The Ohio–Pennsylvania League (1905–1912) was a Class C and Class D level minor league baseball league that featured franchises based in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The league was founded by Charlie Morton and operated for eight seasons, with the Akron Champs winning four league championships.

History

The Ohio–Pennsylvania League had its beginnings in March 1905, when league president Charlie Morton invited six prospective members to a meeting in Akron, Ohio. In May 1905, eleven teams joined the Protective Association of Independent Clubs, which formed the basis of the Class C Division Ohio–Pennsylvania League. Ultimately, the league trimmed down to eight teams from the following cities: Akron, Newark, Niles, Youngstown, and Zanesville in Ohio, and Homestead, Lancaster, and Sharon in Pennsylvania.Spalding's Official Athletic Library Baseball Guide (New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1910), p. 219.

That September, the Youngstown Ohio Works won the league championship, although sources disagree on the team's final record. As one researcher 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 (1993) tells a third story, giving Youngstown an 88–35 mark."

In 1912, the league rescinded its membership in the National Association when it placed a franchise in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

By the end of its seven-year lifespan, in 1912, the Ohio–Pennsylvania League had enlisted the membership of no less than 40 ball clubs based in over 20 cities. While the league was disorganized (like many of its counterparts), it provided regional sports teams with an alternative to the established minor-league system. Baseball luminaries who were once connected to the league include Billy Evans, Lee Fohl, Bill Phyle, and Everett Scott. Future Hall-of-Fame infielder George Sisler signed his first professional contract with an Akron club associated with the O-P League, although he never actually played for the team.

Cities represented

Akron, OH: Akron Buckeyes 1905; Akron Rubbernecks 1906; Akron Champs 1907–1911 Alliance, OH & Sebring, OH: Alliance-Sebring Twins 1912 Barberton, OH: Barberton Magic Cities 1905 Braddock, PA: Braddock Infants 1905 Bridgeport, OH: Bridgeport Giants 1912 Bucyrus, OH: Bucyrus Bucks 1905 Butler, PA: Butler Bucks 1905; Butler 1908 Canton, OH: Canton Protectives 1905 Canton Watchmakers 1908–1909; Canton Deubers 1910–1911 Connellsville, PA: Connellsville Cokers 1912 East Liverpool, OH: East Liverpool Potters 1908–1912 Erie, PA: Erie Sailors 1908–1911 Fairmont, WV: Fairmont Fairies 1912 Girard, OH: Girard Sailors 1908 Homestead, PA: Homestead Steel Workers 1905 Kent, OH: Kent Kings 1905 Lancaster, OH: Lancaster Lanks 1905–1907 Lima, OH: Lima Lees 1905 Mansfield, OH: Mansfield Giants 1906; Mansfield Pioneers 1907; Mansfield Reformers 1910; Mansfield Brownies 1911 Marion, OH: Marion Moguls 1906; Marion Drummers 1907 Massillon, OH: Massillon Farmers 1905 McKeesport, PA: McKeesport Colts 1905; McKeesport Tubers 1908–1910; McKeesport Tubers 1912 Mount Vernon, OH: Mount Vernon Clippers 1905 New Castle, PA: New Castle Outlaws 1906; New Castle Nocks 1907–1912 New Martinsville, WV:New Martinsville 1912 Newark, OH: Newark Idlewilds 1905; Newark Cotton Tops 1906; Newark Newks 1907 Niles, OH: Niles Crowites 1905 Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh 1912 Salem, OH: Salem Quakers 1912 Sharon, PA: Sharon Steels 1905–1906; Sharon Giants 1907–1908, 1912; Sharon Travelers 1911 Steubenville, OH: Steubenville Factory Men 1905; Steubenville Stubs 1909, 1911 Steubenville, OH & Follansbee, WV: Steubenville-Follansbee Stubs 1912 Washington, PA: Washington Patriots 1905 Wooster, OH: Wooster Trailers 1905 Youngstown, OH: Youngstown Ohio Works 1905–1906; Youngstown Champs 1907–1908; Youngstown Indians 1909; Youngstown Steelmen 1910–1911 Zanesville, OH: Zanesville Moguls 1905–1906

League champions Youngstown Ohio Works (1905) Youngstown Ohio Works (1906) Youngstown Champs (1907) Akron Champs (1908) Akron Champs (1909) Akron Champs (1910) Akron Champs (1911) Salem Quakers & Fairmont Fairies (1912)

