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 occasions. Twenty two cities hosted teams in the Michigan State league.
History 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 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
1889 to 1890 1889 Michigan State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Saginaw* 5940.586 2 Louis Williams / John Murphy Jackson Jaxons 6037.619— James Tray Grand Rapids Shamrocks 5344.5467 John Roushkolb / Harry Smith / Edward Eagan Lansing Farmers4256.42918½ Walter Mumby Greenville4258.40019½ John Foster Kalamazoo Kazoos /Flint Flyers3859.39222 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 TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Joe Katz GreenvilleBA.364 Joe Katz GreenvilleHits154 Fred Popkay JacksonRuns109 Joe Katz GreenvilleHR14 1890 Michigan State Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Grand Rapids Shamrocks 178.680— Edward Eagan Manistee 168.667 ½ John Murphy Flint Flyers1310.5653 J. A. Sanford Port Huron 1114.4406 Joe Walsh Muskegon1014.4176 John Roushkolb Lansing Farmers417.19011 C. A. Briggs Grand Rapids left to join the International League June 12 The league disbanded June 13.
1895 1895 Michigan State Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Adrian Demons 5730.655— R.G. Taylor Lansing Senators 5636.6093½ R.N. Parshall / Alfred Manassau Kalamazoo Kazoos 5041.5499 E. F. Mayo / Oliver Hungerford Battle Creek Adventists / Jackson Jaxons3653.40422 Mittenhal / Todd / Leigh Lynch Owosso Colts 3447.420NA Fred Craves / Frank Wickine Port Huron Marines 2751.346NA 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 TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotJack DalyLansingBA.397 George Wilson AdrianW29 Jack DalyLansingRuns124 George Wilson AdrianPCT.879; 29–4 Jack DalyLansingHits143 Jack DalyLansingHR25 M. H. JusticeAdrianSB65
1897 1897 Michigan State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Bay City 4238.525— Jay Faatz Saginaw Lumbermen 3843.4694½ George Black / William Phillips Port Huron 2942.4088½ Gobel / D. McCarron Kalamazoo Celery Eaters/ Flint 3251.386 11½ Fred Popkay / E.F. Mayo Jackson 4623.667NA Lefty Davis / Charlie Cushman Lansing Senators 4131.569NA Thomas Robinson Kalamazoo (23–41) moved to Flint July 12; Jackson disbanded July 20; Lansing disbanded July 27 The league disbanded August 16
1902 1902 Michigan State Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Battle Creek Cero Frutos5331.631— Jacob Weickgenant / W.E. Woods Saginaw White Sox/ Jackson White Sox 5039.5625½ Doggie Miller Flint4741.5348 Arlie Latham / Ed Zimran Muskegon Reds4047.46014½ Arthur DeBaker Lansing Senators 3562.36124½ H.A. Bowie / Walter Niles Grand Rapids Colts 2934.460NA 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 1911 Michigan State Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Manistee Colts7445.622— Ed R. Somerlott / Earl Zook / Connie Lewis Cadillac Chiefs7345.619 ½ Calvin Wenger Traverse City Resorters6256.52511½ William Hawker / Henry Collett Holland Wooden Shoes4871.40326 Clyde McNutt / Ted Penfold / Ed McDonough / W. Schaefer Boyne City Boosters2492.20748½ Peter Partlow / Jack Ryan / Partlow / Lou Criger +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Earl Comstock MuskegonBA.354 Ray WilliamsManisteeW25 Otto Pfeifer Traverse CityRuns120 Ray Williams ManisteeSO169 Bunny BriefTraverse CityHits169 Ray Williams ManisteePCT.833; 25–5 Bunny BriefTraverse CityHR10 Otto Pfeifer Traverse CitySB85 1912 Michigan State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Manistee Champs8335.703— Connie Lewis Traverse City Resorters7940.6644½ James Hamilton Ludington Mariners6059.50423½ Frank Warrender / Claude Stark Boyne City Boosters5069.42033½ Bo Slear Muskegon Speeders4870.40735 Art DeBaker Cadillac Chiefs3582.29947½ Calvin Wenger / Tom Railing
