Former baseball minor leagues
The Wisconsin State League was a class D level baseball league that began in 1905, changing its name to the Wisconsin–Illinois League in 1908 and operating through 1914. The league re–organized under that name in 1926. Another Wisconsin State League began in 1940, shut down during World War II from 1943 through 1945, then operated from 1946 through 1953.[ 1]
The Class D Wisconsin–Illinois League began play in 1940 with six charter franchises: Appleton Papermakers , Fond du Lac Panthers , Green Bay Bluejays , La Crosse Blackhawks , Sheboygan Indians and Wisconsin Rapids White Sox .[ 2] In 1942 the league expanded to eight teams, adding the Janesville Cubs and Oshkosh Giants .[ 3] After play resumed in 1946, La Crosse moved to become the Wausau Lumberjacks and the league operated with those franchises until its demise following the 1953 season.[ 4]
List of teams
Wisconsin State League (1905–1907, 1922–1925, 1928–1931, 1940–1942, 1946–1953)Wisconsin–Illinois League (1908–1914, 1926–1927, 1932)
Appleton, WI : Appleton Papermakers (1891, 1909–1914, 1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Aurora, IL : Aurora Islanders (1910)
Beloit, WI : Beloit Collegians (1905); Beloit Fairies (1926–1927)
Chicago, IL : Logan Squares (1926–1927, 1932); Niesen's Chicago Pyotts (1926); St. Michael's (1926); Duffy Florals (1932); Harley Mills (1932)
Eau Claire, WI : Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans (1906); Eau Claire Tigers (1907)
Fond du Lac, WI : Fond du Lac Mudhens (1891); Fond du Lac Webfoots (1907); Fond du Lac Cubs (1908); Fond du Lac Giants (1909–1910); Fond du Lac Molls (1913); Fond du Lac Mudhens (1911); Fond du Lac Panthers (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Freeport, IL : Freeport Pretzels (1905–1909)
Green Bay, WI : Green Bay Dock Wallopers (1891); Green Bay Colts (1905–1906); Green Bay Orphans (1907); Green Bay Tigers (1908); Green Bay Bays (1909–1914); Green Bay Blue Sox (1941); Green Bay Bluejays (1940, 1942, 1946–1953)
Janesville, WI : Janesville Cubs (1941–1942, 1947–1953); Janesville Bears (1946)
Kenosha, WI : Kenosha Twin Sixes (1926–1929)
La Crosse, WI : La Crosse Pinks (1905–1906, 1908); La Crosse Badgers (1907); La Crosse Boosters (1926); La Crosse Blackhawks (1940–1942)
Madison, WI : Madison Senators (1905–1914); Madison Blues (1928–1932)
Manitowoc, WI : Manitowoc Shipbuilders (1928–1931)
Marinette, WI : Marinette Badgers (1891); Marinette-Menominee Twins (1914)
Milwaukee, WI : Milwaukee Creams (1913); Kosciuszko Reds (1928–1930);Onion Oils /Union Oils (1928); Milwaukee Red Sox (1931–1932)
Oconto, WI : Oconto Log Drivers (1891)
Oshkosh, WI : Oshkosh Indians (1905–1914); Oshkosh Giants 1941–1942, 1946–1953)
Racine, WI : Racine Malted Milks (1909–1911, 1914); Racine Belles (1909–1915); Racine Eskimos (1926); Racine Belles (1929–1930)
Rockford, IL : Rockford Reds (1908–1910); Rockford Wolverines (1911–1913); Rockford Wolves (1914)
Sheboygan, WI : Sheboygan Chairmakers (1926–1932); Sheboygan Indians (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Two Rivers, WI : Two Rivers Mirrors (1928–1931)
Wausau, WI : Wausau Lumberjacks (1905–1908, 1912–1914, 1946–1953)
Wisconsin Rapids, WI : Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
[ 1]
Season standings
1891 to 1892
1891 Wisconsin State League
[ 5]
1905 Wisconsin State League
1906 Wisconsin State League
schedule
La Crosse played Freeport on the last day of the season with the pennant in balance. 5,000 fans saw a 0-0 game after nine innings. La Crosse pushed across five runs in the tenth to win.
