| Ohio State League | |
| Sport: | Minor League Baseball |
| Replaced: | Ohio–Indiana League |
| Director: | L. A. Moore (1887) |
| President: | George Clugston (1887) Charles Voegle (1887) D.A. Nichols (1889) George Hammond (1898) Robert Quinn (1908–1909) Robert W. Read (1910–1914) Joseph T. Carr (1915–1916) Harry Smith (1908–1909) Paul H. Shank (1938–1940) Joe Donnelly (1941, 1944) Frank M. Colley (1945–1947) |
| Inaugural: | 1887 |
| Teams: | 41 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Continent: | or |
| Continents: | --> |
| Folded: | 1947 |
| Classification: | Independent (1887, 1889, 1898) Class D (1908–1916, 1936–1941, 1944–1947) |
| Related Comps: | Tri-State League |
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.
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 through1951.
The Portsmouth Cobblers won four Ohio State League championships.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Ed Delahanty played for the 1887 Mansfield team.
Akron Acorns 1887, 1889
Canton 1887, 1898
Charleston Senators 1913–1916
Chillicothe Infants 1910–1912; Chillicothe Babes 1913–1916
Columbus Buckeyes 1887
Coshocton 1898
Dayton Indians 1946–1947
Findlay Browns 1937–1938; Findlay Oilers (baseball) 1939–1940; Findlay Browns 1941
Fostoria Cardinals 1936; Fostoria Red Birds 1937–1941
Frankfort Old Taylors 1915–1916
Fremont Reds 1936–1938; Fremont Green Sox 1938–1941
Hamilton Mechanics 1911; Hamilton Maroons 1913
Huntington Blue Sox 1913–1914 Huntington Boosters 1916
Ironton Orphans 1912; Ironton Nailers 1913–1915
Kalamazoo Kazoos 1887
Lancaster Lanks 1908–1911
Lexington Colts 1913–1916
Lima Cigarmakers 1908–1912; Lima Pandas 1939–1941; Lima Red Birds 1944; Lima Reds 1945; Lima Terriers 1946–1947
Mansfield 1887; Mansfield Pioneers 1908–1909; Mansfield Brownies 1912; Mansfield Tigers 1936; Mansfield Red Sox 1937; Mansfield Braves 1939–1941
Marion Diggers 1908–1912; Marion Presidents 1937; Marion Diggers 1944; Marion Cardinals 1945–1946; Marion Cubs
Massillion 1898
Maysville 1913–1914; Maysville Angels 1915; Maysville Burley Cubs 1916
Middletown Red Sox 1944; Middletown Rockets 1945–1946
Muncie Reds 1947
Newark 1889; Newark Newks 1908–1911; Newark Skeeters 1912; Newark Moundsmen 1944–1947
Newport Brewers 1914
New Philadelphia Red Birds 1936
Paris 1914
Piqua Picks 1911
Portsmouth Cobblers 1908–1915; Portsmouth Truckers (1916)
Richmond Roses 1946–1947
Salem 1898
Sandusky Suds 1887; Sandusky Sailors 1936–1937
Springfield Reapers 1908, 1911; Springfield Giants 1944–1947
Steubenville Stubs 1887
Tiffin 1889; Tiffin Mud Hens 1936–1941
Wheeling 1887; Wheeling Nailers 1898
Youngstown 1889
Zanesville Kickapoos 1887; Zanesville Clay Diggers 1898; Zanesville Dodgers 1944–1947
1887 Ohio State League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo Kazoos | 73 | 34 | .682 | - | Al Buckenberger | |
| Zanesville Kickapoos | 58 | 46 | .558 | 13.5 | Patrick Welsh / Pete McShannic | |
| Wheeling | 53 | 48 | .525 | 17.0 | Jack Cronin / William English / Tom Nicholson / Henry Myers | |
| 53 | 49 | .520 | 17.5 | George Curry | ||
| 50 | 55 | .476 | 22.0 | W.A.Calhoun / John Morrissey / Jim Gifford / Buck West | ||
| Mansfield | 46 | 56 | .451 | 24.5 | Sandy McDermott / Bob Allen / Frank O'Brien | |
| Canton | 22 | 14 | .611 | NA | H.H. Kerr / William Zecher | |
| 32 | 60 | .348 | NA | A.B. Showers / Charlie Morton / Sandy McDermott / Bill Irwin | ||
