The Saginaw Ducks were a minor league baseball team based in Saginaw, Michigan . Saginaw teams played as members of the Class B level Southern Michigan League in 1906 and from 1908 to 1915, winning league championships in 1908, 1909 and 1914. Saginaw manager Ducky Holmes was the namesake of the "Ducks" nickname and led the team to the 1914 title.
96-695: Baseball Hall of Fame member Jesse Haines pitched for the Saginaw Ducks in both 1914 and 1915, his first professional seasons. Pro Football Hall of Fame member Greasy Neale played for Saginaw in 1915. Neale was a two-sport professional athlete, who won both a World Series championship and an NFL championship in his career. In 1906, the Saginaw played in two leagues as the Interstate Association folded in July and Saginaw quickly joined
192-506: A 19–43 record. The Adrian Lions were the eventual league champions of the six remaining teams. Despite folding in 1912, both the Saginaw and Bay City teams returned to the Southern Michigan League in 1913. The 1913 Bay City Beavers continued play in the league, as did Saginaw and the league played with eight-teams in 1913. In 1913, Ducky Holmes became the Saginaw player/manager and the Saginaw team became known as
288-467: 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
384-527: 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
480-528: A Class B level league after it expanded to become an eight-team league, folding the Saginaw team and adding the Bay City , Lansing Senators and Flint Vehicles teams to the league. In 1908, Saginaw rejoined the Southern Michigan League, as the Saginaw "Wa-was" replaced the Bay City team in the league. Saginaw became the 1908 Southern Michigan League champions in returning to league play. The "Wa-was" ended
576-474: A few cases, like umpires, they wear caps without logos. (Executives are not depicted wearing caps.) Additionally, as of 2015, inductee biographies on the Hall's website for all players and managers, and executives who were associated with specific teams, list a "primary team", which does not necessarily match the cap logo. The Hall selects the logo "based on where that player makes his most indelible mark." Although
672-678: A lengthy major league playing career with the Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators . Bush then became a major league manager with the Washington Senators , Pittsburgh Pirates Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Bush also managed in the minor leagues, where he managed a young Ted Williams in 1939 with the Minneapolis Millers . Playing under Bush at Minneapolis, Williams won the Triple Crown in
768-415: A manager and sportswriter) had first approached the idea of making a memorial to the great players of the past in what was believed to have been the birthplace of baseball: Cooperstown, New York , but the idea did not muster much momentum until after his death in 1925. In 1934, the idea for establishing a Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was devised by several individuals, such as Ford C. Frick (president of
864-442: A maximum of ten years of eligibility (lowered from fifteen years for the 2015 election). Under special circumstances, certain players may be deemed eligible for induction even though they have not met all requirements. Addie Joss was elected in 1978, despite only playing nine seasons before he died of meningitis. Additionally, if an otherwise eligible player dies before his fifth year of retirement, then that player may be placed on
960-468: A player and manager of the Saginaw Aces for an additional three seasons, from 1923 to 1925. In 1915, the Saginaw Ducks continued league play in the final season of Southern Michigan League, which reduced to six teams, while retaining Class C level status, The league did not complete the season and permanently folded on July 7, 1915. Managed by Ducky Holmes, Saginaw had compiled a record of 31-38 when
1056-496: A record of 88–51, playing under manager Mal Kittridge, the Krazy Kats finished 16.0 games behind the first place Kalamazoo Celery Pickers in the final standings. With their first-place finish and no playoffs in the eight-team league, Kalamazoo won their second consecutive Michigan State League championship. Saginaw's Buck Hopkins led Michigan State League with 120 runs scored and teammate Joe Kutina had 193 total hits, most in
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#17328013894551152-409: A separate era of baseball. Five years after retirement, any player with 10 years of major league experience who passes a screening committee (which removes from consideration players of clearly lesser qualification) is eligible to be elected by BBWAA members with 10 years' membership or more who also have been actively covering MLB at any time in the 10 years preceding the election (the latter requirement
