Interstate League
Minor leagues in American baseball
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952 .
Early leagues
Earlier versions of the Interstate League, with years active:
1896–1901: an unclassified loop with teams in Ohio , Indiana , Michigan , Kentucky , and West Virginia .
1905-08; 1914-16: a Class D league with clubs in Pennsylvania and New York .
1913: a Class C league operating in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
1932: a Class D circuit based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In addition, a Class C level Interstate Association existed for one season, 1906 , in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
1895 to 1900 Interstate League
Cities represented 1895 – 1900
Akron, OH : Akron 1895
Anderson, IN : Anderson 1900
Canton, OH : Canton Duebers 1895
Columbus, OH : Columbus Buckeyes 1895, Columbus Senators 1899–1901
Dayton, OH : Dayton Old Soldiers 1897–1898, Dayton Veterans 1899–1900, Dayton Old Soldiers 1901
Findlay, OH : Findlay 1895
Fort Wayne, IN : Fort Wayne Farmers 1896, Fort Wayne Indians 1897–1900, Fort Wayne Railroaders 1901
Grand Rapids, MI : Grand Rapids Cabinet Makers 1898, Grand Rapids Furniture Makers 1899
Jackson, MI : Jackson Wolverines 1896
Kenton, OH : Kenton 1895
Lima, OH : Lima 1895
Mansfield, OH : Mansfield 1895, Mansfield Haymakers 1897–1900
Marion, IN : Marion Glass Blowers 1900
New Castle, PA : New Castle Quakers 1896–1900
Saginaw, MI : Saginaw Lumbermen 1896
Springfield, OH : Springfield Governors 1897–1898, Springfield Wanderers 1899
Steubenville, OH : Steubenville Stubs 1895
Toledo, OH : Toledo Swamp Angels 1896, Toledo Mud Hens 1896–1900
Dennison, OH & Uhrichsville, OH : Twin Cities Twins 1895
Washington, PA : Washington Little Senators 1896
Wheeling, WV : Wheeling Nailers 1895–1897, Wheeling Stogies 1899–1900
Youngstown, OH : Youngstown Puddlers 1896–1898, Youngstown Little Giants 1899–1900
[ 1]
Standings & statistics 1895 to 1900
1895 Interstate League - schedule President: Howard H. Zeigler
Canton disbanded June 2; Lima transferred to Mansfield May 5, Mansfield disbanded July 14; Steubenville transferred to Akron May 10; Akron transferred to Lima May 19, Lima disbanded July 15. The league disbanded July 15
1896 Intestate League President: Charles B. Powers
Ft. Wayne disbanded in early September Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Fort Wayne 0; won by forfeit since Fort Wayne has already disbanded
1897 Interstate League President: Charles B. Powers
Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Dayton 2.
Player statistics
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Bade Myers
Toledo
BA
.411
Kid Keenan
Toledo
W
20
Bill Hartman
Toledo
Runs
152
Chase Alloway
Fort Wayne
ERA
1.00
Bob Gilks
Toledo
Hits
208
John Blue
Toledo
Pct
.857; 18-3
Dummy Kihm
Fort Wayne
HR
17
Joe Reiman
Dayton
HR
17
Joe Werrick
Mansfield
HR
17
Jimmy Cooper
Youngstown
SB
77
1898 Interstate League - schedule President: Charles B. Powers
No Playoffs Scheduled.
1899 Interstate League - schedule President: Charles B. Powers
Grand Rapids moved to Columbus July 20, then to Springfield July 30. No Playoffs were held.
Player statistics
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Billy Taylor
Young/Grand/Wheel
BA
.331
Roscoe Miller
Mansfield
W
28
Bill Hartman
Toledo
Runs
117
Theodore Guese
Fort Wayne
Pct
.714; 25-10
Erve Beck
Toledo
Hits
185
Erve Beck
Toledo
HR
25
Jerry McDonough
Toledo
SB
89
1900 Interstate League President: Charles B. Powers
Columbus (51-63) moved to Anderson, Indiana, August 22; Youngstown (28-67) moved to Marion August 5. Playoff: Fort Wayne 4 games, Dayton 3.
