The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952.
Early leagues
Earlier versions of the Interstate League, with years active:
- 1896âÂÂ1901: a Class B circuit with teams in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
- 1905-08; 1914-16: a Class D league with clubs in Pennsylvania and New York.
- 1913: a Class C league operating in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
- 1932: a Class D circuit based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In addition, a Class C level Interstate Association existed for one season, 1906, in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
1895 to 1900 Interstate League
Cities represented 1895 â 1900
- Akron, OH: Akron 1895
- Anderson, IN: Anderson 1900
- Canton, OH: Canton Duebers 1895
- Columbus, OH: Columbus Buckeyes 1895, Columbus Senators 1899âÂÂ1901
- Dayton, OH: Dayton Old Soldiers 1897âÂÂ1898, Dayton Veterans 1899âÂÂ1900, Dayton Old Soldiers 1901
- Findlay, OH: Findlay 1895
- Fort Wayne, IN: Fort Wayne Farmers 1896, Fort Wayne Indians 1897âÂÂ1900, Fort Wayne Railroaders 1901
- Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Cabinet Makers 1898, Grand Rapids Furniture Makers 1899
- Jackson, MI: Jackson Wolverines 1896
- Kenton, OH: Kenton 1895
- Lima, OH: Lima 1895
- Mansfield, OH: Mansfield 1895, Mansfield Haymakers 1897âÂÂ1900
- Marion, IN: Marion Glass Blowers 1900
- New Castle, PA: New Castle Quakers 1896âÂÂ1900
- Saginaw, MI: Saginaw Lumbermen 1896
- Springfield, OH: Springfield Governors 1897âÂÂ1898, Springfield Wanderers 1899
- Steubenville, OH: Steubenville Stubs 1895
- Toledo, OH: Toledo Swamp Angels 1896, Toledo Mud Hens 1896âÂÂ1900
- Dennison, OH & Uhrichsville, OH: Twin Cities Twins 1895
- Washington, PA: Washington Little Senators 1896
- Wheeling, WV: Wheeling Nailers 1895âÂÂ1897, Wheeling Stogies 1899âÂÂ1900
- Youngstown, OH: Youngstown Puddlers 1896âÂÂ1898, Youngstown Little Giants 1899âÂÂ1900
Standings & statistics 1895 to 1900
1895 Interstate League - schedule<br /> President: Howard H. Zeigler Canton folded June 2; Lima moved to Mansfield May 5, Mansfield folded July 14; Steubenville moved to Akron May 10; Akron moved to Lima May 19, Lima folded July 15.<br /> League folded July 15
1896 Intestate League<br /> President: Charles B. Powers Ft. Wayne folded in early September<br /> Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Fort Wayne 0; won by forfeit when Fort Wayne disbanded
1897 Interstate League<br /> President: Charles B. Powers Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Dayton 2.
1898 Interstate League - schedule<br /> President: Charles B. Powers No playoffs held
1899 Interstate League - schedule<br /> President: Charles B. Powers Grand Rapids moved to Columbus July 20; Columbus moved to Springfield July 30.<br /> No Playoffs held.
1900 Interstate League<br /> President: Charles B. Powers Columbus (51-63) moved to Anderson, Indiana, August 22; Youngstown (28-67) moved to Marion August 5.<br /> Playoff: Fort Wayne 4 games, Dayton 3.
1905 to 1908 Interstate League
Cities represented 1905 â 1908
- Bradford, PA: Bradford Drillers 1905âÂÂ1908
- Coudersport, PA: Coudersport Giants 1905
- DuBois, PA: DuBois Miners 1905âÂÂ1907
- Erie, PA: Erie Fishermen 1905,1907âÂÂ1908, Erie Sailors 1906
- Franklin, PA: Franklin Millionaires 1907âÂÂ1908
- Hornell, NY: Hornell Pigmies 1906
- Jamestown, NY: Jamestown Hill Climbers 1905
- Kane, PA: Kane Mountaineers 1905âÂÂ1907
- Oil City, PA: Oil City Cubs 1907âÂÂ1908
- Oil City-Jamestown, PA/NY: Oil City-Jamestown Oseejays 1906
- Olean, NY: Olean Refiners 1905âÂÂ1907; Olean Candidates 1908
- Patton, PA: Patton 1906
- Punxsutawney, PA: Punxsutawney Policemen 1906âÂÂ1907
- Warren, PA: Warren Blues 1908
Standings & statistics 1905 to 1908
1905 Interstate League<br /> President: Frank Baumeister / George F. Rindernecht Jamestown (18âÂÂ23) Moved to DuBois July 12.<br /> No playoffs held
1906 Interstate League<br /> President: George F. Rindernecht Hornell (35âÂÂ31) moved to Patton August 6.<br /> No Playoffs Scheduled.<br /> No player statistics available.
1907 Interstate League<br />schedule<br /> President: Frank Baumeister Kane folded July 16; Olean disbanded July 18; Punxsutawney folded August 3; DuBois folded August 5.<br /> The league played a third season, August 7 through September 8, won by Bradford.<br />Oil City awarded the first half champion when DuBois folded. Playoff: Oil City 4 games, Bradford 3.
1908 Interstate League<br /> President: C.L. Rexford League disbanded June 5.
1913 Interstate League
Cities represented 1913
Standings & statistics 1913
1913 Interstate League<br /> schedule<br /> President: C.L. Rexford Zanesville folded July 13.<br /> League folded July 21.
