Wisconsin–Michigan League

Michigan–Wisconsin League
FormerlyUpper Peninsula League
ClassificationIndependent (1892)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1892
Ceased1892
PresidentA.E. Mountain (1892)
Frank Murphy (1892)
No. of teams6
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1
Green Bay (1892)

The Michigan–Wisconsin League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1892 season. The six–team Independent level Michigan–Wisconsin League evolved from the Upper Peninsula League and consisted of franchises based in Michigan and Wisconsin.

History

The Michigan–Wisconsin League first played as a semi–professional league in the 1891 season, with the Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Marinette, Oconto and Oshkosh teams comprising the six–team league.[1]

The Michigan–Wisconsin League became a minor league and continued play in the 1892 season as a non–signatory, Independent level league. The Green Bay Bays, Ishpeming-Negaunee Unions, Marinette Badgers, Marquette Undertakers, Menominee Wolverines and Oshkosh Indians were the charter members.[2][3]

In their first season of play, the Michigan–Wisconsin League began games on May 27, 1892. Green Bay won the 1892 Michigan–Wisconsin League championship with a 48–39 overall record in the six–team league, as the Marinette and Ishpeming-Negaunee Unions franchises folded during the season. The final records were led by Green Bay, followed by the second place Menominee Wolverines (44–40), Marinette Badgers (45–44) and Oshkosh Indians (41–50), with the Marquette Undertakers (20–29) and Ishpeming-Negaunee Unions (24–20) before folding.[4][5]

During the season, it was reported that Green Bay president Frank W. Murphy, who also served as president of the league, supplemented his roster with players obtained from the Terre Haute Hottentots and other teams en route to winning the championship. New manager Sam LaRocque had earlier played with Terre Haute in 1892.[1][6]

The Michigan–Wisconsin League permanently folded following the 1892 season.[5]

Michigan-Wisconsin League teams

Team name City represented Ballpark Year(s) active
Green Bay Bays Green Bay, Wisconsin Unknown 1892
Ishpeming-Negaunee Unions Ishpeming, Michigan Union Park[7] 1892
Marinette Badgers Marinette, Wisconsin Fairgrounds Driving Park[8] 1892
Marquette Undertakers Marquette, Michigan Fair Avenue Grounds[9] 1892
Menominee Wolverines Menominee, Michigan Unknown 1892
Oshkosh Indians Oshkosh, Wisconsin Unknown 1892

Standings & statistics

1892 Wisconsin–Michigan League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Green Bay Bays 48 39 .552 – Louis Shoeneck / Sam LaRocque
Menominee 44 40 .524 2.5 William Lucas
Marinette Badgers 17 18 .486 4.0 Joe Cantillon /
Mike Morrison / Jim Donahue
Oshkosh Indians 13 20 .394 9.0 Charles Faatz
Ishpeming-Negaunee Unions 24 20 .545 NA Joe Quest
Marquette Undertakers 29 29 .408 NA George Wilbur

Marquette and Ishpeming-Negaunee disbanded in August

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
Willie McGill Menominee W 14
Robert Gayle Green Bay W 14
Robert Gayle Green Bay ShO 7
Robert Gayle Green Bay PCT .824 14-3

[5]

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame member Hank O'Day played for the 1892 Marinette Badgers.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Page 16".
  2. ^ "1892 Michigan-Wisconsin League (MML) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ "1892 Wisconsin-Michigan League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. ^ "1892 Michigan-Wisconsin League (MML) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. ^ a b c Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  6. ^ "Sam LaRocque Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "Union Park in Ishpeming, MI minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "Fairgrounds Driving Park in Marinette, WI minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ^ "Fair Avenue Grounds in Marquette, MI minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. ^ "Hank O'Day Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.