The Lima Cigarmakers were a minor league baseball team based in

Lima, Ohio Lima ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwest Ohio along Interstate 75 in Ohio, Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton, Ohio, Dayton, southwest of Toledo, Ohio, T ...

. From 1908 to 1912, the Cigarmakers played as members of the Class D level

Ohio State League The Ohio State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in numerous seasons between 1887 and 1947, predominantly as a Class D level league. League franchises were based in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Histo ...

, winning the 1909 league championship. The Cigarmakers hosted home minor league games at San Felice Park.

History

Lima first hosted minor league baseball in 1888, when the Lima "Lushers" played the season as members of independent Tri-State League, winning the league championship. The Cigarmakers were preceded in minor league play by the 1906 Lima Lees of the Class C level

Interstate Association The Interstate Association was a minor league baseball league that played briefly in the 1906 season. The eight–team, Class C level Interstate Association consisted of franchises based in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The Interstate League playe ...

. In 1908, the Lima "Cigarmakers" began play as charter members of the six-team, Class D level Ohio State League. The

Lancaster Lanks The Lancaster Lanks, based in Lancaster, Ohio, were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1905 to 1911. They played in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League from 1905 to 1907, and the Ohio State League from 1908 to 1912. On June 18, 1912, they m ...

Mansfield Pioneers The city of Mansfield, Ohio, was home to minor league baseball teams, known by various nicknames, which played periodically between 1887 and 1912, and between 1935 and 1941. History Late 19th century The team first began play in the Ohio State ...

, Marion Diggers,

Newark Newks The Newark Newks was the predominant name of a minor league baseball team based in Newark, Ohio from 1905 until 1915. The team was first known as the Newark Idlewilds and began playing in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League. In 1906 the club changed its ...

and

Springfield Reapers Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

teams joined Lima in beginning league play on April 23, 1908. The "Cigarmakers" nickname corresponds with the cigarmaking industry in Lima in the era, which included the Deisel-Wemmer-Gilbert cigar factory. In addition, the team hosted home games at San Felice Park, with San Felice being a brand of cigars manufactured in the region in the era. In their first season of play, the Cigarmakers placed second in the six–team Ohio State League. Lima ended the Ohio State League season with an overall regular season record of 80–67, managed by Jim Jackson and Nick Kahl. The Cigarmakers finished 11.0 games behind the place first place Lancaster Lanks in the final regular season standings, as the league held no playoffs. Lima pitcher Charles Pickett, led the league with a 21–7 record, while Frank Foutz led the league with 12 home runs and Duke Reilley had 80 stolen bases, tops in the league. The Lima Cigarmakers were the 1909 Ohio State League champions. The Cigarmakers placed first in the standings with a 79–50 record, playing under manager

Lee Fohl Leo Alexander Fohl (November 28, 1876 – October 30, 1965) was an American manager in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, and Boston Red Sox. Biography Born in Lowell, Ohio, Fohl's involvement in professional base ...

. Lima finished 8.5 games ahead of the second place Marion Diggers in the final standings. The Cigarmakers had numerous league leaders on their 1909 roster, as Charles Fink led the league with 91 runs scored and Duke Reilley led the league in stolen bases for the second consecutive season, stealing 76. Lima pitcher Robert Nelson won .800 of his games to lead the league. The Cigarmakers continued play Ohio state League play in the 1910 season, as Lima finished second in the standings. With a record of 82–52, the Cigarmakers finished 4.0 games behind the first place

Portsmouth Cobblers The Portsmouth Cobblers were a minor league baseball team based in Portsmouth, Ohio. From 1908 to 1915, the Cobblers played exclusively as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Ohio State League, winning league championships in 1910, 191 ...

in the six-team league final standings. Al Newham served as the Lima manager.

Frank Nesser Frank Nesser (June 3, 1889 – January 1, 1953) was a professional football player in the " Ohio League" and the early National Football League. During his career he played mainly for the Columbus Panhandles, however he did also play for a little ...

of Lima was the league home run champion, hitting six, while pitcher Henry Lloyd led the league with a 10–3 record. In 1911, the Lima Cigarmakers, played in an expanded Ohio State League, placing sixth in the eight-team league. Lima ended the season with 1 62–77 record playing the season under the direction of player/manager Frank Nesser. The Cigarmakers finished 22.0 games behind the first place

in the final standings. In their final season of play, the 1912 Lima Cigars continued play as the Ohio State League returned to a six–team league. playing under manager Zeke Wrigley, Lime ended the season With a record of 64–73. Lima finished 25.5 games behind the 1st place Portsmouth Cobblers. Frank Nesser of Lima led the league with 170 total hits. Lima did not return to play in the 1913 Ohio State League, as the league expanded to eight teams and added four new franchises. Lima, Ohio has next hosted a minor league team, when the 1915

Lima Boosters Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of th ...

played the season as members of the Class D level

Buckeye League The Buckeye League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played briefly in the 1915 season. The six–team Buckeye League consisted of franchises based exclusively in Ohio. The Buckeye League played just a portion 1915 season bef ...

. In 1939, the Lima Pandas rejoined the Ohio State League, where the franchise played another eleven seasons.

The ballpark

The Lima Cigarmakers hosted minor league home games at San Felice Park. San Felice Park corresponds with "San Felice" being a brand of cigars manufactured in the region in the era, produced in the Diesel-Wemmer cigar company located in Lima. The ballpark was located on West Grand Avenue, near North McDonel Street.

Timeline

Year-by-year records

Notable alumni

Harry Daubert Harry J. Daubert (June 19, 1892 – January 8, 1944) was a professional baseball player from 1912 to 1919. He was a shortstop in the minor leagues and appeared in one game in Major League Baseball as a pinch hitter. Daubert was 6 feet tall and wei ...

(1912) *

Ed Donalds Edward Alexander Donalds (June 22, 1883 – July 3, 1950), nicknamed "Erston", was a professional baseball pitcher who played in one game for the Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cinc ...

(1911) *

(1909, MGR) * Frank Foutz (1908-1909) *

Lefty Houtz Fred Fritz "Lefty" Houtz (September 4, 1875 – February 15, 1959) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1899 and also had a 12-year minor league career. Houtz stood at 5' 10" and weighed 170 lbs.

(1910-1911) * Jim Jackson (1908, MGR) *

Pete Johns William R. "Pete" Johns (January 17, 1888 – August 9, 1964) was an infielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox co ...

(1909) * Nick Kahl (1908, MGR) *

George Kahler George Runnells "Krum" Kahler (September 6, 1889 – February 7, 1924) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from Athens, Ohio. He played for the Cleveland Naps from 1910 to 1914. The spelling of Kahler's last name has varied in different newspa ...

(1909) * Fred Link (1908) * Ray Miller (1909) *

(1910; 1911, MGR; 1912) * Jiggs Parson (1908) * Charlie Pickett (1908-1909) * Duke Reilley (1908-1909) *

George Textor George Bernhardt Textor (December 27, 1886 - March 10, 1954) was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played parts of two seasons in the majors, and , for the Indianapolis Hoosiers and, following their move to New Jersey, the Newark Peppers The N ...

(1910) * Zeke Wrigley (1912, MGR)

References

{{reflist

External links

Lima - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Professional baseball teams in Ohio Defunct baseball teams in Ohio Baseball teams established in 1908 Baseball teams disestablished in 1912 Ohio State League teams Lima, Ohio