1248-470: A special election at the 1939 Winter Meetings in Cincinnati, specifically to elect Gehrig (most likely because it was known that he was terminally ill , making it uncertain that he would live long enough to see another election). Nobody else was on that ballot, and the numerical results have never been made public. Since no elections were held in 1940 or 1941, the special election permitted Gehrig to enter
1344-592: A tie with identical records of 87-52. Due to their tie in the standings, a playoff series was held, and Kalamazoo beat Lansing 4 games to 2 in the finals to claim the league championship. Mal Kittridge became the Saginaw manager for the 1911 season. The season before he was the player-manager of the 1910 Elgin Kittens of the Class D level Northern Association , leading the team to the league championship. The Elgin "Kittens" were nicknamed after their manager. Relatedly,
1440-538: Is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York , operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-related artifacts and exhibits, honoring those who have excelled in playing , managing , and serving the sport. The Hall's motto is "Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations". Cooperstown
1536-542: Is listed as the Angels despite playing one fewer season for that team than for the Astros. In 2001, the Hall of Fame decided to change the policy on cap logo selection, as a result of rumors that some teams were offering compensation, such as number retirement, money, or organizational jobs, in exchange for the cap designation. (For example, though Wade Boggs denied the claims, some media reports had said that his contract with
1632-624: Is often used as shorthand (or a metonym ) for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame was established in 1939 by Stephen Carlton Clark , an heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. Clark sought to bring tourists to the village hurt by the Great Depression , which reduced the local tourist trade, and Prohibition , which devastated the local hops industry. Clark constructed
1728-403: The 2009 election process ; the main committee did not select a player, while the panel for pre–World War II players elected Joe Gordon in its first and ultimately only vote. The main committee voted as part of the election process for inductions in odd-numbered years, while the pre-World War II panel would vote every five years, and the panel for umpires, managers, and executives voted as part of
1824-512: The American Association ,hitting .366, with 43 home runs, and 142 RBI. He’d also hit 30 doubles, 9 triples and drew 114 walks. The "Saginaw" team began Southern Michigan League play on July 18, 1906. Because the league was already in play, the new Saginaw team was given a record of 15-20 in the team standings when the team was added to the league. In their first season in the newly formed league playing with their inherited record,
1920-657: The Cincinnati Reds when he was their manager in the 1980s. (Baseball's Rule 21, prominently posted in every clubhouse locker room, mandates permanent banishment from MLB for having a gambling interest of any sort on a game in which a player or manager is directly involved.) Rose later admitted that he bet on the Reds in his 2004 autobiography . Baseball fans are deeply split on the issue of whether these two should remain banned or have their punishment revoked. Writer Bill James , though he advocates Rose eventually making it into
2016-640: The National League ) and Alexander Cleland, a Scottish immigrant who decided to serve as the first executive secretary for the Museum for the next seven years that worked with the interests of the Village and Major League Baseball . Stephen Carlton Clark (a Cooperstown native) paid for the construction of the museum, which was planned to open in 1939 to mark the "Centennial of Baseball", which included renovations to Doubleday Field. William Beattie served as
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#17328013894552112-583: The Negro leagues have also been considered at various times, beginning in 1971. In 2005, the Hall completed a study on African American players between the late 19th century and the integration of the major leagues in 1947, and conducted a special election for such players in February 2006; seventeen figures from the Negro leagues were chosen in that election, in addition to the eighteen previously selected. Following
2208-480: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays required him to request depiction in the Hall of Fame as a Devil Ray.) The Hall decided that it would no longer defer to the inductee, though the player's wishes would be considered, when deciding on the logo to appear on the plaque. Newly elected members affected by the change include the following: Sam Crane (who had played a decade in 19th century baseball before becoming
