New York State League (1885–1917)

The New York State League was a minor league baseball league that played between 1885 and 1917. The league began play as an Independent level league before playing from 1902 to 1917 as a Class B level league. League franchises were based in New York and Pennsylvania. John H. Farrell served as president of the league from 1897 to 1917.

History

The first New York State League in 1885, was actually the second of the many names the International League used before settling on its longterm moniker.

The second New York State League was a six team league for one season in 1889. Oneida was expelled from the league on July 12, and Seneca Falls disbanded August 19.

The third and longest running New York State League was a solid league that lasted from 1899 through 1917. The league was classified as a Class B league in 1902 when the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues was formed. The loop, which also had teams in Pennsylvania, was also remarkably stable in terms of membership for any minor league of that era. Binghamton and Utica lasted the whole 19-year run.

Baseball Hall of Fame members Grover Cleveland Alexander (1910 Syracuse Stars), Johnny Evers (1902 Troy Trojans) and Bucky Harris (1917 Reading Pretzels) played in the league.

Cities represented

• Albany, NY: Albany Senators 1885, 1890, 1894–1895, 1899–1916
• Amsterdam, NY: Amsterdam Carpet Tacks 1894; Amsterdam Red Stockings 1895
• Amsterdam, NY / Johnstown, NY / Gloversville, NY: Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags 1902; Amsterdam–Gloversville–Johnstown Hypens 1903–1904; Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags 1905–1908
• Auburn, NY: Auburn 1889; Auburn Maroons 1897–1898; Auburn Pioneers 1899
• Binghamton, NY: Binghamton Bingoes 1885; Binghamton Crickets 1895; Binghamton Bingos 1899; Binghamton Crickets 1900; Binghamton Bingoes 1901–1917
• Canandaigua, NY: Canandaigua 1889;
• Cobleskill, NY: Cobleskill Giants 1890;
• Cortland, NY: Cortland Wagonmakers 1899–1901
• Elmira, NY: Elmira Colonels 1885; Elmira 1889; Elmira Pioneers 1895, 1900; Elmira Rams 1908, Elmira Pioneers 1908–1917
• Gloversville, NY: Gloversville Glovers 1895
• Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Islanders 1916–1917
• Ilion, NY: Ilion Typewriters 1901–1904
• Johnstown, NY: Johnstown Buckskins 1894–1895
• Johnstown, NY & Gloversville, NY: Johnstown-Gloversville 1890;
• Kingston, NY: Kingston Patriarchs 1894
• Oneida, NY: Oneida 1889;
• Oneonta, NY: Oneonta 1890;
• Oswego, NY: Oswego Sweegs 1885; Oswego Oswegos 1899; Oswego Grays 1900
• Palmyra, NY: Palmyra Mormans 1897–1898
• Pittsfield, MA: Pittsfield Colts 1894
• Poughkeepsie, NY: Poughkeepsie Bridge Citys 1894
• Reading, PA: Reading Pretzels 1916–1917
• Rochester, NY: Rochester Flour Cities 1885;
• Rome, NY: Rome Romans 1899–1901
• Schenectady, NY: Schenectady Dorpians 1895; Schenectady Electricians 1899–1902; Schenectady Frog Alleys 1903; Schenectady Electricians 1904
• Scranton, PA: Scranton Miners 1904–1917
• Seneca Falls, NY: Seneca Falls Maroons 1889;
• Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Stars 1885; 1902–1917
• Troy, NY: Troy (NY) Trojans 1890, 1895; Troy Washerwomen 1899–1900; Troy (NY) Trojans 1901–1916
• Utica, NY: Utica Pentups 1885; Utica 1889; Utica Pent-Ups 1890; 1899–1909; Utica Utes 1910–1917
• Waverly, NY: Waverly Wagonmakers 1901
• Wilkes-Barre, PA: Wilkes-Barre Barons 1905–1917

Standings and statistics

1885 to 1904

1885 New York State League

Elmira entered the league July 10 and disbanded July 26; Albany disbanded July 27.

1889 New York State League

Oneida expelled July 12; Seneca Falls folded August 19.

1890 New York State League

Oneonta folded September 3; Cobleskill folded September 20

1894 New York State League

Albany and Pittsfield disbanded July 3

1895 New York State League Albany and Troy folded May 20; Gloversville and Johnstown folded July 4

1897 New York State League Cortland joined June 2; Batavia (11–33) moved to Geneva July 25

1898 New York State League Palmyra (25–35) disbanded July 22, franchise to Johnstown (4–4) Aug 6, Johnstown disbanded August 16; Lyons disbanded August 12

1899 New York State League Auburn (27–43) moved to Troy August 1.

1900 New York State League Oswego (20–45) moved to Elmira July 30.

1901 New York State League Cortland (22–34) moved to Waverly July 11.

1902 New York State League

1903 New York State League

1904 New York State League Schenectady (20–39) moved to Scranton July 17.

1905 to 1910

1905 New York State League

1906 New York State League

1907 New York State League

1908 New York State League Amsterdam–Gloversville–Johnstown (1–8) became "Johnstown-Gloversville" (11–54) May 18, then moved to Elmira (24–42) July 22.

1909 New York State League

1910 New York State League

1911 to 1917

1911 New York State League

1912 New York State League

1913 New York State League

1914 New York State League

1915 New York State League

1916 New York State League Troy (8–27) moved to Harrisburg June 20; Albany (51–57) moved to Reading August 21.

1917 New York State League Harrisburg and Utica disbanded July 4.

Hall of Fame alumni

• Grover Cleveland Alexander, 1910 Syracuse Stars
• Johnny Evers, 1902 Troy (NY) Trojans
• Bucky Harris, 1917 Reading Pretzels

References