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 Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

, with the league forming on six different occasions. Twenty two different cities hosted teams in the Michigan State league.

History

Five of the six Michigan State League incarnations operated only one or two baseball seasons and the other four seasons. Jointly they covered eleven baseball seasons from 1889 to 1941. The first two Michigan State Leagues, 1889–1890 and 1895, predated the establishment of present-day Minor League Baseball, an umbrella organization of

minor leagues Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

. The third was a "Class D" league during 1902 only, the first season for the organized minors. In 1911, the

West Michigan League The West Michigan League was an early 20th century minor league that included baseball teams in the western part of Michigan. The league expanded and was then renamed the Michigan State League for the 1911 season. Among the league's teams were ...

expanded and became the fourth Michigan State League as a "Class D" minor league through 1914. In 1926, the

Michigan–Ontario League Michigan–Ontario League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated seven full seasons and part of an eighth from 1919 to 1926. In 1926, the Michigan–Ontario League merged with the Central League to form the Michig ...

merged with the

Central League The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consist ...

to form the fifth MSL, which played only the one season. The sixth Michigan State League operated in 1940 and 1941.

Cities represented

Adrian, Michigan Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County. The population was 20,645 at the 2020 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 7th congressional district. History Adrian was founded on June 18, 1826 by Addison Co ...

: Adrian Reformers 1895 *

Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, Michigan, Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo River, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek River, Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle C ...

: Battle Creek Adventists 1895; Battle Creek Cero Frutos 1902 *

Bay City, Michigan Bay City is a city and county seat of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and it is the principal city of the Bay City Metropol ...

: Bay City 1897;

Bay City Wolves The Bay City Wolves were a minor league baseball team based in Bay City, Michigan. From 1919 to 1926, the Wolves played as members of the Class B level Michigan-Ontario League for the eight-season duration of the league, winning league consecuti ...

1926 * Belding, Michigan: Belding Champs 1914 * Boyne City, Michigan:

Boyne City Boosters The Boyne City Boosters were a minor league baseball team based in Boyne City, Michigan. From 1911 to 1914, the Boosters teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Michigan State League, hosting home minor league games at Maple Par ...

1911–1914 * Cadillac, Michigan:

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 level Western Michigan League, winning the 1910 league championship. Cadillac then continued play, with ...

1910–1914 *

Charlotte, Michigan Charlotte ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County. Charlotte is in the central portion of the county, on the boundary between Eaton Township and C ...

Charlotte Giants The Charlotte Giants were a minor league baseball team based in Charlotte, Michigan. In 1926, the Charlotte Giants played as members of the Michigan State League, completing partial season in the league. Charlotte hosted home minor league games a ...

1926 *

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...

: Flint Flyers 1889–1890; Flint 1897, 1902;

Flint Vehicles The Flint Vehicles were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1921 to 1926. They were a part of the Michigan–Ontario League and were preceded in the league by the Flint Halligens in 1919 and 1920. In 1921, future Pittsburgh St ...

1926;

Flint Gems The Flint Gems were a minor league professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan in 1940. The Gems were part of the class C Michigan State League, and played their home games at Atwood Stadium. During the single season the team played in Flint, the ...

1940;

Flint Arrows The Flint Arrows was the primary name of the minor league baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1940–1941 and 1948–1951. Flint was a member of the Michigan State League (1940–1941) and Central League (1948–1950), playing their home games ...

1941 *

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...

: Grand Rapids 1889–1890; Grand Rapids Colts 1902; Grand Rapids Black Sox 1926;

Grand Rapids Dodgers Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and commun ...

1940; Grand Rapids Colts 1941 * Greenville, Michigan: Greenville 1889 * Holland, Michigan:

Holland Wooden Shoes The Holland Wooden Shoes were a minor league baseball team based in Holland, Michigan. In 1910 and 1911, the Wooden Shoes played as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Western Michigan League and its successor, the 1911 Michigan State ...

1910–1911 *

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is the only city and county seat of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, it is approxi ...

Jackson Jaxons Jackson may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Q ...

1889, 1895; Jackson 1897, 1902 *

Kalamazoo, Michigan Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolit ...

Kalamazoo Kazoos Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropoli ...

1889; Kalamazoo Celery Eaters 1895; Kalamazoo 1897;

Kalamazoo Celery Pickers Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolit ...

1926 *

Lansing, Michigan Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making ...

