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Ohio–Pennsylvania League

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Ohio–Pennsylvania League
ClassificationClass C (1905–1911)
Class D (1912)
SportMinor League Baseball
FounderCharles H. Morton
First season1905
Ceased1912
PresidentCharles H. Morton (1905–1908)
Samuel Wright (1909–1910)
George L. Moreland (1910–1911)
G.Y. Travis (1912)
No. of teams54
CountryUnited States
Most titles4 Akron Champs (1908–1911)

The Ohio–Pennsylvania League (1905–1912) was a Class C and Class D level minor league baseball league that featured franchises based in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The league was founded by Charlie Morton and operated for eight seasons, with the Akron Champs winning four league championships.

History

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The Ohio–Pennsylvania League had its beginnings in March 1905, when league president Charlie Morton invited six prospective members to a meeting in Akron, Ohio.[1] In May 1905, eleven teams joined the Protective Association of Independent Clubs, which formed the basis of the Class C Division Ohio–Pennsylvania League.[1] Ultimately, the league trimmed down to eight teams from the following cities: Akron, Newark, Niles, Youngstown, and Zanesville in Ohio, and Homestead, Lancaster, and Sharon in Pennsylvania.[2]

That September, the Youngstown Ohio Works won the league championship, although sources disagree on the team's final record. As one researcher writes: "The Reach Guide (1906) credits Youngstown with an 84–32 won-lost record where the Spalding Guide of the same year lists a 90–35 record. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (1993) tells a third story, giving Youngstown an 88–35 mark."[1]

In 1912, the league rescinded its membership in the National Association when it placed a franchise in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

By the end of its seven-year lifespan, in 1912, the Ohio–Pennsylvania League had enlisted the membership of no less than 40 ball clubs based in over 20 cities.[1] While the league was disorganized (like many of its counterparts), it provided regional sports teams with an alternative to the established minor-league system.[1] Baseball luminaries who were once connected to the league include Billy Evans,[3] Lee Fohl,[4] Bill Phyle,[4] and Everett Scott.[5] Future Hall-of-Fame infielder George Sisler signed his first professional contract with an Akron club associated with the O-P League, although he never actually played for the team.[6]

Cities represented

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League champions

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Standings and statistics

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1905 to 1908

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1905 Ohio–Pennsylvania League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Youngstown Ohio Works 88 35 .715 – Marty Hogan
Akron Buckeyes 66 42 .611 14.5 Frank Motz & Walter East
Zanesville Moguls 51 36 .586 NA Fred Drumm
Niles Crowites 52 37 .584 NA Charles Crowe
Braddock Infants 23 22 .511 NA Don McKim
Lancaster Lanks 36 37 .493 NA Fred Killen
Homestead Steel Workers 29 32 .475 NA Howard Fisher
Newark Idlewilds 37 46 .446 NA Jack Doyle
Sharon Steels 29 39 .426 NA Frank Killen
McKeesport Colts 20 27 .426 NA Ed Crawford / Frank Motz
Mount Vernon Clippers 16 24 .400 NA Bill Goodrich
Massillon Farmers 26 41 .388 NA Walter Lipps
Canton Protectives 19 40 .322 NA William Delaney
Washington Patriots 3 3 .500 NA Dan Kline
Lima Lees 2 6 .333 NA Eddie Bailey
Bucyrus Bucks 5 12 .294 NA NA
Butler Bucks 1 7 .125 NA Ward Buckminister
Steubenville Factory Men 1 7 .125 NA Jack Kelley
Wooster Trailers 0 2 .000 NA Jess Bowers
Barberton Magic Cities 0 3 .000 NA Bill Feignley
Kent Kings 0 6 .000 NA Henry Metz

League was admitted to the National Association July 21
Canton withdrew July 10; Kent withdrew July 31; Butler withdrew Aug 2; Steubenville withdrew Aug 2; Mt. Vernon withdrew Aug 12; Massillon withdrew Aug 24.

