Michigan Minor League MapsMichigan Minor League Maps

A Geographic History of Michigan’s Minor Leagues and A Geographic History of Michigan’s Minor Leagues and Minor League TeamsMinor League Teams

January 30, 2010January 30, 2010Ken Cherven, SABR Detroit ChapterKen Cherven, SABR Detroit Chapter

OverviewOverview

► Michigan has a long history of minor leagues, with teams Michigan has a long history of minor leagues, with teams covering much of the state at some point over the last 130 covering much of the state at some point over the last 130 yearsyears

► Many of the leagues (and teams) were short-lived, often Many of the leagues (and teams) were short-lived, often surviving just one or two seasonssurviving just one or two seasons

► Several of the leagues have crossed state and even national Several of the leagues have crossed state and even national borders, and included teams from Ontario, Ohio, and borders, and included teams from Ontario, Ohio, and Indiana, among othersIndiana, among others

► For the most part, the leagues have been at the low minors For the most part, the leagues have been at the low minors level – primarily Class D teams in the first part of the 20level – primarily Class D teams in the first part of the 20thth century, a tradition that continues with both Class A and century, a tradition that continues with both Class A and Independent teams in the early years of the 21st centuryIndependent teams in the early years of the 21st century

Where Was Minor League Ball Played?Where Was Minor League Ball Played?

Activity Maps by DecadeActivity Maps by Decade

The 1880s-1890sThe 1880s-1890s

The 1900sThe 1900s

The 1910sThe 1910s

The 1920sThe 1920s

The 1930s-1950sThe 1930s-1950s

The 1960s-1980sThe 1960s-1980s

The 1990s-2000sThe 1990s-2000s

Viewing the Leagues Using Google EarthViewing the Leagues Using Google Earth

► We can use Google Earth to view any and all of the We can use Google Earth to view any and all of the Michigan minor league team locationsMichigan minor league team locations

► Teams can be further identified using unique colors and Teams can be further identified using unique colors and symbols based on league affiliation and levelsymbols based on league affiliation and level

► Additional information can be added to the team locations Additional information can be added to the team locations information – actual park location, ballpark names, information – actual park location, ballpark names, ownership information, etc.ownership information, etc.

► Using season ranges allows us to create a video depiction Using season ranges allows us to create a video depiction of the changes over time for one or more of the leagues, of the changes over time for one or more of the leagues, providing an interactive timeline of minor league history providing an interactive timeline of minor league history within Michigan: within Michigan: Michigan Minors MapMichigan Minors Map

League FootprintsLeague Footprints

Maps of Michigan-based Teams by League in Maps of Michigan-based Teams by League in Chronological OrderChronological Order

Independents (1883, 1898)Independents (1883, 1898)

► Two 19Two 19thth Century Century independent teams independent teams were among the were among the earliest minor league earliest minor league teams in Michigan – teams in Michigan – Port Huron in 1883 Port Huron in 1883 and Muskegon in and Muskegon in 18981898

Port Huron

Muskegon

Upper Peninsula League (1890-91, 1895 Upper Peninsula League (1890-91, 1895 Independent and No Classification)Independent and No Classification)

► Several teams in Several teams in close geographic close geographic proximity competed proximity competed in the Upper in the Upper Peninsula League Peninsula League prior to the end of prior to the end of the 19the 19thth Century Century

IshpemingNegaunee

HancockCalumet Red Jackets

Houghton

Northwestern League (1891 No Classification)Northwestern League (1891 No Classification)

► The Northwestern The Northwestern League had three League had three Michigan teams for a Michigan teams for a single season in 1891single season in 1891

Bay City

Grand Rapids ShamrocksDetroit Wolverines

Wisconsin-Michigan League (1892 No Wisconsin-Michigan League (1892 No Classification)Classification)

► The small towns of The small towns of Ishpeming and Ishpeming and Negaunee shared a Negaunee shared a team in the team in the Wisconsin-Michigan Wisconsin-Michigan leagueleague

Ishpeming/Negaunee Unions

Michigan State League (1895 Class B)Michigan State League (1895 Class B)

► The Michigan State The Michigan State League had multiple League had multiple iterations, with the iterations, with the first group of teams first group of teams commencing play in commencing play in 18951895

Adrian Reformers/Demons

Lansing Senators

Kalamazoo Celery Eaters/Kazoos, Zooloos

Jackson Jaxons

Battle Creek Adventists

Port HuronMarines

Owosso Colts

Michigan State League (1897 Class D)Michigan State League (1897 Class D)

► The Michigan State The Michigan State League played as a League played as a Class D league in Class D league in 1897, with six teams 1897, with six teams primarily in the primarily in the central and eastern central and eastern portions of the lower portions of the lower peninsulapeninsula