2304-665: The United States House of Representatives by Rep. Richard Hanna , a Republican from New York, and passed the House on October 26, 2011. The coins, which depict baseball gloves and balls, are the first concave designs produced by the Mint. The mintage included 50,000 gold coins, 400,000 silver coins, and 750,000 clad (nickel-copper) coins. The Mint released them on March 27, 2014, and the gold and silver editions quickly sold out. The Hall receives money from surcharges included in
2400-457: The University of Michigan , where he also received his Law Degree in 1899, Wolf played organized baseball in the region from 1893 to 1906. Wolf then owned a billiards hall and other business ventures, while also serving the public on numerous boards and organizations in Saginaw. In 1930, Wolf was appointed as a municipal judge to fill out a remaining term. Wolf was elected the next year and was
2496-517: The "Ducks." With Holmes playing catcher while managing the Saginaw, the Ducks ended the Southern Michigan League season in fourth place in the final standings, as the league became a Class D level league. The Ducks ended the season in the middle of the eight-team Southern Michigan League, with a 60–65 record. Saginaw finished 18.0 games behind first place Battle Creek Crickets in the eight-team league. Saginaw pitcher Hal Schwenk had 283 strikeouts to lead
2592-642: The "Southern Michigan Association" was formed for the beginning of the 1906 season. Joining the league during the season Saginaw joined the existing Battle Creek Crickets , Jackson Convicts , Mount Clemens Bathers , Saginaw and Tecumseh Indians teams as charter members. Clarance Jessup was named manager of the newly formed Saginaw team. Jessup had managed the Marion Moguls team in the folded Interstate Association. Jessup brought his best Marion player with him to Saginaw, 18-year-old shortstop Donie Bush . A noted strong defensive short stop Bush would go on to
2688-399: The 1910 Saginaw Wa-was finished in last place in the Southern Michigan League standings. The Wa-was ended the season in eighth-place in the eight-team Southern Michigan League final standings. Playing under managers Billy Smith and Frank Wessell, Saginaw finished with a final record of 46-93, finishing 41.0 games ahead of the first place Kalamazoo Kazoos and Lansing Senators , who finished in
2784-494: The 1912 Southern Michigan League season due to flooding in Saginaw. The flooding of the Saginaw River destroyed their ballpark site, which was just north of the river. On July 13, 1912, both the Saginaw and Bay City teams folded from the eight-team league, leaving six remaining teams to finish the season. The Trailers folded with a record of 19–44, playing their partial season under manager James Walter Hartwell. Bay City had
2880-406: 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
2976-489: The 1990s. The Hall of Fame includes one female member, Effa Manley . The newest members of the Hall of Fame, inducted on July 21, 2024 , are Adrián Beltré , Todd Helton , Jim Leyland , and Joe Mauer . In 2019, former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera became the first player to be elected unanimously. Derek Jeter , Marvin Miller , Ted Simmons , and Larry Walker were to be inducted in 2020, but their induction ceremony
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3072-406: The 2010 changes, Negro leagues figures were primarily considered for induction alongside other figures from the 1871–1946 era, called the "Pre-Integration Era" by the Hall; since 2016, Negro leagues figures are primarily considered alongside other figures from what the Hall calls the "Early Baseball" era (1871–1949). Predictably, the selection process catalyzes endless debate among baseball fans over
3168-679: 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
3264-494: 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
3360-544: The Commissioner's Office made reparations, but the negative publicity damaged the Hall of Fame's reputation, and made it more difficult for it to solicit donations. In 2012, Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed a law ordering the United States Mint to produce and sell commemorative, non-circulating coins to benefit the private, non-profit Hall. The bill, H.R. 2527 , was introduced in
3456-413: The Hall always made the final decision on which logo was shown, until 2001 the Hall deferred to the wishes of players or managers whose careers were linked with multiple teams. Some examples of inductees associated with multiple teams are the following: In all of the above cases, the "primary team" is the team for which the inductee spent the largest portion of his career except for Ryan, whose primary team
