Interstate League Explained

Interstate League
Sport:Minor league baseball
Founded:1896
Inaugural:1896
Teams:63
Country:United States
Most Champs:Wilmington Blue Rocks (4)
Lancaster Red Roses (4)
Folded:1952
Website:None

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:

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

[1]

Standings & statistics 1895 to 1900

1895 Interstate League - schedule
President: Howard H. Zeigler

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Twin Cities Twins3822.633-Jack Darrah
Wheeling Nailers3422.6072.0
Findlay3221.6042.5Charles Stroebel / Howard Brandenberg
Kenton2928.5097.5Davis / Tony Zander
Columbus Buckeyes2831.4759.5
Steubenville Stubs /
Akron /
Lima 		2139.35017.0George Moreland /
George Rhue / Timothy Donovan
Canton Duebers1115.423NAWalter Goble
Lima
/ Mansfield 		823.258NAAndy Sommers / Frank O'Brien
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
Player statistics!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot
Reddy GreyFindlayRuns64
Reddy GreyFindlayHits80
Reddy GreyFindlayHR14
1896 Intestate League
President: Charles B. Powers
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Toledo Mud Hens8646.652-Charles Strobel / Frank Torreyson
7036.6608.5
Wheeling Nailers5760.48718.5Issac Hughes / John Darrah
Youngstown Puddlers5457.48626.5Art Anderson / Charles Hazen
Jackson Wolverines5356.48618.5Alex McDonald / Leigh Lynch
New Castle Quakers5359.47320.0Jay Faatz / Malcolm Whitehill
Washington Little Senators4370.38130.5Byron McKeown
Saginaw Lumbermen4073.35433.5George Black
Ft. Wayne disbanded in early September Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Fort Wayne 0; won by forfeit since Fort Wayne has already disbanded
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Erve BeckToledoBA.371George KelbToledoW25
Erve BeckToledoRuns101
Erve BeckToledoHits171
Jake Ganzel New CastleHR17
1897 Interstate League
President: Charles B. Powers
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Toledo Mud Hens8343.659-Charles Strobel
Dayton Old Soldiers7451.5928.5
New Castle Quakers7254.57111.0Paul Russell / Hurd
Fort Wayne Indians6359.51618.0
Mansfield Haymakers6361.50819.0Con Strothers / Barton Howard
Youngstown Puddlers5966.47223.5John Scheible / Edward Zinram
Springfield Governors4679.36836.5
Wheeling Nailers3885.30943.5William Harrington / Frank Torreyson
Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Dayton 2.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Bade MyersToledoBA.411Kid KeenanToledoW20
Bill Hartman ToledoRuns152Chase Alloway Fort WayneERA1.00
Bob GilksToledoHits208John Blue ToledoPct.857; 18-3
Dummy Kihm Fort WayneHR17
Joe Reiman DaytonHR17
Joe WerrickMansfieldHR17
Jimmy Cooper YoungstownSB77
1898 Interstate League - schedule
President: Charles B. Powers
Team StandingsWLPCTGBManagers
Dayton Old Soldiers8465.564-
Toledo Mud Hens8668.5580.5Charles Strobel
Springfield Governors8166.5512.0
New Castle Quakers8169.5403.5Pop Lytle
Grand Rapids Cabinet Makers7579.48711.5Frank Torreyson
Mansfield Haymakers7175.48611.5Barton Howard
Fort Wayne Indians7184.45816.0Fred Cooke /
Eddie O'Meara / George Geer
Youngstown Puddlers5396.35631.0George Geer /
Paul Russell / Robert Pender
No Playoffs Scheduled.
Player statistics!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Bill HartmanToledoBA.340Bob EwingToledoW25
Bill HartmanToledoRuns167Charlie FergusonToledoW25
Bill HartmanToledoHits214Charles SmithNew CastleSO184
Joe Reiman DaytonHR14Nick AltrockGrand RapidsPct.850; 17-3
Thayer Torreyson Grand RapidsSB73
1899 Interstate League - schedule
President: Charles B. Powers
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
New Castle Quakers8753.621-
Mansfield Haymakers8654.6141.0Dan Lowney
Fort Wayne Indians8258.5865.0
Toledo Mud Hens8258.5865.0Charles Strobel
Youngstown Little Giants6079.43226.5
Wheeling Stogies5881.41728.5Pop Lytle / Tom Nicholson
Dayton Veterans5585.39332.0
4991.35038.0
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 TaylorYoung/Grand/WheelBA.331Roscoe MillerMansfieldW28
Bill HartmanToledoRuns117Theodore Guese Fort WaynePct.714; 25-10
Erve BeckToledoHits185
Erve BeckToledoHR25
Jerry McDonough ToledoSB89
1900 Interstate League
President: Charles B. Powers
Team StandingsWLPCTGBManagers
Dayton Veterans9043.677-Bill Armour
Fort Wayne Indians8553.6167.5Jack Glasscock / Joe Hubbard
Toledo Mud Hens8158.58312.0Charles Strobel
Wheeling Stogies7658.56814.5Pop Lytle / Pete Healy
Mansfield Haymakers6768.49624.0Dan Lowney
Columbus Senators /
Anderson 		5878.42733.5Jesse Quinn
Youngstown / Marion Glass Blowers4492.32447.5
New Castle Quakers4495.31749.0
Columbus (51-63) moved to Anderson, Indiana, August 22; Youngstown (28-67) moved to Marion August 5.
Playoff: Fort Wayne 4 games, Dayton 3.
Player statistics!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Erve BeckToledoBA.360Cy SwaimFort WayneW24
Otto KruegerFort WayneRuns131Bumpus JonesFort WaynePct.786; 11-3
Erve BeckToledoHits207
Ed Bradley Columbus/AndersonHR18
[1]

