The New York State League was a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

league that played between 1885 and 1917. The league began play as an Independent level league before playing from 1902 to 1917 as a Class B level league. League franchises were based in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

and

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

. John H. Farrell served as president of the league from 1897 to 1917.

History

The first New York State League in 1885, was actually the second of the many names the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...

used before settling on its longterm moniker. The second New York State League was a six team league for one season in 1889. Oneida was expelled from the league on July 12, and Seneca Falls disbanded August 19. The third and longest running New York State League was a solid league that lasted from 1899 through 1917. The league was classified as a Class B league in 1902 when the

National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National L ...

was formed. The loop, which also had teams in Pennsylvania, was also remarkably stable in terms of membership for any minor league of that era. Binghamton and Utica lasted the whole 19-year run.

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...

members Grover Cleveland Alexander (1910 Syracuse Stars), Johnny Evers (1902 Troy Trojans) and

Bucky Harris Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris (November 8, 1896 – November 8, 1977) was an American professional baseball second baseman, Manager (baseball), manager and executive. While Harris played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senato ...

(1917 Reading Pretzels) played in the league.

Cities represented

* Albany, NY: Albany Senators 1885, 1890, 1894–1895, 1899–1916 * Amsterdam, NY: Amsterdam Carpet Tacks 1894; Amsterdam Red Stockings 1895 * Amsterdam, NY / Johnstown, NY / Gloversville, NY: Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags 1902; Amsterdam–Gloversville–Johnstown Hypens 1903–1904; Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Jags 1905–1908 * Auburn, NY: Auburn 1889; Auburn Maroons 1897–1898; Auburn Pioneers 1899 * Binghamton, NY: Binghamton Bingoes 1885; Binghamton Crickets 1895; Binghamton Bingos 1899; Binghamton Crickets 1900; Binghamton Bingoes 1901–1917 * Canandaigua, NY: Canandaigua 1889; * Cobleskill, NY: Cobleskill Giants 1890; * Cortland, NY: Cortland Wagonmakers 1899–1901 * Elmira, NY: Elmira Colonels 1885; Elmira 1889;

Elmira Pioneers The Elmira Pioneers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They have been affiliated with many major league teams throughout their history. Currently, Elmira Pioneers play as members of the Perfect Game Collegiate Base ...

1895, 1900; Elmira Rams 1908,

1908–1917 * Gloversville, NY: Gloversville Glovers 1895 *

Harrisburg, PA Harrisburg ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat, seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50, ...

: Harrisburg Islanders 1916–1917 * Ilion, NY: Ilion Typewriters 1901–1904 * Johnstown, NY: Johnstown Buckskins 1894–1895 * Johnstown, NY & Gloversville, NY: Johnstown-Gloversville 1890; * Kingston, NY: Kingston Patriarchs 1894 * Oneida, NY: Oneida 1889; *

Oneonta, NY Oneonta ( ) is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, United States. It is one of the northernmost cities of Appalachia. Oneonta is home to the State University of New York at Oneonta and Hartwick College. SUNY Oneonta began as a nor ...

: Oneonta 1890; * Oswego, NY: Oswego Sweegs 1885; Oswego Oswegos 1899; Oswego Grays 1900 * Palmyra, NY: Palmyra Mormans 1897–1898 * Pittsfield, MA: Pittsfield Colts 1894 * Poughkeepsie, NY: Poughkeepsie Bridge Citys 1894 * Reading, PA: Reading Pretzels 1916–1917 *

Rochester, NY Rochester is a city in and the county seat, seat of government of Monroe County, New York, United States. It is the List of municipalities in New York, fourth-most populous city and 10th most-populated municipality in New York, with a populati ...

: Rochester Flour Cities 1885; * Rome, NY: Rome Romans 1899–1901 *

Schenectady, NY Schenectady ( ) is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-most populous city and the twenty-fifth most-populous ...

: Schenectady Dorpians 1895; Schenectady Electricians 1899–1902; Schenectady Frog Alleys 1903; Schenectady Electricians 1904 * Scranton, PA: Scranton Miners 1904–1917 * Seneca Falls, NY: Seneca Falls Maroons 1889; * Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Stars 1885; 1902–1917 * Troy, NY: Troy (NY) Trojans 1890, 1895; Troy Washerwomen 1899–1900; Troy (NY) Trojans 1901–1916 * Utica, NY: Utica Pentups 1885; Utica 1889; Utica Pent-Ups 1890; 1899–1909; Utica Utes 1910–1917 * Waverly, NY: Waverly Wagonmakers 1901 * Wilkes-Barre, PA:

Wilkes-Barre Barons The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a basketball team from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The Barons played between 1933 and 1980 in different United States, American sports league, leagues. The team won 11 titles during this time, including while playin ...

1905–1917

Standings and statistics

1885 to 1904

1885 New York State League Elmira entered the league July 10 and disbanded July 26; Albany disbanded July 27. 1889 New York State League Oneida was expelled July 12; Seneca Falls disbanded August 19. 1890 New York State League Oneonta disbanded September 3; Cobleskill disbanded September 20 1894 New York State League Albany and Pittsfield disbanded July 3 1895 New York State League Albany and Troy disbanded May 20; Gloversville and Johnstown disbanded July 4 1897 New York State League Cortland joined the league June 2; Batavia (11–33) transferred to Geneva July 25 1898 New York State League Palmyra (25–35) disbanded July 22, franchise to Johnstown (4–4) Aug 6, Johnstown disbanded August 16; Lyons disbanded August 12 1899 New York State League Auburn (27–43) moved to Troy August 1. 1900 New York State League Oswego (20–45) moved to Elmira July 30. 1901 New York State League Cortland (22–34) moved to Waverly July 11. 1902 New York State League 1903 New York State League 1904 New York State League Schenectady (20–39) moved to Scranton July 17.

1905 to 1910

1905 New York State League 1906 New York State League 1907 New York State League 1908 New York State League Amsterdam–Gloversville–Johnstown (1–8) reorganized and became 'Johnstown-Gloversville' (11–54) May 18, then moved to Elmira (24–42) July 22. 1909 New York State League 1910 New York State League

1911 to 1917

1911 New York State League 1912 New York State League 1913 New York State League 1914 New York State League 1915 New York State League 1916 New York State League Troy (8–27) moved to Harrisburg June 20; Albany (51–57) moved to Reading August 21. 1917 New York State League Harrisburg and Utica disbanded July 4.

Hall of Fame alumni

* Grover Cleveland Alexander, 1910 Syracuse Stars * Johnny Evers, 1902 Troy (NY) Trojans *

, 1917 Reading Pretzels

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:New York State League (1885-1917) Baseball leagues in New York (state) Defunct baseball leagues in the United States Sports leagues established in 1885 Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Pennsylvania 1885 establishments in New York (state) Sports leagues disestablished in 1917 1917 disestablishments in the United States Baseball leagues in Massachusetts