Southern Michigan League Explained

Southern Michigan League
Sport:	Minor League Baseball
President:	Joseph S. Jackson (1906–1909) James P. Bowen (1910–1912) James Frank (1913–1915)
Inaugural:	1906
Teams:	12
Country:	United States of America
Continent:	or
Continents:	-->
Folded:	1915
Most Champs:	2 Kalamazoo Kazoos/Celery Pickers (1908–1909) Saginaw Wa-was (1910–1911)
Classification:	Class D (1906–1910) Class C (1911) Class D (1912–1913) Class C (1914–1915)

The Southern Michigan League was a Minor League Baseball circuit which operated between 1906 and 1912. It was classified as a Class D league from 1906 to 1910 and as a Class C league from 1911 to 1912. After that, the league was known as the Southern Michigan Association between 1913 and 1915.

The Southern Michigan Association held a Class D status in 1913 and was given Class C recognition in 1914 and 1915. The Association closed up after the 1915 season.

Cities represented/teams

• Adrian, Michigan

Adrian Yeggs (1909–11); Adrian Lions (1912); Adrian Champs (1913); Adrian Fencevilles (1914)

• Battle Creek, Michigan

Battle Creek Crickets (1906–15)

• Bay City, Michigan

Bay City (1907, 1910); Bay City Reds (1908), Bay City Cardinals (1909), Bay City Billikens (1911–12); Bay City Beavers (1913–15)

• Flint, Michigan

Flint Vehicles (1907–15)

• Jackson, Michigan

Jackson Convicts (1906–13); Jackson Chiefs (1914); Jackson Vets (1915)

• Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo White Sox (1906–08); Kalamazoo Kazoos (1909–10, 1913–14); Kalamazoo Celery Pickers (1911–12)

• Lansing, Michigan

Lansing Senators (1907–14)

• Mount Clemens, Michigan

Mount Clemens Bathers (1906–07, 1914)

• Saginaw, Michigan

Saginaw (1906); Saginaw Wa-was (1908–10); Saginaw Krazy Kats (1911); Saginaw Trailers (1912); Saginaw Ducks (1913–15)

• South Bend, Indiana

South Bend Benders (1914); South Bend Factors (1915)

• Tecumseh, Michigan

Tecumseh Indians (1906–08)

• Toledo, Ohio

Toledo Mud Hens (1914)

League champions

• 1906 – Mount Clemens Bathers
• 1907 – Tecumseh
• 1908 – Saginaw Wa-was
• 1909 – Saginaw Wa-was
• 1910 – Kalamazoo Kazoos
• 1911 – Kalamazoo Celery Pickers
• 1912 – Adrian Lions
• 1913 – Battle Creek Crickets
• 1914 – Saginaw Ducks
• 1915 – South Bend Factors

Standings & statistics

1906 to 1910

1906 Southern Michigan League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Mount Clemens Bathers	69	34	.670	-	Walter Trombley
Kalamazoo White Sox	63	41	.612	6.5	Clarence Pickell / Maurice Myers
Tecumseh Indians	57	47	.548	12.5	Horace Brewer
Jackson Convicts	52	52	.500	17.5
	39	56	.411	26	George Black/ Maurice Myers / Joe Ganzel
	34	60	.362	30.5	Clarence Jessup / Kimmerley

Saginaw began play July 18. It was awarded a record of 15-20 when added. The Battle Creek record of 4-38 was expunged on July 21 and the reorganized team was awarded a record of 15-20 on July 22. The official standings were unequal due to the adjusted won-lost records.^{[1] [2]}

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot

Bill Roth	Mt. Clemens	BA	.302
Bill Roth	Mt. Clemens	Hits	115

1907 Southern Michigan League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tecumseh Indians	69	42	.622	-	Bo Slear
Kalamazoo White Sox	62	47	.569	6.0	Maurice Myers
	63	49	.563	6.5	James Henderson
Mount Clemens Bathers	51	51	.500	13.5	Joe Ganzel / George Thomas
Bay City	46	57	.447	19.0	M.E. Taylor
Lansing Senators	46	57	.447	19.0	Jack Morrissey
Flint Vehicles	42	64	.396	24.5	Fred Mason / Pete Tibald
	18	30	.375	NA	Bruce Haynes

Jackson folded July 15.