1905 to 1908 Interstate League

Cities represented 1905 – 1908

[1]

Standings & statistics 1905 to 1908

1905 Interstate League
President: Frank Baumeister / George F. Rindernecht

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Coudersport Giants5938.608-Harry Knight / John Lawley
Erie Fishermen5839.5981.0Daniel Koster /
Bob McLaughlin / Jack Burke
Olean Refiners5450.5198.5Al Lawson / Eddie Foster
Bradford Drillers4654.46014.5William Leary / Frederick Paige
Kane Mountaineers4056.41718.5C.R. Eichelberger
Jamestown Hill Climbers /
DuBois Miners		4060.40020.5J. Lawrence Alexander /
Paul Wrath / Menzo Sibley
Jamestown (18–23) Moved to DuBois July 12.
No Playoffs Scheduled.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot
Duke Servaitius KaneBA.352
Julius Streib CoudersportRuns63
1906 Interstate League
President: George F. Rindernecht
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Erie Sailors6541.613-Tom O'Hara
Punxsutawney Policemen5345.5418.0W.J. Brown
Bradford Drillers6153.5358.0Thomas News
DuBois Miners5252.50012.0
Kane Mountaineers5858.50012.0James Collopy
Hornell Pigmies /
Patton		5356.48613.5John Quinn
Olean Refiners5062.44618.0John Ziegler / John Dailey
Oil City-Jamestown Oseejays4469.38924.5Alfred Lawson / C.L. Rexford
Hornell (35–31) moved to Patton August 6.
No Playoffs Scheduled. No player statistics available. 1907 Interstate League
schedule
President: Frank Baumeister
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Erie Fishermen6451.557-Thomas Reynolds
Bradford Drillers6354.5382.0
Franklin Millionaires5152.4957.0L.L. Jacklin / George Rinderknecht
Oil City Cubs5457.4868.0James Collopy
3626.581NA
1726.395NA
1235.255NAJoe Flynn
3326.559NAMilt Montgomery / W.J. Brown
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 WeimerDuBois/Oil CityBA.338Doc Hazleton
Bill Kirwin
Bradford
Bradford		W16
16
Ben JewellOil CityRuns66Jiggs ParsonOil CityPct.750; 15–5
Earl SykesOil CityHits108
1908 Interstate League
President: C.L. Rexford
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Olean Candidates162.882-Percy Stetler
Warren Blues118.5006.5Thomas McNeal
Bradford Drillers129.6503.5George Rinderknecht
Franklin Millionaires813.3339.5Bill Smith
Oil City Cubs611.31610.0C.L. Rexford / James Collopy
412.25010.5Frank Baumeister
The league disbanded June 5.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Jake WeimerOleanBA.461OleanW6
Bill Price OleanRuns27OleanPct1.000; 6–0
Jake WeimerOleanHits30
Jake WeimerOleanHR3
[1]

1913 Interstate League

Cities represented 1913

Akron Giants 1913

Canton Senators 1913

Columbus Cubs 1913

Erie Sailors 1913

Steubenville Stubs 1913

Wheeling Stogies 1913

Youngstown Steelmen 1913

Zanesville Flood Sufferers 1913[1]

