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.
History The first "Ohio State League" was a baseball league in 1887 before changing names to the Tri-State League. The Kalamazoo Kazoos won the first league championship. The league played in the 1889 and 1898 seasons.
The first 20th century Ohio State League started in 1908 as a class D loop and ran through 1916.
Another Ohio State League was formed in 1936 and ran through 1947 except for a break in '42-'43 due to World War II. In 1945, the OSL was one of just four class D circuits in operation, yet it was one of the first of dozens of leagues to collapse after World War II.
The class D Ohio–Indiana League was formed in 1948 with eight teams, with seven of the eight cities coming from the Ohio State League. Six teams made their home in Ohio and the remaining two where from Indiana. This league lasted through 1951.
The Portsmouth Cobblers won four Ohio State League championships.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Ed Delahanty played for the 1887 Mansfield team.
Cities represented
Akron, Ohio: Akron Acorns 1887, 1889 Canton, Ohio: Canton 1887, 1898 Charleston, West Virginia: Charleston Senators 1913–1916 Chillicothe, Ohio: Chillicothe Infants 1910–1912; Chillicothe Babes 1913–1916 Columbus, Ohio: Columbus Buckeyes 1887 Coshocton, Ohio: Coshocton 1898 Dayton, Ohio: Dayton Indians 1946–1947 Findlay, Ohio: Findlay Browns 1937–1938; Findlay Oilers (baseball) 1939–1940; Findlay Browns 1941 Fostoria, Ohio: Fostoria Cardinals 1936; Fostoria Red Birds 1937–1941 Frankfort, Kentucky: Frankfort Old Taylors 1915–1916 Fremont, Ohio: Fremont Reds 1936–1938; Fremont Green Sox 1938–1941 Hamilton, Ohio: Hamilton Mechanics 1911; Hamilton Maroons 1913 Huntington, West Virginia: Huntington Blue Sox 1913–1914 Huntington Boosters 1916 Ironton, Ohio: Ironton Orphans 1912; Ironton Nailers 1913–1915 Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1887 Lancaster, Ohio: Lancaster Lanks 1908–1911 Lexington, Kentucky: Lexington Colts 1913–1916 Lima, Ohio: Lima Cigarmakers 1908–1912; Lima Pandas 1939–1941; Lima Red Birds 1944; Lima Reds 1945; Lima Terriers 1946–1947 Mansfield, Ohio: Mansfield 1887; Mansfield Pioneers 1908–1909; Mansfield Brownies 1912; Mansfield Tigers 1936; Mansfield Red Sox 1937; Mansfield Braves 1939–1941 Marion, Ohio: Marion Diggers 1908–1912; Marion Presidents 1937; Marion Diggers 1944; Marion Cardinals 1945–1946; Marion Cubs Massillon, Ohio: Massillion 1898 Maysville, Kentucky: Maysville 1913–1914; Maysville Angels 1915; Maysville Burley Cubs 1916 Middletown, Ohio: Middletown Red Sox 1944; Middletown Rockets 1945–1946 Muncie, Indiana: Muncie Reds 1947 Newark, Ohio: Newark 1889; Newark Newks 1908–1911; Newark Skeeters 1912; Newark Moundsmen 1944–1947 Newport, Kentucky: Newport Brewers 1914 New Philadelphia, Ohio: New Philadelphia Red Birds 1936 Paris, Kentucky: Paris 1914 Piqua, Ohio: Piqua Picks 1911 Portsmouth, Ohio: Portsmouth Cobblers 1908–1915; Portsmouth Truckers (1916) Richmond, Indiana: Richmond Roses 1946–1947 Salem, Ohio: Salem 1898 Sandusky, Ohio: Sandusky Suds 1887; Sandusky Sailors 1936–1937 Springfield, Ohio: Springfield Reapers 1908, 1911; Springfield Giants 1944–1947 Steubenville, Ohio: Steubenville Stubs 1887 Tiffin, Ohio: Tiffin 1889; Tiffin Mud Hens 1936–1941 Wheeling, West Virginia: Wheeling 1887; Wheeling Nailers 1898 Youngstown, Ohio: Youngstown 1889 Zanesville, Ohio: Zanesville Kickapoos 1887; Zanesville Clay Diggers 1898; Zanesville Dodgers 1944–1947
Standings & statistics 1887, 1889, 1898
