The Mountain State League was a minor league baseball league that played as a six–team league from 1937 to 1942. The league franchises were based in Kentucky and West Virginia. The Mountain State League was a Class D level league from 1937 to 1941 and Class C league in 1942.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Stan Musial played in the league for two seasons, as a member of the 1938 and 1939 Williamson Colts.
Cities represented Ashland, Kentucky: Ashland Colonels 1939–1942 Beckley, West Virginia: Beckley Bengals 1937–1938 Bluefield, West Virginia: Bluefield Blue–Grays 1937–1942 Huntington, West Virginia: Huntington Boosters 1937; Huntington Bees 1938; Huntington Boosters 1939; Huntington Aces 1940–1941; Huntington Jewels 1942 Logan, West Virginia: Logan Indians 1937–1942 Welch, West Virginia: Welch Miners 1937–1942 Williamson, West Virginia: Williamson Colts 1937–1938; Williamson Red Birds 1939–1942
Standings & statistics 1937 Mountain State League The Mountain State League began play in 1937 with six charter teams: the Beckley Bengals, based in Beckley, West Virginia; the Welch Miners, based in Welch, West Virginia; the Williamson Colts, based in Williamson, West Virginia; the Bluefield Blue–Grays, based in Bluefield, West Virginia; the Logan Indians based in Logan, West Virginia and the Huntington Boosters, based in Huntington, West Virginia. The Boosters withdrew from the league on August 1.
The league originally began with a split–season format, which was eventually abandoned on August 24.
The Beckley Bengals finished first in the regular season and won the league championship.
Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Beckley Bengals6836.654–Eli Harris Welch Miners5943.5788 Eddie Krajnik Williamson Colts 5446.54012 Nat Hickey Bluefield Blue–Grays4946.51614½Ernie Powell Logan Indians3761.37828Bert Grimm Huntington Boosters 2358.284NAJoe Watson / Paul Ryan / Mike Broski / Doc Pricer Huntington withdrew August 1; Welch withdrew September 3 during the playoff series with Williamson; Williamson withdrew September 6 during the finals. Playoffs: Beckley, bye; Welch 2 games, Bluefield 0; Williamson 2 games, Logan 0; Williamson 1 game, Welch 0 Finals: Beckley 2 games, Williamson 0.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Earl Martin BeckleyBA.400Charlie BowlesBeckleyW16 Raleigh Singleton BeckleyRuns113 Dixie Howell LoganSO153 Stan Arnzen WelchHits150 Ed SchumacherBeckleyERA2.70 Earl Martin BeckleyRBI96 Joseph Petrich WelchPCT.731 19–7 Larry Steinbeck BeckleyHR20
1938 Mountain State League All the teams from 1937 returned to the league in 1938. Huntington became known as the Huntington Bees.
The Logan Indians finished first in the regular season. However, they lost in the league finals to the Beckley Bengals, who repeated as league champions.
Stan Musial played for the Williamson Colts in 1938.
Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Logan Indians7246.610–Eddie HockBeckley Bengals6152.5408½Eli HarrisWilliamson Colts5860.49214 Nat HickeyWelch Miners5664.46717 Eddie Krajnik / Charles Bowie / Carlos Ratliff Bluefield Blue–Grays5564.46217½ Earl SmithHuntington Bees 5066.43121 Dickie Kerr Playoffs: Logan 3 games, Williamson 2; Beckley 2 games, Welch 0. Finals: Beckley 3 games, Logan 2.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Moe FranklinBeckleyBA.439 Earl Brinegar WelchW18 Raleigh Singleton BeckleyRuns128 John Gorszyca BeckleyW18 Garfield Ganoe BluefieldHits170 Vern Kohler LoganSO216 Walter Sessi WilliamsonRBI126 Vern Kohler LoganERA2.24 Moe FranklinBeckleyHR26 Frank MahonHuntingtonCG25 Vern Kohler LoganPCT.900 18–2
1939 Mountain State League 1939 saw a few changes to the league. The Williamson Colts became the Williamson Red Birds, while the Huntington Bees became the Huntington Boosters again. The Beckley Bengals were replaced by the Ashland Colonels, based in Ashland, Kentucky.
