Ohio State League

The Ohio State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in numerous seasons between 1887 and 1947, predominantly as a Class D level league. League franchises were based in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

History
The first "Ohio State League" was a baseball league in 1887 before changing names to the Tri-State League. The Kalamazoo Kazoos won the first league championship. The league played in the 1889 and 1898 seasons.

The first 20th century Ohio State League started in 1908 as a class D loop and ran through 1916.

Another Ohio State League was formed in 1936 and ran through 1947 except for a break in '42-'43 due to World War II. In 1945, the OSL was one of just four class D circuits in operation, yet it was one of the first of dozens of leagues to collapse after World War II.

The class D Ohio–Indiana League was formed in 1948 with eight teams, with seven of the eight cities coming from the Ohio State League. Six teams made their home in Ohio and the remaining two where from Indiana. This league lasted through 1951.

The Portsmouth Cobblers won four Ohio State League championships.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Ed Delahanty played for the 1887 Mansfield team.

Cities represented

 * Akron, Ohio: Akron Acorns 1887, 1889
 * Canton, Ohio: Canton 1887, 1898
 * Charleston, West Virginia: Charleston Senators 1913–1916
 * Chillicothe, Ohio: Chillicothe Infants 1910–1912; Chillicothe Babes 1913–1916
 * Columbus, Ohio: Columbus Buckeyes 1887
 * Coshocton, Ohio: Coshocton 1898
 * Dayton, Ohio: Dayton Indians 1946–1947
 * Findlay, Ohio: Findlay Browns 1937–1938; Findlay Oilers (baseball) 1939–1940; Findlay Browns 1941
 * Fostoria, Ohio: Fostoria Cardinals 1936; Fostoria Red Birds 1937–1941
 * Frankfort, Kentucky: Frankfort Old Taylors 1915–1916
 * Fremont, Ohio: Fremont Reds 1936–1938; Fremont Green Sox 1938–1941
 * Hamilton, Ohio: Hamilton Mechanics 1911; Hamilton Maroons 1913
 * Huntington, West Virginia: Huntington Blue Sox 1913–1914 Huntington Boosters 1916
 * Ironton, Ohio: Ironton Orphans 1912; Ironton Nailers 1913–1915
 * Kalamazoo, Michigan: Kalamazoo Kazoos 1887
 * Lancaster, Ohio: Lancaster Lanks 1908–1911
 * Lexington, Kentucky: Lexington Colts 1913–1916
 * Lima, Ohio: Lima Cigarmakers 1908–1912; Lima Pandas 1939–1941; Lima Red Birds 1944; Lima Reds 1945; Lima Terriers 1946–1947
 * Mansfield, Ohio: Mansfield 1887; Mansfield Pioneers 1908–1909; Mansfield Brownies 1912; Mansfield Tigers 1936; Mansfield Red Sox 1937; Mansfield Braves 1939–1941
 * Marion, Ohio: Marion Diggers 1908–1912; Marion Presidents 1937; Marion Diggers 1944; Marion Cardinals 1945–1946; Marion Cubs
 * Massillon, Ohio: Massillion 1898
 * Maysville, Kentucky: Maysville 1913–1914; Maysville Angels 1915; Maysville Burley Cubs 1916
 * Middletown, Ohio: Middletown Red Sox 1944; Middletown Rockets 1945–1946
 * Muncie, Indiana: Muncie Reds 1947
 * Newark, Ohio: Newark 1889; Newark Newks 1908–1911; Newark Skeeters 1912; Newark Moundsmen 1944–1947
 * Newport, Kentucky: Newport Brewers 1914
 * New Philadelphia, Ohio: New Philadelphia Red Birds 1936
 * Paris, Kentucky: Paris 1914
 * Piqua, Ohio: Piqua Picks 1911
 * Portsmouth, Ohio: Portsmouth Cobblers 1908–1915; Portsmouth Truckers (1916)
 * Richmond, Indiana: Richmond Roses 1946–1947
 * Salem, Ohio: Salem 1898
 * Sandusky, Ohio: Sandusky Suds 1887; Sandusky Sailors 1936–1937
 * Springfield, Ohio: Springfield Reapers 1908, 1911; Springfield Giants 1944–1947
 * Steubenville, Ohio: Steubenville Stubs 1887
 * Tiffin, Ohio: Tiffin 1889; Tiffin Mud Hens 1936–1941
 * Wheeling, West Virginia: Wheeling 1887; Wheeling Nailers 1898
 * Youngstown, Ohio: Youngstown 1889
 * Zanesville, Ohio: Zanesville Kickapoos 1887; Zanesville Clay Diggers 1898; Zanesville Dodgers 1944–1947

1887, 1889, 1898
1887 Ohio State League

1889 Ohio State League

1898 Ohio State League

1908 to 1916
1908 Ohio State League

1909 Ohio State League

1910 Ohio State League

1911 Ohio State League

1912 Ohio State League

1913 Ohio State League

1914 Ohio State League

1915 Ohio State League

Playoff: Portsmouth 4 games, Maysville 1.

1916 Ohio State League

1936 to 1941
1936 Ohio State League

1937 Ohio State League

1938 Ohio State League

1939 Ohio State League

1940 Ohio State League

1941 Ohio State League

No League play 1942 & 1943 due to WW II.

1944 to 1947
1944 Ohio State League

1945 Ohio State League

1946 Ohio State League

1947 Ohio State League

League records 1887–1951
See the Ohio–Indiana League for 1948-51