Standings and statistics

1905 to 1908 1905 Ohio–Pennsylvania League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersYoungstown Ohio Works8835.715–Marty Hogan Akron Buckeyes6642.61114½Frank Motz / Walter East Zanesville Moguls5136.586NA Fred Drumm Niles Crowites5237.584NA Charles Crowe Braddock Infants2322.511NA Don McKim Lancaster Lanks3637.493NA Fred Killen Homestead Steel Workers2932.475NA Howard Fisher Newark Idlewilds3746.446NAJack Doyle Sharon Steels2939.426NAFrank Killen McKeesport Colts2027.426NA Ed Crawford / Frank Motz Mount Vernon Clippers1624.400NA Bill Goodrich Massillon Farmers2641.388NA Walter Lipps Canton Protectives1940.322NA William Delaney Washington Patriots33.500NA Dan Kline Lima Lees26.333NA Eddie Bailey Bucyrus Bucks512.294NANA Butler Bucks17.125NAWard BuckministerSteubenville Factory Men17.125NA Jack Kelley Wooster Trailers02.000NAJess Bowers Barberton Magic Cities03.000NABill Feignley Kent Kings06.000NA Henry Metz League was admitted to the National Association July 21Canton withdrew July 10; Kent withdrew July 31; Butler withdrew Aug 2; Steubenville withdrew Aug 2; Mt. Vernon withdrew Aug 12; Massillon withdrew Aug 24.

1906 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersYoungstown Ohio Works8453.613–Marty Hogan Akron Rubbernecks8355.6011½ Walter East Lancaster Lanks7366.52512 Frederick Gray / Curt Elston New Castle Outlaws7367.52112½ Percy Stetler / Ralph Lindaman William Smith Zanesville Moguls / Marion Moguls 7169.50714½ Ferdinand Drumm Newark Cotton Tops6574.46820 Gene Bates / Bill Bottenus / Pete Sommers / Walter Snodgrass Mansfield Giants5977.43424½ Carl McVey Sharon Steels4693.33139 Frank Yoho / Charles Crowe Dick Glassburner Zanesville (58–55) moved to Marion August 28.No playoffs were scheduled.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Bill Thomas YoungstownBA.303 Fred Ehman AkronW29 Fred AbbottLancasterRuns83 Fred Ehman AkronPCT.707 29–12 Bill Thomas YoungstownHits158

1907 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Youngstown Champs8652.623– Sam Wright Newark Newks8653.619½ Bob BerryhillAkron Champs8353.6102 Walter East Lancaster Lanks7262.53712 James Breen / Curt Elston Frank Locke New Castle Nocks6474.46422 Bill Smith Mansfield Pioneers5584.39631½ Carl McVey Sharon Giants5584.39631½ Rudy Kling / Van Patterson Marion Drummers4887.35636½ Ferdinand Drumm / Robert Quinn Thomas Mylett No playoffs were scheduled.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Curt Elston LancasterBA.318 Buck Thomas YoungstownW28 Charlie StarrYoungstownRuns75Ed Asher NewarkPCT.714 25–10 Delos DrakeMarionHits164

1908 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Akron Champs8136.692– John Breckinridge East Liverpool Potters7042.6258½ Bill Phillips Canton Watchmakers6554.54617 Ed Murphy / Thomas Lindsay Sharon Giants6256.52519½ Van Patterson Youngstown Champs5860.49223½ Sam Wright New Castle Nocks4770.40234 Pete Porter / R. Hagan McKeesport Tubers4472.37936½ Bernie McCay / Pat Eastley Girard Sailors / Butler / Erie Sailors4279.34741 Daniel Koster / Walter East Dick Nallin Girard (0–9) moved to Butler May 9; Butler (5–17) moved to Erie June 15. The season shortened to September 7.No playoffs were scheduled.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotWilbur GoodAkronBA.370 Fred Ehman AkronW25 Teddy Hinton YoungstownRuns82 Bill Phillips East LiverpoolPCT.818 18–4 Jack McAleeseYoungstownHits150 Harry Bailey CantonHR8

1909 to 1912 1909 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Akron Champs8140.670– Jim Breckinridge / Bill Schwartz East Liverpool Potters8045.6403 Arch Osborne / John Raley McKeesport Tubers7353.57910½ Bill Thomas New Castle Nocks 5965.47623½ Jim Barton / Ferdinand Drumm Canton Watchmakers5567.45126½Van Patterson Erie Sailors4869.41031 Milt Montgomery / Red Davis Matt Broderick Steubenville Stubs4873.39733 John Hanlon / Jim Lynch Frank Blair Youngstown Indians4678.37136½ Charles Crowe / William Terry No playoffs were scheduled.

