Eastern Shore League

The Eastern Shore Baseball League was a class D minor league baseball league that operated on the Delmarva Peninsula for parts of three different decades. The league's first season was in 1922 and the last was in 1949, although the years were not consecutive, and featured teams from Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. The first incarnation lasted from 1922 to mid-1928, the second from 1937 to 1941, and the third from 1946 to 1949. Though the level of play was competitive and many future major leaguers gained experience in the ESBL, funding the league remained a constant problem for the rural franchises.
Future major leaguers who played in the ESBL include notables such as: Frank "Home Run" Baker, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Vernon, and Don Zimmer.
The Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland, pays homage to ESBL players and locals who made the major leagues. Perdue Stadium is the home of the class A Delmarva Shorebirds, an Orioles farm team.

History

Founding

The class D "Eastern Shore League" was started in 1922 using teams from the pre-existing Eastern Shore League, a group which had been playing baseball since the 1890s. The first meeting of the class D league was held on October 8, 1921, in Salisbury, Maryland where it was decided that the seven teams that completed the 1921 season would be joined by an eighth team for the 1922 season. The seven teams that completed the 1921 season were Cambridge, Crisfield, Laurel, Pocomoke City, Princess Anne, Salisbury, and Snow Hill. Four towns attended the meeting to seek expansion teams; Dover and Milford in Delaware, Berlin in Maryland, and Parksley in Virginia. Dover and Milford withdrew their request after it was decided that only one new team would be added for 1922. The Parksley team was nominated by Pocomoke City and the Berlin team by Snow Hill, with Berlin winning the vote 4 to 3. At this meeting, a $1,750 a month salary limit was put in place and it was decided to divide gate receipts 50/50 with a guarantee of at least $60 per game. It was also announced that three town, Berlin, Cambridge, and Princess Anne, would build new ballparks.
The Board of Directors met on October 22, 1921, and elected Walter B. Miller of Salisbury as the first President of the league. It was decided upon a 70-game schedule, five games at home and five games on the road, versus each team in the league for the 1922 season, with the final day being Labor Day. A general admission fee of 40 cents, including war tax, was set, and it was decided that each team should post an $875 guarantee by March 1, 1922, in order to assure the team would finish out the season. At this point, it was decided that having three teams in Worcester County would be too many. The director for each of the three teams, Berlin, Pocomoke City, and Snow Hill, volunteered for their team to withdraw. A vote was held and Snow Hill was eliminated, with the opening for the eighth team in the inaugural season being offered to Parksley, Virginia.
A meeting of Snow Hill residents was held shortly after where resolutions were passed protesting Snow Hill's removal from the league and it was reported that President Miller would call the Board of Directors back together to reconsider Snow Hill's removal. By early November, it was reported that the residents of Snow Hill were so angered by their team being removed from the 1922 season, there was concern of it affecting elections in Worcester County that fall, as Snow Hill residents stated they would not support any candidate from Pocomoke City due to the Pocomoke City delegation not supporting Snow Hill to remain in the league. This was refuted later, stating it was merely the opinion of a few young men in the heat of anger and the story had been spread to affect the election.
In mid-November, President Miller announced that the Eastern Shore League was admitted by the National Association of Professional Baseball Clubs and that arrangements were being made for the winner of the league to face the winner of the Blue Ridge League. By November 29, Snow Hill fans had threatened legal action, requesting an injunction to prevent the league from playing any scheduled games until Snow Hill was allowed to return to the league, saying that the league's organizational meeting was held at Snow Hill's suggestion. On December 13, it was announced that Princess Anne was dropping out of the league because it could not find an adequate location for a new ballpark at a reasonable price, and that the former ballpark at Washington High School was too small for the league. Speculation then began that Snow Hill may re-enter the league, that Princess Anne could be replaced by Milford or Dover in Delaware, or Easton, Maryland, who had been invited to the first meeting and declined, or that the league could contract and play as a six-team league for 1922, with Cambridge being mentioned as a possible contraction candidate. At a meeting on January 5, 1922, it was announced that the decision by Princess Anne to withdraw was final and the representative of the Berlin team offered to withdraw, since Berlin was the last team added to the league. The league accepted the withdrawal under the terms that if the league expanded to eight teams again, Berlin would be added back.

