Ohio State League

The Ohio State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in numerous seasons between 1887 and 1947, predominantly as a Class D level league. League franchises were based in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

History

The first "Ohio State League" was a baseball league in 1887 before changing names to the Tri-State League. The Kalamazoo Kazoos won the first league championship. The league played in the 1889 and 1898 seasons.
The first 20th century Ohio State League started in 1908 as a class D loop and ran through 1916.
Another Ohio State League was formed in 1936 and ran through 1947 except for a break in '42-'43 due to World War II. In 1945, the OSL was one of just four class D circuits in operation, yet it was one of the first of dozens of leagues to collapse after World War II.
The class D Ohio–Indiana League was formed in 1948 with eight teams, with seven of the eight cities coming from the Ohio State League. Six teams made their home in Ohio and the remaining two where from Indiana. This league lasted through
1951.
The Portsmouth Cobblers won four Ohio State League championships.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Ed Delahanty played for the 1887 Mansfield team.

Cities represented

Akron, Ohio: Akron Acorns 1887, 1889
Canton, Ohio: Canton 1887, 1898
Charleston, West Virginia: Charleston Senators 1913–1916
Chillicothe, Ohio: Chillicothe Infants 1910–1912; Chillicothe Babes 1913–1916
Columbus, Ohio: Columbus Buckeyes 1887
Coshocton, Ohio: Coshocton 1898
Dayton, Ohio: Dayton Indians 1946–1947
Findlay, Ohio: Findlay Browns 1937–1938; Findlay Oilers 1939–1940; Findlay Browns 1941
Fostoria, Ohio: Fostoria Cardinals 1936; Fostoria Red Birds 1937–1941
Frankfort, Kentucky: Frankfort Old Taylors 1915–1916
Fremont, Ohio: Fremont Reds 1936–1938; Fremont Green Sox 1938–1941
Hamilton, Ohio: Hamilton Mechanics 1911; Hamilton Maroons 1913
Huntington, West Virginia: Huntington Blue Sox 1913–1914 Huntington Boosters 1916
Ironton, Ohio: Ironton Orphans 1912; Ironton Nailers 1913–1915
Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1887
Lancaster, Ohio: Lancaster Lanks 1908–1911
Lexington, Kentucky: Lexington Colts 1913–1916
Lima, Ohio: Lima Cigarmakers 1908–1912; Lima Pandas 1939–1941; Lima Red Birds 1944; Lima Reds 1945; Lima Terriers 1946–1947
Mansfield, Ohio: Mansfield 1887; Mansfield Pioneers 1908–1909; Mansfield Brownies 1912; Mansfield Tigers 1936; Mansfield Red Sox 1937; Mansfield Braves 1939–1941
Marion, Ohio: Marion Diggers 1908–1912; Marion Presidents 1937; Marion Diggers 1944; Marion Cardinals 1945–1946; Marion Cubs
Massillon, Ohio: Massillion 1898
Maysville, Kentucky: Maysville 1913–1914; Maysville Angels 1915; Maysville Burley Cubs 1916
Middletown, Ohio: Middletown Red Sox 1944; Middletown Rockets 1945–1946
Muncie, Indiana: Muncie Reds 1947
Newark, Ohio: Newark 1889; Newark Newks 1908–1911; Newark Skeeters 1912; Newark Moundsmen 1944–1947
Newport, Kentucky: Newport Brewers 1914
New Philadelphia, Ohio: New Philadelphia Red Birds 1936
Paris, Kentucky: Paris 1914
Piqua, Ohio: Piqua Picks 1911
Portsmouth, Ohio: Portsmouth Cobblers 1908–1915; Portsmouth Truckers
Richmond, Indiana: Richmond Roses 1946–1947
Salem, Ohio: Salem 1898
Sandusky, Ohio: Sandusky Suds 1887; Sandusky Sailors 1936–1937
Springfield, Ohio: Springfield Reapers 1908, 1911; Springfield Giants 1944–1947
Steubenville, Ohio: Steubenville Stubs 1887
Tiffin, Ohio: Tiffin 1889; Tiffin Mud Hens 1936–1941
Wheeling, West Virginia: Wheeling 1887; Wheeling Nailers 1898
Youngstown, Ohio: Youngstown 1889
Zanesville, Ohio: Zanesville Kickapoos 1887; Zanesville Clay Diggers 1898; Zanesville Dodgers 1944–1947
Standings & statistics

1887, 1889, 1898

1887 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Kalamazoo Kazoos	73	34	.682	-	Al Buckenberger
Zanesville Kickapoos	58	46	.558	13½	Patrick Welsh / Pete McShannic
Wheeling	53	48	.525	17	Jack Cronin / William English / Tom Nicholson / Henry Myers
Sandusky Suds	53	49	.520	17½	George Curry
Columbus Buckeyes	50	55	.476	22	W.A.Calhoun / John Morrissey / Jim Gifford / Buck West
Mansfield	46	56	.451	24½	Sandy McDermott / Bob Allen / Frank O'Brien
Canton	22	14	.611	NA	H.H. Kerr / William Zecher
Akron Acorns	32	60	.348	NA	A.B. Showers / Charlie Morton / Sandy McDermott / Bill Irwin
Steubenville Stubs	9	34	.209	NA	Parson Nicholson / Pete Woods / Jimmy Wood