3552-570: The Hall had been sold on the collectibles market. The items had been lent to the Baseball Commissioner 's office, gotten mixed up with other property owned by the Commissioner's office and employees of the office, and moved to the garage of Joe Reichler , an assistant to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn , who sold the items to resolve his personal financial difficulties. Under pressure from the New York Attorney General,
3648-632: The Hall launched Baseball as America , a traveling exhibit that toured ten American museums over six years. The Hall of Fame has since also sponsored educational programming on the Internet to bring the Hall of Fame to schoolchildren who might not visit. The Hall and Museum completed a series of renovations in spring 2005. The Hall of Fame also presents an annual exhibit at FanFest at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game . Among baseball fans, "Hall of Fame" means not only
3744-502: The Hall of Fame's building, which was dedicated on June 12, 1939. (His granddaughter, Jane Forbes Clark , is the current chairman of the board of directors.) The erroneous claim that Civil War hero Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown was instrumental in the early marketing of the Hall. An expanded library and research facility opened in 1994. Dale Petroskey became the organization's president in 1999. In 2002,
3840-487: The Hall of Fame, compared the people who want to put Jackson in the Hall of Fame to "those women who show up at murder trials wanting to marry the cute murderer ". The actions and composition of the Veterans Committee have been at times controversial, with occasional selections of contemporaries and teammates of the committee members over seemingly more worthy candidates. In 2001, the Veterans Committee
3936-410: The Hall of Fame, including 274 former professional players, 23 managers, 10 umpires, and 39 pioneers, executives, and organizers. 118 members of the Hall of Fame have been inducted posthumously, including four who died after their selection was announced. Of the 39 members primarily recognized for their contributions to Negro league baseball , 31 were inducted posthumously, including all 26 selected since
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4032-606: The Hall while still alive. If a player fails to be elected by the BBWAA within 10 years of his eligibility for election, he may be selected by the Veterans Committee. Following changes to the election process for that body made in 2010 and 2016, the Veterans Committee is now responsible for electing all otherwise eligible candidates who are not eligible for the BBWAA ballot — both long-retired players and non-playing personnel (managers, umpires, and executives). From 2011 to 2016, each candidate could be considered once every three years; now,
4128-567: The Hall, and voted on a reduced number of candidates from among players whose careers began in 1943 or later. Separate committees, including sportswriters and broadcasters, would select umpires, managers and executives, as well as players from earlier eras. In the first election to be held under the 2007 revisions, two managers and three executives were elected in December 2007 as part of the 2008 election process . The next Veterans Committee elections for players were held in December 2008 as part of
4224-407: The Saginaw placed last in the 1906 Southern Michigan League. Managed by Clarence Jessup, the Saginaw team finished the season 30 .5 games behind the first place Mount Clemens Bathers, who were the league champions with a 63–41 final record. No league playoffs were held. In 1907, the Saginaw team did not continue play in the Southern Michigan League. Without Saginaw, the Southern Michigan League became
4320-467: The Saginaw team became known as the "Krazy Kats" in the season under his leadership. A former major league catcher, Kittridge last played in the majors with the 1906 Cleveland Naps , after a tenure with the Chicago Colts began in 1890. In 1911, the Southern Michigan League was upgraded from a Class D level league to a Class C level league, as the Saginaw "Krazy Kats" continued league play. With
4416-580: 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
4512-476: The Southern Michigan League during the season. The Saginaw teams hosted minor league home games at the ballpark that became known as Aces Park in Saginaw. The ballpark site was known as Athletic Park (1902–1906), Recreation Park (1908) and Burkhart Park (1909–1915) in the Duck's era of home play at the ballpark. Minor league baseball was first played in Saginaw, Michigan in 1884, when the Saginaw "Greys" team played
