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35-761: After minor league baseball began in Jackson with the 1888 Jackson Jaxons of the Tri-State League , the Convicts were preceded by the 1902 Jackson White Sox, who played a partial season in the Michigan State League . On February 19, 1906, the National Commission awarded the Michigan cities of Jackson and Kalamazoo to the newly formed Southern Michigan League , after the existing Interstate League had first claimed

70-529: A 77-46 record and in first place. Ed McKernan continued as manager as the Crickets won the championship and ended the season 9.0 games ahead of the second place Battle Adrian Lions. Battle Creek pitcher Dick Niehaus led the Southern Michigan League with 24 wins. Battle Creek was the defending Southern Michigan League champions in 1914 and placed third. The league expanded to a ten-team league. with

105-520: A 92-57 record, Battle Creek placed third in the regular season overall standings, as the league playoff after it expanded to ten teams. The Crickets were managed by Dan Collins and finished 5.5 games behind first place Bay City Beavers . Battle Creek did not qualify for the two-team playoff won by the Saginaw Ducks over Bay City. Saginaw had finished in second place in the final regular season standings, mere percentage points ahead of Battle Creek. In

140-464: A record of 17-27 playing the partial season under manager Bruce Haynes. The Tecumseh Indians won the league championship after the league played the remainder of the season with seven teams. Despite folding the previous season, the Convicts returned to play in the 1908 Michigan State League. On June 30, 1908, the Saginaw Wa-was and Jackson played a 20-inning game at Keeley Park in Jackson. Saginaw won

175-684: A team called the Pomonkey Giants associated with a Pomonkey social club in Pomonkey Maryland. They played teams in Berry Road near La Plata, Maryland and in Hughesville among others. It was very much a rural league and almost totally black players. The team is mentioned in the obituary of a player and coach, George Dyson, Jr in 2020. One of the most extensive discussions of this Tri-State League explains how integration of Major League baseball led to

210-1104: The Grand River from the Michigan State Prison . Today, Keeley Park, also known as the "Jackson County Fairgrounds" is still in use as a public park, with an event center and amenities. The park remains home to the annual Jackson County Fair and is located at 200 West Ganson Street. Tri-State League The Tri-State League was the name of six different circuits in American minor league baseball . The first league of that name played for four years (1887–1890) and consisted of teams in Ohio , Michigan and West Virginia . The second league, played from 1904–1914, and had member clubs in Delaware , New Jersey and Pennsylvania . The League contested its 1904 championship game in Philadelphia between York and Williamsport and attracted 3,500 fans to

245-745: The Phillies' ball park Charles F. Carpenter was president from 1906 to 1913. During the 1920s, two versions of the Tri-State League briefly existed: a 1924 loop with clubs in Iowa , Nebraska and South Dakota , and a 1925–1926 association located in Tennessee , Mississippi and Arkansas . In the late 1930s another iteration existed for two years, composed of six teams from Wisconsin , Illinois and Indiana in its first season, and just four teams excluding Indiana in its second. The most recent incarnation of

280-417: The "Convicts." Jackson ended the season in third place in the eight-team Southern Michigan League, with a 66-60 record. Mo Myers continued as manager as the Convicts ended the season 15.5 games behind first place Battle Creek Crickets . Jackson continued Southern Michigan League play in 1914 and became known as the "Chiefs." The league expanded to a ten-team league. with a 70-71 record, Jackson placed sixth of

315-476: The "Vets" in 1915. When the league folded, the Vets had a record of 29-34 and finished in third place, ending 14.0 games behind first place South Bend Factors in the final standings. The Southern Michigan League never reformed. Jackson, Michigan has not hosted another minor league team. Jackson teams hosted home minor league games at Keeley Park . The 7,000 capacity ballpark was located North of Ganson Street, across

350-406: The 1912 Southern Michigan League standings. Battle Creek ended the season with a record of 59–68, with Ed McKernan as manager. The Crickets finished 20.0 games behind first place Adrian Lions . Jackson's John Connors had 168 hits to lead the league. The 1913 Battle Creek Crickets won their only Southern Michigan League championship. In the eight-team league, the Crickets ended the season with

385-652: The Battle Creek "Adventists," who played the season as members of the Class B level Michigan State League , the Crickets were immediately preceded by the 1902 Battle Creek "Cero Frutos," who played one season in returning to the Michigan State League. On January 29, 1906, the Southern Michigan League was formed at a meeting in held in Battle Creek. Joe Jackson, the sports editor of the Detroit Free Press newspaper