[ 1]
1905 to 1908 Interstate League
Cities represented 1905 – 1908
Bradford, PA : Bradford Drillers 1905–1908
Coudersport, PA : Coudersport Giants 1905
DuBois, PA : DuBois Miners 1905–1907
Erie, PA : Erie Fishermen 1905,1907–1908, Erie Sailors 1906
Franklin, PA : Franklin Millionaires 1907–1908
Hornell, NY : Hornell Pigmies 1906
Jamestown, NY : Jamestown Hill Climbers 1905
Kane, PA : Kane Mountaineers 1905–1907
Oil City, PA : Oil City Cubs 1907–1908
Oil City -Jamestown , PA /NY : Oil City-Jamestown Oseejays 1906
Olean, NY : Olean Refiners 1905–1907; Olean Candidates 1908
Patton, PA : Patton 1906
Punxsutawney, PA : Punxsutawney Policemen 1906–1907
Warren, PA : Warren Blues 1908
[ 1]
Standings & statistics 1905 to 1908
1905 Interstate League President: Frank Baumeister / George F. Rindernecht
Jamestown (18–23) Moved to DuBois July 12. No Playoffs Scheduled.
Player statistics
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Duke Servaitius
Kane
BA
.352
Julius Streib
Coudersport
Runs
63
1906 Interstate League President: George F. Rindernecht
Hornell (35–31) moved to Patton August 6. No Playoffs Scheduled. No player statistics available.
1907 Interstate League schedule President: Frank Baumeister
Kane disbanded July 16; Olean disbanded July 18; Punxsutawney disbanded August 3; DuBois disbanded August 5. The league played a third season, August 7 through September 8, won by Bradford. Oil City was declared the first half champion because DuBois disbanded. Playoff: Oil City 4 games, Bradford 3.
Player statistics
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Jake Weimer
DuBois/Oil City
BA
.338
Doc Hazleton Bill Kirwin
Bradford Bradford
W
16 16
Ben Jewell
Oil City
Runs
66
Jiggs Parson
Oil City
Pct
.750; 15–5
Earl Sykes
Oil City
Hits
108
1908 Interstate League President: C.L. Rexford
The league disbanded June 5.
[ 1]
1913 Interstate League
Cities represented 1913
[ 1]
Standings & statistics 1913
1913 Interstate League schedule President: C.L. Rexford
Zanesville disbanded July 13. The league disbanded July 21.
[ 1]
1914 to 1916 Interstate League
Cities represented 1914 – 1916
Bradford, PA : Bradford Drillers 1914–1916
Erie, PA : Erie Sailors 1916
Hornell, NY : Hornell Green Sox 1914, Hornell Maple Leafs 1915
Jamestown, NY : Jamestown Giants 1914, Jamestown Rabbits 1915
Johnsonburg, PA : Johnsonburg Johnnies 1916
Olean, NY : Olean Refiners 1914, Olean White Sox 1915–1916
Ridgway, PA : Ridgway 1916
St. Marys, PA : St. Marys Saints 1916
Warren, PA : Warren Bingoes 1914–1915, Warren Warriors (1916)
Wellsville, NY : Wellsville Rainmakers 1914–1916
[ 1]
Standings & statistics 1914-1916
1914 Interstate League Presidents: Milton A. Jordan / W. Duke Jr.
Playoff: Jamestown 4 games, Bradford 3. No Individual Statistics Available.
1915 Interstate League President: James A. Lindsey
Jamestown disbanded August 14. Playoff: None; Olean refused to engage in a playoff, claiming that Jamestown's second half games should have been thrown out for failing to complete the schedule and Olean should have won both halves. The claim was denied and the title was awarded to Wellsville.[ 1]
Player statistics
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Bill Colligan
Olean
BA
.322
Everett Keener
Wellsville
W
14
Bill Colligan
Olean
Runs
62
Lefty Webb
James/Hornell
W
14
Joe Apple
Wellsville
Runs
62
Lefty Webb
James/Hornell
SO
152
John Steinfeldt
Wellsville
Hits
101
Everett Keener
Wellsville
Pct
.778; 14-4
Charlie Moran
Warren
HR
3
1916 Interstate League schedule President: James A. Lindsey
Olean disbanded July 12. Warren disbanded August 4; none of its second half games (6-9) were counted. Erie disbanded August 9. Games thrown out: Wins: Warren 6, Wellsville 3, Bradford 2, Erie 2, St. Marys 1, Johnsonburg 1; Losses: Warren 9, Wellsville 4, St. Marys 1.
