Tri-State League

The Tri-State League was the name of six different circuits in American minor league baseball.

History

The first league of that name played for four years (1887–1890) and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia.

"Clubs Start The Dance Today Around the Tri-State League Circuit", April 24, 1907

The second league, played from 1904–1914, and had member clubs in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The League contested its 1904 championship game in Philadelphia between York and Williamsport and attracted 3,500 fans to the Phillies' ball park[1]

Charles F. Carpenter was president from 1906 to 1913.[2]

During the 1920s, two versions of the Tri-State League briefly existed: a 1924 loop with clubs in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, and a 1925–1926 association located in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.

In the late 1930s another iteration existed for two years, composed of six teams from Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana in its first season, and just four teams excluding Indiana in its second.

The most recent incarnation of the league was the post-World War II Tri-State, a Class B circuit with clubs in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. This league, which played from 1946–1955, typically included clubs in Charlotte, Asheville, Knoxville, Rock Hill and Spartanburg; most of its teams were affiliated with Major League Baseball farm systems.

The attendance crisis in the minor leagues of the 1950s—and the defection of clubs like Charlotte to higher-classification loops—eventually took its toll on the Tri-State League. In its last season, 1955, there were only four clubs in the league. Its last champion was the Spartanburg Peaches, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.

There were teams in southern Maryland that played in a "Tri-State League" in at least the 60s, 70s, and the 80s. There was a team called the Pomonkey Giants associated with a Pomonkey social club in Pomonkey Maryland. They played teams in Berry Road near La Plata, Maryland and in Hughesville among others. It was very much a rural league and almost totally black players. The team is mentioned in the obituary of a player and coach, George Dyson, Jr in 2020.[3]

One of the most extensive discussions of this Tri-State League explains how integration of Major League baseball led to the demise of the Negro leagues.[4] It became neighborhood baseball.

Teams

1887

1888–1890

1904–1914

1924

1925–1926

1938–1939

  • Chicago Harley Mills (1938–1939)
  • Elgin All-Stars (1938)
  • Fort Wayne Harvesters (1938)
  • Madison Blues (1938–1939)
  • Sheboygan Chairmakers (1938–1939)
  • Spencer Coals (1938–1939)

1946–1955

[5]

Standings & statistics

1888 – 1890

1888 Tri-State League - schedule
President: W.H. McDermith

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Lima Lushers 74 35 .679 – William Harrington
Wheeling Nail Cities 71 43 .623 5½ Bill Otterson / Al Buckenberger
Columbus Senators 64 50 .561 12½ Jim Curry / Frank Arnold
Canton 50 64 .439 26½ William Zecher / J.H. Harmon
Toledo Maumees 46 68 .403 30½ Harry Smith / Frank Mountain /
Robert Wood
Mansfield Pioneers 43 74 .368 35 Frank Torreyson / Frank O'Brien /
James Green / Ed Darrow
Jackson Jaxons 30 83 .264 46 George Burbridge / Jim Curry/
Jay Moore / James Trayy
Kalamazoo Kazoos 62 37 .626 NA Norris O'Neil
Zanesville Kickapoos 63 39 .618 NA Peter McShannic / Al Swift (7/27)
William Harrington
Sandusky Fish Eaters 44 54 .449 NA Horace Lockwood / James Hever
/ W.E. Rutter

Kalamazoo, Zanesville and Sandusky disbanded.
No playoffs held.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
John Kirby Lima BA .369
Sam Nichol Wheeling Runs 112
Buck West Colum/Wheel Hits 150
Sam Nichol Wheeling Hits 150
George Rooks Lima HR 13
Henry Fuller Lima SB 103

1889 Tri-State League
President: W.H. McDermith

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Canton Nadjys 67 37 .644 – William Harrington
Springfield 61 48 .560 8½ Walter Jennison / Lewis Hill /
Harry Fisher
Mansfield Indians 59 50 .541 10½ Christopher Meisel / Robert Carey /
Jack Remsen
Dayton Reds 52 54 .491 16 Frank Jones / Timothy Donovan /
Frank O'Brien
Hamilton 41 65 .387 27 D.C. Blandy / Edward Hengle
Wheeling Nailers 41 67 .380 28 Ben Sullivan / Sam Nichol /
Howell / John Dunn /
John Wright / John Crogan

No Playoffs held.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John Ryn Canton BA .358 Henry Morrison Mansfield W 23
Dusty Miller Canton Runs 129 R.J. Riley Canton PCT .813 13-3
John Ryn Canton Hits 150
Joseph Sharpe Canton SB 83

1890 Tri-State League
President: W.H. McDermith

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Mansfield Indians 49 25 .662 – George Greer
Wheeling Nailers 39 32 .549 8½ Bob Glenalvin / Bill George
Youngstown Giants 38 33 .535 9½ Harry Morton / Michael Cody
Akron Akrons 38 38 .500 12 Charles Pike
McKeesport 36 44 .450 16 Alexander Voss / Frank Torreyson
Canton Nadjys 26 48 .351 23 William Heingartner / James Peeples /
Cecero Hiner / Jack Grogan
Dayton Reds 31 27 .534 NA Timothy Donovan
Springfield 24 34 .414 NA Harry Fisher

Dayton disbanded July 8; Springfield disbanded July 9

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
Fred Osborne Wheeling BA .397
Frank Goodryder Mansfield Runs 81
Fred Betts Spring/Wheel Hits 113
Frank Motz Akron HR 14