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

John Landry	Mt. Clemens	BA	.297		Harvey Teal	Tecumseh	W	21
John Landry	Mt. Clemens	Runs	60		Tom Railing	Tecumseh	W	21
John Landry	Mt. Clemens	Hits	120		Irwin Gough	Mt. Clemens	SO	253
John Cocash	Flint	HR	6		Harry Steiger	Battle Creek	Pct	.810; 17-4
Fred Merkle	Tecumseh	HR	6

1908 Southern Michigan League - schedule

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Saginaw Wa-was	72	52	.581	-	Bruce Hayes/ E. Dillon / Blair
Kalamazoo White Sox	70	56	.556	3.0	Mo Myers
	68	57	.544	4.5	Bo Slear
Tecumseh Indians	64	62	.508	9.0	Smith
Battle Creek Crickets	62	63	.496	10.5	NA
Lansing Senators	60	65	.480	12.5
Flint Vehicles	57	68	.448	15.5	Rube Deneau / Charles Cassell
Bay City Reds	48	78	.381	25.0	M. Taylor / Clyde McNutt

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Leonard Cote	Kalamazoo	BA	.327		Belmont Method	Kalamazoo	W	24
Bob Parker	Jackson	Runs	79		George Pearce	Lansing	SO	298
Chick Evans	Jackson	Hits	141		Edwin Taylor	Kalamazoo	Pct	.800; 12-3
Jack Morrissey	Lansing	Hits	141
Red Bowser	Flint	HR	11

1909 Southern Michigan League

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Saginaw Wa-was	73	52	.584	-	Billy Smith
Flint Vehicles	72	52	.581	0.5	Red Wright
	71	52	.577	1.0	Bo Slear
Kalamazoo Kazoos	64	60	.516	8.5	Harry Martin
Bay City Cardinals	59	66	.478	14.0
Lansing Senators	55	69	.443	17.5
Adrian Yeggs	52	73	.416	21.0	Charles Cassell
Battle Creek Crickets	52	74	.413	21.5

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Harry Martin	Kalamazoo	BA	.330		Gene Krapp	Flint	W	23
Harry Ball	Adrian	Runs	94		Elmer Criger	Jackson	Pct	.759; 22-7
Harry Ball	Adrian	Hits	141		Ed Kusel	Saginaw	Pct	.759; 22-7

1910 Southern Michigan League - schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Kalamazoo Kazoos	87	52	.626	-
Lansing Senators	87	52	.626	-	Jack Morrissey
	83	56	.597	4.0
Battle Creek Crickets	72	64	.529	13.5
Flint Vehicles	69	71	.493	18.5
Bay City	59	81	.421	28.5	Elbert Nugent / Leon Foy
Jackson Convicts	51	85	.375	34.5	Bo Slear
Saginaw Wa-was	46	93	.331	41.0	Billy Smith / Frank Wessell

Playoff: Kalamazoo 4 games, Lansing 2.

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Red Bowser	Flint	BA	.342		Bradley Valliere	Kalamazoo	W	23
Harry Ball	Adrian	Runs	117			Lansing	W	23
Vic Saier	Lansing	Hits	175		Berne Hughey	Kalamazoo	SO	193
Red Bowser	Flint	HR	14		Bradley Valliere	Kalamazoo	Pct	.793; 23-6

^[1]

1911 to 1912

1911 Southern Michigan Association - schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Kalamazoo Celery Pickers	88	51	.633	-
Lansing Senators	79	55	.590	6.5
	77	59	.566	9.5	Dan Collins
Bay City Billikens	73	64	.533	14.0	Mo Myers / Bo Slear
Saginaw Krazy Kats	72	67	.518	16.0
Adrian Yeggs	65	76	.461	24.0	Billy Smith
Battle Creek Crickets	57	80	.416	30.0	John Burke
Jackson Convicts	39	98	.285	48.0	Charles Fox

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

John Connors	Jackson	BA	.377		Beany Jacobson	Kalamazoo	W	26
Buck Hopkins	Saginaw	Runs	120		Ed Warner	Lansing	W	26
Joe Kutina	Saginaw	Hits	193		Ed Warner	Lansing	SO	231
Clarence Kraft	Flint	HR	19		Beany Jacobson	Kalamazoo	Pct	.743; 26-9
	Battle Creek	3B	25