The Williamson Red Birds finished first in the regular season. Williamson was defeated in the playoff finals by the Bluefield Blue–Grays.
Stan Musial played for the Williamson Red Birds in 1939.
Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Williamson Red Birds7651.598–Harrison WickelWelch Miners7257.5585 Sam GrayHuntington Boosters 6661.52010 Mike Powers Bluefield Blue–Grays6564.50412 Vic SorrellLogan Indians5575.42322½Eddie HockAshland Colonels 5278.40025½Harold Conn / Ray French Playoffs: Williamson 2 games, Huntington 1; Bluefield 2 games, Welch 0. Finals: Bluefield 3 games, Williamson 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Bill Shewey WilliamsonBA.376 Howard Smith WilliamsonW19 John Streza WilliamsonRuns127Russ MeersHuntingtonSO297 John Streza WilliamsonHits185Sam GrayWelchERA3.03 Harrison WickelWilliamsonRBI142 Howard Smith WilliamsonPCT.731 19–7 Edison Guinther LoganHR26
1940 Mountain State League For the 1940 season, the Huntington Boosters became the Huntington Aces. The Williamson Red Birds finished first in the regular season and won the league championship.
Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Williamson Red Birds7645.628–Harrison WickelLogan Indians7551.5953½Eddie Hock Bluefield Blue–Grays6551.5608½Vic SorrellWelch Miners6362.50415Tex Stuart / Roy Hall Ashland Colonels5571.43723½Tommy Thevenow / Ray FrenchHuntington Aces 3387.27542½Pee Wee Wanninger / Russ Young / Ezra Midkiff Playoffs: Logan 2 games, Welch 0; Williamson 2 games, Bluefield 0. Finals: Williamson 3 games, Logan 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Worthington Day AshlandBA.363 Harold Sharp WilliamsonW18 Bill Shewey WilliamsonRuns134 Joe Pennington LoganW18 Worthington Day AshlandHits178Vern BickfordWelchSo1.63 Tennis Mounts LoganHits178 Tom Triner WelchERA2.76 Buck EtchisonWelchRBI132 Ernie Peters WilliamsonPCT.773 17–5 Stan WentzelLoganHR26
1941 Mountain State League The league played its final season as a Class D level league in 1941. All teams from 1940 returned. The Logan Indians finished first in the regular season and won the league championship.
Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Logan Indians8048.625–Eddie HockWilliamson Red Birds7750.6062½Harrison WickelBluefield Blue–Grays6461.51214½Bill AverettWelch Miners6462.50815 Fred Neisler Ashland Colonels5376.41127½Ray French / Charley CarmanHuntington Aces 4384.33936½Fred Blake / Robert Larsen Playoffs: Logan 2 games, Bluefield 1; Welch 2 games, Williamson 0. Finals: Logan 4 games, Welch 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Don Smith HuntingtonBA.406 Joe Pennington LoganW21 Ray King WilliamsonRuns132 Joe Pennington LoganSO229 Don Smith HuntingtonHits191 Ed Burtschy AshlandERA2.46 Harrison WickelWilliamsonRBI147 Joe Pennington LoganPCT.778 21–6 Tennis Mounts LoganHR24
1942 Mountain State League The league was a Class C level league in 1942. The Huntington team became the Huntington Jewels. Huntington finished first in the regular season and lost to the Ashland Colonels in the league finals.
Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Huntington Jewels8242.661–Charles Lucas / Arthur SchareinWelch Miners6755.54914 Don Manno Williamson Red Birds 6658.53216 Ollie Vanek / Jack AngleAshland Colonels6067.47223½Eddie Hock Bluefield Blue–Grays5569.44327 Johnny Gooch / Charley CarmanLogan Indians 4079.33539½Grover Hartley / Charles Hoffman / Ray Ryan Playoffs: Ashland 2 games, Williamson 0; Huntington 2 games, Welch 1. Finals: Ashland 4 games, Huntington 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Don MannoWelchBA.381Robert Peterson HuntingtonW17 Don MannoWelchRuns136Ribs RaneyHuntingtonW17 Don MannoWelchHits174Ribs RaneyHuntingtonSO146 Kenneth Wood HuntingtonRBI126 Robert PetersonHuntingtonPct.810 17–4 Don MannoWelchHR34
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