The Minnesota–Wisconsin League, known as the "Minny" League, was a professional minor baseball league that existed from 1909 to 1912. It was a Class D league in 1909, 1910 and 1912 and a Class C league in 1911. As its name suggests, it featured teams based in the states of

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

History

The inaugural 1909 Minnesota–Wisconsin League season featured the

Duluth White Sox The Duluth White Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Duluth, Minnesota, that played from 1903 to 1916, and in 1934. The team played in the Northern League (1903–1905, 1908, 1913–1916, 1934), Northern-Copper Country League (1906� ...

, Eau Claire Cream Puffs, La Crosse Outcasts, Winona Pirates,

Wausau Lumberjacks The Wausau Lumberjacks (occasionally known as the Timberjacks) were a minor league baseball team based in Wausau, Wisconsin that existed on-and-off from 1905 to 1957. The Wausau franchise then became the Wausau Timbers before relocating to become ...

and Superior Drillers as the six charter franchises in the league. The Duluth White Sox finished in first place, claiming the league championship. In 1910, the Duluth White Sox, La Crosse Outcasts, Wausau Lumberjacks and Winona Pirates returned from 1909, while the Eau Claire Cream Puffs became the Eau Claire Commissioners and the Superior Drillers became the Superior Red Sox. The Red Wing Manufacturers and the Rochester Surgeons were newcomers to the league, which expanded to eight teams. The Eau Claire Commissioners finished in first place, winning the league championship. In 1911, the league began play with the same teams as in 1910. During the season, the Red Wing and Wausau franchises both folded on June 26, 1911. The Superior Red Sox finished in first place, winning the league championship. In 1912, the Minnesota–Wisconsin League began with four teams – the Eau Claire Commissioners, the La Crosse Outcasts, the Winona Pirates and the Rochester Bugs (formerly the Rochester Surgeons). Duluth and Superior left to form the

Central International League The Central International League was a four–team minor baseball league that played in 1912. A Class C level league, the Central International League played only the 1912 season, with the Duluth White Sox winning the league championship. In 19 ...

. The Minnesota–Wisconsin League disbanded on July 1, 1912, with the Winona Pirates being the de facto league champion.

Notable players

Hall of Fame members

Dave Bancroft David James Bancroft (April 20, 1891 – October 9, 1972) was an American professional baseball shortstop and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Robins ...

, 1909

,1909 Superior Drillers, 1910–1911 Superior Red Sox and

Burleigh Grimes Burleigh Arland Grimes (August 18, 1893 – December 6, 1985) was an American professional baseball player and manager, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. Grimes made the most of this advantage, as well as his unshav ...

, 1912 Eau Claire Commissioners, played in the league.

Cities represented

Duluth, MN , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

1909–1911 *

Eau Claire, WI Eau Claire (; ) (French for "clear water") is a city mostly located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, of which it is the county seat, and with a small portion in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. It had a population of 69,421 in 2020, making it the state' ...

: Eau Claire Cream Puffs 1909; Eau Claire Commissioners 1910–1912 * LaCrosse, WI: LaCrosse Outcasts 1909–1912 * Red Wing, MN: Red Wing Manufacturers 1910–1911 *

Rochester, MN Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota, the city is the home and birthplace of the renowned Mayo Clinic. Accor ...

: Rochester Roosters 1910; Rochester Bears 1911; Rochester Bugs 1912 * Superior, WI: Superior Drillers 1909; Superior Red Sox 1910–1911 *

Wausau, WI Wausau ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city into east and west. The city's suburbs include Schofield, Weston, Mosinee, Maine, Rib Mountain, Kronenwetter, an ...

1909–1911 * Winona, MN: Winona Pirates 1909–1912

Standings & statistics

1909 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

1910 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

schedule

1911 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

schedule
Red Wing & Wausau disbanded June 26.

1912 Minnesota-Wisconsin League

1912 Minnesota-Wisconsin League schedule
The league disbanded July 1.

References

"Rochester Surgeons Beat Outcasts Again." Duluth News Tribune (Duluth, Minn.) 26 May 1910. 11. "Surgeons Lost Final Autopsy: Rochester Drops an Up and Down Contest -- Score is 8 to 4." Duluth News Tribune (Duluth, Minn.) 29 May 1911. 2. {{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota-Wisconsin League Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States 1909 establishments in Minnesota 1909 establishments in Wisconsin 1912 disestablishments in Minnesota 1912 disestablishments in Wisconsin Sports leagues established in 1909 Sports leagues disestablished in 1912 Baseball leagues in Minnesota Baseball leagues in Wisconsin