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 (baseball) 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 (1916)
- 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
Stubenville disbanded June 29; Canton entered the league August 4; Akron disbanded September 3.
Player statistics
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 |
4.5 |
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
Zanesville entered the league May 30; Conshohockten disbanded June 2
The league disbanded June 5 due to poor weather and Sunday baseball restrictions
1908 to 1916
1908 Ohio State League
Springfield moved to Portsmouth June 16.
1909 Ohio State League
Newark and Lancaster both disbanded August 23.
Player statistics
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
1911 Ohio State League
Newark moved to Piqua June 22.
Player statistics
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
Marion moved to Ironton July 15.
Player statistics
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
Player statistics
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
Ironton disbanded July 5; Newport-Paris disbanded July 5; Huntington and Maysville both disbanded July 22.
Player statistics
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
Chillicothe moved to Huntington July 13; Huntington moved to Maysville July 19.
Playoff: Portsmouth 4 games, Maysville 1.
1916 Ohio State League
Huntington & Frankfort disbanded July 16; Charleston moved to Chillicothe July 13; Lexington disbanded July 16
The league disbanded July 19.
Player statistics
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
|
1936 to 1941
1936 Ohio State League
Mansfield and New Philadelphia both disbanded May 26.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
John Zipay |
Fostoria |
BA |
.419 |
|
Edward Bastian |
Tiffin |
W |
18
|
John Clements |
Tiffin |
Runs |
97 |
|
Steve Vargo |
Fostoria |
SO |
156
|
Jack Suydam |
Tiffin |
Hits |
141 |
|
Charles Cronin |
Tiffin |
ERA |
3.27
|
John Clements |
Tiffin |
RBI |
112 |
|
John Clements |
Tiffin |
HR |
37
|
1937 Ohio State League
Sandusky moved to Marion June22.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Dewey Stover |
Mansfield |
BA |
.383 |
|
Gordon Mann |
Sand/Mar |
W |
18-2
|
Johnny Barrett |
Mansfield |
Runs |
97 |
|
Marion Spence |
Sand/Mar |
W |
18
|
Johnny Barrett |
Mansfield |
Hits |
129 |
|
Charles Cronin |
Tiffin |
SO |
178
|
Chappie Geygan |
Sand/Mar |
RBI |
91 |
|
Gordon Mann |
Sand/Mar |
ERA |
2.30
|
1938 Ohio State League
Playoff: Freemont 3 games, Fostoria 0.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Peter Kraus |
Fostoria |
BA |
.372 |
|
Glen Fletcher |
Free/Find |
W |
15
|
Peter Kraus |
Fostoria |
Runs |
100 |
|
Jack Farmer |
Fostoria |
SO |
164
|
Peter Kraus |
Fostoria |
Hits |
137 |
|
Frederick Berger |
Fostoria |
Pct |
.818; 9-2
|
Del Wilber |
Findlay |
RBI |
83 |
|
Chappie Geygan |
Fremont |
HR |
18
|
1939 Ohio State League
Playoff: Lima defeated Tiffin in a one-game playoff for fourth place. Freemont won 2nd place by coin toss. Findley 2 games, Fostoria 0; Lima 2 games, Fremont 1
Finals: Lima 4 games, Findlay 3;
1940 Ohio State League
Playoff: Lima 3 games, Mansfield 0; Findley 3 games, Tiffin 1
Finals: Lima 4 Games, Findley 2.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Gene Woodling |
Mansfield |
BA |
.398 |
|
Frank Biscan |
Lima |
W |
26
|
John Cindric |
Lima |
Runs |
141 |
|
Frank Biscan |
Lima |
SO |
243
|
Stanley Mazgay |
Findlay |
Hits |
175 |
|
Merle Settlemire |
Lima |
Pct |
.1000; 15-0
|
John Cindric |
Lima |
RBI |
150
|
John Cindric |
Lima |
HR |
39
|
1941 Ohio State League
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Johnny Gerlach |
Tiffin |
BA |
.340 |
|
J.G. Stasaitis |
Fremont |
W |
19
|
Jim Pruett |
Fostoria |
BA |
.340 |
|
Don Bayliss |
Tiffin |
SO |
198
|
Johnny Gerlach |
Tiffin |
Hits |
137 |
|
Lloyd Fisher |
Fremont |
Pct |
.857; 18-3
|
Henry Miesle |
Fremont |
RBI |
86 |
|
Ed Mutryn |
Mansfield |
HR |
22
|
No League play 1942 & 1943 due to WW II.
