User:Muboshgu/Middle States League

The Middle States League was an independent minor league based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The league played in 1889 and was not part of the National Agreement with the National League and American Association. The Middle States League was the first white minor league to include an African American team.

The league was formed on November 19, 1888 by delegates representing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware. It was initially planned that ten teams would compete in the league, though they only went with six: Philadelphia, Reading, Harrisburg, York, Lancaster, and the Cuban Giants, representing Trenton, New Jersey. The Giants were added as a gate attraction. Later in the season, the league added two new teams (Norwalk, Connecticut and Norristown, Pennsylvania) and expanded the schedule from sixty to seventy games. In June, there was a scandal where the league nearly expelled the Giants. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia, Reading and Lancaster teams all disbanded. The Philadelphia Giants were replaced with the New York Gorhams, also an African American franchise. Hazelton replaced Reading and Shenandoah replaced Lancaster. Shenandoah and Norwalk were expelled in August, replaced with teams in Wilmington and Lebanon. York disbanded in September.

The league lasted one season. The Cuban Stars finished with the best winning percentage, edging out the Harrisburg Ponies with .780 to .753 However, a series of rulings resulted in changes in the standings, and Harrisburg winning the "official" league championship. The league was reorganized and reinstated as the Eastern Interstate League in 1890.

Teams

 * Harrisburg Ponies, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
 * Hazelton Pugilists, Hazleton, Pennsylvania
 * Lancaster ?, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
 * Lebanon Grays, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
 * New York Gorhams, Easton, Pennsylvania
 * Norristown ?, Norristown, Pennsylvania
 * Norwalk ?, Norwalk, Connecticut
 * Philadelphia Giants, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 * Reading ? Reading, Pennsylvania
 * Shenandoah Hungarian Rioters, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania
 * Cuban Giants, Trenton, New Jersey
 * Wilmington Peach Growers, Wilmington, Delaware
 * York ?, York, Pennsylvania

Notable players
Players included Frank Grant and George Stovey.