1914 to 1916 Interstate League
Cities represented 1914 â 1916
- Bradford, PA: Bradford Drillers 1914âÂÂ1916
- Erie, PA: Erie Sailors 1916
- Hornell, NY: Hornell Green Sox 1914, Hornell Maple Leafs 1915
- Jamestown, NY: Jamestown Giants 1914, Jamestown Rabbits 1915
- Johnsonburg, PA: Johnsonburg Johnnies 1916
- Olean, NY: Olean Refiners 1914, Olean White Sox 1915âÂÂ1916
- Ridgway, PA: Ridgway 1916
- St. Marys, PA: St. Marys Saints 1916
- Warren, PA: Warren Bingoes 1914âÂÂ1915, Warren Warriors (1916)
- Wellsville, NY: Wellsville Rainmakers 1914âÂÂ1916
Standings & statistics 1914-1916
1914 Interstate League<br /> Presidents: Milton A. Jordan / W. Duke Jr. Playoff: Jamestown 4 games, Bradford 3.<br /> No individual statistics available.
1915 Interstate League<br /> President: James A. Lindsey Jamestown folded August 14.<br /> Olean refused to play in the finals against Wellsville. Olean argued all Jamestown's second half games should have been thrown out after folding and Olean should have won both halves. Olean claim was denied and title awarded to Wellsville<br /> Playoff: None held
1916 Interstate League<br />schedule<br /> President: James A. Lindsey Olean folded July 12.<br /> Warren folded August 4; none of its second half games (6-9) were counted.<br />Erie folded August 9, Games thrown out: Wins: Warren 6, Wellsville 3, Bradford 2, Erie 2, St. Marys 1, Johnsonburg 1; Losses: Warren 9, Wellsville 4, St. Marys 1.
1932 Interstate League
Cities represented 1932
Standings & statistics 1932
1932 Interstate League<br /> President: William J. Willenbecher Pottstown folded in June, reorganized and re-formed June 17; disbanded again causing the league to fold; Norristown (2-4) moved to St. Clair May 28; St. Clair folded June 12; Tamaqua (8-12) moved to Slatington June 8; Lancaster folded June 17.<br /> League disbanded June 20.
1939âÂÂ1952
The longest tenured version of the Interstate League was the last incarnation, which played in the Mid-Atlantic states from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor leagues to operate continuously during the World War II period.
This circuit, which began as Class C and was upgraded to Class B in 1940, typically had teams in Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Sunbury, all in Pennsylvania; Hagerstown, Maryland; Trenton, New Jersey; and Wilmington, Delaware. Its final champion was the Hagerstown Braves, a Boston Braves affiliate. That season, the York White Roses led the league in attendance, attracting over 78,000 fans.
Cities/Teams/Years
League champions
Individual records
Hitting
- Games: 142, Steve Flipowicz, Sunbury (1947)
- Batting Average: .428, Woody Wheaton, Hazelton (1939)
- At Bats: 593, Robert Mays, Hagerstown (1943)
- Runs: 128, Nellie Fox, Lancaster (1945) <br /> 128, Richard Burgett, Allentown (1946)
- Hits: 220, George Kell, Lancaster (1943)
- Runs Batted In: 144, Edward Sanicki, Wilmington (1946)
- Doubles: 52, Bob Maier, Hagerstown (1943)
- Triples: 24, Harold Bamberger, Trenton (1947) <br /> 24, Charley Neal, Lancaster (1951)
- Home Runs: 37, Edward Sanicki, Wilmington (1947)
- Extra Base Hits: 73, John Capra, Allentown (1944)
- Total Bases: 320, Del Ennis, Trenton (1943)
- Consecutive Game Hitting Streak: 22, Harold Nerino, Sunbury (1940) <br /> 22, Bill Cox, Harrisburg (1941) <br /> 22, Edward Nowak, Hagerstown (1945)
- Sacrifices: 24, Harvey Johnson, Harrisburg (1941)
- Stolen Bases: 47, Joseph Schmidt, Wilmington (1946)
- Walks: 130, Guy Glaser, Wilmington (1945)
- Hit By Pitch: 23, Nellie Fox, Lancaster (1945)
- Struck Out: 123, Peyton Rambin, Trenton (1949)
Pitching
- Games: 49, George Eyrich, Wilmington (1948)
- Complete Games: 29, Charles Bowles, Lancaster (1943) <br /> 29, Norman Shope, York (1944)
- Wins: 24, Daniel Lewandowski, Allentown (1951)
- Losses: 21, Wilson Emmerick, Allentown (1943)
- Best Percentage: .880 (22-3), Anderson Bush, Hagerstown (1951)
- Earned Run Average: 1.44, Royce Lint, Harrisburg (1942)
- Innings Pitched: 260, Charles Miller, Hagerstown (1943)
- Win Streak: 13, Woody Wheaton, Lancaster (1943)
- Shutouts: 7, John Burrows, Wilmington (1942),
- Strikeouts: 278, Andy Tomasic, Trenton (1947)
- Bases on Balls: 165, Dick Libby, Sunbury (1948)
- Wild Pitches: 19, Joseph Slotter, Hagerstown (1944)
No-hitters
References
Further reading
- Johnson, Lloyd and Wolff, Miles, editors: Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina Publisher: Baseball America, 2007. Format: Hardback, 767 pp.