+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Burt ShottonSteubenvilleBA.347Harry CamnitzMcKeesportW27 Gene ElliottMcKeesportRuns75Arch Osborne East LiverpoolPCT.760 19–6 Burt ShottonSteubenvilleHits154

1910 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Akron Champs7353.579–Lee Fohl Canton Deubers7254.5711 Ferdinand DrummEast Liverpool Potters6361.5089 Guy Sample / Henry Lattimore McKeesport Tubers6462.5089 Duke Servatius / Edward Connors Mansfield Reformers6066.47613 Paddy Fox New Castle Nocks5767.46015 Frank Blair / Jim Barton Youngstown Steelmen5567.45116 Frank Eustace Erie Sailors5569.44417 Matt Broderick No playoffs were scheduled.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Frank Warrender East LiverpoolBA.341 Fred Wilhelm CantonW23 Fred Dawson CantonRuns95 Fred Wilhelm CantonSO284 Fred CorbinAkronHits150 Fred Wilhelm CantonPCT.767 23–7 Duke Servatius McKeesportHR16

1911 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Akron Champs9042.682–Jack McCallister / Lee Fohl Youngstown Steelmen8250.6218 Bill Phillips / W.R. Terry Erie Sailors7754.58812½Billy Gilbert Canton Deubers7559.56016 Ferdinand DrummMansfield Brownies5582.40137½Ed Hahn / Les Channell Frank Reynolds New Castle Nocks / Sharon Travelers35101.25757 Joe Sugden / Steve Griffin /Bill Thomas / Peter Porter East Liverpool Potters6349.563NA Alexander Sweeney Steubenville Stubs 4080.333NAJohn Castle New Castle (25–85) moved to Sharon August 12; East Liverpool and Steubenville folded August 20. No playoffs were scheduled.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Joe Wilson East LiverpoolBA.365Elmer BrownAkronW22 Ezra MidkiffAkronRuns96Ralph McConnaugheyErieW22 Ray MillerAkronHits162Earl MoseleyYoungstownSo242 Hughie TateYoungstownHR23Elmer BrownAkronPCT.815 22–5

1912 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Salem Quakers / Fairmont Fairies6444.593– Hugh Shannon / Jim Buchanan Steubenville-Follansbee Stubs6250.5544 Gene Curtis Liverpool Potters / Pittsburgh / New Martinsville4957.46214 Tony Crane / Charles Donnelly Sharon Giants / Bridgeport Giants 4759.44316 Charles Eichenberger / R.M. Paige Ralph Rainson McKeesport Tubers 3922.639NA Hack Adler / Matthew McGrath Monte Pfeiffer Alliance-Sebring Twins 2633.441NA Larry Maley Connellsville Cokers 1221.364NA W.C. Wilson / Earle Mack New Castle Nocks922.290NA Charles Smith / Jack Murray Connelsville and New Castle folded June 18; Salem moved to Fairmont July 9; Alliance-Sebring folded July 15 after player strike; McKeesport folded July 17; Sharon moved to Bridgeport August 10; East Liverpool moved to Pittsburgh (2–0) August 14; Pittsburgh moved to New Martinsville August 18.League rescinded its membership to the National Association August 13 after it placed a franchise in Pittsburgh. Playoff: Fairmont declared champion when Steubenville-Follansbee folded before the playoff.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Baby Foster Connellsville / Alliance /Steubenville-FollansbeeBA.377 Ed Sisley Steubenville-FollansbeeW20 William Carroll Salem/FairmontRuns68 Ed Sisley SteubenvilleSO217 Harry Edwards Salem/FairmontHits127 Eddie Bauer McKeesportPct.789; 15-4 Charles Donnelly East LiverpoolHR7 Jim McKelvey Steubenville-Follansbee /BridgeportSB40

References

Related links Ballpark Watch Baseball Reference Ohio–Pennsylvania League history