4608-549: The Southern Michigan League in 1914, while teammate Walter Scott a league leading won 27 games. The next pitcher behind Robins in league strikeouts had 225 strikeouts, more than 100 less than Robins. At age 22, Robins pitched 306 innings in compiling his 338 strikeouts. Pitching his second season with Saginaw, Walter Scott threw 318 innings for his 27 wins in what was his final professional season on record. At age 20, Baseball Hall of Fame member Jesse Haines first pitched for Saginaw win 1914, his first professional season. Haines began
4704-415: 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
4800-403: The Southern Michigan League. The 1914 Saginaw Ducks won the third franchise championship in the Southern Michigan League. The league again became classified as a Class C level league as it expanded from an eight-team league to a ten-team league. The league expanded and Saginaw finished the regular season in second place. The Ducks had an overall record of 90–55 record, as the team placed second in
4896-416: The ballot at the first election at least six months after his death. Roberto Clemente set the precedent: the writers put him up for consideration after his death on New Year's Eve, 1972, and he was inducted in 1973. The five-year waiting period was established in 1954 after an evolutionary process. In 1936 all players were eligible, including active ones. From the 1937 election until the 1945 election, there
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#17328013894554992-502: The championship, Saginaw ended the season with a final record of 73–52 to place first, playing their championship season under manager Billy Smith. In a tight race for the title, the Wa-was ended the season just 0.5 game ahead of the second place Flint Vehicles and 1.0 game ahead of the third place Jackson Convicts in the final standings. Pitcher Ed Kusel of Saginaw led the league with a 22–7 record. After two consecutive championships,
5088-534: The eight team, Class B level Michigan-Ontario League , winning the league championship. The Saginaw Ducks and other Saginaw teams played minor league home games at the ballpark site known later as "Aces Park." The ballpark hosted Saginaw minor league teams from 1902 to 1926. in the Saginaw Southern Michigan League tenure, the ballpark was known as Athletic Park (1902–1906), Recreation Park (1908), and Burkhart Park (1909–1915) It then
5184-417: 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,
5280-449: The election process for inductions in even-numbered years. Further changes to the Veterans Committee process were announced by the Hall in July 2010, July 2016, and April 2022. Per the latest changes, announced on April 22, 2022, the multiple eras previously utilized were collapsed to three, to be voted on in an annual rotation (one per year): A one-year waiting period beyond potential BBWAA eligibility (which had been abolished in 2016)
5376-591: The exception of 1919 when he played the entire season. Neale coached the Philadelphia Eagles to NFL championships in 1948 and 1949. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969. The onset of World War I had greatly affected minor leagues as many leagues and teams were folded. The Southern Michigan League never reformed . Saginaw was without baseball until the 1919 Saginaw Aces resumed minor league play as charter members of
5472-456: 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
5568-403: The first curator of the museum. According to the Hall of Fame, approximately 260,000 visitors enter the museum each year, and the running total has surpassed 17 million. These visitors see only a fraction of its 40,000 artifacts, 3 million library items (such as newspaper clippings and photos) and 140,000 baseball cards. The Hall has seen a noticeable decrease in attendance since
5664-450: The frequency depends on the era in which an individual made his greatest contributions. A more complete discussion of the new process is available below . From 2008 to 2010, following changes made by the Hall in July 2007, the main Veterans Committee, then made up of living Hall of Famers, voted only on players whose careers began in 1943 or later. These changes also established three separate committees to select other figures: Players of
5760-420: The game. — Ogden Nash , Sport magazine (January 1949) Contrary to popular belief, no formal exception was made for Lou Gehrig (other than to hold a special one-man election for him): there was no waiting period at that time, and Gehrig met all other qualifications, so he would have been eligible for the next regular election after he retired during the 1939 season. However, the BBWAA decided to hold