1887 Ohio State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersKalamazoo Kazoos7334.682 - Al BuckenbergerZanesville Kickapoos5846.55813½Patrick Welsh / Pete McShannicWheeling5348.52517 Jack Cronin / William English / Tom Nicholson / Henry MyersSandusky Suds 5349.52017½ George CurryColumbus Buckeyes 5055.47622 W.A.Calhoun / John Morrissey / Jim Gifford / Buck WestMansfield4656.45124½Sandy McDermott / Bob Allen / Frank O'BrienCanton2214.611NA H.H. Kerr / William Zecher Akron Acorns 3260.348NA A.B. Showers / Charlie Morton / Sandy McDermott / Bill IrwinSteubenville Stubs 934.209NAParson Nicholson / Pete Woods / Jimmy Wood Steubenville disbanded June 29; Canton entered the league August 4; Akron disbanded September 3.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotEd HutchinsonColumbusBA.395Mother WatsonKalamazooW29 Ed Stapleton Kalamazoo Runs121 Bill IrwinAkron/KalamazooSO283 John Crogan WheelingHits184Mother WatsonKalamazooPct763: 29–9 Ed Stapleton KalamazooHR12
1889 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Akron Akrons179.654-Harry Roberts / Charles Pike Youngstown1314.4814½ Harry Smith Newark 811.421NA Joe Somers Tiffin 812.400NATom Cahill / Son Lease Newark disbanded September 16; Tiffin disbanded September 18
1898 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Canton108.556-John Durham Massilllon65.545½ Frank Vogt / Ray MarkelZanesville Clay Diggers33.5001 Charley Jewell Wheeling Nailers89.4711½ Joseph Starr Salem48.3333 D.R. Gannon Coshocton 86.571NA C.F. Prince Zanesville entered the league May 30; Coshocton disbanded June 2 League disbanded June 5 due to poor weather and Sunday baseball restrictions
1908 to 1916 1908 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersLancaster Red Roses9257.617 - Kurt Ellston / Paddy FoxLima Cigarmakers8067.54411 Nick Kahl / Jim JacksonMarion Diggers7871.52314 Charles O'Day Mansfield Pioneers 7673.51016 Cal McVey / Tim FloodNewark Newks 7475.49718 Bob Berryhill / Harry EellsSpringfield Reapers / Portsmouth Cobblers 46103.30946.0 Ed Ranskick / John Quinn Springfield moved to Portsmouth June 16.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotHughie TateMarionBA.320Kirby WhiteLancasterW28Hughie TateMarion Hits169 Walt JustisLancasterSO293Curly BrownLancasterRuns103Charlie PickettLimaPct700: 21–9Frank FoutzLimaHR12Jim RileyLimaSB80
1909 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersLima Cigarmakers7950.612 - Lee FohlMarion Diggers7159.5468½ Charles O'Day / Jack LewisMansfield Pioneers6358.52112 Tim FloodPortsmouth Cobblers 4876.38728½ William Doyle / Jack McCallister / Charles O'Day Lancaster Lanks 5353.500NAPaddy FoxNewark Newks 4664.418NAHomer Davidson / Erve Wratten Newark and Lancaster both disbanded August 23.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Red Farrell MarionBA.316Ed ZmichMarionW21Joe StanleyMarion Hits142 Andy NelsonLimaPct.800; 8–2 Charles Fink LimaRuns91Ed WillettMarionHR6
1910 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersPortsmouth Cobblers8652.623 - Pete ChildsLima Cigarmakers8256.5944 Alfred Newnham Marion Diggers8058.5806 Jack LewisNewark Newks 5880.42028 Bob Berryhill / Charles Riehl / Hank O'DayLancaster Lanks 5582.40130½ Al McClintock / Guy Sample / Heinie PeitzChillicothe Infants 5285.38033½Goat Cochran / Harvey Grubb / Louis Kibler / Zeke Wrigley
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotHank O'DayPortsmouthBA.324Ted GoulaitMarionW24Dick BreenPortsmouth Hits151 John Henry LloydLimaPct.769; 10–3Dick BreenPortsmouthRuns88Frank NesserLimaHR6
1911 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersSpringfield Reapers8455.604 - Charley O'DayMarion Diggers8059.5764 Jack LewisPortsmouth Cobblers7861.5616 Pete ChildsChillicothe Infants 7862.5576½ Zeke WrigleyNewark Newks/Piqua Picks7265.52611 Alfred Newnham Lima Cigarmakers 6277.44622 Frank NesserLancaster Lanks5384.38730 Charles Riehl / Gus Epler Hamilton Mechanics4892.34336½ James Barton Newark moved to Piqua June 22.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotBert BlueNewark/PiquaBA.347Roy AshenfelderHamil/SpringW24Bert BlueNewark/Piqua Hits176 H. McCall MarionPct.800; 8–2W. ColliganMarionRuns119Billy KellyMarionHR12