1944 to 1947
1944 Ohio State League
Playoffs: Newark 3 games, Lima 1;Middletown 3 games, Springfield 2
Finals: Newark 4 games, Middletown 2.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Luke Majorki |
Newark |
BA |
.355 |
|
Ned Garver |
Newark |
W |
21
|
Neal Reside |
Lima |
Runs |
120 |
|
Ned Garver |
Newark |
SO |
221
|
Neal Reside |
Lima |
Hits |
173 |
|
Ned Garver |
Newark |
ERA |
1.21
|
Harvey Zernia |
Lima |
RBI |
114 |
|
Eddie Volan |
Newark |
HR |
20
|
1945 Ohio State League
Playoffs: Middletown 4 games, Springfield 2; Zanesville 4 games, Lima 2
Finals: Zanesville 3 games, Middletown 2.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Albert Kaiser |
Newark |
BA |
.368 |
|
Ray Janikowski |
Middletown |
W |
25
|
William Scott |
Middletown |
Runs |
113 |
|
Ray Janikowski |
Middletown |
SO |
274
|
Albert Kaiser |
Newark |
Hits |
171 |
|
Ray Janikowski |
Middletown |
ERA |
1.71
|
Troy Bolick |
Springfield |
RBI |
103 |
|
Albert Kaiser |
Newark |
HR |
12
|
1946 Ohio State League
Playoffs: Zanesville 4 games, Richmond 0; Springfield 4 games, Newark 2.
Finals: Zanesville 4 games, Springfield 2.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Maynard DeWitt |
Zanesville |
BA |
.351 |
|
Hardy Holt |
Zanesville |
W |
23
|
Maynard DeWitt |
Zanesville |
Runs |
151 |
|
Merlin Williams |
Lima |
SO |
275
|
Maynard DeWitt |
Zanesville |
Hits |
187 |
|
Ewen Bryden |
Springfield |
ERA |
2.14
|
Wayne Reside |
Lima/Spring |
RBI |
118 |
|
Wayne Reside |
Lima/Spring |
HR |
21
|
1947 Ohio State League
Playoffs: Zanesville 4 games, Springfield 0; Marion 4 games, Muncie 1;
Finals: Zanesville 4 games, Marion 2.
Player statistics
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot
|
Nelson Burbrink |
Marion |
BA |
.378 |
|
Clayton Lambert |
Zanesville |
W |
23
|
Robert Verrier |
Richmond |
Runs |
127 |
|
Clayton Lambert |
Zanesville |
SO |
232
|
Jack Maisch |
Lima |
Hits |
194 |
|
Edward Post |
Muncie |
ERA |
2.02
|
Ed Fowler |
Newark |
RBI |
119 |
|
Bob Montag |
Muncie |
HR |
14
|
League records 1887–1951
Batting
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
Yr |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
Yr
|
Bill Henry |
Springfield |
GA |
141 |
1946 |
|
Joe Pattison |
Springfield |
GA |
141 |
1946
|
John Zipay |
Fostoria |
BA |
.419 |
1936 |
|
Andrew Rellick |
Springfield |
AB |
585 |
1950
|
Marvin Stender |
Marion |
Runs |
158 |
1951 |
|
Henry Edwards |
Mansfield |
H |
209 |
1939
|
John Cindric |
Lima |
Rbi |
150 |
1940 |
|
Jim Engleman |
Newark |
2B |
62 |
1950
|
Charles Frey |
Marion |
3B |
20 |
1946 |
|
Keith Jones |
Richmond |
3B |
20 |
1950
|
John Cindric |
Lima |
HR |
39 |
1940 |
|
Jim Engleman |
Newark |
TB |
350 |
1950
|
Maynard DeWitt |
Zanesville |
SB |
110 |
1946 |
|
Wayne Yoder |
Springfield |
BB |
142 |
1949
|
Charles Hopkins |
Newark |
SO |
136 |
1947
|
Pitching
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
Yr |
|
Player |
Team |
Stat |
Tot |
Yr
|
Joe Bielemeier |
Zanesville |
CG |
31 |
1945 |
|
Richard McEvoy |
Newark |
G |
55 |
1948
|
Ed Donalds |
Portsmouth |
W |
30 |
1913 |
|
Bob Jenkins |
Newark |
L |
19 |
1944
|
Bob McCormick |
Zanesville |
L |
19 |
1945 |
|
Merle Settlemire (15-0) |
Lima |
Pct |
1.000 |
1940
|
Walt Justis |
Lancaster |
SO |
293 |
1908 |
|
Merlin Williams |
Lima |
IP |
307 |
1946
|
Joe Bielemeier |
Zanesville |
ShO |
7 |
1945 |
|
Merle Settlemire |
Lima |
WS |
15 |
1940
|
Bob Purcell |
Springfield |
BB |
182 |
1950 |
|
Ned Garver |
Newark |
ERA |
1.21 |
1946
|
See the Ohio–Indiana League for 1948-51
Further reading
- Craig Lammers: "Death in the Ohio State League", in The National Pastime – A Review of Baseball History, Society for American Baseball Research, Cleveland, Ohio, number 26 (May, 2006), pp. 125–128.
Sources
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball; Second Edition
Image is user created not original.
External links