Wisconsin State League Explained

Wisconsin State League
Sport:	Minor League Baseball
Replaced:	Wisconsin–Michigan League Wisconsin–Illinois League
President:	Thomas Ahern (1891) Hon. A.E. Mountain (1891) John T. Powers (1905–1906) Charles F. Moll (1907) Herman D. White (1940–1942, 1946–1947) Judge Arnold F. Murphy (1948–1951) Dan G.Cisco (1952) Duane F. Bowman (1953)
Inaugural:	1891
Teams:	29
Country:	United States of America
Continent:	or
Continents:	-->
Folded:	1953
Most Champs:	6 Madison Blues
Classification:	Independent Class D

The Wisconsin State League was a class D level baseball league that began in 1905, changing its name to the Wisconsin–Illinois League in 1908 and operating through 1914. The league re–organized under that name in 1926. Another Wisconsin State League began in 1940, shut down during World War II from 1943 through 1945, then operated from 1946 through 1953.^[1]

The Class D Wisconsin–Illinois League began play in 1940 with six charter franchises: Appleton Papermakers, Fond du Lac Panthers, Green Bay Bluejays, La Crosse Blackhawks, Sheboygan Indians and Wisconsin Rapids White Sox.^[2] In 1942 the league expanded to eight teams, adding the Janesville Cubs and Oshkosh Giants.^[3] After play resumed in 1946, La Crosse moved to become the Wausau Lumberjacks and the league operated with those franchises until its demise following the 1953 season.^[4]

List of teams

Wisconsin State League (1905–1907, 1922–1925, 1928–1931, 1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Wisconsin–Illinois League (1908–1914, 1926–1927, 1932)

• Appleton, WI

Appleton Papermakers (1891, 1909–1914, 1940–1942, 1946–1953)

• Aurora, IL

Aurora Islanders (1910)

• Beloit, WI

Beloit Collegians (1905); Beloit Fairies (1926–1927)

• Chicago, IL

Logan Squares (1926–1927, 1932); Niesen's Chicago Pyotts (1926); St. Michael's (1926); Duffy Florals (1932); Harley Mills (1932)

• Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans (1906); Eau Claire Tigers (1907)

• Fond du Lac, WI

Fond du Lac Mudhens (1891); Fond du Lac Webfoots (1907); Fond du Lac Cubs (1908); Fond du Lac Giants (1909–1910); Fond du Lac Molls (1913); Fond du Lac Mudhens (1911); Fond du Lac Panthers (1940–1942, 1946–1953)

• Freeport, IL

Freeport Pretzels (1905–1909)

• Green Bay, WI

Green Bay Dock Wallopers (1891); Green Bay Colts (1905–1906); Green Bay Orphans (1907); Green Bay Tigers (1908); Green Bay Bays (1909–1914); Green Bay Blue Sox (1941); Green Bay Bluejays (1940, 1942, 1946–1953)

• Janesville, WI

Janesville Cubs (1941–1942, 1947–1953); Janesville Bears (1946)

• Kenosha, WI

Kenosha Twin Sixes (1926–1929)

• La Crosse, WI

La Crosse Pinks (1905–1906, 1908); La Crosse Badgers (1907); La Crosse Boosters (1926); La Crosse Blackhawks (1940–1942)

• Madison, WI

Madison Senators (1905–1914); Madison Blues (1928–1932)

• Manitowoc, WI

Manitowoc Shipbuilders (1928–1931)

• Marinette, WI

Marinette Badgers (1891); Marinette-Menominee Twins (1914)

• Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Creams (1913); Kosciuszko Reds (1928–1930);Onion Oils/Union Oils (1928); Milwaukee Red Sox (1931–1932)

• Oconto, WI

Oconto Log Drivers (1891)

• Oshkosh, WI

Oshkosh Indians (1905–1914); Oshkosh Giants 1941–1942, 1946–1953)

• Racine, WI

Racine Malted Milks (1909–1911, 1914); Racine Belles (1909–1915); Racine Eskimos (1926); Racine Belles (1929–1930)

