The Bay City Wolves were a minor league baseball team based in Bay City, Michigan . From 1919 to 1926, the Wolves played as members of the Class B level Michigan-Ontario League for the eight-season duration of the league, winning league consecutive championships in 1923 and 1924.
20-622: In 1926, the Michigan State League was formed through a merger of two leagues during the season, with the Wolves capturing the Michigan State League championship in their final season. The Bay City Wolves hosted minor league home games at Clarkston Park. Baseball Hall of Fame member Kiki Cuyler played his first professional seasons for the 1920 and 1921 Bay City Wolves. His contract was purchased from Bay City by
40-557: A Bay City franchise. Bay City has not hosted another minor league team. The Bay City Wolves hosted minor league home games at Clarkson Park . The ballpark was named for Baseball Hall of Fame member John Clarkson , who had played for an early Bay City team. The ballpark began hosting minor league baseball in 1906, when the Bay City team in the Interstate Association played home games at the ballpark. Clarkston Park
60-881: A virtual tie for first place. Jackson played some of their make-up games to gain enough victories to win the championship. Saginaw protested. President Curtis awarded the championship banner to Saginaw. 1890 Michigan State League schedule Grand Rapids left to join the International League June 12 The league disbanded June 13. 1895 Michigan State League schedule Owosso & Port Huron disbanded September 3.; Battle Creek (14-40) moved to Jackson August 8 1897 Michigan State League Kalamazoo (23-41) moved to Flint July 12; Jackson disbanded July 20; Lansing disbanded July 27 The league disbanded August 16 1902 Michigan State League schedule Saginaw (35-28) moved to Jackson July 20.; Grand Rapids disbanded July 20; Lansing disbanded August 20, causing
80-471: The Central League and Michigan-Ontario League . Flint (18-26) moved to Charlotte July 22. 1940 Michigan State League Playoffs : Saginaw 3 games, Grand Rapids 1; St. Joseph 3 games, Flint 2. Finals : Cancelled due to inclement weather. 1941 Michigan State League No Playoffs Scheduled. George Tomer George Clarence Tomer (November 26, 1895 – December 15, 1984)
100-484: The Class B level Michigan-Ontario League . The Battle Creek Custers , Brantford Red Sox , Flint Halligans , Hamilton Tigers , Kitchener Beavers , London Tecumsehs and Saginaw Aces teams joined Bay City in beginning league play on May 15, 1919. In their first season of Michigan-Ontario League play, the 1919 Bay City Wolves ended the season with a record of 43–69. The Wolves finished in fifth place, 36.0 games behind
120-597: The Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1921 season. In September, Pittsburgh purchased his contract from Bay City for $ 2,500. Cuyler was also pursued by the Detroit Tigers and their manager Ty Cobb . The 1922 Michigan-Ontario League season saw Bay City end the season fourth place. The Wolves finished with an overall record of 69–62, ending 14.0 games behind the first place Hamilton Tigers. Punch Knoll returned as Bay City manager. Hamilton defeated Saginaw for
140-534: The Pittsburgh Pirates in 1921. Minor league baseball began in Bay City in 1883, when the "Bay City" team played the season as a member of the Northwestern League . After numerous teams followed, the Wolves were immediately preceded in minor league play by the 1915 Bay City Beavers , who ended a nine-season tenure as members of the Class C level Southern Michigan League . In 1919, the "Bay City Wolves" resumed minor league play as charter members of
160-465: The Michigan State league. Five of the six Michigan State League incarnations operated only one or two baseball seasons and the other four seasons. Jointly they covered eleven baseball seasons from 1889 to 1941. The first two Michigan State Leagues, 1889–1890 and 1895, predated the establishment of present-day Minor League Baseball , an umbrella organization of minor leagues . The third
180-494: The Michigan-Ontario League merged during the season to create a new league. The Wolves began the season in the four-team Michigan-Ontario League. On June 13, 1926, the league folded with Bay City in third place, with a record of 10–18 to finish 9.0 games behind the first place Port Huron Saints . Bob Prysock was the manager as the team continued play in a new league. On June 15, 1926, the Michigan State League
200-537: The Michigan-Ontario League overall standings 1921 and won the first-half title in a split season schedule. Bay City ended the season with an overall record of 65–53 record, finishing 7.0 games behind London. Punch Knoll began a successful four season tenure as the Bay City manager. In the playoff London defeated Bay City 4 games to 2. Pitcher Cy Boothby of Bay City led the Michigan-Ontario League with 21 wins. Kiki Cuyler continued play with Bay City in 1921. Cuyler hit .317 in 116 games before making his major league debut with