1922 Season

The opening game of the inaugural season was played on June 9, 1922, between the Laurel Blue Hens and Cambridge Canners in Laurel.

Cities represented

The Milford team disbanded on July 3, 1923
The Pocomoke City team disbanded on August 21, 1923

Standings & statistics

1922 to 1928

1925 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Cambridge Canners	51	38	.573	-	Ted Smith
Parksley Spuds	48	42	.533	3½	Thomas Whalen
Salisbury Indians	46	44	.511	5½	Homer Smoot
Dover Dobbins	46	44	.511	5½	Jiggs Donahue
Crisfield Crabbers	42	48	.467	9½	Marty Breslin / Herb Armstrong
Easton Farmers	36	53	.404	15	Frank "Home Run" Baker / Charles Gault / Buck Herzog

No Playoffs Scheduled.
Five State Championship: Hagerstown 4 games, Cambridge 3.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Victor St. Martin	Parksley	BA	.363		Ted Firth	Parksley	W	21
Victor St. Martin	Parksley	Runs	78		Ted Firth	Parksley	SO	131
Phil Voyles	Salisbury	Hits	119		John Trippe	Cambridge	Pct	.783; 18–5
Victor St. Martin	Parksley	HR	25	-	-	-	-	-
Charlie Fitzberger	Salisbury	HR	25	-	-	-	-	-

1926 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Crisfield Crabbers	63	21	.750	-	Dan Pasquella
Salisbury Indians	57	29	.670	7	Jack White
Dover Senators	40	46	.465	24	Jiggs Donahue
Parksley Spuds	40	46	.465	24	Win Clark
Cambridge Canners	32	54	.372	32	Thomas Whalen
Easton Farmers	24	60	.286	39	Buck Herzog

34 Easton wins reversed August 16; 19 Parksley wins reversed August 22; 23 Dover wins & 22 Cambridge wins reversed September 2. Reversals due to salary limit violations.
Five State Championship: Hagerstown 4 games, Crisfield 2.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Tony Rensa	Crisfield	BA	.388		Ted Firth	Parksley	W	21
Bill Hohman	Easton	Runs	69		Ted Firth	Parksley	SO	143
Floyd McDougall	Parksley	Hits	113		A.L. Carlton	Easton	Pct	.765; 13-4
Red Aikens	Cambridge	Hits	113	-	-	-	-	-
Eddie Stack	Parksley	HR	22	-	-	-	-	-

1927 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Parksley Spuds	60	28	.681	-	Lester Bangs
Salisbury Indians	48	38	.552	11	Thomas Whalen
Crisfield Crabbers	44	43	.506	15½	Dan Pasquella
Cambridge Canners	41	47	.466	19	William Johnson
Easton Farmers	36	48	.462	22	Ted Cather / Jiggs Donahue
Northampton Red Sox	30	55	.353	28½	Jack Sauter

Five State Championship: Parksley 4 games, Chambersburg 2.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bill Bickham	Parksley	BA	.361	Cecil Rose	Crisfield	W	17
Mike McCallister	Parksley	Runs	71	Stephen Toner	Salisbury	SO	132
Bill Bickham	Parksley	Hits	119	Clint Brown	Parksley	Pct	.800; 16–4
Paul Richards	Crisfield	HR	24	-	-	-	-

1928 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Northampton Red Sox	22	9	.710	-	Lester Bangs
Salisbury Indians	22	10	.688	½	Thomas Whalen
Crisfield Crabbers	14	17	.452	8	Billy Lush
Cambridge Canners	13	19	.406	9½	Jiggs Donahue
Easton Farmers	13	20	.394	10	Dan Pasquella
Parksley Spuds	12	21	.364	11	John Pasquella

League disbanded July 10.
No Player statistics are known.