[ 1]
1907 to 1914
1907 Wisconsin State League
schedule
1908 season (W-I League)V[ 6] [ 1]
1909 season (W-I League) [ 7] [ 1]
1910 season (W-I League) [ 8]
1911 season (W-I League) [ 9]
1912 season (W-I League) [ 10]
1913 season (W-I League) [ 11]
1914 season (W-I League) [ 12]
1922 to 1937
1922 season (Wis. State League) [ 13]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Manitowoc
8
3
.727
11
Green Bay
7
4
.636
11
Menasha
6
6
.500
12
Appleton
2
10
.167
12
1923 season (Wis. State League) [ 14]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
19
9
.679
28
Neenah-Menasha Papermakers
19
9
.679
28
Appleton
17
11
.607
28
Green Bay Bays
15
13
.536
28
Kaukauna
14
14
.500
28
Marinette-Menominee Twins
10
18
.357
28
Oshkosh
10
18
.357
28
Fond du Lac
8
20
.286
28
1924 season (Wis. State League) [ 15]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Neenah-Menasha
8
2
.800
10
Green Bay
5
5
.500
10
Appleton
4
4
.500
8
Sheboygan
4
4
.500
8
Oshkosh
3
4
.429
8
Fond du Lac
2
6
.250
8
1925 season (Wis. State League) [ 16]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Kenosha Twin Sixes
33
17
.660
50
Beloit Fairies
24
21
.533
45
Racine Athletics
24
28
.462
52
Sheboygan Chairmakers
22
29
.431
51
1926 season (W-I League) [ 17]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
48
21
.696
69
Kenosha Twin Sixes
44
28
.611
72
Beloit Fairies
32
22
.593
54
Madison Blues
27
31
.466
58
Racine Belles
30
38
.441
68
Logan Squares (Chicago)
12
21
.364
33
La Crosse Boosters
9
25
.265
34
1927 season (W-I League) [ 18]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
33
17
.660
50
Beloit Fairies
17
17
.500
34
Madison Blues
18
28
.391
46
Kenosha Twin Sixers
13
28
.317
41
Logan Squares (Chicago)
13
4
.765
17
1928 season (Wis. State League) [ 19]
1929 season (Wis. State League) [ 20]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Two Rivers Mirros
19
6
.760
25
Sheboygan Chairmakers
18
7
.720
25
Union Oils (Milwaukee)
12
12
.500
24
Manitowoc Shipbuilders
13
13
.500
26
Kenosha Twin Sixes
12
14
.462
26
Racine Belles
11
15
.423
26
Madison Blues
8
17
.320
25
Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)
8
17
.320
25
1930 season (Wis. State League) [ 21]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Racine Belles
18
6
.750
24
Two Rivers Mirros
15
9
.625
24
Madison Blues
13
12
.520
25
Manitowoc Shipbuilders
11
13
.458
24
Sheboygan Chairmakers
11
14
.440
25
Milwaukee Oils
9
12
.429
24
Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)
9
14
.391
23
Kenosha Twin Sixes
8
14
.364
22
1931 season (Wis. State League) [ 22]
1932 season (W-I League) [ 23]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Harley Mills (Chicago)
16
5
.762
21
Madison Blues
21
10
.677
31
Sheboygan Chairmakers
13
11
.542
24
Duffy Florals (Chicago)
14
12
.538
26
Chicago Firemen
7
10
.474
17
Milwaukee Red Sox
11
14
.440
25
Logan Squares (Chicago)
9
12
.429
21
Colored All-Stars
3
15
.167
18
Colored Giants
2
9
.182
11
1933 season (W-I League) [ 24]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues ]
34
17
.667
51
Harley Mills
18
10
.655
28
Duffy Florals
18
14
.563
32
Logan Squares
17
18
.486
35
Aurora
8
9
.471
17
Spencer Coals
7
12
.368
19
Chicago Firemen
6
15
.286
21
Colored All-Stars
4
16
.200
20
1934 season (Wis. State League)
|+First half of the split season:
|+Second half of the split season:
The Madison Blues won the tie-breaker from Wisconsin Rapids to meet Green Bay, the winner of the season's first half. Green Bay prevailed in the final three-game championship series.