5856-605: The head coach at Muskingum University . Neale also played Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds from 1916 and 1924. Neale was the starting right fielder for the World Series winning 1919 Reds , Neale hit .357 in the 1919 World Series and led the Reds with 10 total hits in their eight-game series win over the Black Sox Scandal tainted Chicago White Sox . When football seasons began, Neale would usually leave baseball to fulfill his football duties, with
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#17328013894555952-439: The hope of heightening the value of their own selection. After no one was selected for the third consecutive election in 2007, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt noted, "The same thing happens every year. The current members want to preserve the prestige as much as possible, and are unwilling to open the doors." In 2007, the committee and its selection processes were again reorganized; the main committee then included all living members of
6048-514: The league folded, finishing 13.5 behind the first place South Bend Factors . At the time the league folded, Saginaw pitcher Ben Higley had a league leading 127 strikeouts. At age 23. outfielder Greasy Neale played for Saginaw in 1915 before advancing to the major leagues in 1916. A two-sport athlete, Neale also played college and professional football before becoming a collegiate and professional football coach. Following his baseball season in 1915, Neale began his football coaching career that fall as
6144-502: 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
6240-419: The league. Saginaw native Archie Yelle played for his hometown team in 1911 and 1912, in his first professional seasons after a becoming three-sport athlete at Saginaw High School . Aside from playing three seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Yelle, played 17 seasons in the minor leagues, where he appeared in 1,449 games, 1,305 playing as a catcher. The Saginaw "Trailers" disbanded during
6336-436: 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
6432-415: 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)
6528-446: The level of Jackson or Rose. Jackson and Rose were both banned from MLB for life for actions related to gambling on their own teams—Jackson was determined to have cooperated with those who conspired to intentionally lose the 1919 World Series , and for accepting payment for losing, and Rose voluntarily accepted a permanent spot on the ineligible list in return for MLB's promise to make no official finding in relation to alleged betting on
6624-710: The merits of various candidates. Even players elected years ago remain the subjects of discussions as to whether they deserved election. For example, Bill James ' 1994 book Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame? goes into detail about who he believes does and does not belong in the Hall of Fame. The selection rules for the Baseball Hall of Fame were modified to prevent the induction of anyone on Baseball's "permanently ineligible" list, such as Pete Rose or "Shoeless Joe" Jackson . Many others have been barred from participation in MLB, but none have Hall of Fame qualifications on
6720-422: The mid-1990s, dropped players were made permanently ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration, even by the Veterans Committee. A 2001 change in the election procedures restored the eligibility of these dropped players; while their names will not appear on future BBWAA ballots, they may be considered by the Veterans Committee. Players receiving 5% or more of the votes but fewer than 75% are reconsidered annually until
6816-476: The mid-2010s. A 2013 story on ESPN.com about the village of Cooperstown and its relation to the game partially linked the reduced attendance with Cooperstown Dreams Park, a youth baseball complex about 5 miles (8.0 km) away in the town of Hartwick . The 22 fields at Dreams Park currently draw 17,000 players each summer for a week of intensive play; while the complex includes housing for the players, their parents and grandparents must stay elsewhere. According to
6912-521: The minor leagues you were lucky to get paid at all," said Haines, "But I wanted to play so badly that the salary meant but little to me." Haines returned to Saginaw in 1915 and threw no-hitter against the Flint Vehicles on June 9, 1915. Haines was signed by the Detroit Tigers on June 29, 1915, from Saginaw, beginning his major league career. Al Bashang played for the Saginaw Ducks for three seasons, from 1913 to 1915. He later would return as
7008-446: The museum and facility in Cooperstown, New York, but the pantheon of players, managers , umpires , executives, and pioneers who have been inducted into the Hall. The first five men elected were Ty Cobb , Babe Ruth , Honus Wagner , Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson , chosen in 1936; roughly 20 more were selected before the entire group was inducted at the Hall's 1939 opening. As of January 2024 , 346 people had been elected to
