Michigan State League
Michigan State League was the name of six American professional baseball leagues. Five of them operated only one or two baseball seasons and the other four seasons. Jointly they covered eleven baseball seasons from 1889 to 1941.
| Sport | Minor League Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1889; 1895; 1902; 1911; 1926; 1940 |
| Ceased | 1890; 1895; 1902; 1914; 1926; 1941 |
| No. of teams | 10; 7; 7; 8; 9; 6 |
| Country | USA |
The first two Michigan State Leagues, 1889–1890 and 1895, predated the establishment of present-day Minor League Baseball, an umbrella organization of minor leagues. The third was a "Class D" league during 1902 only, the first season for the organized minors.
In 1911, the West Michigan League expanded and became the fourth Michigan State League as a "Class D" minor league through 1914.
In 1926, the Michigan–Ontario League merged with the Central League to form the fifth MSL, which played only the one season.
The sixth Michigan State League operated in 1940 and 1941.
Cities represented
1889–1890
- Flint, Michigan: Flint Flyers 1889–1890
- Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids 1889–1890
- Greenville, Michigan: Greenville 1889
- Jackson, Michigan: Jackson Jaxons 1889
- Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1889
- Lansing, Michigan: Lansing 1889–1890
- Manistee, Michigan: Manistee 1890
- Muskegon, Michigan: Muskegon 1890
- Port Huron, Michigan: PortHuron 1890
- Saginaw, Michigan: Saginaw 1889
1895
- Adrian, Michigan: Adrian Reformers
- Battle Creek, Michigan: Battle Creek Adventists
- Jackson, Michigan: Jackson Jaxons
- Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo Celery Eaters
- Lansing, Michigan: Lansing Senators
- Owosso, Michigan: Owosso Colts
- Port Huron, Michigan: Port Huron Marines
1902
- Battle Creek, Michigan: Battle Creek Cero Frutos
- Flint, Michigan: Flint
- Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids Colts
- Jackson, Michigan: Jackson
- Lansing, Michigan: Lansing Senators
- Muskegon, Michigan: Muskegon Reds
- Saginaw, Michigan: Saginaw White Sox
1911–1914
- Belding, Michigan: Belding Champs 1914
- Boyne City, Michigan: Boyne City Boosters 1911–1914
- Cadillac, Michigan: Cadillac Chiefs 1910–1914
- Holland, Michigan: Holland Wooden Shoes 1910–1911
- Ludington, Michigan: Ludington Mariners 1912–1914
- Manistee, Michigan: Manistee Colts 1911; Manistee Champs 1912–1914
- Muskegon, Michigan: Muskegon Speed Boys 1910; Muskegon Reds 1911; Muskegon Speeders 1912–1914
- Traverse City, Michigan: Traverse City Resorters 1910–1914
1926
- Bay City, Michigan: Bay City Wolves, from Michigan–Ontario League
- Charlotte, Michigan: Charlotte Giants
- Flint, Michigan: Flint Vehicles, from Michigan–Ontario League
- Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids Black Sox, from Central League
- Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo Celery Pickers, from Central League
- Ludington, Michigan: Ludington Tars, from Central League
- Muskegon, Michigan: Muskegon Reds, from Central League
- Port Huron, Michigan: Port Huron Saints, from Michigan–Ontario League
- Saginaw, Michigan: Saginaw Aces, from Michigan–Ontario League
1940–1941
- Flint, Michigan: Flint Gems 1940; Flint Arrows 1941
- Grand Rapids, Michigan: Grand Rapids Dodgers 1940; Grand Rapids Colts 1941
- Lansing, Michigan: Lansing Lancers 1940; Lansing Senators 1941
- Muskegon, Michigan: Muskegon Reds 1940–1941
- Saginaw, Michigan: Saginaw Athletics 1940; Saginaw White Sox 1941
- St. Joseph, Michigan: St. Joseph Autos 1940–1941
Sources
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Second Edition.