1906 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Youngstown Ohio Works 84 53 .613 – Marty Hogan
Akron Rubbernecks 83 55 .601 1.5 Walter East
Lancaster Lanks 73 66 .525 12.0 Frederick Gray / Curt Elston
New Castle Outlaws 73 67 .521 12.5 Percy Stetler /
Ralph Lindaman / William Smith
Zanesville Moguls / Marion Moguls 71 69 .507 14.5 Ferdinand Drumm
Newark Cotton Tops 65 74 .468 20.0 Gene Bates / Bill Bottenus /
Pete Sommers / Walter Snodgrass
Mansfield Giants 59 77 .434 24.5 Carl McVey
Sharon Steels 46 93 .331 39.0 Frank Yoho /
Charles Crowe / Dick Glassburner

Zanesville (58–55) moved to Marion August 28.
No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bill Thomas Youngstown BA .303 Fred Ehman Akron W 29
Fred Abbott Lancaster Runs 83 Fred Ehman Akron PCT .707 29–12
Bill Thomas Youngstown Hits 158

1907 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Youngstown Champs 86 52 .623 – Sam Wright
Newark Newks 86 53 .619 0.5 Bob Berryhill
Akron Champs 83 53 .610 2.0 Walter East
Lancaster Lanks 72 62 .537 12.0 James Breen /
Curt Elston / Frank Locke
New Castle Nocks 64 74 .464 22.0 Bill Smith
Mansfield Pioneers 55 84 .396 31.5 Carl McVey
Sharon Giants 55 84 .396 31.5 Rudy Kling / Van Patterson
Marion Drummers 48 87 .356 36.5 Ferdinand Drumm /
Robert Quinn / Thomas Mylett

No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Curt Elston Lancaster BA .318 Buck Thomas Youngstown W 28
Charlie Starr Youngstown Runs 75 Ed Asher Newark PCT .714 25–10
Delos Drake Marion Hits 164

1908 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Akron Champs 81 36 .692 – John Breckinridge
East Liverpool Potters 70 42 .625 8.5 Bill Phillips
Canton Watchmakers 65 54 .546 17.0 Ed Murphy / Thomas Lindsay
Sharon Giants 62 56 .525 19.5 Van Patterson
Youngstown Champs 58 60 .492 23.5 Sam Wright
New Castle Nocks 47 70 .402 34.0 Pete Porter / R. Hagan
McKeesport Tubers 44 72 .379 36.5 Bernie McCay / Pat Eastley
Girard Sailors /
Butler /
Erie Sailors		 42 79 .347 41 Daniel Koster /
Walter East / Dick Nallin

# Girard (0–9) moved to Butler May 9; Butler (5–17) moved to Erie June 15.
The season was shortened to September 7.
No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Wilbur Good Akron BA .370 Fred Ehman Akron W 25
Teddy Hinton Youngstown Runs 82 Bill Phillips East Liverpool PCT .818 18–4
Jack McAleese Youngstown Hits 150
Harry Bailey Canton HR 8

1909 to 1912

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1909 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Akron Champs 81 40 .670 – Jim Breckinridge / Bill Schwartz
East Liverpool Potters 80 45 .640 3.0 Arch Osborne / John Raley
McKeesport Tubers 73 53 .579 10.5 Bill Thomas
New Castle Nocks 59 65 .476 23.5 Jim Barton / Ferdinand Drumm
Canton Watchmakers 55 67 .451 26.5 Van Patterson
Erie Sailors 48 69 .410 31.0 Milt Montgomery /
Red Davis / Matt Broderick
Steubenville Stubs 48 73 .397 33.0 John Hanlon /
Jim Lynch / Frank Blair
Youngstown Indians 46 78 .371 36.5 Charles Crowe / William Terry

No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Burt Shotton Steubenville BA .347 Harry Camnitz McKeesport W 27
Gene Elliott McKeesport Runs 75 Arch Osborne East Liverpool PCT .760 19–6
Burt Shotton Steubenville Hits 154

1910 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Akron Champs 73 53 .579 – Lee Fohl
Canton Deubers 72 54 .571 1.0 Ferdinand Drumm
East Liverpool Potters 63 61 .508 9.0 Guy Sample / Henry Lattimore
McKeesport Tubers 64 62 .508 9.0 Duke Servatius / Edward Connors
Mansfield Reformers 60 66 .476 13.0 Paddy Fox
New Castle Nocks 57 67 .460 15.0 Frank Blair / Jim Barton
Youngstown Steelmen 55 67 .451 16.0 Frank Eustace
Erie Sailors 55 69 .444 17.0 Matt Broderick

