The Wisconsin State League was a class D baseball league that began in 1905, changing its name to the Wisconsin–Illinois League in 1908 and operating through 1914. The league re-organized under that name in 1926. Another Wisconsin State League began in 1940, shut down during World War II from 1943 through 1945, then operated from 1946 through 1953.
The Class D Wisconsin–Illinois League began play in 1940 with six charter franchises: Appleton Papermakers , Fond du Lac Panthers , Green Bay Bluejays , La Crosse Blackhawks , Sheboygan Indians and Wisconsin Rapids White Sox .[1] In 1942 the league expanded to eight teams, adding the Janesville Cubs and Oshkosh Giants . [2] After play resumed in 1946, La Crosse moved to become the Wausau Lumberjacks and the league operated with those franchises until its demise following the 1953 season.[3]
List of teams
Wisconsin State League (1905–1907, 1922-1925, 1928-1931, 1940-1942, 1946-1953)
Appleton Papermakers (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Beloit Collegians (1905)
Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans (1906)
Eau Claire Tigers (1907)
Fond du Lac Panthers (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Freeport Pretzels (1905–1907)
Fond du Lac Webfoots (1907)
Green Bay Bluejays (1940, 1942, 1946–1953)
Green Bay Blue Sox (1941)
Green Bay Colts (1905–1906)
Green Bay Orphans (1907)
Janesville Bears (1946)
Janesville Cubs (1941–1942, 1947–1953)
Kenosha Twin Sixes (1928-1929)
Kosciuszko Reds , Milwaukee (1928-1930)
La Crosse Badgers (1907)
La Crosse Blackhawks (1940–1942)
La Crosse Pinks (1905–1906)
Madison Blues (1928-1931)
Madison Senators (1905–1907)
Manitowoc Shipbuilders (1928-1931)
Milwaukee Red Sox (1931)
Onion Oils , Milwaukee (1928)
Oshkosh Giants (1941–1942, 1946–1953)
Oshkosh Indians (1905–1907)
Racine Belles (1929-1930)
Sheboygan Chairmakers (1928-1932)
Sheboygan Indians (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Twin Rivers Mirros (1928-1931)
Union Oils , Milwaukee (1928)
Wausau Lumberjacks (1905–1907, 1946–1953)
Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
[4]
Wisconsin–Illinois League (1908–1914, 1926-1927, 1932)
[5]
Season Standings
1908 season (W-I League)[6]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Wausau Lumberjacks
72
47
.605
119
La Crosse Pinks
66
57
.537
123
Madison Senators
64
56
.533
120
Green Bay Tigers
65
58
.528
123
Freeport Pretzels
59
62
.488
121
Fond du Lac Cubs
57
65
.467
122
Oshkosh Indians
54
66
.450
120
Rockford Reds
48
74
.393
122
1909 season (W-I League)[7]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Senators
74
45
.622
119
Green Bay Bays
69
54
.561
123
Racine Malted Milks
66
58
.532
124
Appleton Papermakers
66
58
.532
124
Rockford Reds
61
61
.500
122
Fond du Lac Giants
58
64
.475
122
Oshkosh Indians
52
72
.419
124
Freeport Pretzels
45
79
.363
124
1910 season (W-I League)[8]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Appleton Papermakers
74
46
.617
120
Rockford Reds
72
50
.590
122
Fond du Lac Giants
66
55
.545
121
Madison Senators
62
59
.512
121
Green Bay Bays
59
61
.492
120
Racine Malted Milks
59
62
.488
121
Oshkosh Indians
51
72
.415
123
Aurora Islanders
43
81
.347
124
1911 season (W-I League)[9]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Rockford
74
46
.617
120
Madison Senators
65
57
.533
122
Green Bay
61
56
.521
117
Appleton
63
58
.521
121
Oshkosh
61
64
.488
125
Racine
58
64
.475
122
Aurora
55
65
.458
120
Fond du Lac
47
73
.392
120
1912 season (W-I League)[10]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Oshkosh
87
45
.659
132
Racine
78
51
.605
129
Appleton
67
60
.528
127
Wausau
66
76
.465
142
Green Bay
61
68
.473
129
Rockford
63
71
.470
134
Aurora
54
80
.403
134
Madison Senators
51
85
.375
136
1913 season (W-I League)[11]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Oshkosh
74
46
.617
120
Racine Belles
72
51
.585
123
Green Bay
69
57
.548
126
Rockford
65
56
.537
121
Madison Senators
64
61
.512
125
Fond du Lac
63
61
.508
124
Wausau Lumberjacks
45
80
.360
125
Appleton
43
80
.350
123
1914 season (W-I League)[12]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Oshkosh
75
43
.636
118
Green Bay
73
51
.589
124
Appleton
64
55
.538
119
Racine
64
