South Carolina League


The South Carolina League, also known as the South Carolina State League, was a minor league baseball league that played from 1906 to 1908. The Class D level South Carolina League consisted entirely of franchises based in South Carolina for its three seasons of play. The Sumter Gamecocks won league championships in 1907 and 1908.

History

The South Carolina League formed for the first time in the 1906 season as a six–team Class D level minor league. The 1906 charter league member teams were Camden, the Darlington Fiddlers, Georgetown, Manning, the Orangeburg Cotton Pickers and Sumter Gamecocks. The final 1906 South Carolina League records and standings are unknown.
In 1907, the Class D level South Carolina League continued as a six–team league under league president Mendel L. Smith, beginning play on May 20, 1907. The league added the Anderson Electricians, Greenville Mountaineers and Spartanburg Spartans as new franchises. On July 27, 1907, Darlington moved to Florence and the Anderson and Greenville franchises both folded. Completing the 1907 season with four teams, the Sumter Game Cocks won the league championship with a 44–23 record. Sumner finished ahead of the Orangeburg Cotton Pickers, Spartanburg Spartans and Darlington/Florence Fiddlers in the standings and were champions as the league held no playoffs.
In 1908, the South Carolina League played their final season as a four–team Class D level league, beginning play on May 4, 1908. The Sumter Gamecocks defended their title, posting a 41–27 regular season record, as the league held no playoffs. Sumter was followed by the Chester Collegians, Rock Hill Catawbas and Orangeburg Edistoes. The South Carolina permanently folded following the 1908 season.

Standings & statistics

1906 to 1908

1906 South Carolina League

Standings and statistics not available
1907 South Carolina League
Team nameWLPCTGBManagers
Sumter Gamecocks4423.657Guy Gunter
Orangeburg Cotton Pickers4225.6272J.P. Doyle
Spartanburg Spartans3634.514J.W. McMakin
Darlington Fiddlers/
Florence Fiddlers
2345.33821½Crese Heismann /
Clyde Russell / Schmitz
Greenville Edistoes2528.472NATom Stouch
Anderson Electricians2136.368NABagwell

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
J.C. WatsonSpartanburgBA.327Sam LansfordOrangeburgW18
Ralph McLaurinSumterHits88Sam LansfordOrangeburgPct..783; 18–5
Walter RikardOrangeburgSB37-----

1908 South Carolina League
Team nameWLPCTGBManagers
Sumter Gamecocks4127.603Frank Dingle
Chester Collegians4030.5712H.P. Caldwell
Rock Hill Catawbas2840.41213Guy Gunter
Orangeburg Cotton Pickers2739.40913J.P. Doyle
Roy Miller / Ed Sawyer

PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
L. B. SimmonsOrangeburgBA.354Bill TempleChesterW15
Fred PrimOrangeburg/ChesterHits69Elmer LongSumterPCT.750 9–3
L. C. DrakeChesterRuns38-----