Saginaw Lumberman

Lansing Senators

Kalamazoo/Flint

Jackson Jaxons

Port HuronMarines

Owosso Colts

Western League (1895-1899, 1901 Class A)Western League (1895-1899, 1901 Class A)

► The Western League The Western League showcased teams in showcased teams in Michigan’s two Michigan’s two largest markets for largest markets for several seasons at several seasons at the turn of the 20the turn of the 20thth CenturyCentury

Grand RapidsGold Bugs/Rippers/Bob O Links Detroit Tigers

Interstate League (1896, 1898-99 Class C/B)Interstate League (1896, 1898-99 Class C/B)

► Saginaw and Jackson Saginaw and Jackson fielded teams in fielded teams in 1896, followed by 1896, followed by Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids in 1898-99 in the short-1898-99 in the short-lived Interstate lived Interstate LeagueLeague

SaginawLumbermen

Jackson Wolverines

Grand RapidsCabinetmakers/Furnituremakers

International League (1898-99 No Classification)International League (1898-99 No Classification)

► Another short-lived Another short-lived league at the close of league at the close of the 19the 19thth Century, the Century, the International League International League fielded three fielded three Michigan teams in Michigan teams in 1898, with Port 1898, with Port Huron playing on Huron playing on through 1899through 1899

Port HuronTigers

Saginaw Braves

Bay CitySugar Citys

American League (1900 Class A)American League (1900 Class A)

► Minor league baseball Minor league baseball was played in Detroit was played in Detroit for the 1900 season for the 1900 season as the Tigers moved as the Tigers moved from the Western from the Western League to the League to the American LeagueAmerican League

Detroit Tigers

Western Association (1901 Class A)Western Association (1901 Class A)

► Grand Rapids Grand Rapids provided the only provided the only Michigan location in Michigan location in the Western the Western Association for 1901Association for 1901

Grand RapidsFurnituremakers

Michigan State League (1902 Class D)Michigan State League (1902 Class D)

► Six teams competed Six teams competed in the Michigan State in the Michigan State League in 1902, League in 1902, covering much of covering much of southern Michigansouthern Michigan Lansing Senators

Flint

Saginaw/JacksonWhite Sox

Grand Rapids Colts

Battle Creek Cero Frutos

Muskegon Reds

Central League (1903-17)Central League (1903-17)

Grand RapidsOrphans et al

Muskegon Reds/Daniels/Muskies

► The Central League’s The Central League’s initial Michigan initial Michigan presence was in presence was in Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids in 1903, with Muskegon 1903, with Muskegon added in 1916added in 1916

Copper Country Soo League (1905, Class D)Copper Country Soo League (1905, Class D)

► The Copper Country The Copper Country Soo League lasted for Soo League lasted for a single season in the a single season in the early 20early 20thth Century, Century, one of several one of several leagues to play in leagues to play in Michigan’s upper Michigan’s upper peninsulapeninsula

Calumet AristocratsLake Linden LakersHancock Infants

Sault Ste. Marie Soos

Northern-Copper Country League (1906-07 Northern-Copper Country League (1906-07 Class C/D)Class C/D)

► This league came on This league came on the heels of the 1905 the heels of the 1905 Copper Country Soo Copper Country Soo League, with several League, with several of the same towns of the same towns fielding teamsfielding teams

Calumet AristocratsLake Linden Sandy CitiesHancock Infants

Houghton Giants

Interstate Association (1906 Class C)Interstate Association (1906 Class C)

► The Interstate The Interstate Association fielded Association fielded three Michigan teams three Michigan teams for the 1906 season, for the 1906 season, all within close all within close proximity to one proximity to one anotheranother

Saginaw

Bay City

Flint Vehicles

Southern Michigan League (1906-15 Class D)Southern Michigan League (1906-15 Class D)

► The Southern The Southern Michigan League was Michigan League was one of the most one of the most enduring (and enduring (and widespread) minor widespread) minor league organizations league organizations in Michigan, lasting in Michigan, lasting for 10 seasonsfor 10 seasons Mt. Clemens

Bathers

Bay City Billikens et al

Flint Vehicles

Tecumseh

Adrian Yeggs/Lions et al

Saginaw Wa-was et al

Jackson Convicts

Lansing Senators

Battle Creek Crickets

Kalamazoo White Sox et al

West Michigan League (1910 Class D)West Michigan League (1910 Class D)

► The first Michigan The first Michigan team on record to team on record to play in Cadillac joined play in Cadillac joined one of the many one of the many Muskegon teams for Muskegon teams for the 1910 season in the 1910 season in the West Michigan the West Michigan LeagueLeague Muskegon Speed Boys