58
.525
122
Twin Cities (Prairie du Sac/Sauk City)
61
59
.508
120
Madison Senators
57
62
.479
119
Rockford
48
71
.403
119
Wausau
39
82
.322
121
1922 season (Wis. State League)[13]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Manitowoc
8
3
.727
11
Green Bay
7
4
.636
11
Menasha
6
6
.500
12
Appleton
2
10
.167
12
1923 season (Wis. State League)[14]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
19
9
.679
28
Neenah-Menasha Papermakers
19
9
.679
28
Appleton
17
11
.607
28
Green Bay Bays
15
13
.536
28
Kaukauna
14
14
.500
28
Marinette-Menominee Twins
10
18
.357
28
Oshkosh
10
18
.357
28
Fond du Lac
8
20
.286
28
1924 season (Wis. State League)[15]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Neenah-Menasha
8
2
.800
10
Green Bay
5
5
.500
10
Appleton
4
4
.500
8
Sheboygan
4
4
.500
8
Oshkosh
3
4
.429
8
Fond du Lac
2
6
.250
8
1925 season (Wis. State League)[16]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Kenosha Twin Sixes
33
17
.660
50
Beloit Fairies
24
21
.533
45
Racine Athletics
24
28
.462
52
Sheboygan Chairmakers
22
29
.431
51
1926 season (W-I League)[17]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
48
21
.696
69
Kenosha Twin Sixes
44
28
.611
72
Beloit Fairies
32
22
.593
54
Madison Blues
27
31
.466
58
Racine Belles
30
38
.441
68
Logan Squares (Chicago)
12
21
.364
33
La Crosse Boosters
9
25
.265
34
1927 season (W-I League)[18]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
33
17
.660
50
Beloit Fairies
17
17
.500
34
Madison Blues
18
28
.391
46
Kenosha Twin Sixers
13
28
.317
41
Logan Squares (Chicago)
13
4
.765
17
1928 season (Wis. State League)[19]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Two Rivers Mirros
20
13
.606
33
Sheboygan Chairmakers
19
15
.559
34
Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)
17
15
.531
32
Union Oils (Milwaukee)
16
16
.500
32
Manitowoc Shipbuilders
14
19
.424
33
Madison Blues
12
20
.375
32
1929 season (Wis. State League)[20]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Two Rivers Mirros
19
6
.760
25
Sheboygan Chairmakers
18
7
.720
25
Union Oils (Milwaukee)
12
12
.500
24
Manitowoc Shipbuilders
13
13
.500
26
Kenosha Twin Sixes
12
14
.462
26
Racine Belles
11
15
.423
26
Madison Blues
8
17
.320
25
Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)
8
17
.320
25
1930 season (Wis. State League)[21]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Racine Belles
18
6
.750
24
Two Rivers Mirros
15
9
.625
24
Madison Blues
13
12
.520
25
Manitowoc Shipbuilders
11
13
.458
24
Sheboygan Chairmakers
11
14
.440
25
Milwaukee Oils
9
12
.429
24
Kosciuszko Reds (Milwaukee)
9
14
.391
23
Kenosha Twin Sixes
8
14
.364
22
1931 season (Wis. State League)[22]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
15
4
.789
19
Two Rivers Mirros
10
8
.555
18
Madison Blues
11
9
.550
20
Milwaukee
8
10
.444
18
Racine Belles
3
16
.158
19
1932 season (W-I League)[23]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Harley Mills (Chicago)
16
5
.762
21
Madison Blues
21
10
.677
31
Sheboygan Chairmakers
13
11
.542
24
Duffy Florals (Chicago)
14
12
.538
26
Chicago Firemen
7
10
.474
17
Milwaukee Red Sox
11
14
.440
25
Logan Squares (Chicago)
9
12
.429
21
Colored All-Stars
3
15
.167
18
Colored Giants
2
9
.182
11
1933 season (W-I League)[24]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
34
17
.667
51
Harley Mills
18
10
.655
28
Duffy Florals
18
14
.563
32
Logan Squares
17
18
.486
35
Aurora
8
9
.471
17
Spencer Coals
7
12
.368
19
Chicago Firemen
6
15
.286
21
Colored All-Stars
4
16
.200
20
1934 season (Wis. State League)
First half of the split season:
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Green Bay Green Sox
7
1
.875
8
Kaukauna
5
3
.625
8
Madison Blues
4
3
.571
7
Wisconsin Rapids
3
5
.375
8
Sheboygan Chairmakers
8
9
.471
17
Oshkosh Indians
7
12
.368
19
Second half of the split season:
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
8
2
.800
10
Wisconsin Rapids
8
2
.800
10
Green Bay Green Sox
4
5
.444
9
Sheboygan Chairmakers
4
5
.444
9
Oshkosh Indians
3
7
.300
10
Kaukauna
2
8
.200
10
The Madison Blues won the tie-breaker from Wisconsin Rapids to meet Green Bay, the winner of the season's first half. Green Bay prevailed in the final three-game championship series.