Steubenville disbanded June 29; Canton entered the league August 4; Akron disbanded September 3.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Ed Hutchinson	Columbus	BA	.395	Mother Watson	Kalamazoo	W	29
Ed Stapleton	Kalamazoo	Runs	121	Bill Irwin	Akron/Kalamazoo	SO	283
John Crogan	Wheeling	Hits	184	Mother Watson	Kalamazoo	Pct	763: 29-9
Ed Stapleton	Kalamazoo	HR	12	-	-	-	-

1889 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Akron Akrons	17	9	.654	-	Harry Roberts / Charles Pike
Youngstown	13	14	.481	4½	Harry Smith
Newark	8	11	.421	NA	Joe Somers
Tiffin	8	12	.400	NA	Tom Cahill / Son Lease

Newark disbanded September 16; Tiffin disbanded September 18
1898 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Canton	10	8	.556	-	John Durham
Massilllon	6	5	.545	½	Frank Vogt / Ray Markel
Zanesville Clay Diggers	3	3	.500	1	Charley Jewell
Wheeling Nailers	8	9	.471	1½	Joseph Starr
Salem	4	8	.333	3	D.R. Gannon
Coshocton	8	6	.571	NA	C.F. Prince

Zanesville entered the league May 30; Coshocton disbanded June 2
League disbanded June 5 due to poor weather and Sunday baseball restrictions

1908 to 1916

1908 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Lancaster Red Roses	92	57	.617	-	Kurt Ellston / Paddy Fox
Lima Cigarmakers	80	67	.544	11	Nick Kahl / Jim Jackson
Marion Diggers	78	71	.523	14	Charles O'Day
Mansfield Pioneers	76	73	.510	16	Cal McVey / Tim Flood
Newark Newks	74	75	.497	18	Bob Berryhill / Harry Eells
Springfield Reapers / Portsmouth Cobblers	46	103	.309	46.0	Ed Ranskick / John Quinn

Springfield moved to Portsmouth June 16.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Hughie Tate	Marion	BA	.320	Kirby White	Lancaster	W	28
Hughie Tate	Marion	Hits	169	Walt Justis	Lancaster	SO	293
Curly Brown	Lancaster	Runs	103	Charlie Pickett	Lima	Pct	700: 21-9
Frank Foutz	Lima	HR	12	Jim Riley	Lima	SB	80

1909 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Lima Cigarmakers	79	50	.612	-	Lee Fohl
Marion Diggers	71	59	.546	8½	Charles O'Day / Jack Lewis
Mansfield Pioneers	63	58	.521	12	Tim Flood
Portsmouth Cobblers	48	76	.387	28½	William Doyle / Jack McCallister / Charles O'Day
Lancaster Lanks	53	53	.500	NA	Paddy Fox
Newark Newks	46	64	.418	NA	Homer Davidson / Erve Wratten

Newark and Lancaster both disbanded August 23.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Red Farrell	Marion	BA	.316	Ed Zmich	Marion	W	21
Joe Stanley	Marion	Hits	142	Andy Nelson	Lima	Pct	.800; 8-2
Charles Fink	Lima	Runs	91	Ed Willett	Marion	HR	6

1910 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portsmouth Cobblers	86	52	.623	-	Pete Childs
Lima Cigarmakers	82	56	.594	4	Alfred Newnham
Marion Diggers	80	58	.580	6	Jack Lewis
Newark Newks	58	80	.420	28	Bob Berryhill / Charles Riehl / Hank O'Day
Lancaster Lanks	55	82	.401	30½	Al McClintock / Guy Sample / Heinie Peitz
Chillicothe Infants	52	85	.380	33½	Goat Cochran / Harvey Grubb / Louis Kibler / Zeke Wrigley

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Hank O'Day	Portsmouth	BA	.324	Ted Goulait	Marion	W	24
Dick Breen	Portsmouth	Hits	151	John Henry Lloyd	Lima	Pct	.769; 10-3
Dick Breen	Portsmouth	Runs	88	Frank Nesser	Lima	HR	6

1911 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Springfield Reapers	84	55	.604	-	Charley O'Day
Marion Diggers	80	59	.576	4	Jack Lewis
Portsmouth Cobblers	78	61	.561	6	Pete Childs
Chillicothe Infants	78	62	.557	6½	Zeke Wrigley
Newark Newks/ Piqua Picks	72	65	.526	11	Alfred Newnham
Lima Cigarmakers	62	77	.446	22	Frank Nesser
Lancaster Lanks	53	84	.387	30	Charles Riehl / Gus Epler
Hamilton Mechanics	48	92	.343	36½	James Barton

Newark moved to Piqua June 22.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bert Blue	Newark/Piqua	BA	.347	Roy Ashenfelder	Hamil/Spring	W	24
Bert Blue	Newark/Piqua	Hits	176	H. McCall	Marion	Pct	.800; 8-2
W. Colligan	Marion	Runs	119	Billy Kelly	Marion	HR	12