220-511: The championship in the league playoff. Saraphin Good, a Bay City pitcher led the league with 19 wins and a 19–4 record. In 1923, the Wolves won their first of consecutive Michigan-Ontario League championships. The Bay City Wolves finished in first place with a record of 80–51, playing under the returning manager Punch Knoll. Bay City ended the season 2.5 games ahead of the second place Saginaw Aces as no playoffs were held. Seraphin Good of Bay City led
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#1732801818162240-530: The first place Saginaw Aces . Bill Cristall and Cal Wenger served as the Bay City managers. In their second season of Michigan-Ontario League play, the 1920 Bay City Wolves ended the season in sixth place in the eight-team league. With a 51–69 record, Bay City ended the season 36.0 games behind the first place London Tecumsehs as Cal Wenger returned as manager. At age 20, Baseball Hall of Fame member Kiki Cuyler played for Bay City in 1920, hitting .258 in his first professional season. The Wolves placed third in
260-419: The league reduced to six teams. The Bay City Wolves ended their final season in fourth place. With a 74–67 record, the Wolves finished 12.0 games behind the first place London Indians , who won the league playoff over Hamilton. Dick Breen served as the Bay City manager. Pitcher Marty Griffin of Bay City led the league with 137 strikeouts. Bay City played in two leagues in 1926 winning a league championship, as
280-401: The league to fold. 1911 Michigan State League schedule 1912 Michigan State League 1913 Michigan State League 1914 Michigan State League Traverse City & Boyne City both withdrew September 1; Manistee (56-51) was expelled and the franchise moved to Belding September 9. 1926 Michigan State League schedule The league was created June 15 by the mid-season merger of
300-407: The league with both 20 wins (20-5) and 168 strikeouts, while teammate Ovila Lahaie had a league leading ERA of 1.85. Bay City defended their Michigan-Ontario League championship in 1924. The Bay City Wolves ended the regular season with a record of 86–50, in the final season under manager Punch Knoll. The Wolves finished 5.0 games ahead of the second place Flint Vehicles in the eight-team league. In
320-460: The newly formed league. The Bay City Wolves finished in first place with a 64–30 record. Bob Prysock continued as the manager as the Wolves ended the season 8.0 games ahead of the second place Port Huron Saints. Al Bashang of Bay City led the Michigan State League in scoring 107 runs. Saraphin Good of Bay City led the league with 19 wins and a 19–4 record. The Michigan State League did not return to play in 1927. The league next formed in 1941 without
340-404: The playoff, Bay City defeated Flint in seven games. Joe Kiefer of Bay City led the Michigan-Ontario League with 19 wins, Ovila Lahaie had a league leading 148 strikeouts, Sylvester Heitzman of Bay City had a league best .783 winning percentage with an 18–5 records and George Tomer of Bay City led the league with 174 total hits. 1925 was the final full season for the Michigan-Ontario League, as
360-660: Was a "Class D" league during 1902 only, the first season for the organized minors. In 1911, the West Michigan League expanded and became the fourth Michigan State League as a "Class D" minor league through 1914. In 1926, the Michigan–Ontario League merged with the Central League to form the fifth MSL, which played only the one season. The sixth Michigan State League operated in 1940 and 1941. 1889 Michigan State League Kalamazoo (32-42) moved to Flint September 3. **Jackson and Saginaw finished in
380-492: Was located at the corner of Livingston Street & Center Avenue in Bay City. Today, the site contains retail properties. Michigan State League The Michigan State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in various seasons between 1889 and 1941. The league franchises were based exclusively in Michigan , with the league forming on six different occasions. Twenty two different cities hosted teams in
400-683: Was reformed by the mid-season merger of the Central League and Michigan-Ontario League. Bay City, the Flint Vehicles , Port Huron and the Saginaw Aces teams of the Michigan-Ontario League merged with the Grand Rapids Black Sox , Kalazamoo Celery Pickers, Ludington Tars and Muskegon Reds of the Central League to form the new Michigan State League. The Wolves captured the Michigan State League championship in
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