• Rockford, IL

Rockford Reds (1908–1910); Rockford Wolverines (1911–1913); Rockford Wolves (1914)

• Sheboygan, WI

Sheboygan Chairmakers (1926–1932); Sheboygan Indians (1940–1942, 1946–1953)

• Two Rivers, WI

Two Rivers Mirrors (1928–1931)

• Wausau, WI

Wausau Lumberjacks (1905–1908, 1912–1914, 1946–1953)

• Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1940–1942, 1946–1953)^[1]

Season standings

1891 to 1892

1891 Wisconsin State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Marinette Lumber Shovers	51	39	.567	-	Jacob Aydelotte
Appleton Papermakers	48	41	.539	2.5	Charles Faatz
	48	42	.533	3.0	Thomas Murray / George Brackett
	46	44	.511	5.0	John Roushkolb / Daniel Sweeney
	41	49	.456	10.0	Bob Berryhill
	35	54	.393	15.5	John Guehrer

^[5] 1905 Wisconsin State League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
La Crosse Pinks	68	41	.624	-
Oshkosh Indians	60	47	.561	7.0	Morey Crall / John Lavie
Freeport Pretzels	54	56	.491	14.5	Nick Malvern / Bill Moriarty
Beloit Collegians	50	59	.459	18.0	George Wilbur / George Bubser
Wausau Lumberjacks	47	61	.435	20.5	Jack Corbett John Mott / Nick Malvern
Green Bay Colts	47	62	.431	21.0	W. Kennelly / William McGinnis Marty McQuade / Ernest Van Erman / Warren Beckwith

1906 Wisconsin State League
schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
	76	42	.644	-	Pink Hawley
Freeport Pretzels	73	43	.629	2.0	Bill Moriarty
Oshkosh Indians	56	63	.471	20.5	Charlie Hanford
Green Bay Colts	55	63	.466	21.0	George Bubser / Phil Stremmel
Wausau Lumberjacks	48	70	.407	28.0	Nick Malvern / Belanger
Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans	44	71	.383	30.5	Andy Porter / Al Tebeau Rasmussen / Nick Malvern

La Crosse played Freeport on the last day of the season with the pennant in balance. 5,000 fans saw a 0-0 game after nine innings. La Crosse pushed across five runs in the tenth to win.^[1]

1907 to 1914

1907 Wisconsin State League
schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Freeport Pretzels	79	41	.658	-	Tom Schoonhaven
Wausau Lumberjacks	76	43	.639	2.5	Charlie Ferguson
La Crosse Badgers	67	50	.528	10.5
Eau Claire Tigers	62	56	.525	16.0	Bobby Lynch
Oshkosh Indians	58	65	.472	21.5	George Bubser
Madison Senators	52	66	.441	26.0	Howard Cassibone
Green Bay Orphans	48	73	.397	31.5	John Corrigan
Fond du Lac Webfoots	34	82	.293	43.0	Tom Fletcher

1908 season (W-I League)V^{[6] [1]}

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Games played
Wausau Lumberjacks	72	47	.605	119
La Crosse Pinks	66	57	.537	123
Madison Senators	64	56	.533	120
Green Bay Tigers	65	58	.528	123
Freeport Pretzels	59	62	.488	121
Fond du Lac Cubs	57	65	.467	122
Oshkosh Indians	54	66	.450	120
Rockford Reds	48	74	.393	122

1909 season (W-I League)^{[7] [1]}

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Games played
Madison Senators	74	45	.622	119
Green Bay Bays	69	54	.561	123
Racine Malted Milks	66	58	.532	124
Appleton Papermakers	66	58	.532	124
Rockford Reds	61	61	.500	122
Fond du Lac Giants	58	64	.475	122
Oshkosh Indians	52	72	.419	124
Freeport Pretzels	45	79	.363	124

1910 season (W-I League)^[8]