1912 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portsmouth Cobblers	81	52	.609	-	Pete Childs
Mansfield Brownies	72	67	.518	12	Barry McCormick / Walter East / Ted Easterly
Newark Skeeters	70	68	.507	13½	John Grim / Billy Murray / Barry McCormick
Marion Diggers / Ironton Orphans	65	72	.474	18	Fred Johnston / Fred Odwell / Charley Moore
Lima Cigarmakers	64	73	.467	19	Zeke Wrigley
Chillicothe Infants	57	77	.425	24½	Jack Ryan / Jesse Tannehill / Alfred Newnham

Marion moved to Ironton July 15.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Waldo Jackley	Mar/Iron	BA	.357	George Boehler	Newark	W	27
Frank Nesser	Lima	Hits	170	Sandy Burk	Mar/Iron	Pct	.769; 20-6
John Shovelin	Newark	Runs	80	Waldo Jackley	Mar/Iron	HR	11

1913 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Chillicothe Babes	83	49	.629	-	Alfred Newnham
Charleston Senators	84	50	.627	-	Buzz Wetzel
Portsmouth Cobblers	83	55	.601	3	Pete Childs
Huntington Blue Sox	68	68	.500	17	Sam Wright / S. Redman
Lexington Colts	68	70	.483	18	Bill Reynolds / W. McKernan / Rex Dawson
Ironton Nailers	63	75	.456	23	Al McClintock / Archie Osborn
Hamilton Maroons	55	79	.441	29	Zeke Wrigley
Maysville Angels	38	96	.284	46	George Moore

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Carl Ray	Charleston	BA	.366	Ed Donalds	Portsmouth	W	30
John Baggan	Portsmouth	Runs	105	Ed Donalds	Portsmouth	Pct	.789; 30-8
Frank Nesser	Chillicothe	Hits	178	Carl Ray	Charleston	HR	33

1914 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portsmouth Cobblers	86	53	.723	-	Pete Childs
Charleston Senators	79	62	.560	8	Buzz Wetzel / Biddy Beers
Chillicothe Babes	73	64	.533	12	Alfred Newnham
Lexington Colts	66	68	.493	17½	Howard Guyn
Ironton Nailers	35	33	.514	NA	Dick Smith
Huntington Blue Sox	39	47	.453	NA	John Siegle / Nixey Callahan
Maysville Angels	30	51	.370	NA	Harry Chapman / Ray Montgomery
Newport-Paris	19	49	.279	NA	Fred Applegate / Red Munson

Ironton disbanded July 5; Newport-Paris disbanded July 5; Huntington and Maysville both disbanded July 22.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Wilbur Crouch	Lexing/Ports	BA	.327	Abel Applegate	Charleston	W	22
John Baggan	Portsmouth	Runs	116	Paul Carter	Portsmouth	W	22
John Baggan	Portsmouth	Hits	182	Ernie Calbert	Hunting/Charles	HR	17

1915 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portsmouth Cobblers	71	42	.628	-	Chet Spencer
Lexington Colts	63	48	.568	7	Howard Guyn
Chillicothe Babes / Huntington Babes / Maysville Angels	58	55	.513	13	Josh Devore
Charleston Senators	58	63	.479	17	Biddy Beers
Frankfort Old Taylors	45	65	.409	24½	Pat Bohen / Jack Hayden
Ironton Nailers	47	69	.405	25½	Dick Smith

Chillicothe moved to Huntington July 13; Huntington moved to Maysville July 19.

Playoff: Portsmouth 4 games, Maysville 1.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Ralph Sharman	Portsmouth	BA	.374	Hubert Test	Portsmouth	W	21
Pickles Dillhoefer	Portsmouth	Runs	83	Howard McGraner	Chil/Hunt	Pct	.800: 12-3
Ralph Sharman	Portsmouth	Hits	147	Ernie Calbert	Ironton	HR	13

1916 Ohio State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Portsmouth Truckers	47	19	.712	-	Chet Spencer
Charleston Senators / Chillicothe Babes	29	35	.453	17	Bill Powell
Maysville Burley Cubs	26	36	.419	19	Jimmy Jones
Frankfort Old Taylors	24	35	.407	NA	Howard "Ducky" Holmes
Huntington Blue Sox	22	38	.367	NA	Charlie DeArmond /Ezra Midkiff
Lexington Colts	39	24	.619	NA	Howard Guyn

Huntington & Frankfort disbanded July 16; Charleston moved to Chillicothe July 13; Lexington disbanded July 16
The league disbanded July 19.

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Stewart Dilts	Portsmouth	BA	.420	John Ferguson	Portsmouth	W	12
[ Stewart Dilts	Portsmouth	Runs	57	Paul Carpenter	Chil/Charl	SO	95
Stewart Dilts	Portsmouth	Hits	95	Rube Lindholm	Frankfort	HR	6

Ohio State League

History

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1887, 1889, 1898

1908 to 1916