1912 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersPortsmouth Cobblers8152.609 - Pete ChildsMansfield Brownies7267.51812 Barry McCormick / Walter East / Ted EasterlyNewark Skeeters7068.50713½John Grim / Billy Murray / Barry McCormickMarion Diggers / Ironton Orphans 6572.47418 Fred Johnston / Fred Odwell / Charley Moore Lima Cigarmakers6473.46719 Zeke WrigleyChillicothe Infants 5777.42524½Jack Ryan / Jesse Tannehill / Alfred Newnham Marion moved to Ironton July 15.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotWaldo JackleyMar/IronBA.357George BoehlerNewarkW27Frank NesserLima Hits170 Sandy BurkMar/IronPct.769; 20–6 John Shovelin NewarkRuns80 Waldo Jackley Mar/IronHR11
1913 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersChillicothe Babes8349.629 - Alfred Newnham Charleston Senators8450.627-Buzz WetzelPortsmouth Cobblers8355.6013 Pete ChildsHuntington Blue Sox6868.50017 Sam Wright / S. Redman Lexington Colts6870.48318 Bill Reynolds / W. McKernan / Rex DawsonIronton Nailers 6375.45623 Al McClintock / Archie Osborn Hamilton Maroons5579.44129 Zeke WrigleyMaysville Angels3896.28446 George Moore
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotCarl RayCharlestonBA.366Ed DonaldsPortsmouthW30John BagganPortsmouth Runs105 Ed DonaldsPortsmouthPct.789; 30–8Frank NesserChillicotheHits178Carl RayCharlestonHR33
1914 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersPortsmouth Cobblers8653.723 - Pete ChildsCharleston Senators7962.5608 Buzz Wetzel / Biddy BeersChillicothe Babes7364.53312 Alfred Newnham Lexington Colts6668.49317½ Howard GuynIronton Nailers3533.514NADick SmithHuntington Blue Sox 3947.453NAJohn Siegle / Nixey CallahanMaysville Angels 3051.370NAHarry Chapman / Ray Montgomery Newport-Paris 1949.279NAFred Applegate / Red MunsonIronton disbanded July 5; Newport-Paris disbanded July 5; Huntington and Maysville both disbanded July 22.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Wilbur Crouch Lexing/PortsBA.327 Abel ApplegateCharlestonW22John BagganPortsmouth Runs116 Paul CarterPortsmouthW22John BagganPortsmouthHits182Ernie CalbertHunting/CharlesHR17
1915 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersPortsmouth Cobblers7142.628 - Chet SpencerLexington Colts6348.5687 Howard Guyn Chillicothe Babes / Huntington Babes / Maysville Angels 5855.51313 Josh DevoreCharleston Senators5863.47917 Biddy BeersFrankfort Old Taylors4565.40924½Pat Bohen / Jack HaydenIronton Nailers4769.40525½ Dick Smith Chillicothe moved to Huntington July 13; Huntington moved to Maysville July 19. Playoff: Portsmouth 4 games, Maysville 1.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotRalph SharmanPortsmouthBA.374 Hubert Test PortsmouthW21 Pickles Dillhoefer Portsmouth Runs83 Howard McGranerChil/HuntPct.800: 12–3Ralph SharmanPortsmouthHits147 Ernie Calbert IrontonHR13
1916 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersPortsmouth Truckers4719.712 - Chet SpencerCharleston Senators / Chillicothe Babes 2935.45317 Bill PowellMaysville Burley Cubs2636.41919 Jimmy JonesFrankfort Old Taylors 2435.407NA Howard "Ducky" HolmesHuntington Blue Sox 2238.367NACharlie DeArmond /Ezra MidkiffLexington Colts3924.619NA Howard Guyn Huntington & Frankfort disbanded July 16; Charleston moved to Chillicothe July 13; Lexington disbanded July 16 The league disbanded July 19.
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Stewart DiltsPortsmouthBA.420John Ferguson PortsmouthW12[ Stewart Dilts Portsmouth Runs57 Paul CarpenterChil/CharlSO95 Stewart Dilts PortsmouthHits95 Rube Lindholm FrankfortHR6
1936 to 1941
1936 Ohio State League Team standingsWLPCTGBManagersTiffin Mud Hens6035.635 - Myles ThomasSandusky Sailors5147.52010½Chappie GeyganFostoria Cardinals 4550.47415 Harry Aldrick / George SilveyFremont Reds4256.42919½ Marty PurtellNew Philadelphia Red Birds 26.250NAGeorge SilveyMansfield Tigers 28.200NA Jack OrrMansfield and New Philadelphia both disbanded May 26.