The Empire State League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1905 to 1907. The 14 different league franchises were based exclusively in New York (state). The league name was succeeded by the 1913 Empire State League based in Georgia and Empire State League (1987) based in New York (state).
History On March 22, 1905, the Empire State League was formed at a meeting held in Syracuse, New York. The teams were selected and R.C. Mayor of Rome was elected secretary and treasurer. Salaries were set at $600.00 per month for each team.
The 1905 Empire State League began play as an eight–team independent league on May 26, 1905. Seneca Falls won the championship with a 42–26 record and several teams folded or relocated during the 1905 season.
In 1906, the Empire State League reduced to six teams, beginning the season on May 26, 1906, and becoming a Class D level minor league. With a record of 48–26, Seneca Falls again won the championship.
In its final season of play, the 1907 Empire State League continued play as a six–team Class D level league and crowned a new champion. The Oswego Starchmakers finished 1.0 game ahead of second place Seneca Falls to win the league championship.
M.T. Roche served as president of the Empire State League for all three seasons of play.
Cities represented Auburn, NY: Auburn 1906–1907 Canandaigua, NY: Canandaigua 1905 Cortland, NY: Cortland 1905 Fulton, NY: Fulton 1905–1907 Geneva, NY: Geneva 1905–1907 Ilion, NY: Ilion 1905 Lyons, NY: Lyons 1905, 1907 Oneida, NY: Oneida 1905 Oswego, NY: Oswego Starchmakers 1905–1907 Palmyra, NY: Palmyra 1905 Penn Yan, NY: Penn Yan 1906 Rome, NY: Rome 1905 Seneca Falls, NY: Seneca Falls 1905–1907 Syracuse, NY: Syracuse 1906
Standings & statistics 1905 Empire State League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Seneca Falls4226.618- Larry Sutton / J. Doyle Palmyra /Geneva 3322.6002½ Bade Myers / George WilliamsRome4130.5772½ NALyons3135.47010 Jay Faatz Oswego Starchmakers3244.42114 NAIlion /Fulton 2039.33922½ NAOneida 2213.629NA Flanagan Canandaigua 1119.367NA NACortland 0000.000 NA NA Palmyra moved to Geneva in June; Ilion moved to Fulton July 10; Cortland disbanded July 18 (record unknown); Oneida disbanded July 25; Canandaigua disbanded July 27.
1906 Empire State Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Seneca Falls4832.600- Edward McGuire Geneva4732.595 ½ John Murray Auburn3735.5147 Willard Hoagland Oswego Starchmakers4038.5137 Larry Sutton / William Mackey Fulton3045.40015½ John Stevenson Penn Yan /Syracuse 2040.33318 Manion / John O'Neil Penn Yan (20–40) moved to Syracuse August 23; Syracuse folded before playing a game.
1907 Empire State Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Oswego Starchmakers5529.655- Chauncer Elliot Seneca Falls5632.6361 T.C. Doyle Auburn4439.53010½ Willard Hoagland Fulton4342.50612½ John Stevenson Geneva3451.40021½ John Murray Lyons2564.28132½ J.M. Flynn
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