The Boyne City Boosters were a minor league baseball team based in

Boyne City, Michigan Boyne City () is a city in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,816 at the 2020 census. The city is located at the southeastern end of Lake Charlevoix where Boyne River drains into the lake. History The are ...

. From 1911 to 1914, the Boosters teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level

Michigan State League The Michigan State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in various seasons between 1889 and 1941. The league franchises were based exclusively in Michigan, with the league forming on six different occasions. Twenty two different ...

, hosting home minor league games at Maple Park.

History

Minor league baseball began in Boyne City, Michigan in 1911. The Boyne City "Boosters" became members as the Western Michigan League expanded by adding two teams and changed names to become the six–team Class D level

. The Boyne City Boosters and Manistee Colts franchises joined the four returning 1910 teams in beginning league play on May 23, 1911. The returning

Cadillac Chiefs The Cadillac Chiefs were a minor league baseball team based in Cadillac, Michigan. In 1910, Chiefs became as charter members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Western Michigan League, winning the 1910 league championship. Cadillac then cont ...

, Holland Wooden Shoes, Muskegon Speed Boys and Traverse City Resorters teams became the other charter member league teams in 1911. In their first season of minor league play, the Boyne City Boosters finished last the Michigan State League final standings. On June 6, 1911, in his first appearance with Boyne City, pitcher

Al Clauss Albert Stanley "Lefty" Clauss (June 23, 1891 – September 13, 1952) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Clauss played for the Detroit Tigers in . In 5 career games, he had a 0-1 record, with a 4.73 ERA. He batted right and threw left-hand ...

threw a seven–hit shutout, striking out six, in a 3–0 win at home against the Traverse City Resorters. The Boosters ended the 1911 season with a record of 24–92 and placed sixth in the final standings. Managed by Peter Partlow, who was replaced on June 14, Jack Ryan, who was replaced on June 22 and

Lou Criger Louis Criger (February 3, 1872 – May 14, 1934) was an American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1896 to 1912 for the Cleveland Spiders, St. Louis Perfectos / Cardinals, Boston Americans / Red Sox, ...

, the Boosters finished 48.5 games behind the first place Manistee Colts as the league held no playoffs. The 1912 Boyne City Boosters placed fourth in the six–team Michigan State League standings. The Boosters ended the season with a record of 50–69. Playing under manager Bo Slear, Boyne City finished 33.5 games behind the first place and champion Manistee Champs in the six–team league final standings and did not qualify for the playoffs, that were ultimately cancelled by weather. Continuing Michigan State League play, the 1913 Boyne City Boosters placed fourth in the final standings. Playing under manager Grover Gillen, the Boosters ended the season with a record of 57–63. Boyne City finished 16.0 games behind the first place and repeat champion Manistee Champs in the six–team league. No playoffs were held in 1913. In their final season of play, the Boyne City Boosters folded before the end of the 1914 the Michigan State League season. The league began the season as a six–team league. The Boyne City franchise became a road team on July 8, 1914. On September 1, 1914, the Boyne City Boosters and Traverse City Resorters franchises folded simultaneously. The Boosters ended their final season with a record of 48–51, playing under returning manager Grover Gillen. The Muskegon Speeders finished in first place in the final Michigan State League standings. The Michigan State League folded after the 1914 season with the beginning of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. When the league resumed play in 1926, Boyne City did not field a franchise in the reformed league. Boyne City, Michigan has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballparks

The Boyne City Boosters played home minor league teams games at Maple Park. In 1911, the Boosters initially played home games at Glenwood Beach until Maple Park ballpark construction was completed.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

(1911) *

(1911, MGR) * Al Tesch (1914) * Archie Yelle (1911)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Boyne City - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Baseball teams established in 1910 Baseball teams disestablished in 1914 Michigan State League teams Charlevoix County, Michigan