Player statistics
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Jacob Jennis
Bradford
BA
.357
John Verbout
St. Marys
W
18
Sam McConnell
Ridgway
Runs
64
Al Braithwood
Bradford
So
133
Jim McCabe
Ridgway
Hits
95
Bill Chapelle
Wells/Ridg
Pct
.800; 12-3
John Gilmore
Warr/St.Ma/Wells
HR
4
Frank Gleich
Erie
HR
4
[ 1]
1932 Interstate League
Cities represented 1932
[ 1] [ 2]
Standings & statistics 1932
1932 Interstate League President: William J. Willenbecher
Pottstown disbanded in June, reorganized and re-formed June 17; disbanded again causing the league to fold; Norristown (2-4) moved to St. Clair May 28, then disbanded June 12; Tamaqua (8-12) moved to Slatington June 8; Lancaster disbanded June 17. The league disbanded June 20.
Player statistics
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Player
Team
Stat
Tot
Dom Dallessandro
Norris/St.Cla
BA
.418
Ed Cole
Stroudsburg
W
7
Mickey Haslin
Stroudsburg
BA
.418
Matt Ramsey
Pottstown
W
7
Frank DeManicore
Stroudsburg
Runs
39
Jack Crimmins
Tama/Slating
SO
47
Mickey Haslin
Stroudsburg
Hits
48
Matt Ramsey
Pottstown
Pct
.875; 7-1
Frank DeManicore
Stroudsburg
HR
7
Mickey Haslin
Stroudsburg
HR
7
Paul Piontek
Stroudsburg
HR
7
Paul Piontek
Stroudsburg
RBI
37
[ 1] [ 2]
1939–1952
The longest tenured version of the Interstate League was the last incarnation, which played in the Mid-Atlantic states from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor leagues to operate continuously during the World War II period.
This circuit, which began as Class C and was upgraded to Class B in 1940 , typically had teams in Allentown , Harrisburg , Lancaster and Sunbury , all in Pennsylvania ; Hagerstown, Maryland ; Trenton, New Jersey ; and Wilmington, Delaware . Its final champion was the Hagerstown Braves , a Boston Braves affiliate. That season, the York White Roses led the league in attendance, attracting over 78,000 fans.
Cities/Teams/Years
Cities represented
Teams
Major League Affiliate
Year(s)
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown Dukes
Boston Braves
1939
Allentown Fleetwings
St. Louis Cardinals
1940
Allentown Wings
Philadelphia Phillies (1941) St. Louis Cardinals (1942–43)
1941–43
Allentown Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
1944–52
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport Bees
Boston Braves
1941
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown Owls
Detroit Tigers (1941–44) (1947–48) Chicago Cubs (1945–46) Washington Senators (1949)
1941–49
Hagerstown Braves
Boston Braves
1950–52
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Senators
Pittsburgh Pirates (1941–42) Cleveland Indians (1946–51) Philadelphia Athletics (1952)
1940–42, 1946–52
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton Mountaineers
Unaffiliated
1939–40
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster Red Roses
Philadelphia Athletics (1944–47) Brooklyn Dodgers (1948–52)
1940–52
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading Chicks
Unaffiliated
1940
Reading Brooks
Brooklyn Dodgers
1941
Salisbury, Maryland
Salisbury Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics
1951
Salisbury Reds
Cincinnati Reds
1952
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury Senators
Unaffiliated
1939
Sunbury Indians
Unaffiliated
1940
Sunbury Yankees [ 3]
New York Yankees
1946–47
Sunbury Reds
Cincinnati Reds
1948–49
Sunbury Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics
1950
Sunbury Giants
New York Giants
1951–52
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton Senators
Unaffiliated
1939–41
Trenton Packers
Philadelphia Phillies (1942–43) Brooklyn Dodgers (1944)
1942–44
Trenton Spartans
Brooklyn Dodgers
1945
Trenton Giants
New York Giants
1946–50
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Philadelphia Athletics (1940–43) Philadelphia Phillies (1944–52)
1940–52
York, Pennsylvania
York Bees
Boston Braves
1940
York White Roses
Pittsburgh Pirates (1943–50) St. Louis Browns (1952)
1943–52
League champions
Season
Interstate League champion
Interstate League runner-up
Other postseason participants
1939
Allentown Dukes
Sunbury Senators
Trenton Senators
1940
