The Wisconsin State League was a class D level baseball league that began in 1905, changing its name to the Wisconsin–Illinois League in 1908 and operating through 1914. The league re–organized under that name in 1926. Another Wisconsin State League began in 1940, shut down during World War II from 1943 through 1945, then operated from 1946 through 1953.
The Class D Wisconsin–Illinois League began play in 1940 with six charter franchises: Appleton Papermakers, Fond du Lac Panthers, Green Bay Bluejays, La Crosse Blackhawks, Sheboygan Indians and Wisconsin Rapids White Sox. In 1942 the league expanded to eight teams, adding the Janesville Cubs and Oshkosh Giants. After play resumed in 1946, La Crosse moved to become the Wausau Lumberjacks and the league operated with those franchises until its demise following the 1953 season.
List of teams Wisconsin State League (1905–1907, 1922–1925, 1928–1931, 1940–1942, 1946–1953)Wisconsin–Illinois League (1908–1914, 1926–1927, 1932) Appleton, WI: Appleton Papermakers (1891, 1909–1914, 1940–1942, 1946–1953) Aurora, IL: Aurora Islanders (1910) Beloit, WI: Beloit Collegians (1905); Beloit Fairies (1926–1927) Chicago, IL: Logan Squares (1926–1927, 1932); Niesen's Chicago Pyotts (1926); St. Michael's (1926); Duffy Florals (1932); Harley Mills (1932) Eau Claire, WI: Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans (1906); Eau Claire Tigers (1907) Fond du Lac, WI: Fond du Lac Mudhens (1891); Fond du Lac Webfoots (1907); Fond du Lac Cubs (1908); Fond du Lac Giants (1909–1910); Fond du Lac Molls (1913); Fond du Lac Mudhens (1911); Fond du Lac Panthers (1940–1942, 1946–1953) Freeport, IL: Freeport Pretzels (1905–1909) Green Bay, WI: Green Bay Dock Wallopers (1891); Green Bay Colts (1905–1906); Green Bay Orphans (1907); Green Bay Tigers (1908); Green Bay Bays (1909–1914); Green Bay Blue Sox (1941); Green Bay Bluejays (1940, 1942, 1946–1953) Janesville, WI: Janesville Cubs (1941–1942, 1947–1953); Janesville Bears (1946) Kenosha, WI: Kenosha Twin Sixes (1926–1929) La Crosse, WI: La Crosse Pinks (1905–1906, 1908); La Crosse Badgers (1907); La Crosse Boosters (1926); La Crosse Blackhawks (1940–1942) Madison, WI: Madison Senators (1905–1914); Madison Blues (1928–1932) Manitowoc, WI: Manitowoc Shipbuilders (1928–1931) Marinette, WI: Marinette Badgers (1891); Marinette-Menominee Twins (1914) Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Creams (1913); Kosciuszko Reds (1928–1930);Onion Oils/Union Oils (1928); Milwaukee Red Sox (1931–1932) Oconto, WI: Oconto Log Drivers (1891) Oshkosh, WI: Oshkosh Indians (1905–1914); Oshkosh Giants 1941–1942, 1946–1953) Racine, WI: Racine Malted Milks (1909–1911, 1914); Racine Belles (1909–1915); Racine Eskimos (1926); Racine Belles (1929–1930) Rockford, IL: Rockford Reds (1908–1910); Rockford Wolverines (1911–1913); Rockford Wolves (1914) Sheboygan, WI: Sheboygan Chairmakers (1926–1932); Sheboygan Indians (1940–1942, 1946–1953) Two Rivers, WI: Two Rivers Mirrors (1928–1931) Wausau, WI: Wausau Lumberjacks (1905–1908, 1912–1914, 1946–1953) Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Season standings 1891 to 1892 1891 Wisconsin State League Team nameWLPCTGBManagers Marinette Lumber Shovers5139.567-Jacob Aydelotte Appleton Papermakers4841.5392½ Charles Faatz Green Bay Dock Wallopers 4842.5333 Thomas Murray / George Brackett Oshkosh Indians 4644.5115 John Roushkolb / Daniel Sweeney Fond du Lac Mudhens 4149.45610 Bob BerryhillOconto Log Drivers 3554.39315½ John Guehrer 1905 Wisconsin State League Team nameWLPCTGBManagers La Crosse Pinks6841.624-Pink Hawley Oshkosh Indians6047.5617 Morey Crall / John Lavie Freeport Pretzels5456.49114½ Nick Malvern / Bill Moriarty Beloit Collegians5059.45918 George Wilbur / George Bubser Wausau Lumberjacks4761.43520½ Jack Corbett John Mott / Nick Malvern Green Bay Colts4762.43121 W. Kennelly / William McGinnis Marty McQuade / Ernest Van Erman / Warren Beckwith
1906 Wisconsin State League schedule Team nameWLPCTGBManagers La Crosse Pinks 7642.644-Pink HawleyFreeport Pretzels7343.6292 Bill Moriarty Oshkosh Indians5663.47120½ Charlie Hanford Green Bay Colts5563.46621 George Bubser / Phil Stremmel Wausau Lumberjacks4870.40728 Nick Malvern / Belanger Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans 4471.38330½ Andy Porter / Al Tebeau Rasmussen / Nick Malvern La Crosse played Freeport on the last day of the season with the pennant in balance. 5,000 fans saw a 0–0 game after nine innings. La Crosse pushed across five runs in the tenth to win.