1912 Southern Michigan League - schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Adrian Lions	78	47	.624	-	Dan Jenkins
Jackson Convicts	71	55	.563	7.5	Maurice Myers
	69	56	.552	9.0	John Burke / Dan Collins
Lansing Senators	63	62	.504	15.0
Kalamazoo Celery Eaters	60	63	.488	17.0
Battle Creek Crickets	59	68	.465	20.0	Eddie McKernan
	19	43	.306	NA	James Slevins
	19	44	.302	NA	Walter Hartwell

Bay City and Saginaw disbanded July 13.

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Jack Onslow	Lansing	BA	.385		Robert Troy	Adrian	W	25
Fred Ochs	Flint	Runs	89		Robert Troy	Adrian	SO	268
John Connors	Jackson	Hits	156		Walt Scott	Adrian	Pct	.826; 19-4
Albert "Bull" Durham	Bay City/Lansing	HR	25

^[1]

1913 to 1915

1913 Southern Michigan Association

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Battle Creek Crickets	77	46	.626	-	Ed McKernan
Adrian Lions	68	55	.553	9.0
	66	60	.524	12.5	Maurice Myers
Saginaw Ducks	60	65	.480	18.0
Flint Vehicles	57	64	.471	19.0	Dan Collins
Kalamazoo Kazoos	59	67	.468	19.5	Charles Wagner
	54	68	.439	22.5
	54	70	.435	23.5	Hugh Shannon

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Fred Bramble	Kalamazoo	BA	.349		Dick Niehaus	Battle Creek	W	24
Joe Jenkins	Adrian	Runs	88		Rudy Schwenk	Saginaw	SO	283
T.H. McNellis	Lansing	Hits	146		Dick Niehaus	Battle Creek	Pct	.727; 24-9
Cecil Coombs	Adrian	HR	10

1914 Southern Michigan Association - schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Bay City Beavers	96	50	.658	0
Saginaw Ducks	90	55	.621	5.5
	92	57	.617	5.5	Dan Collins
South Bend Benders	85	60	.586	10.5
Flint Vehicles	75	70	.517	20.5	Jack Burke
Jackson Chiefs	71	72	.497	23.5	Maurice Myers / D. Brown
Lansing Senators / Mt. Clemens Bathers	63	80	.441	31.5
	53	93	.363	43.0
Adrian Fencevilles	53	94	.361	43.5	Bill Cristall / William Henderson
Kalamazoo Kazoos	49	97	.336	47.0	Charlie Wenger

Lansing (33-35) moved to Mt. Clemens July 10.
Playoff: Saginaw 4 games, Bay City 1.

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Joe Harris	Bay City	BA	.386		Walter Scott	Saginaw	W	26
Dan Jenkins	Bay City	Runs	140		Russell Robins	Saginaw	SO	338
Joe Harris	Bay City	Hits	197		John Jenkins	Bay City	Pct	.852; 23-4
Edward Hoffman	Flint	HR	12

1915 Southern Michigan Association - schedule

Team standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
South Bend Factors	44	24	.667	-	Ed Smith
Battle Creek Crickets	34	33	.507	9.5	Charles Wagner
	31	33	.484	11.0	Dan Collins
Bay City Beavers	31	35	.470	12.0	Joe Jenkins
Saginaw Ducks	31	38	.449	13.5
Flint Vehicles	31	39	.443	14.0

The league disbanded July 7.

Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Charles Donnelly	Bay City	BA	.387		Charles Vallandingham	South Bend	W	13
Joe Helmer	South Bend	Runs	48		Ben Higley	Saginaw	SO	127
Charles Donnelly	Bay City	Hits	87		Charles Vallandingham	South Bend	Pct	.813; 13-3
Edward Hoffman	Flint	HR	7

^[1]

References

• Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, second edition, April 1997.

Notes and References

1. Book: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball . Lloyd . Johnson . Miles . Wolff . Third . . 2007 . 978-1932391176.
2. Pinch Hits: Average Start on an Even Basis . Diamonds in the Dusk . 418 . 2 . diamondsinthedusk.com . 6 January 2020.