New York State League (1885–1917)

The New York State League was a minor league baseball league that played between 1885 and 1917. The league began play as an Independent level league before playing from 1902 to 1917 as a Class B level league. League franchises were based in New York and Pennsylvania. John H. Farrell served as president of the league from 1897 to 1917.

History The first New York State League in 1885, was actually the second of the many names the International League used before settling on its longterm moniker.

The second New York State League was a six team league for one season in 1889. Oneida was expelled from the league on July 12, and Seneca Falls disbanded August 19.

The third and longest running New York State League was a solid league that lasted from 1899 through 1917. The league was classified as a Class B league in 1902 when the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues was formed. The loop, which also had teams in Pennsylvania, was also remarkably stable in terms of membership for any minor league of that era. Binghamton and Utica lasted the whole 19-year run.

Baseball Hall of Fame members Grover Cleveland Alexander (1910 Syracuse Stars), Johnny Evers (1902 Troy Trojans) and Bucky Harris (1917 Reading Pretzels) played in the league.

Cities represented

Albany, NY: Albany Senators 1885, 1890, 1894–1895, 1899–1916 Amsterdam, NY: Amsterdam Carpet Tacks 1894; Amsterdam Red Stockings 1895 Amsterdam, NY / Johnstown, NY / Gloversville, NY: Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags 1902; Amsterdam–Gloversville–Johnstown Hypens 1903–1904; Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags 1905–1908 Auburn, NY: Auburn 1889; Auburn Maroons 1897–1898; Auburn Pioneers 1899 Binghamton, NY: Binghamton Bingoes 1885; Binghamton Crickets 1895; Binghamton Bingos 1899; Binghamton Crickets 1900; Binghamton Bingoes 1901–1917 Canandaigua, NY: Canandaigua 1889; Cobleskill, NY: Cobleskill Giants 1890; Cortland, NY: Cortland Wagonmakers 1899–1901 Elmira, NY: Elmira Colonels 1885; Elmira 1889; Elmira Pioneers 1895, 1900; Elmira Rams 1908, Elmira Pioneers 1908–1917 Gloversville, NY: Gloversville Glovers 1895 Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Islanders 1916–1917 Ilion, NY: Ilion Typewriters 1901–1904 Johnstown, NY: Johnstown Buckskins 1894–1895 Johnstown, NY & Gloversville, NY: Johnstown-Gloversville 1890; Kingston, NY: Kingston Patriarchs 1894 Oneida, NY: Oneida 1889; Oneonta, NY: Oneonta 1890; Oswego, NY: Oswego Sweegs 1885; Oswego Oswegos 1899; Oswego Grays 1900 Palmyra, NY: Palmyra Mormans 1897–1898 Pittsfield, MA: Pittsfield Colts 1894 Poughkeepsie, NY: Poughkeepsie Bridge Citys 1894 Reading, PA: Reading Pretzels 1916–1917 Rochester, NY: Rochester Flour Cities 1885; Rome, NY: Rome Romans 1899–1901 Schenectady, NY: Schenectady Dorpians 1895; Schenectady Electricians 1899–1902; Schenectady Frog Alleys 1903; Schenectady Electricians 1904 Scranton, PA: Scranton Miners 1904–1917 Seneca Falls, NY: Seneca Falls Maroons 1889; Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Stars 1885; 1902–1917 Troy, NY: Troy (NY) Trojans 1890, 1895; Troy Washerwomen 1899–1900; Troy (NY) Trojans 1901–1916 Utica, NY: Utica Pentups 1885; Utica 1889; Utica Pent-Ups 1890; 1899–1909; Utica Utes 1910–1917 Waverly, NY: Waverly Wagonmakers 1901 Wilkes-Barre, PA: Wilkes-Barre Barons 1905–1917

Standings and statistics 1885 to 1904 1885 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Syracuse Stars5237.584–Henry Ormsbee / John Humphries Utica Pentups 4941.5443½Dave Dischler Rochester Flour Cities4542.5176James Jackson / Harry Leonard Binghamton Bingoes 4146.47110 Leonard Baldwin Oswego Sweegs3551.40715½Jack Gorman / Salladin Michael Gill Albany Senators 2420.545NA Billy ArnoldElmira Colonels 09.000NA Wightman / Doc Kennedy Elmira entered the league July 10 and disbanded July 26; Albany disbanded July 27.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Doc KennedyElmiraBA.387 Jim Devine SyracuseERA0.76 Sandy GriffinUticaHits91 Charlie OsterhoutTorontoRuns74 1889 New York State League

Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Auburn 3219.627–Frank Leonard Elmira 3021.5882Harry Taylor Canandaigua 2724.5295E.P. Gardner Utica Pentups 2228.4409½ George Geer Seneca Falls Maroons1828.39111½ John Esmack / William Urquhart John O' Toole Oneida 817.320NAJuice Latham Oneida expelled July 12; Seneca Falls folded August 19.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat Tot Harry TaylorElmiraBA.377 Dan Phalen AuburnHits92 T.L. Keay AuburnRuns70 Tim ShinnickAuburnSB44 1890 New York State League

Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Troy Trojans5237.584–Jack Remsen Cobleskill Giants4238.5255½Myron Allen Utica Pent-Ups4644.5116½ David Dischler Johnstown–Gloversville4646.5007½ John Case Oneonta 3642.46210½W.P. Bowling /Conkley George Geer Albany Senators3954.41915Tom York / William Primrose Oneonta folded September 3; Cobleskill folded September 20

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Doc KennedyUticaBA.369 Tom Brahan TroyW20 John Gunshannon TroyRuns96 James McGuire UticaW20 Bill DahlenCobleskillHits137 Patrick Shea Johnstown–GloversvilleSO170 Andy Costello Johnstown–GloversvilleHR6 Patrick Shea Johnstown–GloversvilleERA0.79 Thomas Meara Oneonta/UticaSB84Tom Brahan TroyPCT.741 20–7 1894 New York State League

Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Amsterdam Carpet Tacks3021.588– Walter Beebe / John Bartholomew Bart Howard Poughkeepsie Bridge Citys2521.5432½ John Darrow Johnstown Buckskins2220.5243½George Geer Kingston Patriarchs1331.29513½ Richard Johnston / George Madden Albany Senators 1912.613NABilly Arnold Pittsfield Colts1317.433NA George Roberts / Edward Cain Albany and Pittsfield disbanded July 3

+Player statisticsPlayerTeamStatTot Chauncey Baldwin AmsterdamW11 Chauncey BaldwinAmsterdamPCT.786 11–3

1895 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Binghamton Crickets2821.571– Victor Wilber Amsterdam Red Stockings2922.569-Tom Donovan Elmira Pioneers2923.558½ William Heine Schenectady Dorpians2424.5003½ Irvin Cook / Patrick Shea Gloversville Glovers 2027.426NA George Geer Johnstown Buckskins 1728.378NA Ed Breckinridge Troy Trojans 77.500NA J.D. Maloney Albany Senators 68.429NAHenry Ramsey Albany and Troy folded May 20; Gloversville and Johnstown folded July 4

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Si Lauer AmsterdamHR7 Tom Braham ElmiraW11 HollisElmiraW11 Ed MurphyBinghamtonW11 Ed MurphyBinghamtonPCT.688 11–5

1897 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Canandaigua Rustlers5335.602– Henry Ramsey Palmyra Mormons5135.5931 Charles Faatz Auburn Maroons5041.5494½Tim Shinnick Cortland Hirelings 2936.446NA George Geer / Otis Smith Batavia Giants / Geneva Alhambras 2560.29426.5 Martin Earley / Joe Hornung / L. Angevine / William McNamara /Ralph Fray Cortland joined June 2; Batavia (11–33) moved to Geneva July 25

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Bill DugglebyAuburnBA.365Bill DugglebyAuburnERA1.31 James Toman AuburnR102 Chris Genegel CanandaiguaHits131 Tom Twaddle AuburnHits131

1898 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Canandaigua Rustlers5541.579– Henry Ramsey Oswego Grays5247.5254 James Sayer Auburn Maroons5250.5105½Tim Shinnick / Barney McManus Michael J. Finn Utica Pent-Ups4949.5006½Jack Cronin / George Geer Brown / George Blackburn Howard Earl Cortland Wagonmakers4549.4798½Tom McGuirk / Ed Delaney Frank Leonard Rome (NY) Romans4351.45710½Charles Faatz / Hobart Whiting Lyons 4037.519NA Louis Bacon Palmyra Mormons / Johnstown 29 39.426 NA Doc Kennedy / Wimple Daniel Ryan / Michael J. Finn Charles Faatz Palmyra (25–35) disbanded July 22, franchise to Johnstown (4–4) Aug 6, Johnstown disbanded August 16; Lyons disbanded August 12

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Peter Eagan UticaBA.365 Tom Johnson UticaW20 Tommy LeachAuburnRuns85Bill Setley Utica/CanandaiguaPCT.733 11–4 Jimmy BarrettOswegoHits132Jimmy BarrettOswegoHR5Tommy LeachAuburnHR5