1907 to 1914 1907 Wisconsin State League schedule Team nameWLPCTGBManagers Freeport Pretzels7941.658-Tom Schoonhaven Wausau Lumberjacks7643.6392½ Charlie FergusonLa Crosse Badgers6750.52810½ Pink Hawley Eau Claire Tigers6256.52516 Bobby Lynch Oshkosh Indians5865.47221½ George Bubser Madison Senators5266.44126 Howard CassiboneGreen Bay Orphans4873.39731½ John Corrigan Fond du Lac Webfoots3482.29343 Tom Fletcher 1908 season (W-I League)"Locals Finish in Second Place," La Crosse Tribune, Sep. 14, 1908 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedWausau Lumberjacks7247.605119La Crosse Pinks6657.537123Madison Senators6456.533120Green Bay Tigers6558.528123Freeport Pretzels5962.488121Fond du Lac Cubs5765.467122Oshkosh Indians5466.450120Rockford Reds4874.393122
1909 season (W-I League)"League Standings in Capsule Form," Racine Journal, Sep. 13, 1909 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedMadison Senators7445.622119Green Bay Bays6954.561123Racine Malted Milks6658.532124Appleton Papermakers6658.532124Rockford Reds6161.500122Fond du Lac Giants5864.475122Oshkosh Indians5272.419124Freeport Pretzels4579.363124
1910 season (W-I League)"W.-I. Flag to Appleton," Chicago Examiner, Sep. 8, 1910 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedAppleton Papermakers7446.617120Rockford Reds7250.590122Fond du Lac Giants6655.545121Madison Senators6259.512121Green Bay Bays5961.492120Racine Malted Milks5962.488121Oshkosh Indians5172.415123Aurora Islanders4381.347124
1911 season (W-I League)"League Baseball in Condensed Form," Racine Journal, Sep. 11, 1911 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedRockford7446.617120 Madison Senators 6557.533122 Green Bay Bays 6156.521117Appleton Papermakers6358.521121Oshkosh Indians6164.488125Racine Malted Milks5864.475122Aurora Blues5565.458120Fond du Lac4773.392120
1912 season (W-I League)"Baseball Results," Monmouth Daily Atlas, Sep. 17, 1912 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedOshkosh Indians8745.659132Racine Belles7851.605129Appleton6760.528127Wausau6676.465142 Green Bay Bays 6168.473129Rockford6371.470134Aurora5480.403134Madison Senators5185.375136
1913 season (W-I League)"Here's Best Race in 1913 Baseball," Chicago Examiner, Sep. 8, 1913 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedOshkosh Indians7446.617120Racine Belles7251.585123 Green Bay Bays 6957.548126Rockford6556.537121Madison Senators6461.512125Fond du Lac6361.508124Wausau Lumberjacks4580.360125Appleton Papermakers4380.350123
1914 season (W-I League)"Standing of the Teams," Racine Journal, Sep. 14, 1914 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedOshkosh Indians7543.636118 Green Bay Bays 7351.589124Appleton Papermakers6455.538119Racine Malted Milks6458.525122Twin Cities (Prairie du Sac/Sauk City)6159.508120Madison Senators5762.479119Rockford Wolves4871.403119Wausau Lumberjacks3982.322121
1922 to 1937
1922 season (Wis. State League)"Team Standings," Manitowoc Herald News, Sep. 18, 1922 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedManitowoc83.72711Green Bay74.63611Menasha66.50012Appleton210.16712
1923 season (Wis. State League)"Standings and Results as the Schedule Closes," Sheboygan Press Telegram, Sep. 24, 1923 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedSheboygan Chairmakers199.67928Neenah-Menasha Papermakers199.67928Appleton1711.60728Green Bay Bays1513.53628Kaukauna1414.50028Marinette-Menominee Twins1018.35728Oshkosh1018.35728Fond du Lac820.28628
1924 season (Wis. State League)"How They Stand," Appleton Post Crescent, Sep. 22, 1924 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedNeenah-Menasha82.80010Green Bay55.50010Appleton44.5008Sheboygan44.5008Oshkosh34.4298Fond du Lac26.2508
1925 season (Wis. State League)"Racine Here for a Final Clash Sunday," Sheboygan Press, Oct. 3, 1925 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedKenosha Twin Sixes3317.66050Beloit Fairies2421.53345Racine Athletics2428.46252Sheboygan Chairmakers2229.43151