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Games played
Appleton Papermakers	74	46	.617	120
Rockford Reds	72	50	.590	122
Fond du Lac Giants	66	55	.545	121
Madison Senators	62	59	.512	121
Green Bay Bays	59	61	.492	120
Racine Malted Milks	59	62	.488	121
Oshkosh Indians	51	72	.415	123
Aurora Islanders	43	81	.347	124

1911 season (W-I League)^[9]

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Games played
Rockford	74	46	.617	120
	65	57	.533	122
	61	56	.521	117
Appleton Papermakers	63	58	.521	121
Oshkosh Indians	61	64	.488	125
Racine Malted Milks	58	64	.475	122
Aurora Blues	55	65	.458	120
Fond du Lac	47	73	.392	120

1912 season (W-I League)^[10]

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Games played
Oshkosh Indians	87	45	.659	132
Racine Belles	78	51	.605	129
Appleton	67	60	.528	127
Wausau	66	76	.465	142
	61	68	.473	129
Rockford	63	71	.470	134
Aurora	54	80	.403	134
Madison Senators	51	85	.375	136

1913 season (W-I League)^[11]

Team	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Games played
Oshkosh Indians	74	46	.617	120
Racine Belles	72	51	.585	123
	69	57	.548	126
|65||56||.537||121|-|Madison Senators||64||61||.512||125|-|Fond du Lac||63||61||.508||124|-|Wausau Lumberjacks||45||80||.360||125|-|Appleton Papermakers||43||80||.350||123|-|} 1914 season (W-I League)^[12] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Oshkosh Indians 75 43 .636 118 73 51 .589 124 Appleton Papermakers 64 55 .538 119 Racine Malted Milks 64 58 .525 122 Twin Cities (Prairie du Sac/Sauk City) 61 59 .508 120 Madison Senators 57 62 .479 119 Rockford Wolves 48 71 .403 119 Wausau Lumberjacks 39 82 .322 121 1922 to 1937 1922 season (Wis. State League)^[13] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Manitowoc 8 3 .727 11 Green Bay 7 4 .636 11 Menasha 6 6 .500 12 Appleton 2 10 .167 12 1923 season (Wis. State League)^[14] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Sheboygan Chairmakers 19 9 .679 28 Neenah-Menasha Papermakers 19 9 .679 28 Appleton 17 11 .607 28 Green Bay Bays 15 13 .536 28 Kaukauna 14 14 .500 28 Marinette-Menominee Twins 10 18 .357 28 Oshkosh 10 18 .357 28 Fond du Lac 8 20 .286 28 1924 season (Wis. State League)^[15] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Neenah-Menasha 8 2 .800 10 Green Bay 5 5 .500 10 Appleton 4 4 .500 8 Sheboygan 4 4 .500 8 Oshkosh 3 4 .429 8 Fond du Lac 2 6 .250 8 1925 season (Wis. State League)^[16] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Kenosha Twin Sixes 33 17 .660 50 Beloit Fairies 24 21 .533 45 Racine Athletics 24 28 .462 52 Sheboygan Chairmakers 22 29 .431 51 1926 season (W-I League)^[17] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Sheboygan Chairmakers 48 21 .696 69 Kenosha Twin Sixes 44 28 .611 72 Beloit Fairies 32 22 .593 54 Madison Blues 27 31 .466 58 Racine Belles 30 38 .441 68 Logan Squares (Chicago) 12 21 .364 33 La Crosse Boosters 9 25 .265 34 1927 season (W-I League)^[18] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Sheboygan Chairmakers 33 17 .660 50 Beloit Fairies 17 17 .500 34 Madison Blues 18 28 .391 46 Kenosha Twin Sixers 13 28 .317 41 Logan Squares (Chicago) 13 4 .765 17 1928 season (Wis. State League)^[19] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Two Rivers Mirros 20 13 .606 33 Sheboygan Chairmakers 19 15 .559 34 Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee) 17 15 .531 32 Union Oils (Milwaukee) 16 16 .500 32 Manitowoc Shipbuilders 14 19 .424 33 Madison Blues 12 20 .375 32 1929 season (Wis. State League)^[20] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Two Rivers Mirros 19 6 .760 25 Sheboygan Chairmakers 18 7 .720 25 Union Oils (Milwaukee) 12 12 .500 24 Manitowoc Shipbuilders 13 13 .500 26 Kenosha Twin Sixes 12 14 .462 26 Racine Belles 11 15 .423 26 Madison Blues 8 17 .320 25 Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee) 8 17 .320 25 1930 season (Wis. State League)^[21] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Racine Belles 18 6 .750 24 Two Rivers Mirros 15 9 .625 24 Madison Blues 13 12 .520 25 Manitowoc Shipbuilders 11 13 .458 24 Sheboygan Chairmakers 11 14 .440 25 Milwaukee Oils 9 12 .429 24 Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee) 9 