Michigan State League
Encyclopedia
Michigan State League was the name of six American professional baseball
leagues. Five of them 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.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
leagues. Five of them 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
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, 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
West Michigan League
The West Michigan League was an early 20th Century Minor League Baseball league that included teams in the western part of Michigan. Among the league's baseball teams was the Traverse City Resorters, which folded after the 1915 season, the Cadillac Chiefs, Holland Wooden Shoes, Muskegon Speed Boys....
expanded and became the fourth Michigan State League as a "Class D" minor league through 1914.
In 1926, the Michigan-Ontario League
Michigan-Ontario League
Michigan State League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated seven full seasons and part of an eighth from 1919 to 1926....
merged with the Central League
Central League (baseball)
The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season...
to form the fifth MSL, which played only the one season.
The sixth Michigan State League operated in 1940 and 1941.
1889-1890
- Flint, MI: Flint FlyersFlint FlyersThe Flint Flyers were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1889-1890. They played in the Michigan State League....
1889-1890 - Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids 1889-1890
- Greenville, MI: Greenville 1889
- Jackson, MI: Jackson Jaxons 1889
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1889
- Lansing, MI: Lansing 1889-1890
- Manistee, MI: Manistee 1890
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon 1890
- Port Huron, MI: PortHuron 1890
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw 1889
1895
- Adrian, MI: Adrian Reformers
- Battle Creek, MI: Battle Creek Adventists
- Jackson, MI: Jackson Jaxons
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Celery Eaters
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Senators
- Owosso, MI: Owosso Colts
- Port Huron, MI: Port Huron Marines
1902
- Battle Creek, MI: Battle Creek Cero Frutos
- Flint, MI: Flint
- Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Colts
- Jackson, MI: Jackson
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Senators
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon RedsMuskegon RedsThe Muskegon Reds were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1911 to 1951. They played in the Michigan State League in 1911, 1926 and from 1940 to 1941 and the Central League in 1916, 1926, 1934 and 1951...
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw White Sox
1911-1914
- Belding, MI: Belding Champs 1914
- Boyne City, MI: Boyne City Boosters 1911-1914
- Cadillac, MI: Cadillac Chiefs 1910-1914
- Holland, MI: Holland Wooden Shoes 1910-1911
- Ludington, MI: Ludington MarinersLudington MarinersThe Ludington Mariners were a professional Class D minor league baseball team from Ludington, Michigan. Their home field was located in Culver Park....
1912-1914 - Manistee, MI: Manistee Colts 1911; Manistee Champs 1912-1914
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon Speed Boys 1910; Muskegon RedsMuskegon RedsThe Muskegon Reds were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1911 to 1951. They played in the Michigan State League in 1911, 1926 and from 1940 to 1941 and the Central League in 1916, 1926, 1934 and 1951...
1911; Muskegon Speeders 1912-1914 - Traverse City, MI: Traverse City Resorters 1910-1914
1926
- Bay City, MI: Bay City Wolves, from Michigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan State League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated seven full seasons and part of an eighth from 1919 to 1926....
- Charlotte, MI: Charlotte Giants
- Flint, MI: Flint VehiclesFlint VehiclesThe Flint Vehicles were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1921-1926. They were a part of the Michigan-Ontario League....
, from Michigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan State League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated seven full seasons and part of an eighth from 1919 to 1926.... - Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Black Sox, from Central LeagueCentral LeagueThe or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Celery Pickers, from Central LeagueCentral LeagueThe or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
- Ludington, MI: Ludington Tars, from Central LeagueCentral LeagueThe or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon RedsMuskegon RedsThe Muskegon Reds were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1911 to 1951. They played in the Michigan State League in 1911, 1926 and from 1940 to 1941 and the Central League in 1916, 1926, 1934 and 1951...
, from Central LeagueCentral LeagueThe or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League... - Port Huron, MI: Port Huron Saints, from Michigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan State League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated seven full seasons and part of an eighth from 1919 to 1926....
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw Aces, from Michigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan-Ontario LeagueMichigan State League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated seven full seasons and part of an eighth from 1919 to 1926....
1940-1941
- Flint, MI: Flint GemsFlint GemsThe Flint Gems were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan in 1940. The Gems were part of the Michigan State League, and played their home games at Atwood Stadium. Their overall record was 67-41, and they won the 1940 MSL Championship. The team was renamed Flint Indians for the 1941 MSL...
1940; Flint ArrowsFlint ArrowsThe Flint Arrows were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1948-1951. They were a part of the Central League and played their home games at Atwood Stadium. Their overall record was 169-102, and they won the Central League Championship in 1948, and 1950....
1941 - Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Dodgers 1940; Grand Rapids Colts 1941
- Lansing, MI: Lansing LancersLansing LancersThe Lansing Lancers were a professional ice hockey team playing in the International Hockey League. They were based in Lansing, Michigan and played their games at Metro Ice Arena. They were a member of the league during the 1974–1975 season, after moving from Toledo, Ohio, where it played as the...
1940; Lansing Senators 1941 - Muskegon, MI: Muskegon RedsMuskegon RedsThe Muskegon Reds were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1911 to 1951. They played in the Michigan State League in 1911, 1926 and from 1940 to 1941 and the Central League in 1916, 1926, 1934 and 1951...
1940-1941 - Saginaw, MI: Saginaw Athletics 1940; Saginaw White Sox 1941
- St. Joseph, MI: St. Joseph Autos 1940-1941