1937 to 1941

1937 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Salisbury Indians	59	37	.615	-	Jake Flowers
Easton Browns	56	41	.577	3½	Doc Jacobs
Cambridge Cardinals	53	43	.552	6	Fred Lucas
Centreville Colts	52	43	.547	6½	Patsy O'Rourke
Federalsburg Athletics	52	45	.536	7½	George Short
Pocomoke City Red Sox	42	55	.433	17½	Vic Keene
Crisfield Crabbers	40	57	.412	19½	Dan Pasquella / Bob Clark
Dover Orioles	32	65	.330	27½	Bob Roetz / Jiggs Donahue

Salisbury 21 wins reversed June 19 due to veteran player limit violations
Playoffs: Salisbury 2 games, Cambridge 1; Centreville 2 games, Easton 1.
Finals: Salisbury 3 games, Centreville 2.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jerry Lynn	Salisbury	BA	.342	Joe Kohlman	Salisbury	W	25
Alex Pitko	Centreville	Runs	103	Joe Kohlman	Salisbury	SO	257
Frank Treschock	Salisbury	Hits	131	John Davis	Cambridge	ERA	2.02
Frank Treschock	Salisbury	RBI	84	Joe Kohlman	Salisbury	Pct	.962; 25–1
Alex Pitko	Centreville	HR	20	-	-	-	-

1938 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Salisbury Indians	65	47	.580	-	Jake Flowers
Cambridge Cardinals	61	51	.545	4	Joe Davis
Milford Giants	60	52	.536	5	Val Picinich
Dover Orioles	58	54	.518	7	Wes Kingdon / Walter Millies
Federalsburg Athletics	56	56	.500	9	Charley Moss
Easton Cubs	55	56	.495	9½	George Jacobs
Centreville Colts	51	60	.459	13½	Joe O'Rourke
Pocomoke City Red Sox	41	71	.366	24	Joe Boley / Wes Kingdon

Playoffs: Salisbury 2 games, Milford 0. Cambridge 2 games, Dover 0.
Finals: Salisbury 3 games, Cambridge 1.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Sid Gordon	Milford	BA	.352	John Bassler	Salisbury	W	17
George Reisinger	Dover	Runs	110	Joe Davis	Cambridge	W	17
Sid Gordon	Milford	Hits	145	Bill Yarewick	Milford	SO	207
Jim Conlan	Salisbury	RBI	99	Joe Davis	Cambridge	ERA	2.02
Bill Phillips	Federalsburg	HR	31	Joe Davis John Bassler	Cambridge Salisbury	PCT	.773 17-5 .773 17–5

1939 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Federalsburg A's	83	38	.686	-	27,000	Sammy Holbrook
Cambridge Cardinals	68	51	.571	14	34,000	Fred Lucas
Dover Orioles	62	57	.521	20	23,500	Ray Brubaker /Wes Kingdon Walt Millies
Centreville Colts	62	60	.508	21½	21,000	Dave Cobble / Cap Clark
Salisbury Senators	59	59	.500	22½	23,000	Vic Keene / Spud Nachand
Easton Yankees	51	68	.429	31	32,000	Ray Powell
Milford Giants	49	69	.416	32½	19,000	Earl Smith / Val Picinich
Pocomoke City Red Sox	43	75	.364	38½	12,000	Wes Kingdon / Jake Flowers

Playoffs: Cambridge 3 games, Centreville 0. Dover 3 games, Federalsburg 0.
Finals: Cambridge 4 games, Dover 2.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Martin Steinman	Milford	BA	.378		Les Hinckle	Federalsburg	W	27
Irving Kolberg	Federalsburg	Runs	111		Les Hinckle	Federalsburg	SO	309
Francis Walsh	Centreville	Hits	163		Les Hinckle	Federalsburg	ERA	2.49
Francis Walsh	Centreville	RBI	129		Les Hinckle	Federalsburg	PCT	.818 27–6
Henry Schluter	Dover	HR	29	-	-	-	-	-

