The Piqua Picks were a minor league baseball teams based in Piqua, Ohio. In 1911, the Piqua Picks played a partial season 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 ...

, joining the league during the season and hosting home games at the Ash Street Ball Grounds. Piqua finished in fifth place in the final 1911 standings, with Picks player

Bert Blue Bird Wayne "Bert" Blue (December 9, 1877 – September 2, 1929) was an American professional baseball catcher. Career He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for one season with St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Athletics. For his career, he ...

winning the league batting title.

History

Minor league baseball play was first hosted in Piqua, Ohio in 1911, when the Picks became members of the eight–team Class D level

during the season. The

Chillicothe Infants Chillicothe may refer to: * Chillicothe, Ohio **Chillicothe Turnpike, a highway **Chillicothe Paints, a collegiate summer baseball team *Chillicothe, Illinois *Chillicothe, Iowa *Chillicothe, Missouri *Chillicothe, Texas *Chillicothe (film), a 1999 ...

Hamilton Mechanics The Hamilton Mechanics was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Hamilton, Ohio between 1884 and 1913. Hamilton teams played as members of the Ohio State League in 1884, Tri-State League in 1889 and Ohio State League in 191 ...

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 ...

Lima Cigarmakers The Lima Cigarmakers were a minor league baseball team based in Lima, Ohio. From 1908 to 1912, the Cigarmakers played as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Ohio State League, winning the 1909 league championship. The Cigarmakers host ...

Marion Diggers The Marion Diggers were a minor league baseball team based in Marion, Ohio and Marion County, Ohio. From 1908 to 1912, the Diggers played as members of the Class D level Ohio State League, hosting home minor league games at Webb Park. Despite no ...

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 ...

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 ...

joined Piqua in completing league play. The use of the "Picks" nickname corresponds with Piqua agriculture in the era, which featured apple orchards. The 1911 Ohio State League had expanded from six teams to eight teams. On June 22, 1911, the

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 ...

franchise moved from Newark, Ohio to Piqua, Ohio with a record of 29–33. The team compiled a 43–32 record while based in Piqua. Ending the season, the team placed fifth in the final standings with an overall record of 72–65. Playing under manager Al Newnham, the Newark/Piqua team finished 11.0 games behind the first place Springfield Reapers in the Ohio State League final standings. Piqua player

won the Ohio State League batting title, hitting .347 with a league leading 176 total hits. The final 1911 Ohio State League standings were led by the Springfield Reapers (84–55), followed by the Marion Diggers (80–59), Portsmouth Cobblers (78–61), Chillicothe Infants (78–62), Newark Newks/Piqua Picks (72–65), Lima Cigarmakers (62–77), Lancaster Lanks (53–84) and Hamilton Mechanics (48–92). The 1912 Ohio State League reduced franchises to again become six–team league and the Piqua franchise did not return to league play in 1912. Piqua, Ohio has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The Piqua Picks minor league team hosted 1911 home games at the Ash Street Ball Grounds. The Piqua Baseball Company first established a playing field in the location in 1883. Later, the location was noted to have become known as Roosevelt Park. Today, the site hosts Wertz Stadium, which was a long–time football venue and now hosts soccer. The stadium location is 421 Ash Street in Piqua.

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

(1911) * Piqua Picks players

References

{{reflist

External links

Team - Baseball ReferencePiqua - Stats Crew
Defunct minor league baseball teams Professional baseball teams in Ohio Defunct baseball teams in Ohio Baseball teams established in 1911 Baseball teams disestablished in 1911 Ohio State League teams Piqua, Ohio