No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Frank Warrender East Liverpool BA .341 Fred Wilhelm Canton W 23
Fred Dawson Canton Runs 95 Fred Wilhelm Canton SO 284
Fred Corbin Akron Hits 150 Fred Wilhelm Canton PCT .767 23–7
Duke Servatius McKeesport HR 16

1911 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Akron Champs 90 42 .682 – Jack McCallister / Lee Fohl
Youngstown Steelmen 82 50 .621 8.0 Bill Phillips / W.R. Terry
Erie Sailors 77 54 .588 12.5 Billy Gilbert
Canton Deubers 75 59 .560 16.0 Ferdinand Drumm
Mansfield Brownies 55 82 .401 37.5 Ed Hahn /
Les Channell / Frank Reynolds
New Castle Nocks /
Sharon Travelers		 35 101 .257 57.0 Joe Sugden / Steve Griffin /
Bill Thomas / Peter Porter
East Liverpool Potters 63 49 .563 NA Alexander Sweeney
Steubenville Stubs 40 80 .333 NA John Castle

New Castle (25–85) moved to Sharon August 12.
East Liverpool and Steubenville disbanded August 20.
No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Joe Wilson East Liverpool BA .365 Elmer Brown Akron W 22
Ezra Midkiff Akron Runs 96 Ralph McConnaughey Erie W 22
Ray Miller Akron Hits 162 Earl Moseley Youngstown So 242
Hughie Tate Youngstown HR 23 Elmer Brown Akron PCT .815 22–5

1912 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Salem Quakers /
Fairmont Fairies		 64 44 .593 – Hugh Shannon / Jim Buchanan
Steubenville-Follansbee Stubs 62 50 .554 4.0 Gene Curtis
Liverpool Potters /
Pittsburg /
New Martinsville		 49 57 .462 14.0 Tony Crane / Charles Donnelly
Sharon Giants /
Bridgeport Giants		 47 59 .443 16.0 Charles Eichenberger /
R.M. Paige / Ralph Rainson
McKeesport Tubers 39 22 .639 NA Hack Adler /
Matthew McGrath / Monte Pfeiffer
Alliance-Sebring Twins 26 33 .441 NA Larry Maley
Connellsville Cokers 12 21 .364 NA W.C. Wilson / Earle Mack
New Castle Nocks 9 22 .290 NA Charles Smith / Jack Murray

Connelsville and New Castle disbanded June 18; Salem moved to Fairmont July 9; Alliance-Sebring disbanded July 15 due to a player strike; McKeesport disbanded July 17; Sharon moved to Bridgeport August 10; East Liverpool moved to Pittsburgh (2–0) August 14, then to New Martinsville August 18.
The league rescinded its membership to the National Association August 13 when it placed a franchise in Pittsburgh.
Playoff: Fairmont was declared champion when Steubenville-Follansbee was unable to field a team for the playoffs.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Baby Foster Connellsville / Alliance /
Steubenville-Follansbee		 BA .377 Ed Sisley Steubenville-Follansbee W 20
William Carroll Salem/Fairmont Runs 68 Ed Sisley Steubenville SO 217
Harry Edwards Salem/Fairmont Hits 127 Eddie Bauer McKeesport Pct .789; 15-4
Charles Donnelly East Liverpool HR 7
Jim McKelvey Steubenville-Follansbee /
Bridgeport		 SB 40

[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Holl, Jim. "Ohio–Pennsylvania League of 1905". Society for American Baseball Research. Archived from the original on November 7, 2003. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
  2. ^ Spalding's Official Athletic Library Baseball Guide (New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1910), p. 219.
  3. ^ Baker, Jon (July 1, 2005). "In Valley's baseball history, Evans was an early scrapper". The Valley Voice. p. 27.
  4. ^ a b "News Notes". Sporting Life. December 16, 1905. p. 9.
  5. ^ "Lewis Everett "Deacon" Scott". 1918 Red Sox. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ Santry, Joe; Cindy Thomson. "Ban Johnson". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  7. ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
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