1899 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Rome Romans7632.705– Tom O'Brien Utica Pent-Ups 7043.6208½ Howard Earl Cortland Wagonmakers5646.55017 Henry Ramsey Binghamton Bingoes 5655.50521½ Louis Bacon Oswego Grays5757.50022James Sayers Albany Senators5462.46626 Charles Faatz /Julius Haas / John Rafter Auburn Prisoners / Troy Washerwomen 4369.38435Tim Shinnick / Charles Faatz Schenectady Electricians 2977.27446 James Brady / Lew Whistler /Hodge Berry Harry Raymond /Billy Bottenus Auburn (27–43) moved to Troy August 1.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Eddie Hill BinghamtonBA.378 Frank Rudderham RomeW26 Bill FoxRomeRuns113George WheelerRomePct.765; 13–4 Eddie Hill BinghamtonHits158 Bill GilbertUticaSB78

1900 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Utica Pent-Ups7443.633– Howard Earl Cortland Wagonmakers 7043.6212 J.D. Roche Rome Romans7044.6172½ Tom O'Brien Schenectady Electricians 5561.47418½Lew Whistler Albany Senators5462.46619½ Bill Smith Binghamton Crickets4354.44321 Louis Bacon / H.M. Gitchell Troy Washerwomen 4866.42124½ Henry Ramsey / Charles Van Anin Oswego Grays / Elmira Pioneers 3172.30036Tim Shinnick / Walt Preston Abner Powell Oswego (20–45) moved to Elmira July 30.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot John DobbsUticaBA.366Willard MainsRomeW27 John DobbsUticaRuns113Willard MainsRomePct.844; 27–5 John DobbsUticaHits171 Lew WhistlerSchenectadyHR9 Bill FoxRomeSB63

1901 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Albany Senators7243.626–Tom O'Brien Utica Pent-Ups 6844.6072½Wally Taylor Binghamton Bingoes6945.6052½Count Campau Rome Romans6247.5697 George Wheeler Schenectady Electricians6560.5657Howard Earl Troy Trojans4662.42622½ Louis BaconCortland / Waverly Wagonmakers 3668.34630½ William A. Smith Ilion Typewriters2382.21944Tim Shinnick Cortland (22–34) moved to Waverly July 11.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotHugh AhernTroyBA.380George MerrittUticaW23 Chick CargoAlbanyRuns110George MerrittUticaPct.741; 23–8 Jim Jones AlbanyHits154 Jim TamsettAlbanySB56

1902 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Albany Senators7342.635–Tom O'Brien Binghamton Bingoes 7141.634½Count Campau Ilion Typewriters5947.5579½ Howard Earl Syracuse Stars6155.52612½Sandy Griffin Schenectady Electricians5655.50515Lew Whistler Utica Pent-Ups4963.43822½Wally Taylor Troy Trojans 4063.38827 Louis BaconAmsterdam-Johnstown-Gloversville Jags2972.28737Tommy Dowd

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Curt BernardAlbanyBA.323Ernie CrabillBinghamtonW22 Chick Cargo AlbanyRuns94Ernie CrabillBinghamtonPct.759; 22–7 Arthur RossSyracuseRuns94 Curt Bernard AlbanyHits148 Johnny EversTroyHR10

1903 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Schenectady Frog Alleys8052.606–Ben Ellis Syracuse Stars 8054.5971Sandy GriffinTroy Trojans7247.6051½ Louis BaconAlbany Senators6360.51212½ Mike Doherty Utica Pent-Ups6163.49215James Sayer / Elmer Horton Binghamton Bingoes5272.41924 John Quinn / Fred Popkay Count Campau Ilion Typewriters 5273.41624½ Howard Earl Amsterdam-Johnstown-Gloversville Hyphens4382.35033½Doc Hazleton / Dan Shannon Clarence Williams

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Charlie LoudenslagerSyracuseBA.326Jack FifieldSyracuseW26 Archie Marshall TroyRuns90Red AmesIlionSO214 Charlie LoudenslagerSyracuseHits167Del MasonSchenectadyPct.774: 24–7 Archie Marshall TroyHR8

1904 New York State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Syracuse Stars9144.674–Sandy Griffin Albany Senators 8152.6099 Mike Doherty Ilion Typewriters7556.57314Jack SharrottAmsterdam-Johnstown-Gloversville Hyphens6561.51621½ Howard Earl Troy Trojans6173.45529½ Louis BaconUtica Pent-Ups5973.44730½Elmer Horton / John Lawler Schenectady Electricians / Scranton Miners 4775.38535½Ben Ellis / Lou O'Neal Tom Bannon Binghamton Bingoes4085.32046Count Campau Schenectady (20–39) moved to Scranton July 17.