14 .391 23 Kenosha Twin Sixes 8 14 .364 22 1931 season (Wis. State League)^[22] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Sheboygan Chairmakers 15 4 .789 19 Two Rivers Mirros 10 8 .555 18 Madison Blues 11 9 .550 20 Milwaukee 8 10 .444 18 Racine Belles 3 16 .158 19 1932 season (W-I League)^[23] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Harley Mills (Chicago) 16 5 .762 21 Madison Blues 21 10 .677 31 Sheboygan Chairmakers 13 11 .542 24 Duffy Florals (Chicago) 14 12 .538 26 Chicago Firemen 7 10 .474 17 Milwaukee Red Sox 11 14 .440 25 Logan Squares (Chicago) 9 12 .429 21 Colored All-Stars 3 15 .167 18 Colored Giants 2 9 .182 11 1933 season (W-I League)^[24] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Madison Blues] 34 17 .667 51 Harley Mills 18 10 .655 28 Duffy Florals 18 14 .563 32 Logan Squares 17 18 .486 35 Aurora 8 9 .471 17 Spencer Coals 7 12 .368 19 Chicago Firemen 6 15 .286 21 Colored All-Stars 4 16 .200 20 1934 season (Wis. State League)|+First half of the split season: Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Green Bay Green Sox 7 1 .875 8 Kaukauna 5 3 .625 8 Madison Blues 4 3 .571 7 Wisconsin Rapids 3 5 .375 8 Sheboygan Chairmakers 8 9 .471 17 Oshkosh Indians 7 12 .368 19 |+Second half of the split season: Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Madison Blues 8 2 .800 10 Wisconsin Rapids 8 2 .800 10 Green Bay Green Sox 4 5 .444 9 Sheboygan Chairmakers 4 5 .444 9 Oshkosh Indians 3 7 .300 10 Kaukauna 2 8 .200 10 The Madison Blues won the tie-breaker from Wisconsin Rapids to meet Green Bay, the winner of the season's first half. Green Bay prevailed in the final three-game championship series. 1935 season (Wis. State League)|+First half of the split season:^[25] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Madison Blues 8 2 .800 10 Sheboygan Chairmakers 8 2 .800 10 Green Bay Green Sox 5 5 .500 10 Wisconsin Rapids 5 5 .500 10 Kaukauna 3 7 .300 10 Oshkosh Indians 1 9 .100 10 After tying for title of the season's first half, Madison won the first two of a three-game championship series over Sheboygan. |+Second half of the split season:^[26] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Sheboygan Chairmakers 6 4 .600 10 Madison Blues 6 4 .600 10 Wisconsin Rapids 6 4 .600 10 Kaukauna 6 4 .600 10 Green Bay Green Sox 3 7 .300 10 Oshkosh Indians 3 7 .300 10 Sheboygan won the run-off for title of the season's second half, but were defeated by first half champs Madison after the Blues won the first two of the three-game title series.^[27] 1936 season (Wis. State League)|+First half of the split season:^[28] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Madison Blues 9 2 .818 11 Racine Belles 7 4 .636 11 Sheboygan Chairmakers 4 6 .400 10 Milwaukee Red Sox 1 9 .100 10 Madison defeated Racine to win the title of the season's first half. |+Second half of the split season:^[29] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Madison Blues 8 1 .889 9 Racine Belles 3 4 .429 7 Milwaukee Red Sox 2 3 .400 10 Sheboygan Chairmakers 2 7 .222 9 Madison clinched the title of the season's latter half on Aug. 23 when they defeated the Racine Belles. The Blues became 1936 State League champions by winning both halves of the split season. 1937 season (Wis. State League)|+First half of the split season:^[30] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Madison Blues 10 2 .833 12 Sheboygan Chairmakers 10 2 .833 12 Racine Belles 3 9 .250 12 Kenosha Unions 1 11 .083 12 Madison defeated Sheboygan in a three-game series to win the title of the season's first half. |+Second half of the split season:^[31] Team Wins Losses Pct. Games played Madison Blues 10 2 .833 12 Sheboygan Chairmakers 10 2 .833 12 Racine Belles 1 9 .100 10 Kenosha Unions 1 9 .100 10 Sheboygan won the three-game tie-breaker series against Madison to win title of the season's latter half. Facing Sheboygan again for the 1937 championship, Blues manager Eddie Lenahan insisted on a single deciding game instead of three. The State League disagreed, declaring that Madison had forfeited the season by refusing to play in a three-game series. The Chairmakers were awarded the 1937 season championship. References

