The South Carolina League, also known as the South Carolina State League, was a minor league baseball league that played from 1906 to 1908. The Class D level South Carolina League consisted entirely of franchises based in South Carolina for its three seasons of play. The Sumter Gamecocks won league championships in 1907 and 1908.
History The South Carolina League formed for the first time in the 1906 season as a six–team Class D level minor league. The 1906 charter league member teams were Camden, the Darlington Fiddlers, Georgetown, Manning, the Orangeburg Cotton Pickers and Sumter Gamecocks. The final 1906 South Carolina League records and standings are unknown.
In 1907, the Class D level South Carolina League continued as a six–team league under league president Mendel L. Smith, beginning play on May 20, 1907. The league added the Anderson Electricians, Greenville Mountaineers and Spartanburg Spartans as new franchises. On July 27, 1907, Darlington moved to Florence and the Anderson and Greenville franchises both folded. Completing the 1907 season with four teams, the Sumter Game Cocks won the league championship with a 44–23 record. Sumner finished ahead of the Orangeburg Cotton Pickers (42–25), Spartanburg Spartans (36–24) and Darlington/Florence Fiddlers (23–45) in the standings and were champions as the league held no playoffs.
In 1908, the South Carolina League played their final season as a four–team Class D level league, beginning play on May 4, 1908. The Sumter Gamecocks defended their title, posting a 41–27 regular season record, as the league held no playoffs. Sumter was followed by the Chester Collegians (40–30), Rock Hill Catawbas (28–40) and Orangeburg Edistoes (27–39). The South Carolina permanently folded following the 1908 season.
South Carolina League teams Team name(s)City representedBallparkYear(s) activeAnderson ElectriciansAnderson, South CarolinaUnknown CamdenCamden, South CarolinaUnknown Chester CollegiansChester, South CarolinaFairgrounds BallparkDarlington FiddlersDarlington, South CarolinaUnknown to Florence Fiddlers Florence, South CarolinaUnknownGeorgetownGeorgetown, South CarolinaUnknownGreenville EdistoesGreenville, South CarolinaFurman ParkManningManning, South CarolinaUnknownOrangeburg Cotton PickersOrangeburg, South CarolinaUnknown to Rock Hill CatawbasRock Hill, South CarolinaUnknown Spartanburg SpartansSpartanburg, South CarolinaUnknown Sumter GamecocksSumter, South CarolinaUnknown to
Standings & statistics 1906 to 1908 1906 South Carolina League Standings and statistics not available
1907 South Carolina League Team nameWLPCTGBManagers Sumter Gamecocks4423.657 – Guy Gunter Orangeburg Cotton Pickers4225.6272 J.P. Doyle Spartanburg Spartans3634.5149½ J.W. McMakin Darlington Fiddlers/Florence Fiddlers2345.33821½ Crese Heismann /Clyde Russell / Schmitz Greenville Edistoes2528.472NATom Stouch Anderson Electricians2136.368NABagwell
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot J.C. Watson SpartanburgBA.327 Sam Lansford OrangeburgW18 Ralph McLaurinSumter Hits88 Sam Lansford OrangeburgPct..783; 18–5 Walter Rikard OrangeburgSB37
1908 South Carolina League Team nameWLPCTGBManagers Sumter Gamecocks4127.603 – Frank Dingle Chester Collegians4030.5712 H.P. Caldwell Rock Hill Catawbas2840.41213 Guy GunterOrangeburg Cotton Pickers2739.40913 J.P. DoyleRoy Miller / Ed Sawyer
+Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot L. B. Simmons OrangeburgBA.354 Bill Temple ChesterW15 Fred Prim Orangeburg/Chester Hits69 Elmer Long SumterPCT.750 9–3 L. C. Drake ChesterRuns38
References