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotAl PlatteCadillacBA.367 Omer Benn ManisteeW22 Carl Jones ManisteeRuns80 Al Bowman MuskegonSO213 Bunny BriefTraverse CityHits152La Rue KirbyTraverse CityPCT.857; 18–3 Bunny BriefTraverse CityHR13 Al PlatteCadillacSB42 1913 Michigan State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Manistee Champs7347.608— Connie Lewis Traverse City Resorters6257.52110½ Jack Pendry / James Hamilton / Carl Wenger Muskegon Speeders6159.50812 Peg Bemis / Sandy Murray Boyne City Boosters5763.47516 Grover Gillen Cadillac Chiefs5366.44519½ Homer Warner Ludington Mariners5367.44220 Bob Grogran / Harry Arndt
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Sid Miller MuskegonBA.359 Babe Roberts Boyne CityW18 Pete Allison CadillacRuns84 John Radloff ManisteeW18 Bill Varley Boyne CityRuns84 John Radloff ManisteeSO235 Carl Dunckel MuskegonRuns84 Henry Negake MuskegonPCT.750; 9–3 Pete Allison CadillacHits157 Grover Prough ManisteeHR14 1914 Michigan State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Muskegon Speeders7346.613— Sandy Murray Ludington Mariners6950.5804 Bob Grogan / Jim Sager Cadillac Chiefs6751.5685½ Jay Parker Manistee / Belding Champs5764.47117 Louis Haidt Boyne City Boosters 4851.485NA Grover Gillen Traverse City Resorters 2274.229NA 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 TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotGil PattersonTrCity/Manis/BelBA.314 Neal Leifers MuskegonW25 Raleigh Baum CadillacRuns86Neal Leifers MuskegonSO194 Raleigh Baum CadillacHits138 Neal Liefers MuskegonPCT.758; 25–8 Carl Tennant LudingtonHR7
1926 1926 Michigan State League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Bay City Wolves6430.681— Bob Prysock Port Huron Saints5638.5968 Johnny Carlin Saginaw Aces5541.57310 Les Nunamaker Grand Rapids Black Sox5143.54313 Jess Runser / Pat Devereaux Ludington Tars4551.46920 Ovid Nicholson Muskegon Reds3956.41125½ Buck Wheat Kalamazoo Celery Pickers3959.39827 Boss Schmidt / George Hutton Flint Vehicles /Charlotte Giants 3263.33732½ 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 TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Dan Beal LudingtonBA.375 Saraphin Good Bay CityW19 Al BashangBay CityRuns107 Sid Dyer SaginawSO148 Dan Beal LudingtonHits134 Saraphin Good Bay CityPCT.826; 19–4 Harry Green KalamazooHR11
1940 to 1941 1940 Michigan State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Flint Gems6741.620—Jack Knight Saginaw Athletics5348.52510½ Dallas Avery / Hank Camelli St. Joseph Autos5251.50512½ Conrad Fisher / Elmer Kirchoff Grand Rapids Dodgers5056.47216 Burleigh Grimes Muskegon Reds4957.46217 Jack Tighe Lansing Lancers4462.41522 Jesse Altenburg Playoffs: Saginaw 3 games, Grand Rapids 1; St. Joseph 3 games, Flint 2 Finals cancelled due to inclement weather
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Robert Ogle Grand RapidsBA.374 Vernon Kohler FlintW18 Elmer Sidlo FlintRuns109 Suvern Wright SaginawSO159 Robert Ogle Grand RapidsHits171 Clarence Gann MuskegonERA2.80 Jerry Burmeister LansingRBI86 Herb Norquist St. JosephPCT.846; 11–2 Joe Wojey Grand RapidsHR20 1941 Michigan State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Flint Indians7038.648—Jack Knight St. Joseph Autos6450.5619 Elmer Kirchoff Grand Rapids Colts5955.51814 Red Lucas Muskegon Reds6157.51714 Jack Tighe Saginaw White Sox5162.45121½ Bill Prince / Walden McMullen Lansing Senators3578.31037½ Danny Taylor / Russ Wein No Playoffs Scheduled
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotGene WoodlingFlintBA.394 Frank Schulz FlintW17 Johnny LiponMuskegonRuns126 Tom Hamill Grand RapidsSO188Johnny LiponMuskegonHits176Steve GromekFlintERA2.90 Johnny LiponMuskegonRBI115Steve GromekFlintPCT.875 14–2 Norm Snyder St. JosephRBI115 Johnny LiponMuskegonHR35
Hall of Fame alumni Burleigh Grimes, 1940 Grand Rapids Dodgers, MGR Honus Wagner, 1895 Adrian Demons
References
Sources The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, and Third Editions.
Further reading 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 .