| 9 | 34 | .209 | NA | Parson Nicholson / Pete Woods / Jimmy Wood |
| 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 |
1898 Ohio State League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | 10 | 8 | .556 | - | ||
| Massilllon | 6 | 5 | .545 | 0.5 | Frank Vogt / Ray Markel | |
| Zanesville Clay Diggers | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1.0 | Charley Jewell | |
| Wheeling Nailers | 8 | 9 | .471 | 1.5 | Joseph Starr | |
| Salem | 4 | 8 | .333 | 3.0 | D.R. Gannon | |
| Coshocton | 8 | 6 | .571 | NA | C.F. Prince |
1908 Ohio State League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster Red Roses | 92 | 57 | .617 | - | Kurt Ellston / Paddy Fox | |
| Lima Cigarmakers | 80 | 67 | .544 | 11.0 | Nick Kahl / Jim Jackson | |
| Marion Diggers | 78 | 71 | .523 | 14.0 | Charles O'Day | |
| 76 | 73 | .510 | 16.0 | Cal McVey / Tim Flood | ||
| 74 | 75 | .497 | 18.0 | Bob Berryhill / Harry Eells | ||
| 46 | 103 | .309 | 46.0 | Ed Ranskick / John Quinn |
| Hughie Tate | Marion | BA | .320 | Kirby White | Lancaster | W | 28 | ||
| Hughie Tate | Marion | Hits | 169 | Walt Justis | Lancaster | SO | 293 | ||
| Curly Brown | Lancaster | Runs | 103 | Charlie Pickett | Lima | Pct | 700: 21-9 | ||
| Frank Foutz | Lima | HR | 12 | Jim Riley | Lima | SB | 80 |
1909 Ohio State League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima Cigarmakers | 79 | 50 | .612 | - | Lee Fohl | |
| Marion Diggers | 71 | 59 | .546 | 8.5 | Charles O'Day /Jack Lewis | |
| Mansfield Pioneers | 63 | 58 | .521 | 12.0 | Tim Flood | |
| 48 | 76 | .387 | 28.5 | William Doyle / Jack McCallister / Charles O'Day | ||
| 53 | 53 | .500 | NA | Paddy Fox | ||
| 46 | 64 | .418 | NA | Homer Davidson / Erve Wratten |
| 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
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Cobblers | 86 | 52 | .623 | - | Pete Childs | |
| Lima Cigarmakers | 82 | 56 | .594 | 4.0 | Alfred Newnham | |
| Marion Diggers | 80 | 58 | .580 | 6.0 | Jack Lewis | |
| 58 | 80 | .420 | 28.0 | Bob Berryhill / Charles Riehl / Hank O'Day | ||
| 55 | 82 | .401 | 30.5 | Al McClintock / Guy Sample / Heinie Peitz | ||
| 52 | 85 | .380 | 33.5 | Goat Cochran / Harvey Grubb / Louis Kibler / Zeke Wrigley |
| Hank O'Day | Portsmouth | BA | .324 | Ted Goulait | Marion | W | 24 | |||
| Dick Breen | Portsmouth | Hits | 151 | John Henry Lloyd | Lima | Pct | .769; 10-3 | |||
| Dick Breen | Portsmouth | Runs | 88 | Frank Nesser | Lima | HR | 6 |
1911 Ohio State League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Reapers | 84 | 55 | .604 | - | Charley O'Day | |
| Marion Diggers | 80 | 59 | .576 | 4.0 | Jack Lewis | |
| Portsmouth Cobblers | 78 | 61 | .561 | 6.0 | Pete Childs | |
| 78 | 62 | .557 | 6.5 | Zeke Wrigley | ||
| Newark Newks/ Piqua Picks | 72 | 65 | .526 | 11.0 | Alfred Newnham | |
| 62 | 77 | .446 | 22.0 | Frank Nesser | ||
| Lancaster Lanks | 53 | 84 | .387 | 30.0 | Charles Riehl / Gus Epler | |
| Hamilton Mechanics | 48 | 92 | .343 | 36.5 | James Barton |
| 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
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Cobblers | 81 | 52 | .609 | - | Pete Childs | |
| Mansfield Brownies | 72 | 67 | .518 | 12.0 | Barry McCormick / Walter East / Ted Easterly | |
| Newark Skeeters | 70 | 68 | .507 | 13.5 | John Grim / Billy Murray / Barry McCormick | |
| 65 | 72 | .474 | 18.0 | |||
| Lima Cigarmakers | 64 | 73 | .467 | 19.0 | Zeke Wrigley | |
