Ohio–Pennsylvania League

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. In May 1905, eleven teams joined the Protective Association of Independent Clubs, which formed the basis of the Class C Division Ohio–Pennsylvania League. 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.

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."

In 1912, the league rescinded its membership in the National Association when it placed a franchise in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.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. While the league was disorganized (like many of its counterparts), it provided regional sports teams with an alternative to the established minor-league system. Baseball luminaries who were once connected to the league include Billy Evans, Lee Fohl, Bill Phyle, and Everett Scott. 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.

Cities represented

 * Akron, OH: Akron Buckeyes 1905; Akron Rubbernecks 1906; Akron Champs 1907–1911
 * Alliance, OH & Sebring, OH: Alliance-Sebring Twins 1912
 * Barberton, OH: Barberton Magic Cities 1905
 * Braddock, PA: Braddock Infants 1905
 * Bridgeport, OH: Bridgeport Giants 1912
 * Bucyrus, OH: Bucyrus Bucks 1905
 * Butler, PA: Butler Bucks 1905; Butler 1908
 * Canton, OH: Canton Protectives 1905 Canton Watchmakers 1908–1909; Canton Deubers 1910–1911
 * Connellsville, PA: Connellsville Cokers 1912
 * East Liverpool, OH: East Liverpool Potters 1908–1912
 * Erie, PA: Erie Sailors 1908–1911
 * Fairmont, WV: Fairmont Fairies 1912
 * Girard, OH: Girard Sailors 1908
 * Homestead, PA: Homestead Steel Workers 1905
 * Kent, OH: Kent Kings 1905
 * Lancaster, OH: Lancaster Lanks 1905–1907
 * Lima, OH: Lima Lees 1905
 * Mansfield, OH: Mansfield Giants 1906; Mansfield Pioneers 1907; Mansfield Reformers 1910; Mansfield Brownies 1911
 * Marion, OH: Marion Moguls 1906; Marion Drummers 1907
 * Massillon, OH: Massillon Farmers 1905
 * McKeesport, PA: McKeesport Colts 1905; McKeesport Tubers 1908–1910; McKeesport Tubers 1912
 * Mount Vernon, OH: Mount Vernon Clippers 1905
 * New Castle, PA: New Castle Outlaws 1906; New Castle Nocks 1907–1912
 * New Martinsville, WV:New Martinsville 1912
 * Newark, OH: Newark Idlewilds 1905; Newark Cotton Tops 1906; Newark Newks 1907
 * Niles, OH: Niles Crowites 1905
 * Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh 1912
 * Salem, OH: Salem Quakers 1912
 * Sharon, PA: Sharon Steels 1905–1906; Sharon Giants 1907–1908, 1912; Sharon Travelers 1911
 * Steubenville, OH: Steubenville Factory Men 1905; Steubenville Stubs 1909, 1911
 * Steubenville, OH & Follansbee, WV: Steubenville-Follansbee Stubs 1912
 * Washington, PA: Washington Patriots 1905
 * Wooster, OH: Wooster Trailers 1905
 * Youngstown, OH: Youngstown Ohio Works 1905–1906; Youngstown Champs 1907–1908; Youngstown Indians 1909; Youngstown Steelmen 1910–1911
 * Zanesville, OH: Zanesville Moguls 1905–1906

League champions

 * Youngstown Ohio Works (1905)
 * Youngstown Ohio Works (1906)
 * Youngstown Champs (1907)
 * Akron Champs (1908)
 * Akron Champs (1909)
 * Akron Champs (1910)
 * Akron Champs (1911)
 * Salem Quakers & Fairmont Fairies (1912)

1905 to 1908
1905 Ohio–Pennsylvania League 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

1907 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule

1908 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule

1909 to 1912
1909 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule

1910 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule

1911 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule East Liverpool and Steubenville disbanded August 20. No playoffs were scheduled.

1912 Ohio–Pennsylvania League schedule

Related links

 * Ballpark Watch
 * Baseball Reference
 * Ohio–Pennsylvania League history