Cadillac Chiefs

Indiana-Michigan League (1910-11 Class D)Indiana-Michigan League (1910-11 Class D)

► The Indiana-Michigan The Indiana-Michigan League made a brief League made a brief appearance in the appearance in the southwest corner of southwest corner of the state for two the state for two seasonsseasons

Niles Blues

Berrien SpringsGrays

Dowagiac

Michigan State League (1910-14)Michigan State League (1910-14)

► The 1910-1914 The 1910-1914 version of the version of the Michigan State Michigan State League had a strong League had a strong emphasis on teams emphasis on teams from the western half from the western half of the lower of the lower peninsulapeninsula Muskegon Reds

Holland Wooden Shoes

Cadillac Chiefs

Boyne City Boosters

Manistee Colts/Champs

Ludington Mariners

Border League (1912-13, Class D)Border League (1912-13, Class D)

► The Border League The Border League was a short-lived was a short-lived Class D league with Class D league with teams in southeast teams in southeast Michigan and OntarioMichigan and Ontario

Port HuronIndependents

YpsilantiMt. Clemens Bathers

Wyandotte

Pontiac Indians

Michigan-Ontario League (1919-26 Class B)Michigan-Ontario League (1919-26 Class B)

► The Class B Michigan-The Class B Michigan-Ontario League was Ontario League was one of the longer one of the longer tenured leagues of tenured leagues of the early 20the early 20thth Century Century in Michigan, with a in Michigan, with a shifting mix of shifting mix of locationslocations

Port HuronSaints

Battle CreekCustersKalamazoo Celery Pickers/

Kazoos

Grand Rapids Billbobs/Homowners

MuskegonAnglers

Saginaw Aces

Bay City Wolves

Flint Halligans/Vehicles

Central League (1920-22)Central League (1920-22)

Grand RapidsJoshers/Billbobs

Lansing Senators

KalamazooCelery Pickers

Ludington Mariners

Muskegon Reds/Daniels/MuskiesJackson/Ionia Mayors

► The 2The 2ndnd iteration of iteration of the Central League the Central League added teams in added teams in Kalamazoo, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Jackson/Ionia, and Jackson/Ionia, and LudingtonLudington

Michigan State League (1926 Class B)Michigan State League (1926 Class B)

► The Michigan State The Michigan State League returned as a League returned as a Class B entity in Class B entity in 1926, fielding four 1926, fielding four western Michigan western Michigan teamsteams

Muskegon RedsLudington Tars

Kalamazoo Celery Pickers

Grand Rapids Black Sox

Central League (1934 Class B)Central League (1934 Class B)

► Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids and Muskegon Muskegon represented the state represented the state in the third iteration in the third iteration of the Central League of the Central League in Michiganin Michigan

Grand Rapids Tigers

Muskegon Reds

Michigan State League (1940-41 Class C)Michigan State League (1940-41 Class C)

► The final version of The final version of the Michigan State the Michigan State League was filled by League was filled by six teams covering six teams covering the southern half of the southern half of the lower peninsulathe lower peninsula

Muskegon Reds

Grand Rapids Black Sox

Flint Gems/Arrows

Saginaw Athletics/White Sox

Lansing Lancers/Senators

St. Joseph Autos

Central League (1948-51, Class A)Central League (1948-51, Class A)

► The Central League’s The Central League’s final incarnation final incarnation involved four involved four Michigan cities, Michigan cities, covering a four-year covering a four-year span in the middle of span in the middle of the 20the 20thth Century Century

Grand Rapids Jets

Flint Arrows

Saginaw Bears/Jacks

Muskegon Clippers/Reds

Frontier League (1995-98, 2001-09 Independent)Frontier League (1995-98, 2001-09 Independent)

► The Frontier League The Frontier League brought Independent brought Independent teams back to teams back to Michigan for the first Michigan for the first time in nearly 100 time in nearly 100 years, and continues years, and continues to provide multiple to provide multiple teams in Michiganteams in Michigan

Kalamazoo Kodiaks

Kalamazoo Kings

Traverse City Beach Bums

Oakland County Cruisers

Midwest Sliders

Midwest League (1993-2009, Class A)Midwest League (1993-2009, Class A)

► The Midwest League The Midwest League brought affiliated brought affiliated minor league baseball minor league baseball back to Michigan back to Michigan after an extended after an extended absence of 40+ yearsabsence of 40+ years

Great Lakes Loons

Lansing Lugnuts

West MichiganWhitecaps

Michigan BattlecatsBattle Creek YankeesSW Michigan Devil Rays