1935 season (Wis. State League)
First half of the split season:[25]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
8
2
.800
10
Sheboygan Chairmakers
8
2
.800
10
Green Bay Green Sox
5
5
.500
10
Wisconsin Rapids
5
5
.500
10
Kaukauna
3
7
.300
10
Oshkosh Indians
1
9
.100
10
After tying for title of the season's first half, Madison won the first two of a three-game championship series over Sheboygan.
Second half of the split season:[26]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Sheboygan Chairmakers
6
4
.600
10
Madison Blues
6
4
.600
10
Wisconsin Rapids
6
4
.600
10
Kaukauna
6
4
.600
10
Green Bay Green Sox
3
7
.300
10
Oshkosh Indians
3
7
.300
10
Sheboygan won the run-off for title of the season's second half, but were defeated by first half champs Madison after the Blues won the first two of the three-game title series.[27]
1936 season (Wis. State League)
First half of the split season:[28]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
9
2
.818
11
Racine Belles
7
4
.636
11
Sheboygan Chairmakers
4
6
.400
10
Milwaukee Red Sox
1
9
.100
10
Madison defeated Racine to win the title of the season's first half.[29]
Second half of the split season:[30]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
8
1
.889
9
Racine Belles
3
4
.429
7
Milwaukee Red Sox
2
3
.400
10
Sheboygan Chairmakers
2
7
.222
9
Madison clinched the title of the season's latter half on Aug. 23 when they defeated the Racine Belles. The Blues became 1936 State League champions by winning both halves of the split season.
1937 season (Wis. State League)
First half of the split season:[31]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
10
2
.833
12
Sheboygan Chairmakers
10
2
.833
12
Racine Belles
3
9
.250
12
Kenosha Unions
1
11
.083
12
Madison defeated Sheboygan in a three-game series to win the title of the season's first half.
Second half of the split season:[32]
Team
Wins
Losses
Pct.
Games played
Madison Blues
10
2
.833
12
Sheboygan Chairmakers
10
2
.833
12
Racine Belles
1
9
.100
10
Kenosha Unions
1
9
.100
10
Sheboygan won the three-game tie-breaker series against Madison to win title of the season's latter half. Facing Sheboygan again for the 1937 championship, Blues manager Eddie Lenahan insisted on a single deciding game instead of three. The State League disagreed, declaring that Madison had forfeited the season by refusing to play in a three-game series. The Chairmakers were awarded the 1937 season championship.
References
^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=f36fd505
^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=ca9e7ad8
^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=f142caf5
^ "Baseball Reference Bullpen – Wisconsin State League" .
^ Baseball Reference Bullpen – Wisconsin–Illinois League
^ "Locals Finish in Second Place," La Crosse Tribune , Sep. 14, 1908
^ "League Standings in Capsule Form," Racine Journal , Sep. 13, 1909
^ "W.-I. Flag to Appleton," Chicago Examiner , Sep. 8, 1910
^ "League Baseball in Condensed Form," Racine Journal , Sep. 11, 1911
^ "Baseball Results," Monmouth Daily Atlas , Sep. 17, 1912
^ "Here's Best Race in 1913 Baseball," Chicago Examiner , Sep. 8, 1913
^ "Standing of the Teams," Racine Journal , Sep. 14, 1914
^ "Team Standings," Manitowoc Herald News , Sep. 18, 1922
^ "Standings and Results as the Schedule Closes," Sheboygan Press Telegram , Sep. 24, 1923
^ "How They Stand," Appleton Post Crescent , Sep. 22, 1924
^ "Racine Here for a Final Clash Sunday," Sheboygan Press , Oct. 3, 1925
^ "W-I Association Standings," Sheboygan Press , Oct. 1, 1926
^ "Final Standings, Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press , Sep. 14, 1927
^ "Two Rivers Cop the Pennant of the Wisconsin State League," Sheboygan Press , Sep. 10, 1928
^ "Team Standings," Racine Journal News , Sep. 3, 1929
^ "Blues Win Pair, in Third Place" Capital Times , Sep. 2, 1930
^ "Chairs Split with Mirros," Manitowoc Evening Times , Sep. 8, 1931
^ "W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal , Sep. 3, 1932
^ "W-I League Standings," Wisconsin State Journal , Dec. 31, 1933
^ "Blues Romp to Victory Over Kaukauna,18-1," Wisconsin State Journal , July 1, 1935
^ "State League Standings (Second Half Final)," Wisconsin State Journal , Sep. 9, 1935
^ "Blues Sweep Series to Cop League Title," Wisconsin State Journal , Sep. 30, 1935
^ "Blues Win First Half Crown in State League," Wisconsin State Journal , July 6, 1936
^ "Blues Win First Half Crown in State League," Wisconsin State Journal , July 6, 1936
^ Belles Dropped from Flag Race, Lose 3-2," Racine Journal Times , Aug. 24, 1936
^ "Blues, Chairs Share Honors," Racine Journal-Times , July 7, 1937
^ "Belles Lose Home Final," Racine Journal-Times , Sep. 7, 1937
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