Ohio–Pennsylvania League
ClassificationClass C (1905–1911)
Class D (1912)
SportMinor League Baseball
FounderCharles H. Morton
Inaugural 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

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In 1912, the league rescinded its membership in the National Association when it placed a franchise in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.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

League champions

Standings and statistics

1905 to 1908

1905 Ohio–Pennsylvania League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Youngstown Ohio Works8835.715–Marty Hogan
Akron Buckeyes6642.61114.5Frank Motz & Walter East
Zanesville Moguls5136.586NAFred Drumm
Niles Crowites5237.584NACharles Crowe
Braddock Infants2322.511NADon McKim
Lancaster Lanks3637.493NAFred Killen
Homestead Steel Workers2932.475NAHoward Fisher
Newark Idlewilds3746.446NAJack Doyle
Sharon Steels2939.426NAFrank Killen
McKeesport Colts2027.426NAEd Crawford / Frank Motz
Mount Vernon Clippers1624.400NABill Goodrich
Massillon Farmers2641.388NAWalter Lipps
Canton Protectives1940.322NAWilliam Delaney
Washington Patriots33.500NADan Kline
Lima Lees26.333NAEddie Bailey
Bucyrus Bucks512.294NANA
Butler Bucks17.125NAWard Buckminister
Steubenville Factory Men17.125NAJack Kelley
Wooster Trailers02.000NAJess Bowers
Barberton Magic Cities03.000NABill Feignley
Kent Kings06.000NAHenry 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 standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Youngstown Ohio Works8453.613–Marty Hogan
Akron Rubbernecks8355.6011.5Walter East
Lancaster Lanks7366.52512.0Frederick Gray / Curt Elston
New Castle Outlaws7367.52112.5Percy Stetler /
Ralph Lindaman / William Smith
Zanesville Moguls / Marion Moguls7169.50714.5Ferdinand Drumm
Newark Cotton Tops6574.46820.0Gene Bates / Bill Bottenus /
Pete Sommers / Walter Snodgrass
Mansfield Giants5977.43424.5Carl McVey
Sharon Steels4693.33139.0Frank Yoho /
Charles Crowe / Dick Glassburner

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

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bill ThomasYoungstownBA.303Fred EhmanAkronW29
Fred AbbottLancasterRuns83Fred EhmanAkronPCT.707 29–12
Bill ThomasYoungstownHits158

1907 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Youngstown Champs8652.623–Sam Wright
Newark Newks8653.6190.5Bob Berryhill
Akron Champs8353.6102.0Walter East
Lancaster Lanks7262.53712.0James Breen /
Curt Elston / Frank Locke
New Castle Nocks6474.46422.0Bill Smith
Mansfield Pioneers5584.39631.5Carl McVey
Sharon Giants5584.39631.5Rudy Kling / Van Patterson
Marion Drummers4887.35636.5Ferdinand Drumm /
Robert Quinn / Thomas Mylett

No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Curt ElstonLancasterBA.318Buck ThomasYoungstownW28
Charlie StarrYoungstownRuns75Ed AsherNewarkPCT.714 25–10
Delos DrakeMarionHits164

1908 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Akron Champs8136.692–John Breckinridge
East Liverpool Potters7042.6258.5Bill Phillips
Canton Watchmakers6554.54617.0Ed Murphy / Thomas Lindsay
Sharon Giants6256.52519.5Van Patterson
Youngstown Champs5860.49223.5Sam Wright
New Castle Nocks4770.40234.0Pete Porter / R. Hagan
McKeesport Tubers4472.37936.5Bernie McCay / Pat Eastley
Girard Sailors /
Butler /
Erie Sailors		4279.34741Daniel 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
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Wilbur GoodAkronBA.370Fred EhmanAkronW25
Teddy HintonYoungstownRuns82Bill PhillipsEast LiverpoolPCT.818 18–4
Jack McAleeseYoungstownHits150
Harry BaileyCantonHR8