1926 season (W-I League)"W-I Association Standings," Sheboygan Press, Oct. 1, 1926 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedSheboygan Chairmakers4821.69669Kenosha Twin Sixes4428.61172Beloit Fairies3222.59354Madison Blues2731.46658Racine Belles3038.44168Logan Squares (Chicago)1221.36433La Crosse Boosters925.26534
1927 season (W-I League)"Final Standings, Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press, Sep. 14, 1927 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedSheboygan Chairmakers3317.66050Beloit Fairies1717.50034Madison Blues1828.39146Kenosha Twin Sixers1328.31741Logan Squares (Chicago)134.76517
1928 season (Wis. State League)"Two Rivers Cop the Pennant of the Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press, Sep. 10, 1928 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedTwo Rivers Mirros2013.60633Sheboygan Chairmakers1915.55934Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)1715.53132Union Oils (Milwaukee)1616.50032Manitowoc Shipbuilders1419.42433Madison Blues1220.37532
1929 season (Wis. State League)"Team Standings," Racine Journal News, Sep. 3, 1929 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedTwo Rivers Mirros196.76025Sheboygan Chairmakers187.72025Union Oils (Milwaukee)1212.50024Manitowoc Shipbuilders1313.50026Kenosha Twin Sixes1214.46226Racine Belles1115.42326Madison Blues817.32025Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)817.32025
1930 season (Wis. State League)"Blues Win Pair, in Third Place" Capital Times, Sep. 2, 1930 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedRacine Belles186.75024Two Rivers Mirros159.62524Madison Blues1312.52025Manitowoc Shipbuilders1113.45824Sheboygan Chairmakers1114.44025Milwaukee Oils912.42924Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)914.39123Kenosha Twin Sixes814.36422
1931 season (Wis. State League)"Chairs Split with Mirros," Manitowoc Evening Times, Sep. 8, 1931 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedSheboygan Chairmakers154.78919Two Rivers Mirros108.55518Madison Blues119.55020Milwaukee810.44418Racine Belles316.15819
1932 season (W-I League)"W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal, Sep. 3, 1932 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedHarley Mills (Chicago)165.76221Madison Blues2110.67731Sheboygan Chairmakers1311.54224Duffy Florals (Chicago)1412.53826Chicago Firemen710.47417Milwaukee Red Sox1114.44025Logan Squares (Chicago)912.42921Colored All-Stars315.16718Colored Giants29.18211
1933 season (W-I League)"W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal, Dec. 31, 1933 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedMadison Blues3417.66751Harley Mills1810.65528Duffy Florals1814.56332Logan Squares1718.48635Aurora89.47117Spencer Coals712.36819Chicago Firemen615.28621Colored All-Stars416.20020
1934 season (Wis. State League) |+First half of the split season: TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedGreen Bay Green Sox71.8758Kaukauna53.6258Madison Blues43.5717Wisconsin Rapids35.3758Sheboygan Chairmakers89.47117Oshkosh Indians712.36819
|+Second half of the split season: TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedMadison Blues82.80010Wisconsin Rapids82.80010Green Bay Green Sox45.4449Sheboygan Chairmakers45.4449Oshkosh Indians37.30010Kaukauna28.20010 The Madison Blues won the tie-breaker from Wisconsin Rapids to meet Green Bay, the winner of the season's first half. Green Bay prevailed in the final three-game championship series.
1935 season (Wis. State League) |+First half of the split season:"Blues Romp to Victory Over Kaukauna,18-1," Wisconsin State Journal, July 1, 1935 TeamWinsLossesPct.Games playedMadison Blues82.80010Sheboygan Chairmakers82.80010Green Bay Green Sox55.50010Wisconsin Rapids55.50010Kaukauna37.30010Oshkosh Indians19.10010 After tying for title of the season's first half, Madison won the first two of a three-game championship series over Sheboygan.
|+Second half of the split season:"State League Standings (Second Half Final)," Wisconsin State Journal, Sep. 9, 1935