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420-485: The Battle Creek Crickets became charter members of the six–team Class D level Southern Michigan League , also called the "Southern Michigan Association". The Jackson Convicts , Kalamazoo White Sox , Mount Clemens Bathers , Saginaw and Tecumseh Indians teams joined Battle Creek in beginning league play on May 6, 1906. On May 5, 1906, Battle Creek beat the "Burroughs Adding Machine" team from Detroit by

455-458: The Convicts finished with a final record of 51-85. Jackson ended the Southern Michigan League season 34.5 games behind the first place Lansing Senators . In 1911, the Southern Michigan League was upgraded from a Class D league to a Class C league and the Convicts finished in last place. With a record of 39–98 under manager Charley Fox, Jackson finished 48.0 games behind the first place Kalamazoo Celery Pickers (88-51). John Connors of Jackson won

490-524: The Kalamazoo franchise for that league. In 1906, the Jackson Convicts became charter members of the six–team Class D level Southern Michigan League , also called the "Southern Michigan Association". The Battle Creek Crickets , Kalamazoo White Sox , Mount Clemens Bathers , Saginaw and Tecumseh Indians teams joined Jackson in beginning league play on May 6, 1906. Jackson's "Convicts" nickname for

525-428: The Michigan State League batting title, hitting .377. The Convicts finished as the runner-up in the 1912 Southern Michigan League standings. Jackson ended the season with a record of 71–55, placing second, as Mo Meyers returned as manager. The Convicts finished 3.5 games behind first place Adrian Lions . Jackson's John Connors had 168 hits to lead the league. The 1913 season was the final season for Jackson playing as

560-630: The Southern Michigan League began league play, the Saginaw team was added to the league. Saginaw was given a record of 15-20 when added to the league, with Battle Creek then given an identical record to Saginaw. On July 21, 1906, the Battle Creek record of 4-38 was expunged and the reorganized team was awarded a record of 15-20 on July 22. The teams' records were adjusted to enhance league balance and competitiveness. The Battle Creek and Saginaw teams were granted an “average start on an even basis,” where both teams’ won-loss records were recalculated using an average of

595-415: The Southern Michigan League was upgraded from a Class D league to a Class C league and the Crickets ended the season in seventh place. With a record of 57–80, playing the season under manager John Burke, Battle Creek finished 30.0 games behind the first place Kalamazoo Celery Pickers (88-51). Pete Compton of Battle Creek had 25 triples to lead the Michigan State League. The Crickets finished sixth in

630-504: The ballclub corresponds to the city being home to the Michigan State Prison in the era. The first state prison, located in Jackson was built in 1842. Today, the original 1842 prison site houses residential apartments, several art galleries and a bicycle cooperative . In their first season of play, the Convicts ended the 1906 season with a record of 52–52 to place fourth in the final Southern Michigan League standings. Managed by Mo Meyers and George Deneau , Jackson finished 17.0 games behind

665-522: The defection of clubs like Charlotte to higher-classification loops—eventually took its toll on the Tri-State League. In its last season, 1955 , there were only four clubs in the league. Its last champion was the Spartanburg Peaches, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians . There were teams in southern Maryland that played in a "Tri-State League" in at least the 60s, 70s, and the 80s. There was

700-682: The demise of the Negro leagues . It became neighborhood baseball. Battle Creek Crickets The Battle Creek Crickets were a minor league baseball team based in Battle Creek, Michigan . From 1906 to 1915, the "Crickets" played as members of the Southern Michigan League for the duration of the league, winning the 1913 league championship. The Battle Creek Crickets teams hosted their home minor league games at Athletic Park. After minor league baseball began in Battle Creek in 1895, with

735-417: The eight-team league. Playing under returning manager George Deneau, the Crickets ended the season 21.5 games behind first place Saginaw. Battle Creek placed fourth in the eight-team league in 1910. Playing under manager Billy Earle , the Crickets finished with a final record of 72-64. Battle Creen ended the Southern Michigan League season 13.5 games behind the first place Lansing Senators . In 1911,

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770-437: The eight-team league. Playing under returning manager, Bo Slear, the Convicts ended the season just 1.0 game behind first place Saginaw. Elmer Criger finished 22-7 to lead the league. In a close race, the Saginaw Wa-was finished with a record of 73-52, followed by the second place Flint Vehicles at 72-52 and the Convicts at 71-52. Jackson placed seventh in the eight-team league in 1910. Playing under continuing manager Bo Slear,

805-456: The final season of the league, the 1915 six-team Southern Michigan League folded on July 7, 1915, with the onset of World War I greatly affecting minor leagues. When the league folded, the Crickets had a record of 34-33 and finished in second place, ending 9.0 games behind first place South Bend Factors in the final standings. The Southern Michigan League never returned to play. Battle Creen, Michigan next hosted minor league baseball when