1940 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Dover Orioles	72	48	.600	-	Cap Clark
Centreville Red Sox	68	48	.586	2	Ed Walls
Milford Giants	72	52	.581	2	Bubber Jonnard
Salisbury Cardinals	65	58	.528	8½	Gus Brittain / Ed Kobesky
Federalsburg A's	57	67	.460	17	Sam Nisonoff / Joe Maynard
Cambridge Canners	52	67	.437	19½	Hugh Poland
Easton Yankees	48	69	.410	22½	Ray Powell
Pocomoke City Chicks	50	75	.400	24½	Poke Whalen

Playoffs: Milford 3 games, Dover 2. Salisbury 3 games, Centreville 2.
Finals: Salisbury 4 games, Milford 2.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Lloyd Rice	Federalsburg	BA	.363		Jorge Comellas	Salisbury	W	21
Paul Gaulin	Dover	Runs	102		Jocko Thompson	Centreville	SO	268
Bob Maier	Salisbury	Hits	146		Jocko Thompson	Centreville	ERA	1.56
Fred Lutz	Easton	RBI	81		Guy Johnson	Dover	PCT	.846 11–2
Ed Kobesky	Salisbury	HR	18	-	-	-	-	-

1941 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Milford Giants	66	42	.611	-	Hal Gruber
Cambridge Canners	61	45	.575	4	Everett Johnston
Easton Yankees	57	53	.518	10	Dallas Warren
Centreville Red Sox	54	52	.509	11	Ed Walls / Eddie Popowski
Salisbury Cardinals	51	59	.464	16	John Wedemeyer / Bob Maier
Federalsburg A's	35	73	.324	31	Joe O'Rourke

Playoffs: Milford 3 games, Centreville 0. Easton 3 games, Cambridge 0.
Finals: Easton 4 games, Milford 3.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Gordon McKinnon	Milford	BA	.344		Bill Boland	Milford	W	20
Gordon McKinnon	Milford	Runs	98		Chris Hayden	Milford	SO	188
Art Flesland	Milford	Hits	157		Joe Ostrowski	Centreville	ERA	1.71
Art Gunning	Milford	RBI	67		Bill Boland	Milford	PCT	.800 20–5
Tommy Koval	Cambridge	HR	16	-	-	-	-	-

1946 to 1949

The league did not play from 1942 through 1945 due to World War II.
1946 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Centreville Orioles	88	37	.704	-	Jim McLeod
Milford Red Sox	77	49	.611	11½	Walter Millies
Dover Phillies	68	57	.544	20	Hank Lehman
Salisbury Cardinals	61	64	.488	27	Hal Contini
Easton Yankees	59	66	.472	29	Jack Farmer
Seaford Eagles	58	68	.460	30½	Walter Youse / Joe Becker
Cambridge Dodgers	53	73	.421	35½	Jimmy Cooney / Barney DeForge
Federalsburg A's	37	87	.298	50½	Lew Krausse Sr.

Playoffs: Centreville 4 games, Dover 3. Milford 4 games, Salisbury 2.
Finals: Centreville 4 games, Milford 1.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Sid Langston	Salisbury	BA	.353	Richard Waldt	Centreville	W	17
Jimmy Stevens	Centreville	Runs	132	Stanley Coulling	Centreville	W	17
Fred Pacitto	Centreville	Hits	164	Mike Gast	Centreville	SO	182
Don Marshall	Dover	RBI	110	Barney DeForge	Cambridge	ERA	2.48
Don Marshall	Dover	HR	29	Mike Gast	Centreville	PCT	.762 16–5

1947 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Cambridge Dodgers	91	34	.728	-	62,118	Roy Nichols
Seaford Eagles	74	49	.602	16	54,637	Bob Westfall
Dover Phillies	68	56	.548	22½	33,676	Dick Carter
Federalsburg A's	62	63	.496	29	29,781	Pep Rambert
Milford Red Sox	62	64	.492	29½	29,581	Walter Millies
Rehoboth Beach Pirates	49	75	.395	41	30,521	Gordon McKinnon / Doug Peden
Easton Yankees	48	78	.381	43½	42,618	Joe Antolick
Salisbury Cardinals	45	80	.360	46	51,739	Harold Contini