1946 – 1949

1946 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Charlotte Hornets 93 46 .669 – Spencer Abbott
Asheville Tourists 83 57 .593 10½ Bill Sayles
Knoxville Smokies 73 67 .521 20½ Dale Alexander
Shelby Cubs 59 81 .421 34½ Ray Green
Anderson A's 59 81 .421 34½ Clyde McDowell
Spartanburg Spartans 52 87 .374 41 Francis Kappelman

Shelby defeated Anderson in a one game playoff for fourth place; Knoxville 4 games, Asheville 1; Charlotte 4 games, Shelby 2; Finals: Charlotte 4 games, Knoxville 3.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dick Bouknight Asheville BA .367 Sonny Dixon Charlotte W 19
Al Kvasnak Charlotte Runs 101 Ralph Germano Spartanburg SO 179
Fred Marsh Knoxville Hits 180 Alex Zukowski Charlotte ERA 1.41
Bill Sayles Asheville RBI 105 Alex Zukowski Charlotte PCT .789 15-4
"Pud" Miller Spartanburg HR 19

1947 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Spartanburg Peaches 88 51 .633 – 157,435 Kerby Farrell
Anderson Rebels 84 55 .604 4 150,290 Bob Richards
Knoxville Smokies 73 67 .521 15½ 101,189 Dale Alexander
Charlotte Hornets 72 68 .514 16½ 116,729 Spencer Abbott / Cal Ermer
Rock Hill Chiefs 68 71 .489 20 91,042 Dan Carnevale
Asheville Tourists 65 74 .468 23 123,897 Bill Sayles
Fayetteville Cubs 61 78 .439 27 63,081 Clyde McDowell
Reidsville Luckies 45 92 .328 42 59,043 Lee Gamble

Playoffs: Charlotte 4 games, Spartanburg 1; Anderson 4 games, Knoxville 2; Finals: Charlotte 4 games, Anderson 3.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Smoky Burgess Fayetteville BA .387 James Kleckley Spartanburg W 20
Fred Barocco Anderson Runs 123 Edward Craft Anderson SO 185
Sammy Meeks Charlotte Hits 191 Robert Callan Charlotte ERA 3.08
Al Simononis Anderson RBI 132 James Kleckley Spartanburg PCT .769 20-6
Al Simononis Anderson HR 27

1948 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Asheville Tourists 95 51 .651 – 122,693 Clay Bryant
Anderson Rebels 77 68 .531 17½ 103,180 Bob Richards
Rock Hill Chiefs 76 70 .521 19 85,621 Ed Freed / Dick Bouknight
Fayetteville Cubs 73 71 .507 21 76,956 Skeeter Scalzi
Charlotte Hornets 72 74 .493 23 122,211 Joe Bowman
Knoxville Smokies 71 76 .483 24½ 95,164 Dale Alexander / Dave Garcia
Spartanburg Peaches 68 77 .469 26½ 98,993 Kerby Farrell
Florence Steelers 50 95 .345 44½ 72,569 George Motto / James Martin

Playoffs: Rockhill 3 games, Asheville 1; Fayetteville 3 games, Anderson 1.
Finals: Fayetteville 4 games, Rockhill 1.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Robert Churchill Knoxville BA .406 Red Dwyer Rockhill W 22
Norman Koney Asheville Runs 145 Lacy James Rockhill SO 213
Robert Churchill Knoxville Hits 230 Joe Landrum Asheville ERA 2.77
Floyd Fogg Fayetteville RBI 144 Bob Spicer Fayetteville PCT .818 18-4
Len Cross Spartanburg HR 29
Robert Churchill Knoxville 3B 28

1949 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Florence Steelers 87 59 .596 – 60,124 Jim Martin
Spartanburg Peaches 81 60 .574 3½ 128,490 Kerby Farrell
Asheville Tourists 76 71 .517 11½ 105,899 Ed Head
Rock Hill Chiefs 71 70 .504 13½ 98,237 Dick Bouknight
Knoxville Smokies 72 73 .497 14½ 94,809 Frank Genovese
Sumter Chicks 65 80 .448 21½ 55,309 Wes Livengood / Glen Schaeffer
Charlotte Hornets 62 80 .437 23 94,276 Clyde McDowell
Anderson Rebels 62 83 .428 24½ 85,760 Bob Richards

Playoffs: Florence 3 games, Rock Hill 2; Spartanburg 3 games, Asheville 1; Finals: Florence 4 games, Spartanburg 2.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Robert Churchill Rock Hill BA .360 Melvin Fisher Florence W 27
Harold Harrigan Anderson Runs 118 John Fitzgerald Florence SO 166
Alexander Driskill Asheville Hits 172 Survern Wright Rock Hill ERA 1.86
Harold Harrigan Anderson RBI 121 Al Aber Spartanburg PCT .750 24-8
Harold Harrigan Anderson HR 43

References

  1. ^ "Penn Park Wins the $1000 Game, Defeating Williamsport Easily By The Score Of 8 To 2". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. October 11, 1904. p. 10.
  2. ^ Francis C. Richter (2005). Richter's history and records of base ball: the American nation's chief sport. McFarland & Company. p. 396. ISBN 0-7864-1727-7. Charles F. Carpenter, president of the Tri-State League from 1906 to 1913 ...
  3. ^ "Obituary for George Albert Dyson, Jr. At Thornton Funeral Home, P.A."
  4. ^ "Prince George's County Tricentennial".
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 1993. Language: English. Format: Paperback, 420pp. ISBN 0-9637189-1-6
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