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, 2010

Ken Cherven, SABR Detroit ChapterKen Cherven, SABR Detroit Chapter

OverviewOverview

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

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

► For the most part, the leagues have been at the low For the most part, the leagues have been at the low minors level – primarily Class D teams in the first part of minors level – primarily Class D teams in the first part of the 20the 20thth century, a tradition that continues with both century, a tradition that continues with both Class A and Independent teams in the early years of the Class A and Independent teams in the early years of the 21st century21st century

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

League FootprintsLeague Footprints

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

IndependentsIndependents

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

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 proximity competed in the competed in the Upper Peninsula Upper Peninsula League prior to the League prior to the end of the 19end of the 19thth CenturyCentury

IshpemingNegaunee

HancockCalumet Red Jackets

Houghton

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

► The Northwestern The Northwestern League had three League had three Michigan teams for Michigan teams for a single season in a single season in 18911891

Bay City

Grand Rapids Shamrocks Detroit

Wolverines

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

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

Ishpeming/Negaunee Unions

Michigan State League (1895-97)Michigan State League (1895-97)

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

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

► The Western The Western League showcased League showcased teams in 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 CenturyCenturyGrand Rapids

Gold 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 Saginaw and Jackson fielded Jackson fielded teams in 1896, teams in 1896, followed by Grand followed by Grand Rapids in 1898-99 Rapids in 1898-99 in the short-lived in the short-lived Interstate LeagueInterstate League

SaginawLumbermen

Jackson Wolverines

Grand RapidsCabinetmakers/Furnituremakers

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

► Another short-lived Another short-lived league at the close league at the close of the 19of the 19thth Century, Century, the International the International League fielded League fielded three Michigan three Michigan teams in 1898, teams in 1898, with Port Huron with Port Huron playing on through playing on through 18991899

Port HuronTigers

Saginaw Braves

Bay CitySugar Citys

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

► Grand Rapids Grand Rapids provided the only provided the only Michigan location Michigan location in the Western in the Western Association for Association for 19011901

Grand RapidsFurnituremakers

Michigan State League (1902)Michigan State League (1902)

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

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

Grand RapidsOrphans et al

Muskegon Reds/Daniels/Muskies

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

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

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

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 This league came on the heels of the on the heels of the 1905 Copper 1905 Copper Country Soo Country Soo League, with League, with several of the several of the same towns 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 three Michigan teams for the 1906 teams for the 1906 season, all within season, all within close proximity to close proximity to one anotherone another

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 Michigan League was one of the was one of the most enduring most enduring (and widespread) (and widespread) minor league minor league organizations in organizations in Michigan, lasting 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 only Michigan The only Michigan team on record to team on record to play in Cadillac play in Cadillac joined one of the joined one of the many Muskegon many Muskegon teams for the 1910 teams for the 1910 season in the West season in the West Michigan LeagueMichigan LeagueMuskegon Speed Boys

Cadillac Chiefs

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

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

Niles Blues

Berrien SpringsGrays

Dowagiac

Michigan State League (1910-11)Michigan State League (1910-11)

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

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 Class D league with teams in with teams in southeast Michigan southeast Michigan and Ontarioand 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 The Class B Michigan-Ontario Michigan-Ontario League was one of League was one of the longer tenured the longer tenured leagues of the leagues of the early 20early 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, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lansing, Jackson/Ionia, and Jackson/Ionia, and LudingtonLudington

Michigan State League (1926)Michigan State League (1926)

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

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

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

Grand Rapids Tigers

Muskegon Reds

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

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

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

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

Flint Arrows

Saginaw Bears/Jacks

Muskegon Clippers/Reds

Frontier League (Independent)Frontier League (Independent)

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

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

► The Midwest The Midwest League brought League brought minor league minor league baseball back to baseball back to Michigan after an Michigan after an extended absenceextended absence

Great Lakes Loons

Lansing Lugnuts

West MichiganWhitecaps

Michigan BattlecatsBattle Creek YankeesSW Michigan Devil Rays

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

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

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