The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically in 1900, from 1903–1917, 1920–1922, 1926, 1928–1930, 1934, and 1948–1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season. The Central League later reformed in 1928.
The Central League hosted teams from 37 cities over its six decades of league play. Teams from the states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were represented.
Minor League class history
Before the current minor league baseball classification system was introduced in 1963, minor leagues/teams were classified from Class D up to Class Triple-A. The following is a list of the various classifications that the Central League had during its years of operation:
- Class B: 1903–1917, 1920–1922, 1928–1930, 1932, 1934
- Class C: 1926
- Class A: 1948–1951
Cities represented
The following are cities and former teams that made up the Central League.
- Akron, Ohio: Akron Rubbermen 1912; Akron Tyrites 1928–1929, 1932
- Anderson, IN: Anderson Orphans 1903
- Bloomington, IL: Bloomington Blues 1900
- Canton, Ohio: Canton Red Stockings 1905; Canton Chinamen 1906–1907; Canton Statesmen 1912; Canton Terriers 1928–1930, 1932
- Charleston, WV: Charleston Senators 1949–1951
- Danville, IL: Danville Champions 1900
- Dayton, Ohio: Dayton Veterans 1903–1917; Dayton Aviators 1928–1930; Dayton Ducks 1932; Dayton Indians 1948–1951
- Decatur, IL: Decatur Commodores 1900
- Erie, PA: Erie Sailors 1912, 1915, 1928–1930, 1932
- Evansville, IN: Evansville River Rats 1903–1910, 1913–1915; Evansville Strikers 1911; Evansville Evas 1916–1917
- Flint, MI: Flint Arrows, 1948–1951
- Fort Wayne, IN: Fort Wayne Railroaders 1903–1905; Fort Wayne Billikens 1908–1910; Fort Wayne Brakies 1911; Fort Wayne Railroaders 1912, Fort Wayne Champs 1913; Fort Wayne Railroaders 1914; Fort Wayne Cubs 1915; Fort Wayne Chiefs 1917, 1928–1930, 1932, 1934; Fort Wayne Generals 1948
- Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Orphans 1903–1905; Grand Rapids Wolverines 1906–1909; Grand Rapids Raiders 1910 Grand Rapids Furniture Makers 1911; Grand Rapids Grads 1911; Grand Rapids Bill-eds 1913; Grand Rapids Black Sox 1912, Grand Rapids Champs 1914 Grand Rapids Black Sox 1915–1917; Grand Rapids Joshers 1920–1921; Grand Rapids Billbobs 1922; Grand Rapids Black Sox 1926; Grand Rapids Tigers 1934; Grand Rapids Jets 1948–1951
- Ionia, MI: Ionia Mayors 1921–1922
- Jackson, MI: Jackson Mayors 1921
- Jacksonville, IL: Jacksonville Reds 1900
- Kalamazoo, MI: Kalamazoo Celery Pickers 1920–1922, 1926
- Lansing, MI: Lansing Senators 1921–1922
- Lima, OH: Lima Buckeyes 1934
- Lansing, MI: Ludington Mariners 1920–1922
- Ludington, MI: Ludington Tars 1926
- Marion, OH: Marion Oilworkers 1903–1904
- Muskegon, MI: Muskegon Reds 1916; Muskegon Muskies 1920–1922; Muskegon Reds 1926, 1934; Muskegon Clippers 1948–1950; Muskegon Reds 1951
- Newark, Ohio: Newark Skeeters 1911
- Peoria, IL: Peoria Distillers 1900, 1904, 1917; Peoria Tractors 1934
- Richmond, IN: Richmond Quakers 1917; Richmond Roses 1930
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw Bears 1948-1950; Saginaw Jacks 1951
- South Bend, IN: South Bend Greens 1903–1909 South Bend Bronchos 1910; South Bend Bux 1911; South Bend Benders 1911, South Bend Benders 1912, 1916–1917; South Bend Twins 1932
- Springfield, IL: Springfield 1900; Springfield Red Birds 1934
- Springfield, Ohio: Springfield Babes 1905-1907; Springfield Reapers 1912–1914, 1916–1917; Springfield Buckeyes 1928; Springfield Dunnmen 1929; Springfield Blue Sox 1930
- Terre Haute, IN: Terre Haute Hottentots 1900, 1903–1909; Terre Haute Stags 1910; Terre Haute Miners 1911; Terre Haute Terre-iers 1912–1914; Terre Haute Highlanders 1915–1916
- Wheeling, WV: Wheeling Stogies 1903–1912, 1915–1916
- Youngstown, Ohio: Youngstown Steelmen 1912; Youngstown Buckeyes 1932
- Zanesville, Ohio: Zanesville Infants 1908–1909; Zanesville Potters 1910–1912
Standings & statistics
1900 Central League
Peoria disbanded July 8; Springfield (4-14) transferred to Jacksonville May 21; Jacksonville disbanded July 8.<br /> Playoffs: Danville defeated Bloomington
1903 to 1917
1903 Central League
Anderson (15-12) moved to Grand Rapids May 30
1904 Central League
Marion (12-15) moved to Peoria (27-33) May 30; Peoria returned to Marion July 31; Evansville disbanded September 6
1905 Central League
Fort Wayne (31-41) moved to Canton July 10
1906 Central League<br /> 1906 - schedule<br>
1907 Central League
1908 Central League
1909 Central League
1910 Central League
1911 Central League
Grand Rapids (25-36) moved to Newark June 27; South Bend (42-36) moved to Grand Rapids July 13; Evansville (54-54) moved to South Bend August 11
1912 Central League
1913 Central League<br /> 1913 - schedule<br />
1914 Central League
Springfield disbanded August 8
1915 Central League
1916 Central League
Grand Rapids played some games at Battle Creek, MI<br /> Playoffs: Dayton 4 games, Springfield 2
1917 Central League
South Bend (26-35) moved to Peoria July 8<br /> Playoffs: Grand Rapids 4 games, Peoria 3
1920 to 1926
1920 Central League<br /> 1920 - schedule<br />
1921 Central League
Jackson (27-45) moved to Ionia July 20
1922 Central League
Playoffs: Grand Rapids 5 games, Ludington 3
1926 Central League
League merged with the Michigan-Ontario League to form the Michigan State League, which began play June 15
1928 to 1930, 1932, 1934
1928 Central League<br /> 1928 - schedule<br />
Playoffs: Fort Wayne 4 games, Erie 2
1929 Central League<br /> 1929 - schedule<br>
1930 Central League<br /> 1930 - schedule<br />
1932 Central League<br /> 1932 - schedule<br>
Akron (19-34) moved to Canton June 21; Canton disbanded July 21; South Bend disbanded July 21 Playoffs: Dayton 4 games, Fort Wayne 0
1934 Central League
Lima disbanded May 26; Muskegon disbanded May 30; League disbanded June 10
1948 to 1951
1948 Central League Playoffs: Fort Wayne 3 games, Flint 2; Dayton 3 games, Muskegon 1<br /> Finals: Dayton 4 games, Fort Wayne 2
1949 Central League Playoffs: Charleston 3 games, Dayton 1; Grand Rapids 3 games, Flint 2<br /> Finals: Grand Rapids 4 games, Charleston 2
1950 Central League Playoffs: Flint 3 games, Grand Rapids 1; Muskegon 3 games, Dayton 2<br /> Finals: Flint 4 games, Muskegon 1
1951 Central League
References
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20071022210728/http://www.ballparkdigest.com/leagues/central_league.htm