| 57 | 77 | .425 | 24.5 | Jack Ryan / Jesse Tannehill / Alfred Newnham |
| 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
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chillicothe Babes | 83 | 49 | .629 | - | Alfred Newnham | |
| Charleston Senators | 84 | 50 | .627 | 0.0 | Buzz Wetzel | |
| Portsmouth Cobblers | 83 | 55 | .601 | 3.0 | Pete Childs | |
| Huntington Blue Sox | 68 | 68 | .500 | 17.0 | Sam Wright / S. Redman | |
| Lexington Colts | 68 | 70 | .483 | 18.0 | Bill Reynolds / W. McKernan / Rex Dawson | |
| 63 | 75 | .456 | 23.0 | Al McClintock / Archie Osborn | ||
| Hamilton Maroons | 55 | 79 | .441 | 29.0 | Zeke Wrigley | |
| Maysville Angels | 38 | 96 | .284 | 46.0 | George Moore |
| 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
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Cobblers | 86 | 53 | .723 | - | Pete Childs | |
| Charleston Senators | 79 | 62 | .560 | 8.0 | Buzz Wetzel / Biddy Beers | |
| Chillicothe Babes | 73 | 64 | .533 | 12.0 | Alfred Newnham | |
| Lexington Colts | 66 | 68 | .493 | 17.5 | Howard Guyn | |
| Ironton Nailers | 35 | 33 | .514 | NA | Dick Smith | |
| 39 | 47 | .453 | NA | John Siegle / Nixey Callahan | ||
| 30 | 51 | .370 | NA | Harry Chapman / Ray Montgomery | ||
| Newport-Paris | 19 | 49 | .279 | NA | Fred Applegate / Red Munson |
| 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
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Cobblers | 71 | 42 | .628 | - | Chet Spencer | |
| Lexington Colts | 63 | 48 | .568 | 7.0 | Howard Guyn | |
| 58 | 55 | .513 | 13.0 | Josh Devore | ||
| Charleston Senators | 58 | 63 | .479 | 17.0 | Biddy Beers | |
| Frankfort Old Taylors | 45 | 65 | .409 | 24.5 | Pat Bohen / Jack Hayden | |
| Ironton Nailers | 47 | 69 | .405 | 25.5 | Dick Smith |
| Ralph Sharman | Portsmouth | BA | .374 | Hubert Test | Portsmouth | W | 21 | |||
| Portsmouth | Runs | 83 | Howard McGraner | Chil/Hunt | Pct | .800: 12-3 | ||||
| Ralph Sharman | Portsmouth | Hits | 147 | Ernie Calbert | Ironton | HR | 13 |
1916 Ohio State League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Truckers | 47 | 19 | .712 | - | Chet Spencer | |
| 29 | 35 | .453 | 17.0 | Bill Powell | ||
| Maysville Burley Cubs | 26 | 36 | .419 | 19.0 | Jimmy Jones | |
| 24 | 35 | .407 | NA | Howard "Ducky" Holmes | ||
| 22 | 38 | .367 | NA | Charlie DeArmond /Ezra Midkiff | ||
| Lexington Colts | 39 | 24 | .619 | NA | Howard Guyn |
| Stewart Dilts | Portsmouth | BA | .420 | John Ferguson | Portsmouth | W | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[Stewart Dilts ||Portsmouth ||Runs||57|||| [[Paul Carpenter (baseball)|Paul Carpenter]]||Chil/Charl||SO||95|-| Stewart Dilts ||Portsmouth|||Hits||95|||| Rube Lindholm ||Frankfort||HR||6|}1936 to 19411936 Ohio State League
1937 Ohio State League
1938 Ohio State League
1939 Ohio State League
Finals: Lima 4 games, Findlay 3;
1940 Ohio State League
Finals: Lima 4 Games, Findley 2.
1941 Ohio State League
No League play 1942 & 1943 due to WW II. 1944 to 19471944 Ohio State League
Finals: Newark 4 games, Middletown 2.
1945 Ohio State League
Finals: Zanesville 3 games, Middletown 2.
1946 Ohio State League
Finals: Zanesville 4 games, Springfield 2.
1947 Ohio State League
Finals: Zanesville 4 games, Marion 2.
League records 1887–1951
Further reading
SourcesThe Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball; Second Edition External links
|