Standings & statistics 1913

1913 Interstate League
schedule
President: C.L. Rexford

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Erie Sailors5721.731-Larry Quinlan
Akron Giants4732.59510.5
Youngstown Steelmen4333.56613.0Curley Blount
Columbus Cubs3738.49318.5
Steubenville Stubs3142.42522.5Roy Montgomery
Wheeling Stogies3247.40525.5
Canton Senators2944.39725.5
2746.37027.5
Zanesville disbanded July 13.
The league disbanded July 21.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Tom SheehanYoungstownBA.355Lou SchettlerErieW14
John Dawson ErieRuns67Clark Sterzer ErieSO121
Tom SheehanYoungstownHits106Lou SchettlerEriePct.824; 14-3
Art WatsonSteubenvilleHR6
[1]

1914 to 1916 Interstate League

Cities represented 1914 – 1916

[1]

Standings & statistics 1914-1916

1914 Interstate League
Presidents: Milton A. Jordan / W. Duke Jr.

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Jamestown Giants5940.596-Joe Lohr
Bradford Drillers5942.5841.0Art Goodwin / Duke Servatius
Warren Bingoes5745.5593.5Bill Webb
Olean Refiners4353.44814.5Harry Giles / Joe Reynolds
Wellsville Rainmakers4160.40619.0
Hornell Green Sox3958.40219.0John O'Keefe / Albert Barrett
Joe Prozeller
Playoff: Jamestown 4 games, Bradford 3.
No Individual Statistics Available. 1915 Interstate League
President: James A. Lindsey
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Wellsville Rainmakers5432.628-Joe Lohr
Olean White Sox5230.634-
Bradford Drillers4242.50011.0Duke Servatius / Ray Topham
Hornell Maple Leafs3851.42714.5Joe Prozeller / Lenny Burrell
Warren Bingoes3350.39816.5R.W. Archer / George Bell
2842.40018.0Bill Webb
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 OleanBA.322Everett Keener WellsvilleW14
Bill Colligan OleanRuns62Lefty WebbJames/HornellW14
Joe Apple WellsvilleRuns62Lefty WebbJames/HornellSO152
John Steinfeldt WellsvilleHits101Everett KeenerWellsvillePct.778; 14-4
Charlie MoranWarrenHR3
1916 Interstate League
schedule
President: James A. Lindsey
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Ridgway5624.700-
St. Marys Saints4930.6206.5Curley Blount
Bradford Drillers4538.54212.5
Wellsville Rainmakers2748.36026.5Joe Lohr
Johnsonburg Johnnies2749.35527.0Thomas Jones
2419.558NA
2637.413NA
Olean White Sox1625.390NA
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 BradfordBA.357John Verbout St. MarysW18
Sam McConnellRidgwayRuns64Al BraithwoodBradfordSo133
Jim McCabe RidgwayHits95Bill Chapelle Wells/RidgPct.800; 12-3
John GilmoreWarr/St.Ma/WellsHR4
Frank GleichErieHR4
[1]

1932 Interstate League

Cities represented 1932

[1] [2]

Standings & statistics 1932

1932 Interstate League
President: William J. Willenbecher

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Stroudsburg Poconos197.731-Ed Murphy
188.6921.0
1110.5248.5
1016.3859.0Lee Strait
Washington Potomacs917.3469.0Edward Neff
716.30410.5Bud Shaw /
Jimmy Sheckard / Otto Sandberger
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 DallessandroNorris/St.ClaBA.418Ed ColeStroudsburgW7
Mickey HaslinStroudsburgBA.418Matt RamseyPottstownW7
Frank DeManicore StroudsburgRuns39Jack Crimmins Tama/SlatingSO47
Mickey HaslinStroudsburgHits48Matt RamseyPottstownPct.875; 7-1
Frank DeManicore StroudsburgHR7
Mickey HaslinStroudsburgHR7
Paul PiontekStroudsburgHR7
Paul PiontekStroudsburgRBI37
[1] [2]

1939–1952

Interstate League
Sport:Baseball
Founded:1939
Inaugural:1939
Teams:4 (1939)
8 (1940–1941) (1946–1952)
6 (1942–1945)
Champion:Hagerstown Braves
Most Champs:Wilmington Blue Rocks (4)
Lancaster Red Roses (4)
Folded:1952
Website:None