: Lansing 1889–1890;

Lansing Senators Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making ...

1895, 1897, 1902, 1941; Lansing Lancers 1940 * Ludington, Michigan: Ludington Mariners 1912–1914; Ludington Tars 1926 * Manistee, Michigan: Manistee 1890; Manistee Colts 1911;

Manistee Champs The Manistee Champs were a minor league baseball team based in Manistee, Michigan. The Champs played from 1912 to 1914, after an earlier Manistee team played in 1890, followed by the 1911 Manistee "Colts." The Manistee teams played exclusively a ...

1912–1914 * Muskegon, Michigan: Muskegon 1890;

Muskegon Speed Boys Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expans ...

1910;

Muskegon Speeders Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expans ...

1912–1914;

Muskegon Reds The Muskegon Reds was the primary name of the minor league baseball franchise in Muskegon, Michigan that existed on-and-off from 1890 to 1951. History Muskegon played in the Michigan State League (1890–1902, 1911–1914, 1926, 1940–1941), Cen ...

1902, 1911, 1926, 1940–1941 *

Owosso, Michigan Owosso is the largest city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,194 at the 2010 census. The city is mostly surrounded by Owosso Township on its west, but the two are administered autonomously. The city wa ...

Owosso Colts The Owosso Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Owosso, Michigan. In 1895, the Colts played as a member of the Class B level Michigan State League, before folding during the season. The Colts hosted home games at the Athletic Associa ...

1895 *

Port Huron, Michigan Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...

: Port Huron 1890;

Port Huron Marines A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

1895; Port Huron 1897;

Port Huron Saints The Port Huron Saints was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Port Huron, Michigan between 1883 and 1926. Port Huron minor league teams played as members of the Michigan State League in 1890, 1895 and 1897, the Intern ...

1926 *

Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...

: Saginaw 1889; Saginaw Lumbermen 1897;

Saginaw Aces Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County, Michigan, Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township, Michi ...

1926; Saginaw Athletics 1940; Saginaw White Sox 1902, 1941 *

St. Joseph, Michigan St. Joseph, colloquially known as St. Joe, is a city and the county seat of Berrien County, Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,365. It lies on the shore o ...

: St. Joseph Autos 1940–1941 *

Traverse City, Michigan Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was ...

Traverse City Resorters The Traverse City Resorters were a professional minor league baseball team located in Traverse City, Michigan, United States, playing in the Class D Michigan State League and the precursor West Michigan League from 1910 to 1914. The Resorters p ...

1910–1914

Standings & statistics

1889 to 1890

1889 Michigan State League Kalamazoo (32-42) transferred to Flint September 3.
Jackson and Saginaw finished in a virtual tie for first place. Jackson played some of their make-up games to gain enough victories to win the championship. Saginaw protested. President Curtis awarded the championship banner to Saginaw. 1890 Michigan State League
schedule
Grand Rapids left to join the International League June 12
The league disbanded June 13.

1895

1895 Michigan State League
schedule
Owosso & Port Huron disbanded September 3.; Battle Creek (14-40) moved to Jackson August 8

1897

1897 Michigan State League Kalamazoo (23-41) transferred to Flint July 12; Jackson disbanded July 20; Lansing disbanded July 27
The league disbanded August 16

1902

1902 Michigan State League
schedule
Saginaw (35-28) moved to Jackson July 20.; Grand Rapids disbanded July 20; Lansing disbanded August 20, causing the league to fold.

1911 to 1914

1911 Michigan State League
schedule
1912 Michigan State League 1913 Michigan State League 1914 Michigan State League Traverse City & Boyne City both withdrew September 1; Manistee (56-51) was expelled and the franchise moved to Belding September 9.

1926

1926 Michigan State League
schedule
The league was created June 15 by the mid-season merger of the Central League and Michigan-Ontario League. Flint (18-26) moved to Charlotte July 22.

1940 to 1941

1940 Michigan State League Playoffs: Saginaw 3 games, Grand Rapids 1; St. Joseph 3 games, Flint 2.
Finals: Cancelled due to inclement weather. 1941 Michigan State League No Playoffs Scheduled.

Hall of Fame alumni

* Burleigh Grimes, 1940

, MGR * Honus Wagner, 1895 Adrian Demons

References

Sources

* ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', and Third Editions.

History

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1889 to 1890

1895

1897

1902

1911 to 1914

1926

1940 to 1941

Hall of Fame alumni

References

Sources

Further reading