Michigan State 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

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

1889 to 1890

1889 Michigan State League

Kalamazoo (32-42) moved to Flint September 3.
**Jackson and Saginaw finished in a virtual tie for first place. Jackson played some of their make-up games to gain enough victories to win the championship. Saginaw protested. President Curtis awarded the championship banner to Saginaw.

1890 Michigan State League
schedule

Grand Rapids left to join the International League June 12
The league disbanded June 13.

1895

1895 Michigan State League
schedule

Owosso & Port Huron disbanded September 3.; Battle Creek (14-40) moved to Jackson August 8

1897

1897 Michigan State League

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 League
schedule

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 League
schedule

1912 Michigan State League

1913 Michigan State League

1914 Michigan State League

Traverse City & Boyne City both withdrew September 1; Manistee (56-51) was expelled and the franchise moved to Belding September 9.

1926

1926 Michigan State League
schedule

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.

1940 to 1941

1940 Michigan State League

Playoffs: Saginaw 3 games, Grand Rapids 1; St. Joseph 3 games, Flint 2.
Finals: Cancelled due to inclement weather.

1941 Michigan State League

No Playoffs Scheduled.

^[1]

Hall of Fame alumni

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

References

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

• 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 .