The Maine State League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played in the 1897, 1907 and 1908 seasons. The eight–team Maine State League consisted of teams based in Maine and New Hampshire. The Maine State League permanently folded after the 1908 season. The Portland (1897), Bangor Cubs (1907) and Bangor White Sox (1908) teams won league championships.
History An Independent league called the Maine State League briefly played in the 1897 season as a six–team league, beginning play on May 20, 1897. After the Augusta team disbanded on June 26, 1897 and the Rockland team disbanded on July 1, 1897, the league folded on July 5, 1897. The six teams were the Augusta Kennebecs (14–8), Bangor Millionaires (12–19), Belfast Pastimes (10–16), Lewiston (15–14), Portland (21–6) and Rockland (10–19).
The Maine State League was formed for the 1907 season as an eight–team Class D level minor league under the direction of president Fred K. Owen. The Maine State League began play in the 1907 season, hosting franchises from Augusta, Maine (Augusta Senators), Bangor, Maine (Bangor Cubs), Biddeford, Maine (Biddeford Orphans), Lewiston, Maine (Lewiston), Manchester, New Hampshire (Manchester), Portland, Maine (Pine Tree Capers), a second team in Portland (Portland Blue Sox) and Waterville, Maine (Waterville).
The 1907 Maine State League began play on May 24, 1907. The league lost several franchises before the season concluded. Both Manchester and Waterville folded in June, Manchester with a 1–7 record and Waterville with an 8–14 record. The Augusta franchise disbanded on July 29, 1907, with a 27–28 record. Lewiston was 24–24 when that franchise folded on August 3, 1907.
With four teams remaining, the Bangor Cubs won the 1907 Maine State League Championship, finishing with a 47–31 final record, as the league held no playoffs. The Bangor Cubs were followed in the standings by the Biddeford Orphans (30–27), Portland Blue Sox (39-41) and Pine Tree Capers (27–32) in the 1907 standings. The Augusta Senators (27–28), Lewiston (24–23), Manchester (1–7) and Waterville (8–14) all folded before the completion of the season.
Returning to play in what ultimately was their final season of 1908, the Maine State League was a six–team league, maintaining the Class D level. Augusta, the Bangor White Sox, Biddeford, and the Portland Blue Sox comprised the 1908 league members who finished the 1908 season, as Pine Tree and York Beach disbanded during the season.
The Maine State League began play on June 10, 1908. Lewiston moved to Augusta after twelve games. Pine Tree (15–13) and York Beach (10–15) both disbanded on July 19, 1908. When Portland withdrew on August 28, 1908, the Maine State League permanently folded. The Portland Blue Sox were in 1st place with a 32–20 record when disbanding. Portland finished ahead of the Bangor White Sox (31–22), Lewiston/Augusta (20–26) and Biddeford (18–30) in the standings. However, since Portland folded, Bangor was awarded the 1908 Maine State League championship.
Maine State League teams Team nameCity representedBallparkYear(s) activeAugusta Kennebecs (1897)Augusta Senators (1907–1908)Augusta, MaineAugusta Driving Park, to Bangor Millionaires (1897)Bangor Cubs (1907) Bangor White Sox (1908)Bangor, MaineMaplewood Park, to Belfast PastimesBelfast, MaineUnknownBiddeford OrphansBiddeford, MaineWaterhouse FieldSt. Louis Field to LewistonLewiston, MaineAAA Park, to ManchesterManchester, New HampshireUnknownPine Tree CapersPortland, MaineBack Cove Park to Portland (1897)Portland Blue Sox (1907–1908)Portland, MaineBack Cove Park, to RocklandRockland, MaineUnknown WatervilleWaterville, MaineColby CollegeYork BeachYork Beach, MaineUnknown
Standings and statistics 1897 Maine State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Portland216.778–NALewiston1514.5177 NABangor Millionaires1219.38711 Jack SharrottBelfast Pastimes1016.38510½ NARockland1019.34512 NAAugusta Kennebecs148.636NA NA
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat Tot HillBelfastBA.408 DolanLewistonRuns27 Jim CallopyHillPortland / BelfastHits31
1907 Maine State League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersBangor Cubs4731.603– Fred Paige / Happy IottBiddleford Orphans3027.5266½ Charlie Allen / John GuineyPortland Blue Sox4952.4859 Charlie RobinsonPine Tree Cappers3742.45810½ Pop WilliamsAugusta Senators2728.491NAPaul WreathLewiston2423.511NAHealdWaterville814.364NAGeorge BoardmanManchester17.125NAPhenomenal Smith / Conner
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Cuke BarrowsPortlandBA.351Billy GleasonBangorW16 Cuke BarrowsPortlandRuns59Zilma Dwinal BiddefordSO130 Cuke BarrowsPortlandHits97CollinsBangorPCT.900 9–1 RoperPortlandHR7 RoperPortlandSB28
1908 Maine State League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersPortland Blue Sox3220.6015– F. DriscollBangor White Sox3122.5851½ Happy IottLewiston/Augusta2026.4359 Michael McDonoughBiddeford1830.37512 Charlie AllenPine Tree1513.536NAPop WilliamsYork Beach1015.400NANA
References
External links Maine State League -Baseball Reference