Kansas State League

The Kansas State League was a minor league baseball league in the United States that intermittently operated in the state of Kansas in the late 19th century and into the early 20th century.

History

The Kansas State League was first established in 1887 as a Minor League Baseball "no classification" league and existed for that year only.

The league continued again and played in 1895 to 1896 as a "no classification" league.

Progressing into the 20th century, the circuit played in 1905–1906 as a class D league and this stint lasted two years.

The last segment of the league operated as a class D league from 1909 to 1911, and 1913–1914. The original Kansas State League ceased operation in 1911, merged with the Central Kansas League, and the 1912 season was played under the CKL name. In 1913, the CKL switched back to the Kansas State League name. After the 1914 season the league permanently disbanded.

Cities represented

• Arkansas City, Kansas: Arkansas City (1887); Arkansas City Grays (1910)
• Arkansas City, Kansas & Winfield, Kansas: Arkansas City-Winfield Twins (1909)
• Atchison, Kansas: Atchison Huskers (1897–1898)
• Bartlesville, Oklahoma: Bartlesville Indians (1906)
• Chanute, Kansas: Chanute (1896); Chanute Browns (1906)
• Cherryvale, Kansas: Cherryvale Boosters (1906)
• Clay Center, Kansas: Clay Center Colts (1913)

• Coffeyville, Kansas: Coffeyville (1896); Coffeyville Bricks (1906)
• El Dorado, Kansas: El Dorado Crushers (1911)
• Ellsworth, Kansas: Ellsworth (1905); Emporia Bidwells (1914)
• Emporia, Kansas: Emporia Reds (1887); Emporia Maroons (1895, 1897)
• Fort Scott, Kansas: Fort Scott Giants (1906)
• Great Bend, Kansas: Great Bend Millers (1905, 1909–1911, 1913–1914)
• Hoisington, Kansas: Hoisington (1905)
• Hutchinson, Kansas: Hutchinson Salt Miners (1905); Hutchinson Salt Packers (1909–1911); Hutchinson Packers (1914)
• Independence, Kansas: Independence (1896); Independence Coyotes (1906)
• Iola, Kansas: Iola Grays (1906)
• Joplin, Missouri: Joplin (1887)
• Junction City, Kansas: Junction City Parrots (1897); Junction City Soldiers (1913)
• Kingman, Kansas: Kingman (1905)
• Larned, Kansas: Larned Cowboys (1909); Larned Wheat Kings (1910–1911)
• Leavenworth, Kansas: Leavenworth Soldiers (1895)
• Lincoln Center, Kansas: Lincoln Center (1905)
• Lyons, Kansas: Lyons Lions (1909–1911, 1913)
• Manhattan, Kansas: Manhattan Elks (1913)
• McPherson, Kansas: McPherson Merry Macks (1909–1911)
• Minneapolis, Kansas: Minneapolis Minnies (1905)
• Newton, Kansas: Newton Railroaders (1909–1911)
• Ottawa, Kansas: Ottawa (1898)
• Parsons, Kansas: Parsons Parsons (1896); Parsons Preachers (1906)
• Pittsburg, Kansas: Pittsburg Champs (1906)
• Salina, Kansas: Salina Blues (1898); Salina Insurgents (1913); Salina Coyotes (1914)
• Strong City, Kansas & Cottonwood Falls, Kansas: Strong City-Cottonwood Falls Twin Cities (1909)
• Topeka, Kansas: Topeka Giants (1895, 1898); Topeka Colts (1897)
• Troy, Kansas: Troy Browns (1895)
• Vinita, Oklahoma: Vinita (1906)
• Webb City, Missouri: Webb City (1887)
• Wellington, Kansas: Wellington Browns (1887); Wellington Dukes (1909–1911)
• Whiting, Kansas & Horton, Kansas: Whiting-Horton (1895)
• Wichita, Kansas: Wichita Braves (1887); Wichita Blues 1898
• Winfield, Kansas: Winfield (1887)

League overview

Standings & statistics

1887 Kansas State League Wichita moved to Western League July 21; Joplin entered July 26, disbanded August 4; Webb City entered July 28, disbanded August 4; Winfield entered July 6, disbanded July 15. <br /> League folded August 8

1895 Kansas State League Leavenworth (7–10) suspended July 22 moved to Whiting-Horton 1896 Kansas State League Parsons disbanded August 10; League folded August 20

1905 Kansas State League

Lincoln Center and Great Bend joined July 6; Kingman disbanded July 22; Hoisington took Kingman's place July 24.

Two No–Hitters were thrown in 1905. One by Lefty Holmes of Great Bend, and the other by Salter of Minneapolis.

1906 Kansas State League Pittsburg moved to Vinita June 6; Iola moved to Cherryvale June 15; Fort Scott and Vinita disbanded July 5. League discarded all games played before July 10 and season restarted.

1909 Kansas State League City of Winfield, Kansas bought partial interest in Arkansas City franchise on July 22; Strong City–Cottonwood Falls moved to Larned July 12.

1910 Kansas State League

1911 Kansas State League Wellington played 10 home games in Wichita, Kansas from June 11 to June 23.<br />League disbanded July 11 due to crop failures and drought. No individual statistics available.

1913 Kansas State League After Junction City disbanded July 9; League folded Manhattan July 10.

1914 Kansas State League

Sources

• Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (1997, second edition), edited by W. Lloyd Johnson]and Miles Wolff