The Southern Michigan League was a Minor League Baseball circuit which operated between 1906 and 1912. It was classified as a Class D league from 1906 to 1910 and as a Class C league from 1911 to 1912. After that, the league was known as the Southern Michigan Association between 1913 and 1915.
The Southern Michigan Association held a Class D status in 1913 and was given Class C recognition in 1914 and 1915. The Association closed up after the 1915 season.
Cities represented/teams Adrian, Michigan: Adrian Yeggs (1909–11); Adrian Lions (1912); Adrian Champs (1913); Adrian Fencevilles (1914) Battle Creek, Michigan: Battle Creek Crickets (1906–15) Bay City, Michigan: Bay City (1907, 1910); Bay City Reds (1908), Bay City Cardinals (1909), Bay City Billikens (1911–12); Bay City Beavers (1913–15) Flint, Michigan: Flint Vehicles (1907–15) Jackson, Michigan: Jackson Convicts (1906–13); Jackson Chiefs (1914); Jackson Vets (1915) Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo White Sox (1906–08); Kalamazoo Kazoos (1909–10, 1913–14); Kalamazoo Celery Pickers (1911–12) Lansing, Michigan: Lansing Senators (1907–14) Mount Clemens, Michigan: Mount Clemens Bathers (1906–07, 1914) Saginaw, Michigan: Saginaw (1906); Saginaw Wa-was (1908–10); Saginaw Krazy Kats (1911); Saginaw Trailers (1912); Saginaw Ducks (1913–15) South Bend, Indiana: South Bend Benders (1914); South Bend Factors (1915) Tecumseh, Michigan: Tecumseh Indians (1906–08) Toledo, Ohio: Toledo Mud Hens (1914)
League champions 1906 – Mount Clemens Bathers 1907 – Tecumseh 1908 – Saginaw Wa-was 1909 – Saginaw Wa-was 1910 – Kalamazoo Kazoos 1911 – Kalamazoo Celery Pickers 1912 – Adrian Lions 1913 – Battle Creek Crickets 1914 – Saginaw Ducks 1915 – South Bend Factors
Standings & statistics 1906 to 1910
1906 Southern Michigan League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Mount Clemens Bathers6934.670- Walter Trombley Kalamazoo White Sox6341.6126½ Clarence Pickell / Maurice Myers Tecumseh Indians5747.54812½ Horace Brewer Jackson Convicts5252.50017½Maurice Myers / Rube Deneau Battle Creek Crickets 3956.41126 George Black/Maurice Myers / Joe Ganzel Saginaw 3460.36230½Clarence Jessup Saginaw began play July 18 and awarded a record of 15-20. The Battle Creek record of 4-38 was expunged on July 21 and the reorganized team was awarded a record of 15-20 on July 22. The official standings were unequal due to the adjusted won-lost records. +Player statistics Player TeamStat Tot Bill RothMt. ClemensBA.302 Bill RothMt. ClemensHits115
1907 Southern Michigan League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Tecumseh Indians6942.622-Bo Slear Kalamazoo White Sox6247.5696 Maurice Myers Battle Creek Crickets 6349.5636½James Henderson Mount Clemens Bathers5151.50013½Joe Ganzel / George Thomas Bay City4657.44719 M.E. Taylor Lansing Senators4657.44719 Jack MorrisseyFlint Vehicles4264.39624½ Fred Mason / Pete Tibald Jackson Convicts 1830.375NABruce Haynes Jackson folded July 15.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot John Landry Mt. ClemensBA.297 Harvey Teal TecumsehW21 John Landry Mt. ClemensRuns60 Tom Railing TecumsehW21 John Landry Mt. ClemensHits120 Irwin Gough Mt. ClemensSO253 John Cocash FlintHR6 Harry Steiger Battle CreekPct.810; 17-4 Fred MerkleTecumsehHR6
1908 Southern Michigan League - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Saginaw Wa-was7252.581-Bruce Hayes / Frank Dillon Kalamazoo White Sox7056.5563 Mo Myers Jackson Convicts 6857.5444½Bo Slear Tecumseh Indians6462.5089 Smith Battle Creek Crickets6263.49610½NA Lansing Senators6065.48012½ Jack Morrissey Flint Vehicles5768.44815½Rube Deneau / Charles Cassell Bay City Reds4878.38125 M. Taylor / Clyde McNutt
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Leonard CoteKalamazooBA.327Belmont MethodKalamazooW24 Bob ParkerJacksonRuns79George PearceLansingSO298 Chick EvansJacksonHits141Edwin TaylorKalamazooPct.800; 12-3 Jack MorrisseyLansingHits141 Red BowserFlintHR11
1909 Southern Michigan League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Saginaw Wa-was7352.584- Billy SmithFlint Vehicles7252.581½ Red WrightJackson Convicts 7152.5771 Bo Slear Kalamazoo Kazoos6460.5168½ Harry Martin Bay City Cardinals5966.47814 Ed Herr / Fritz Buelow Lansing Senators5569.44317½ Jack Morrissey Adrian Yeggs5273.41621 Charles Cassell Battle Creek Crickets5274.41321½Rube Deneau +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Harry Martin KalamazooBA.330Gene KrappFlintW23 Harry Ball AdrianRuns94 Elmer Criger JacksonPct.759; 22-7 Harry Ball AdrianHits141Ed KuselSaginawPct.759; 22-7
