The Delaware State League was a minor league baseball league that played briefly in the 1889 season. The five–team

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

level Delaware State League consisted exclusively of teams based in

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

. The Delaware State League played only the 1889 season, with Dover winning the league championship.

History

The Delaware State League began minor league play as an

five–team league in 1889. The Delaware State League was formed with teams in the Delaware cities of

Camden Camden may refer to: People * Camden (surname), a surname of English origin * Camden Joy (born 1964), American writer * Camden Toy (born 1957), American actor Places Australia * Camden, New South Wales * Camden, Rosehill, a heritage res ...

Dover Dover () is a town and major ferry port in Kent, South East England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies south-east of Canterbury and east of Maidstone ...

Milford Milford may refer to: Place names Canada * Milford (Annapolis), Nova Scotia * Milford (Halifax), Nova Scotia * Milford, Ontario England * Milford, Derbyshire * Milford, Devon, a place in Devon * Milford on Sea, Hampshire * Milford, Shro ...

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...

and Wilmington as the charter members. Evolving from local semi–professional baseball, the Delaware State League structure was that each team was allowed to pay eight players and the league had no residency requirements. There was controversy over Dover's signing of Bill Higgins, who had played in 14 major league games for the

Boston Beaneaters Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most po ...

the previous season. Smyrna management claimed they had also signed Higgins. Dover threatened to fold their franchise over the dispute, before a review of the situation was resolved in favor of Dover. The Delaware State League began play on July 8, 1889. A crowd of 600 was on hand to see Dover defeat Wilmington in the league opener. Dover started the season with a 5–2 record, just ahead of Wilmington at 4–2, with both losses to Dover. Dover then defeated Wilmington at Wilmington, as the league was beginning to have attendance issues. After beginning play weeks earlier, the Delaware State League permanently folded on July 25, 1889, before the completion of the 1889 season schedule. Smyrna reportedly couldn't compete with other teams in player salaries and folded. Within two weeks the entire league folded. The team records and standings on the folding date of July 25, 1889 were: Dover (8–2), Milford (6–5), Wilmington (5–4) Camden (3–6) and Smyrna (1–6). After the Delaware State League folded, the Wilmington Peach Growers became members of the 1889

Middle States League The Middle States League was a minor league baseball league that operated in the Northeast United States in 1889. A total of 13 teams competed in the league, though several joined the original 8-team lineup after its April 28 start and seve ...

, another league in the region, that played in only the 1889 season. The Wilmington Peach Growers folded on September 13, 1889, with a 4–9 record. Some sources have the Wilmington team playing as the "Quicksteps."

Delaware State League teams

1889 Delaware State League standings

References

External links

Delaware State League - Baseball Reference
{{Professional Baseball Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball in Delaware Baseball leagues in Delaware Sports leagues established in 1889 Sports leagues disestablished in 1889