1909 to 1912

1909 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Akron Champs8140.670–Jim Breckinridge / Bill Schwartz
East Liverpool Potters8045.6403.0Arch Osborne / John Raley
McKeesport Tubers7353.57910.5Bill Thomas
New Castle Nocks5965.47623.5Jim Barton / Ferdinand Drumm
Canton Watchmakers5567.45126.5Van Patterson
Erie Sailors4869.41031.0Milt Montgomery /
Red Davis / Matt Broderick
Steubenville Stubs4873.39733.0John Hanlon /
Jim Lynch / Frank Blair
Youngstown Indians4678.37136.5Charles Crowe / William Terry

No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Burt ShottonSteubenvilleBA.347Harry CamnitzMcKeesportW27
Gene ElliottMcKeesportRuns75Arch OsborneEast LiverpoolPCT.760 19–6
Burt ShottonSteubenvilleHits154

1910 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Akron Champs7353.579–Lee Fohl
Canton Deubers7254.5711.0Ferdinand Drumm
East Liverpool Potters6361.5089.0Guy Sample / Henry Lattimore
McKeesport Tubers6462.5089.0Duke Servatius / Edward Connors
Mansfield Reformers6066.47613.0Paddy Fox
New Castle Nocks5767.46015.0Frank Blair / Jim Barton
Youngstown Steelmen5567.45116.0Frank Eustace
Erie Sailors5569.44417.0Matt Broderick

No playoffs were scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Frank WarrenderEast LiverpoolBA.341Fred WilhelmCantonW23
Fred DawsonCantonRuns95Fred WilhelmCantonSO284
Fred CorbinAkronHits150Fred WilhelmCantonPCT.767 23–7
Duke ServatiusMcKeesportHR16

1911 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Akron Champs9042.682–Jack McCallister / Lee Fohl
Youngstown Steelmen8250.6218.0Bill Phillips / W.R. Terry
Erie Sailors7754.58812.5Billy Gilbert
Canton Deubers7559.56016.0Ferdinand Drumm
Mansfield Brownies5582.40137.5Ed Hahn /
Les Channell / Frank Reynolds
New Castle Nocks /
Sharon Travelers		35101.25757.0Joe Sugden / Steve Griffin /
Bill Thomas / Peter Porter
East Liverpool Potters6349.563NAAlexander Sweeney
Steubenville Stubs4080.333NAJohn Castle

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

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Joe WilsonEast LiverpoolBA.365Elmer BrownAkronW22
Ezra MidkiffAkronRuns96Ralph McConnaugheyErieW22
Ray MillerAkronHits162Earl MoseleyYoungstownSo242
Hughie TateYoungstownHR23Elmer BrownAkronPCT.815 22–5

1912 Ohio–Pennsylvania League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Salem Quakers /
Fairmont Fairies		6444.593–Hugh Shannon / Jim Buchanan
Steubenville-Follansbee Stubs6250.5544.0Gene Curtis
Liverpool Potters /
Pittsburg /
New Martinsville		4957.46214.0Tony Crane / Charles Donnelly
Sharon Giants /
Bridgeport Giants		4759.44316.0Charles Eichenberger /
R.M. Paige / Ralph Rainson
McKeesport Tubers3922.639NAHack Adler /
Matthew McGrath / Monte Pfeiffer
Alliance-Sebring Twins2633.441NALarry Maley
Connellsville Cokers1221.364NAW.C. Wilson / Earle Mack
New Castle Nocks922.290NACharles 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
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Baby FosterConnellsville / Alliance /
Steubenville-Follansbee		BA.377Ed SisleySteubenville-FollansbeeW20
William CarrollSalem/FairmontRuns68Ed SisleySteubenvilleSO217
Harry EdwardsSalem/FairmontHits127Eddie BauerMcKeesportPct.789; 15-4
Charles DonnellyEast LiverpoolHR7
Jim McKelveySteubenville-Follansbee /
Bridgeport		SB40

[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 "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. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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