Playoffs: Cambridge 4 games, Dover 3; Seaford 4 games, Federalsburg 0.
Finals: Seaford 4 games, Cambridge 3.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Pep Rambert	Federalsburg	BA	.376		Chris Van Cuyk	Cambridge	W	25
Bob Stramm	Cambridge	Runs	129		Chris Van Cuyk	Cambridge	SO	279
Bob Stramm	Cambridge	Hits	162		Chris Van Cuyk	Cambridge	ERA	1.93
Tim Thompson	Cambridge	Hits	162		Chris Van Cuyk	Cambridge	Pct	.926; 25–2
Ducky Detweiler	Federalsburg	HR	29	-	-	-	-	-
Ducky Detweiler	Federalsburg	RBI	133	-	-	-	-	-

1948 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Salisbury Cardinals	89	32	.736	-	59,164	Gene Corbett
Milford Red Sox	81	43	.653	9½	21,947	Clayton Sheedy
Easton Yankees	71	50	.587	18	37,780	Dallas Warren
Cambridge Dodgers	65	61	.516	26½	31,737	Bob Vickery / Stew Hofferth
Rehoboth Beach Pirates	60	65	.480	31	21,845	Doug Peden
Seaford Eagles	56	70	.444	35½	31,850	Bob Westfall / Socks Seibold
Federalsburg A's	49	76	.392	42	22,901	Ducky Detweiler
Dover Phillies	26	100	.206	65½	10,079	Guy Glaser / Grover Wearshing

Playoffs: Teams played a round-robin series. Cambridge, Milford, Easton, Salisbury
Finals: Milford 4 games, Cambridge 1.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Donald Maxa	Easton	BA	.382		John Andre	Seaford	W	21
Norm Zauchin	Milford	Runs	126		John Andre	Seaford	SO	228
Ray Jablonski	Milford	Hits	172		Don Black	Salisbury	ERA	2.23
Norm Zauchin	Milford	RBI	138		Herb Moford	Salisbury	PCT	.833 20–4
Norm Zauchin	Milford	HR	33	-	-	-	-	-

1949 Eastern Shore League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Easton Yankees	68	52	.567	-	38,651	Jack Farmer
Federalsburg Feds	63	56	.529	4½	30,139	Carl McQuillen
Salisbury Cardinals	60	59	.504	7½	39,063	Gene Corbett
Rehoboth Beach Sea Hawks	56	63	.471	11½	22,358	Bill Sisler / Johnny Watson
Seaford Eagles	56	64	.467	12	35,519	Paul Galin
Cambridge Dodgers	55	64	.462	12½	29,434	Merle Strachan

Playoffs: Teams played a round-robin series. Federalsburg, Rehoboth Beach, Easton, Salisbury
Finals: Rehoboth Beach 4 games, Federalsburg 3.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Gordon Bragg	Easton	BA	.362		Babe Pinelli	Rehoboth Beach	W	18
Bob Westfall	Federalsburg	Runs	126		John Andre	Rehoboth Beach	SO	240
Bob Westfall	Federalsburg	Hits	158		Duke Markell	Seaford	ERA	2.17
Bob Westfall	Federalsburg	RBI	113		Duke Markell	Seaford	PCT	.909 10–1
Bob Westfall	Federalsburg	HR	19	-	-	-	-	-

Notable players

Sam Frock - Laurel - 1922 Player/Manager
John Thomas Kibler - Cambridge - 1922 Player/Manager

Selected bibliography

The Eastern Shore Baseball League by William Mowbray remains the most comprehensive source for ESBL history.
Mike Lambert has published the Eastern Shore League with Arcadia Publishing in April 2010.
Mike Lambert has published a second book "Eastern Shore League Extra Innings with Arcadia Publishing in April 2023.