michigan: Traverse City Resorters 1910–1914

## Standings and statistics

[edit]

### 1889 to 1890

[edit]

1889 Michigan State League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Saginaw* | 59 | 40 | .586 | 2 | Louis Williams / John Murphy
Jackson Jaxons | 60 | 37 | .619 | — | James Tray
Grand Rapids Shamrocks | 53 | 44 | .546 | 7 | John Roushkolb / Harry Smith /
Edward Eagan
Lansing Farmers | 42 | 56 | .429 | 18½ | Walter Mumby
Greenville | 42 | 58 | .400 | 19½ | John Foster
Kalamazoo Kazoos /
Flint Flyers | 38 | 59 | .392 | 22 | James Lombard

Kalamazoo (32–42) moved to Flint September 3.
Jackson and Saginaw finished the regular season in a virtual tie for first place, Jackson played make-up games to gain enough victories to finish in first place. Saginaw protested and league President Curtis awarded the championship to Saginaw.

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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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

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Grand Rapids Shamrocks | 17 | 8 | .680 | — | Edward Eagan
Manistee | 16 | 8 | .667 | ½ | John Murphy
Flint Flyers | 13 | 10 | .565 | 3 | J. A. Sanford
Port Huron | 11 | 14 | .440 | 6 | Joe Walsh
Muskegon | 10 | 14 | .417 | 6 | John Roushkolb
Lansing Farmers | 4 | 17 | .190 | 11 | 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

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Adrian Demons | 57 | 30 | .655 | — | R.G. Taylor
Lansing Senators | 56 | 36 | .609 | 3½ | 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 and Port Huron disbanded September 3; Battle Creek (14–40) moved to Jackson August 8

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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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

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Bay City | 42 | 38 | .525 | — | Jay Faatz
Saginaw Lumbermen | 38 | 43 | .469 | 4½ | George Black / William Phillips
Port Huron | 29 | 42 | .408 | 8½ | Gobel / D. McCarron
Kalamazoo Celery Eaters/
Flint | 32 | 51 | .386 | 11½ | Fred Popkay / E.F. Mayo
Jackson | 46 | 23 | .667 | NA | Lefty Davis / Charlie Cushman
Lansing Senators | 41 | 31 | .569 | NA | Thomas Robinson

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

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Battle Creek Cero Frutos | 53 | 31 | .631 | — | Jacob Weickgenant / W.E. Woods
Saginaw White Sox/
Jackson White Sox | 50 | 39 | .562 | 5½ | Doggie Miller
Flint | 47 | 41 | .534 | 8 | Arlie Latham / Ed Zimran
Muskegon Reds | 40 | 47 | .460 | 14½ | Arthur DeBaker
Lansing Senators | 35 | 62 | .361 | 24½ | 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

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Manistee Colts | 74 | 45 | .622 | — | Ed R. Somerlott / Earl Zook /
Connie Lewis
Cadillac Chiefs | 73 | 45 | .619 | ½ | Calvin Wenger
Traverse City Resorters | 62 | 56 | .525 | 11½ | William Hawker / Henry Collett
Holland Wooden Shoes | 48 | 71 | .403 | 26 | Clyde McNutt / Ted Penfold /
Ed McDonough / W. Schaefer
Boyne City Boosters | 24 | 92 | .207 | 48½ | Peter Partlow / Jack Ryan /
Partlow / Lou Criger
Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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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

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Manistee Champs | 83 | 35 | .703 | — | Connie Lewis
Traverse City Resorters | 79 | 40 | .664 | 4½ | James Hamilton
Ludington Mariners | 60 | 59 | .504 | 23½ | Frank Warrender / Claude Stark
Boyne City Boosters | 50 | 69 | .420 | 33½ | Bo Slear
Muskegon Speeders | 48 | 70 | .407 | 35 | Art DeBaker
Cadillac Chiefs | 35 | 82 | .299 | 47½ | Calvin Wenger / Tom Railing
Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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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

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Manistee Champs | 73 | 47 | .608 | — | Connie Lewis
Traverse City Resorters | 62 | 57 | .521 | 10½ | 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 | 19½ | Homer Warner
Ludington Mariners | 53 | 67 | .442 | 20 | Bob Grogran / Harry Arndt
Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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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

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Muskegon Speeders | 73 | 46 | .613 | — | Sandy Murray
Ludington Mariners | 69 | 50 | .580 | 4 | Bob Grogan / Jim Sager
Cadillac Chiefs | 67 | 51 | .568 | 5½ | 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 and 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

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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

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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 | 25½ | Buck Wheat
Kalamazoo Celery Pickers | 39 | 59 | .398 | 27 | Boss Schmidt / George Hutton
Flint Vehicles /
Charlotte Giants | 32 | 63 | .337 | 32½ | 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

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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

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Flint Gems | 67 | 41 | .620 | — | Jack Knight
Saginaw Athletics | 53 | 48 | .525 | 10½ | Dallas Avery / Hank Camelli
St. Joseph Autos | 52 | 51 | .505 | 12½ | 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 statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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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

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Flint Indians | 70 | 38 | .648 | — | Jack Knight
St. Joseph Autos | 64 | 50 | .561 | 9 | Elmer Kirchoff
Grand Rapids Colts | 59 | 55 | .518 | 14 | Red Lucas
Muskegon Reds | 61 | 57 | .517 | 14 | Jack Tighe
Saginaw White Sox | 51 | 62 | .451 | 21½ | Bill Prince / Walden McMullen
Lansing Senators | 35 | 78 | .310 | 37½ | Danny Taylor / Russ Wein

No Playoffs Scheduled

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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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]

* Burleigh Grimes, 1940 Grand Rapids Dodgers, MGR [2]
* Honus Wagner, 1895 Adrian Demons[3]

## 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]

* Mitch Lutzke (Vol. 104, No. 5). "A One-Season Wonder: Baseball in 1889." Michigan History. Lansing, Michigan: Historical Society of Michigan (published Sept/Oct 2020). Accessed via Gale Academic OneFile at A ONE-SEASON WONDER Baseball in 1889. - Document - Michigan History Magazine .

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