1935 season (Wis. State League)
|+First half of the split season:[ 25]
After tying for title of the season's first half, Madison won the first two of a three-game championship series over Sheboygan.
|+Second half of the split season:[ 26]
Sheboygan won the run-off for title of the season's second half, but were defeated by first half champs Madison after the Blues won the first two of the three-game title series.[ 27]
1936 season (Wis. State League)
|+First half of the split season:[ 28]
Madison defeated Racine to win the title of the season's first half.[ 28]
|+Second half of the split season:[ 29]
Madison clinched the title of the season's latter half on Aug. 23 when they defeated the Racine Belles. The Blues became 1936 State League champions by winning both halves of the split season.
1937 season (Wis. State League)
|+First half of the split season:[ 30]
Madison defeated Sheboygan in a three-game series to win the title of the season's first half.
|+Second half of the split season:[ 31]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
10
2
.833
12
Sheboygan Chairmakers
10
2
.833
12
Racine Belles
1
9
.100
10
Kenosha Unions
1
9
.100
10
Sheboygan won the three-game tie-breaker series against Madison to win title of the season's latter half. Facing Sheboygan again for the 1937 championship, Blues manager Eddie Lenahan insisted on a single deciding game instead of three. The State League disagreed, declaring that Madison had forfeited the season by refusing to play in a three-game series. The Chairmakers were awarded the 1937 season championship.
[ 1]
References
^ a b c d e f Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America . ISBN 978-1932391176 .
^ "1940 Wisconsin State League" . Baseball-Reference.com .
^ "1941 Wisconsin State League" . Baseball-Reference.com .
^ "1953 Wisconsin State League" . Baseball-Reference.com .
^ "Article clipped from Atchison Daily Patriot" . August 20, 1891. p. 3 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Locals Finish in Second Place," La Crosse Tribune , Sep. 14, 1908
^ "League Standings in Capsule Form," Racine Journal , Sep. 13, 1909
^ "W.-I. Flag to Appleton," Chicago Examiner , Sep. 8, 1910
^ "League Baseball in Condensed Form," Racine Journal , Sep. 11, 1911
^ "Baseball Results," Monmouth Daily Atlas , Sep. 17, 1912
^ "Here's Best Race in 1913 Baseball," Chicago Examiner , Sep. 8, 1913
^ "Standing of the Teams," Racine Journal , Sep. 14, 1914
^ "Team Standings," Manitowoc Herald News , Sep. 18, 1922
^ "Standings and Results as the Schedule Closes," Sheboygan Press Telegram , Sep. 24, 1923
^ "How They Stand," Appleton Post Crescent , Sep. 22, 1924
^ "Racine Here for a Final Clash Sunday," Sheboygan Press , Oct. 3, 1925
^ "W-I Association Standings," Sheboygan Press , Oct. 1, 1926
^ "Final Standings, Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press , Sep. 14, 1927
^ "Two Rivers Cop the Pennant of the Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press , Sep. 10, 1928
^ "Team Standings," Racine Journal News , Sep. 3, 1929
^ "Blues Win Pair, in Third Place" Capital Times , Sep. 2, 1930
^ "Chairs Split with Mirros," Manitowoc Evening Times , Sep. 8, 1931
^ "W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal , Sep. 3, 1932
^ "W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal , Dec. 31, 1933
^ "Blues Romp to Victory Over Kaukauna,18-1," Wisconsin State Journal , July 1, 1935
^ "State League Standings (Second Half Final)," Wisconsin State Journal , Sep. 9, 1935
^ "Blues Sweep Series to Cop League Title," Wisconsin State Journal , Sep. 30, 1935
^ a b "Blues Win First Half Crown in State League," Wisconsin State Journal , July 6, 1936
^ Belles Dropped from Flag Race, Lose 3-2," Racine Journal Times , Aug. 24, 1936
^ "Blues, Chairs Share Honors," Racine Journal-Times , July 7, 1937
^ "Belles Lose Home Final," Racine Journal-Times , Sep. 7, 1937
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