Minnesota–Wisconsin League


The Minnesota–Wisconsin League, known as the "Minny" League, was a professional minor baseball league that existed from 1909 to 1912. It was a Class D league in 1909, 1910 and 1912 and a Class C league in 1911. As its name suggests, it featured teams based in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

History

The inaugural 1909 Minnesota–Wisconsin League season featured the Duluth White Sox, Eau Claire Cream Puffs, La Crosse Outcasts, Winona Pirates, Wausau Lumberjacks and Superior Drillers as the six charter franchises in the league. The Duluth White Sox finished in first place, claiming the league championship.
In 1910, the Duluth White Sox, La Crosse Outcasts, Wausau Lumberjacks and Winona Pirates returned from 1909, while the Eau Claire Cream Puffs became the Eau Claire Commissioners and the Superior Drillers became the Superior Red Sox. The Red Wing Manufacturers and the Rochester Surgeons were newcomers to the league, which expanded to eight teams. The Eau Claire Commissioners finished in first place, winning the league championship.
In 1911, the league began play with the same teams as in 1910. During the season, the Red Wing and Wausau franchises both folded on June 26, 1911. The Superior Red Sox finished in first place, winning the league championship.
In 1912, the Minnesota–Wisconsin League began with four teams – the Eau Claire Commissioners, the La Crosse Outcasts, the Winona Pirates and the Rochester Bugs. Duluth and Superior left to form the Central International League. The Minnesota–Wisconsin League disbanded on July 1, 1912, with the Winona Pirates being the de facto league champion.

Notable players

Hall of Fame members Dave Bancroft, 1909 Duluth White Sox, 1909 Superior Drillers, 1910–1911 Superior Red Sox and Burleigh Grimes, 1912 Eau Claire Commissioners, played in the league.

Cities represented

Standings &; statistics

1909 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bill BaileyEau ClaireBA.308Phil StremmelSuperiorW22
Mike MalloyLaCrosseRuns75Frank NicholsonEau ClairePct.800; 8–2
Russ BaileyEau ClaireHits143-----
A.J. McCroneDuluthHR6-----

1910 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Eau Claire Commissioners7944.642--Tom Schoonhover
Winona Pirates6954.56110Joe Killian
Wausau Lumberjacks6955.55710½Carl Bond
Superior Red Sox6457.52914Arthur O'Dea / Jack Taylor
LaCrosse Outcasts5668.45123½Joe Safford
Red Wing Manufacturers5167.43225½Mike Malloy
Duluth White Sox5070.41727½Thomas J. O'Brien
Rochester Roosters4669.40029Jack Corrigan / Frank O'Leary

1911 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Superior Red Sox7236.667--Jack Taylor
Winona Pirates7145.6125Joe Killian
Duluth White Sox6049.55012½Thomas J. O'Brien
Eau Claire Commissioners5357.48220Tom Schoonhover
LaCrosse Outcasts4768.40928½Bumpus Jones / Carl Bond
Rochester Bears4071.36033½Ted Corbett
Wausau Lumberjacks2122.488NACarl Bond / Buddy Dolan
Red Wing Manufacturers1329.310NAFred Cooke
Red Wing & Wausau disbanded June 26.

1912 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Winona Pirates2914.674--Fred Curtis
Eau Claire Commissioners2517.595Russell Bailey
LaCrosse Outcasts1526.36613Carl Bond
Rochester Bugs1426.35013½Art Lizzette
The league disbanded July 1.