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 representedTeamsMajor League Affiliate Year(s)
Allentown, PennsylvaniaBoston Braves 1939
Allentown Fleetwings1940
Allentown WingsPhiladelphia Phillies (1941)
St. Louis Cardinals (1942–43)		1941–43
Allentown CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals 1944–52
Bridgeport, ConnecticutBoston Braves 1941
Hagerstown, MarylandDetroit Tigers (1941–44) (1947–48)
Chicago Cubs (1945–46)
Washington Senators (1949)		1941–49
Hagerstown BravesBoston Braves 1950–52
Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh Pirates (1941–42)
Cleveland Indians (1946–51)
Philadelphia Athletics (1952)		1940–42, 1946–52
Hazleton, PennsylvaniaUnaffiliated 1939–40
Lancaster, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Athletics (1944–47)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1948–52) 		1940–52
Reading, PennsylvaniaUnaffiliated 1940
Reading BrooksBrooklyn Dodgers 1941
Salisbury, MarylandPhiladelphia Athletics 1951
1952
Sunbury, PennsylvaniaUnaffiliated 1939
Sunbury IndiansUnaffiliated 1940
Sunbury Yankees[3] 1946–47
Sunbury RedsCincinnati Reds 1948–49
Sunbury AthleticsPhiladelphia Athletics 1950
Sunbury GiantsNew York Giants 1951–52
Trenton, New JerseyUnaffiliated 1939–41
Trenton PackersPhiladelphia Phillies (1942–43)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1944)		1942–44
Trenton SpartansBrooklyn Dodgers 1945
New York Giants 1946–50
Wilmington, DelawarePhiladelphia Athletics (1940–43)
Philadelphia Phillies (1944–52) 		1940–52
York, PennsylvaniaYork BeesBoston Braves 1940
York White RosesPittsburgh Pirates (1943–50)
St. Louis Browns (1952)		1943–52

League champions

SeasonInterstate League championInterstate League runner-upOther postseason participants
1939Allentown DukesSunbury SenatorsTrenton Senators
1940Lancaster Red RosesReading ChicksTrenton Senators; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1941Harrisburg SenatorsTrenton SenatorsHagerstown Owls; Reading Brooks
1942Wilmington Blue RocksHagerstown OwlsHarrisburg Senators; Allentown Wings
1943Lancaster Red RosesYork White RosesHagerstown Owls; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1944Lancaster Red RosesAllentown CardinalsWilmington Blue Rocks; York White Roses
1945Lancaster Red RosesAllentown CardinalsTrenton Spartans; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1946Harrisburg SenatorsWilmington Blue RocksHagerstown Owls; Allentown Cardinals
1947Wilmington Blue RocksAllentown CardinalsTrenton Giants; Harrisburg Senators
1948Trenton GiantsYork White RosesWilmington Blue Rocks, Sunbury Reds
1949Trenton GiantsHarrisburg SenatorsAllentown Cardinals; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1950Wilmington Blue RocksHagerstown BravesHarrisburg Senators; Trenton Giants
1951Wilmington Blue RocksSunbury GiantsHagerstown Braves; Allentown Cardinals
1952Hagerstown BravesLancaster Red RosesYork White Roses, Allentown Cardinals

Individual records

Hitting

Pitching

No-hitters

YearDatePitcherTeamOppositionScoreNotes
1940July 2Don KeplerSunburyYork6-07 innings
1942August 24Jack CaseyTrentonHagerstown2-3lost game
1943July 1Steve GerkinLancasterTrenton4-07 innings
1944June 25Hal KelleherTrentonYork6-07 innings
1946June 10Whitey KonikowskiTrentonHarrisburg4-07 innings
1949May 7Tony WestTrentonWestbury11-0
1950June 11Joe MiccicheTrentonHarrisburg9-0
1950August 25Tony SegzdaYorkSunbury6-0
1951April 28Keith KelleyLancasterWilmington10-0
1951June 14William MintonSalisburyHarrisburg0-2lost game
1951July 18Tom CasagrandeWilimingtonYork0-111 innings; lost game
1951July 28Ernest NicholsLancasterSalisbury6-2
1951August 20Tom CasagrandeWilmingtonHarrisburg4-07 innings
1952June 5Bob BerresfordHarrisburgWilmington1-0
1952August 6Doug GostlinLancasterSunbury1-0

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball . Lloyd . Johnson . Miles . Wolff . Third . . 2007 . 978-1932391176.
  2. Web site: 1932 Interstate League .
  3. Web site: Ed Baker presents Mike Daddario's Sunbury Memorial Field - Sunbury Pennsylvania - Former Home of the Sunbury Reds. www.digitalballparks.com.

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