Lancaster Red Roses
Reading Chicks
Trenton Senators; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1941
Harrisburg Senators
Trenton Senators
Hagerstown Owls; Reading Brooks
1942
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Hagerstown Owls
Harrisburg Senators; Allentown Wings
1943
Lancaster Red Roses
York White Roses
Hagerstown Owls; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1944
Lancaster Red Roses
Allentown Cardinals
Wilmington Blue Rocks; York White Roses
1945
Lancaster Red Roses
Allentown Cardinals
Trenton Spartans; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1946
Harrisburg Senators
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Hagerstown Owls; Allentown Cardinals
1947
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Allentown Cardinals
Trenton Giants; Harrisburg Senators
1948
Trenton Giants
York White Roses
Wilmington Blue Rocks, Sunbury Reds
1949
Trenton Giants
Harrisburg Senators
Allentown Cardinals; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1950
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Hagerstown Braves
Harrisburg Senators; Trenton Giants
1951
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Sunbury Giants
Hagerstown Braves; Allentown Cardinals
1952
Hagerstown Braves
Lancaster Red Roses
York White Roses, Allentown Cardinals
Individual records
Hitting
Games: 142, Steve Flipowicz, Sunbury (1947)
Batting Average: .428, Woody Wheaton , Hazelton (1939)
At Bats: 593, Robert Mays, Hagerstown (1943)
Runs: 128, Nellie Fox , Lancaster (1945) 128, Richard Burgett, Allentown (1946)
Hits: 220, George Kell , Lancaster (1943)
Runs Batted In: 144, Edward Sanicki , Wilmington (1946)
Doubles: 52, Bob Maier , Hagerstown (1943)
Triples: 24, Harold Bamberger , Trenton (1947) 24, Charley Neal , Lancaster (1951)
Home Runs: 37, Edward Sanicki , Wilmington (1947)
Extra Base Hits: 73, John Capra, Allentown (1944)
Total Bases: 320, Del Ennis , Trenton (1943)
Consecutive Game Hitting Streak: 22, Harold Nerino, Sunbury (1940) 22, Bill Cox , Harrisburg (1941) 22, Edward Nowak, Hagerstown (1945)
Sacrifices: 24, Harvey Johnson, Harrisburg (1941)
Stolen Bases: 47, Joseph Schmidt, Wilmington (1946)
Walks: 130, Guy Glaser, Wilmington (1945)
Hit By Pitch: 23, Nellie Fox , Lancaster (1945)
Struck Out: 123, Peyton Rambin, Trenton (1949)
Pitching
Games: 49, George Eyrich , Wilmington (1948)
Complete Games: 29, Charles Bowles, Lancaster (1943) 29, Norman Shope, York (1944)
Wins: 24, Daniel Lewandowski, Allentown (1951)
Losses: 21, Wilson Emmerick, Allentown (1943)
Best Percentage: .880 (22-3), Anderson Bush, Hagerstown (1951)
Earned Run Average: 1.44, Royce Lint , Harrisburg (1942)
Innings Pitched: 260, Charles Miller, Hagerstown (1943)
Win Streak: 13, Woody Wheaton , Lancaster (1943)
Shutouts: 7, John Burrows , Wilmington (1942),
Strikeouts: 278, Andy Tomasic , Trenton (1947)
Bases on Balls : 165, Dick Libby, Sunbury (1948)
Wild Pitches: 19, Joseph Slotter, Hagerstown (1944)
No-hitters
Year
Date
Pitcher
Team
Opposition
Score
Notes
1940
July 2
Don Kepler
Sunbury
York
6-0
7 innings
1942
August 24
Jack Casey
Trenton
Hagerstown
2-3
lost game
1943
July 1
Steve Gerkin
Lancaster
Trenton
4-0
7 innings
1944
June 25
Hal Kelleher
Trenton
York
6-0
7 innings
1946
June 10
Whitey Konikowski
Trenton
Harrisburg
4-0
7 innings
1949
May 7
Tony West
Trenton
Westbury
11-0
1950
June 11
Joe Micciche
Trenton
Harrisburg
9-0
1950
August 25
Tony Segzda
York
Sunbury
6-0
1951
April 28
Keith Kelley
Lancaster
Wilmington
10-0
1951
June 14
William Minton
Salisbury
Harrisburg
0-2
lost game
1951
July 18
Tom Casagrande
Wilimington
York
0-1
11 innings; lost game
1951
July 28
Ernest Nichols
Lancaster
Salisbury
6-2
1951
August 20
Tom Casagrande
Wilmington
Harrisburg
4-0
7 innings
1952
June 5
Bob Berresford
Harrisburg
Wilmington
1-0
1952
August 6
Doug Gostlin
Lancaster
Sunbury
1-0
References
Further reading
Johnson, Lloyd and Wolff, Miles, editors: Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina Publisher: Baseball America , 2007. Format: Hardback, 767 pp. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6
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