840-462: The first place Mount Clemens Bathers. Mount Clemens (69-34) was followed by the second place Kalamazoo White Sox (63–41), who were followed by the Tecumseh Indians (57–47), Jackson Convicts (52–52), Battle Creek Crickets (39–56) and Saginaw (34–60). The Jackson Convicts continued play in the 1907 eight-team Southern Michigan League but folded during the season. On July 15,1907, Jackson folded with

875-414: The game 5-4. Jackson ended the season with a record of 68–57 and in third place. Led by manager Bo Slear, the Convicts finished the season 4.5 games behind the first place Saginaw Wa-was , as the league held no playoffs. The Convicts were involved in a close championship race in the 1909 Southern Michigan League, which held no playoffs. Jackson ended the season with a final record of 71–52 to place third in

910-435: The league played the remainder of the season with seven teams after Jackson folded during the season. On April 26, 1908, the Battle Creek Crickets played their first exhibition game against the local Battle Creek Independents team. In the 1908 Southern Michigan League standings, Battle Creek placed fifth in the eight-team league as the Jackson Convicts returned to play. Jackson and Battle Creek would play in every season of

945-515: The league was the post- World War II Tri-State, a Class B circuit with clubs in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina . This league, which played from 1946–1955, typically included clubs in Charlotte , Asheville , Knoxville , Rock Hill and Spartanburg ; most of its teams were affiliated with Major League Baseball farm systems . The attendance crisis in the minor leagues of the 1950s—and

980-436: The league. Battle Creek ended the season with a record of 62–63, led by returning player/ managers William Henerson and George Deneau . The Crickets finished the season 10.5 games behind the first place Saginaw Wa-was , as the league held no playoffs. The Crickets finished last in the eight-team 1909 Southern Michigan League, which held no playoffs. Jackson ended the season with a final record of 52–74 to place eighth in

1015-415: The league’s standings - a record halfway between the first and last place clubs. In their first season of play, the Crickets ended the 1906 season with the adjusted record of 39–56 to place fifth in the final Southern Michigan League standings. Managed by Cal Wenger, Joe Ganzel, Mo Meyers and George Black, Battle Creek finished 26.0 games behind the first place Mount Clemens Bathers. Mount Clemens (69-34)

1050-464: The score of 9-2. There were an estimated 1,000 fans at Battle Creek. At their home opener on May 15, 1906, the Crickets defeated beat Kalamazoo 7-4 in front of 2,400 fans. During the season, on June 27, 1906, Battle Creek manager George Black, was arrested in Mt. Clemens for allegedly punching Umpire O’Connor. An arbiter refused to file a complaint against Black, so the case was dismissed. Battle Creek began

1085-568: The season playing poorly. On July 16, 1906, after their poor start, Battle Creek released almost its entire roster, keeping only three players: Jack Landry, Mike Keveney and Waddell. Battle Creek then acquired some players from the folded Flint Vehicles , following the demise of the Interstate Association weeks earlier. Despite the team's performance on the field, Battle Creek had the league’s best attendance totals, often exceeding attendance of 2,000 for Sunday games. On July 18, 1906, after

Jackson Convicts - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-404: The ten teams. The Chiefs were managed by Mo Meyers and Don Brown, finishing 24.0 games behind first place Bay City Beavers . Jackson did not qualify for the two-team playoff won by the Saginaw Ducks over Bay City. In the final season of the league, the 1915 six-team Southern Michigan League folded on July 7, 1915, with the onset of World War I greatly affecting minor leagues. Jackson played as

1155-426: Was followed by the second place Kalamazoo White Sox (63–41), who were followed by the Tecumseh Indians (57–47), Jackson Convicts (52–52), Battle Creek Crickets (39–56) and Saginaw (34–60). The Battle Creek Crickets continued play in the 1907 eight-team Southern Michigan League and placed third in the standings as the league expanded to eight teams. During the 1907 season, shortstop/manager William "Curly" Henderson

1190-411: Was named as league president. The schedule called for each team to play three league games a week, with a salary limit of $ 800 per month per team. On February 19, 1906, the National Commission awarded the Michigan cities of Jackson and Kalamazoo to the newly formed Southern Michigan League, after the existing Interstate Association had first claimed the Kalamazoo franchise for that league. In 1906,

1225-416: Was suspended for the remainder of the season on suspicion of purposefully throwing a game with a wild throw to George Deneau playing first base. Henderson claimed that the ball went only a foot above Deneau's head and should have been caught. The Crickets ended the season with a record of 63-49 playing the season under managers Henderson and George Deneau . The Tecumseh Indians won the league championship as

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