Notes and References

1. Book: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball . Lloyd . Johnson . Miles . Wolff . Third . . 2007 . 978-1932391176.
2. Web site: 1940 Wisconsin State League. Baseball-Reference.com.
3. Web site: 1941 Wisconsin State League. Baseball-Reference.com.
4. Web site: 1953 Wisconsin State League. Baseball-Reference.com.
5. Web site: Article clipped from Atchison Daily Patriot. August 20, 1891. 3. newspapers.com.
6. "Locals Finish in Second Place," La Crosse Tribune, Sep. 14, 1908
7. "League Standings in Capsule Form," Racine Journal, Sep. 13, 1909
8. "W.-I. Flag to Appleton," Chicago Examiner, Sep. 8, 1910
9. "League Baseball in Condensed Form," Racine Journal, Sep. 11, 1911
10. "Baseball Results," Monmouth Daily Atlas, Sep. 17, 1912
11. "Here's Best Race in 1913 Baseball," Chicago Examiner, Sep. 8, 1913
12. "Standing of the Teams," Racine Journal, Sep. 14, 1914
13. "Team Standings," Manitowoc Herald News, Sep. 18, 1922
14. "Standings and Results as the Schedule Closes," Sheboygan Press Telegram, Sep. 24, 1923
15. "How They Stand," Appleton Post Crescent, Sep. 22, 1924
16. "Racine Here for a Final Clash Sunday," Sheboygan Press, Oct. 3, 1925
17. "W-I Association Standings," Sheboygan Press, Oct. 1, 1926
18. "Final Standings, Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press, Sep. 14, 1927
19. "Two Rivers Cop the Pennant of the Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press, Sep. 10, 1928
20. "Team Standings," Racine Journal News, Sep. 3, 1929
21. "Blues Win Pair, in Third Place" Capital Times, Sep. 2, 1930
22. "Chairs Split with Mirros," Manitowoc Evening Times, Sep. 8, 1931
23. "W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal, Sep. 3, 1932
24. "W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal, Dec. 31, 1933
25. "Blues Romp to Victory Over Kaukauna,18-1," Wisconsin State Journal, July 1, 1935
26. "State League Standings (Second Half Final)," Wisconsin State Journal, Sep. 9, 1935
27. "Blues Sweep Series to Cop League Title," Wisconsin State Journal, Sep. 30, 1935
28. "Blues Win First Half Crown in State League," Wisconsin State Journal, July 6, 1936
29. Belles Dropped from Flag Race, Lose 3-2," Racine Journal Times, Aug. 24, 1936
30. "Blues, Chairs Share Honors," Racine Journal-Times, July 7, 1937
31. "Belles Lose Home Final," Racine Journal-Times, Sep. 7, 1937