1910 Southern Michigan League - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Kalamazoo Kazoos8752.626-Butts Wagner Lansing Senators8752.626- Jack MorrisseyAdrian Yeggs 8356.5974 Carl Vandagrift Battle Creek Crickets7264.52913½Billy Earle Flint Vehicles6971.49318½Ed Herr Bay City5981.42128½ Elbert Nugent / Leon Foy Jackson Convicts5185.37534½Bo Slear Saginaw Wa-was4693.33141 Billy Smith / Frank Wessell Playoff: Kalamazoo 4 games, Lansing 2.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Red BowserFlintBA.342 Bradley Valliere KalamazooW23 Harry Ball AdrianRuns117 Ed Warner LansingW23 Vic SaierLansingHits175 Berne Hughey KalamazooSO193 Red BowserFlintHR14 Bradley Valliere KalamazooPct.793; 23-6
1911 to 1912
1911 Southern Michigan Association - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Kalamazoo Celery Pickers8851.633- Butts Wagner Lansing Senators7955.5906½ Jack Morrissey Flint Vehicles 7759.5669½Dan CollinsBay City Billikens7364.53314 Mo Myers / Bo Slear Saginaw Krazy Kats7267.51816 Mal Kittridge Adrian Yeggs6576.46124 Billy Smith Battle Creek Crickets5780.41630 John Burke Jackson Convicts3998.28548 Charles Fox
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot John Connors JacksonBA.377Beany JacobsonKalamazooW26 Buck HopkinsSaginawRuns120Ed WarnerLansingW26 Joe KutinaSaginawHits193Ed WarnerLansingSO231 Clarence KraftFlintHR19Beany JacobsonKalamazooPct.743; 26-9 Pete Compton Battle Creek3B25
1912 Southern Michigan League - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Adrian Lions7847.624- Dan Jenkins Jackson Convicts7155.5637½ Maurice Myers Flint Vehicles 6956.5529 John Burke / Dan Collins Lansing Senators6362.50415 Jack Morrissey Kalamazoo Celery Eaters6063.48817 Charlie Wagner Battle Creek Crickets5968.46520 Eddie McKernan Bay City Billikens 1943.306NA James Slevins Saginaw Trailers 1944.302NA Walter Hartwell Bay City and Saginaw disbanded July 13.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Jack Onslow LansingBA.385 Robert Troy AdrianW25 Fred OchsFlintRuns89 Robert Troy AdrianSO268 John ConnorsJacksonHits156 Walt Scott AdrianPct.826; 19-4 Albert "Bull" DurhamBay City/LansingHR25
1913 to 1915 1913 Southern Michigan Association Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Battle Creek Crickets7746.626- Ed McKernan Adrian Lions6855.5539 Joe Jenkins Jackson Convicts 6660.52412½ Maurice Myers Saginaw Ducks6065.48018 Ducky Holmes Flint Vehicles5764.47119 Dan Collins Kalamazoo Kazoos5967.46819½ Charles Wagner Lansing Senators 5468.43922½ Jack Morrissey Bay City Beavers 5470.43523½Hugh Shannon +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Fred Bramble KalamazooBA.349Dick NiehausBattle CreekW24 Joe JenkinsAdrianRuns88 Hal Schwenk SaginawSO283 T.H. McNellis LansingHits146Dick NiehausBattle CreekPct.727; 24-9 Cecil CoombsAdrianHR10 1914 Southern Michigan Association - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Bay City Beavers9650.658-Dan Jenkins Saginaw Ducks9055.6215½ Ducky Holmes Battle Creek Crickets 9257.6175½Dan CollinsSouth Bend Benders8560.58610½ Ed Smith / Harry Arndt / Ben Koehler Flint Vehicles7570.51720½ Jack Burke Jackson Chiefs7172.49723½ Maurice Myers / D. BrownLansing Senators / Mt. Clemens Bathers6380.44131½ Jack Morrissey Toledo Mud Hens 5393.36343 Topsy Hartsel Adrian Fencevilles5394.36143½Bill Cristall / William HendersonKalamazoo Kazoos4997.33647 Charlie Wenger Lansing (33-35) moved to Mt. Clemens July 10.Playoff: Saginaw 4 games, Bay City 1. +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotJoe Harris Bay CityBA.386 Walter Scott SaginawW26 Dan Jenkins Bay CityRuns140 Russell Robins SaginawSO338 Joe Harris Bay CityHits197 John Jenkins Bay CityPct.852; 23-4 Edward Hoffman FlintHR12
1915 Southern Michigan Association - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers South Bend Factors4424.667- Ed SmithBattle Creek Crickets3433.5079½ Charles Wagner Jackson Vets 3133.48411 Dan Collins Bay City Beavers3135.47012Joe Jenkins Saginaw Ducks3138.44913½ Ducky Holmes Flint Vehicles3139.44314 Ed Wheeler League disbanded July 7. +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Charles Donnelly Bay CityBA.387 Charles Vallandingham South BendW13 Joe Helmer South BendRuns48 Ben Higley SaginawSO127 Charles Donnelly Bay CityHits87 Charles Vallandingham South BendPct.813; 13-3 Edward Hoffman FlintHR7
References Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, second edition, April 1997.