The Pontiac Indians were a minor league baseball team based in

Pontiac, Michigan Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 61,606. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Pontiac is about northwest of Detroit. Founde ...

. In 1912 and 1913, the Indians played exclusively as members of the Class D level

Border League The Border League, is the oldest established rugby union league in the World, having been formed in 1901. Currently known as the Booker Border League, after its sponsors, teams from all over the Scottish Borders as well as Berwick RFC from Nor ...

, hosting home games at Wisner Park.

History

In 1912, the Pontiac Indians became charter members of the Class D level

, which featured teams from both the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. The 1912 five–team league featured the

Mount Clemens Bathers The Mount Clemens Bathers were a minor league baseball team based in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Between 1906 and 1914, the Bathers played as members of the Class D level Southern Michigan League in 1906 and 1907, Border League in 1912 and 1913 and ...

Port Huron Independents 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 ...

, Windsor and

Wyandotte Alkalis The Wyandotte Alkalis were a minor league baseball team based in Wyandotte, Michigan. In 1912 and 1913, the Alkalis, named for a locally based company, played exclusively as members of the Class D level Border League, winning the 1912 league cha ...

joining the Indians in league beginning league play on May 30, 1912. In their first season of play, the 1912 Pontiac Indians placed second in the Border League standings. Beginning play on May 30, 1912, the Pontiac Indians ended the 1912 season with a record of 14–9, playing under manager Henry McIntoch. Pontiac finished 4.5 games behind the first place Wyandotte Alkalis (19–5) and ahead of Windsor (9–14), the Mount Clemens Bathers (11–15) and Port Huron Independents (7–17) in the final standings. The Pontiac Indians played their final season in 1913. Beginning play on May 24, 1913, the Pontiac Indians placed fourth in the 1913 the Border League standings. Pontiac ended the 1913 season with a 13–18 record as Henry McIntosh returned as manager. The Indians finished 9.5 games behind the first place

Ypsilanti, Michigan Ypsilanti (), commonly shortened to Ypsi, is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 20,648. The city is bounded to the north by Superior Township and on the west, south, and ...

team in the six–team league. The Border League folded after the 1913 season. Pontiac, Michigan has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

Pontiac teams played minor league home games at Wisner Park. Wisner Park was located at Oakland Avenue & Summit Street near Wisner Street, Pontiac, Michigan. Today,

Wisner Stadium Wisner Memorial Stadium is an athletic facility located in Pontiac, Michigan. History Wisner Memorial Stadium was built in 1941 and named for Moses Wisner, the 12th Governor of the State of Michigan. Wisner, a resident of Pontiac, was a lawyer w ...

serves as a multi–use stadium for local high schools and other events. Wisner House Pontiac MI

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

* Bill Harper (1912) * Vern Spencer (1913) * Pontiac Indians players

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Pontiac - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Baseball teams established in 1912 Baseball teams disestablished in 1913 Border League teams Pontiac, Michigan