7104-455: The playing surface. In the era, Aces Park was located at Davenport Avenue and Mary Street in Saginaw, Michigan. The park had some misfortune. It was destroyed by fire in 1908 and rebuilt. The ballpark flooded in 1912 and was destroyed by fire again in 1913, to be rebuilt again. Today, the site is a salvage yard. Saginaw, Michigan minor league baseball history Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
7200-529: The reelected in every subsequent election, winning his last election term when he was nearly 80 years of age. The Fort Wayne Railroaders were in first place when the Interstate Association folded on July 8, 1906, and the Saginaw team had folded. Saginaw had moved to Marion for three games before folding on June 24, 1906. The team finished with a record of 18–33, playing under managers Louie Heilbroner and Bootie Wolf and A.B. Kimberly. Fort Wayne
7296-650: The sale price: a total of $ 9.5 million if all the coins are sold. 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
7392-467: 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
7488-485: The season as members of the Northwestern League . After numerous other teams followed, the 1906 Saginaw teams were immediately preceded in minor league play by the 1900 Saginaw Salt Eaters team, who ended a two-season tenure as members of the independent International League . The "Saginaw" team resumed minor league play to begin the 1906 season. Saginaw began the 1906 season playing as charter members of
7584-503: 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
7680-458: The season with Fort Wayne Railroaders after signing for a salary of $ 135 per month. Haines pitched just twice for Fort Wayne before breaking his finger in batting practice. Haines then joined Saginaw Ducks in the where he won 17 games, pitching 258 innings, earning 115 per month. Haines led the Ducks to the league title by pitching a ten-inning complete game in the final of the championship series. "In
7776-413: The season with a record of 72–52 and in first place, as the league held no playoffs. Led by managers Bruce Hayes and Frank Dillon , Saginaw ended the season 3.0 games ahead of the second place Kalamazoo White Sox in the final standings of the eight-team league. The Saginaw "Wa-was" repeated as champions in 1909, continuing play in the eight-team Southern Michigan League, which held no playoffs. In winning
7872-534: The season, the Muncie and Bay city teams were both disbanded on May 18. The Saginaw team moved to Marion, Ohio on June 21 before folding after three games in Marion. The Flint team disbanded on July 2, 1906. The Interstate Association, with four remaining teams, permanently disbanded on July 8, 1906. Saginaw manager "Bootie" Wolf was a Saginaw native, who eventually became Judge Willam J. Wolf. After playing baseball at
7968-641: The short lived Interstate Association . The league was formed as a Class C level league, with Emerson W. Dickinson serving as league president. The 1906 Interstate Association was an eight–team league that began play on April 26, 1906. The league was formed with teams representing Anderson, Indiana , Bay City, Michigan , Flint, Michigan ( Flint Vehicles ), Fort Wayne, Indiana ( Fort Wayne Railroaders ), Kalamazoo, Michigan ( Kalamazoo White Sox ), Lima, Ohio ( Lima Lees ), Marion, Indiana ( Marion Moguls ), Muncie, Indiana ( Muncie Fruit Jars ) and Saginaw, Michigan teams beginning play on April 26, 1906. During
8064-534: The story, Prior to Dreams Park, a room might be filled for a week by several sets of tourists. Now, that room will be taken by just one family for the week, and that family may only go into Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame once. While there are other contributing factors (the recession and high gas prices among them), the Hall's attendance has tumbled since Dreams Park opened. The Hall drew 383,000 visitors in 1999. It drew 262,000 last year. A controversy erupted in 1982, when it emerged that some historic items given to
8160-440: The ten-team league, which played a split season schedule. The Ducks were managed by the returning Ducky Holmes, with the team finishing 5.5 games behind first place Bay City Beavers . Bay City won the first half pennant and Saginaw won the second half pennant and both qualified to meet in the playoff final. The playoff was won by the Saginaw Ducks 4 games to 1 over Bay City. Saginaw pitcher Russell Robins had 338 strikeouts to lead
8256-463: Was added for the 2016 election). From a final ballot typically including 25–40 candidates, each writer may vote for up to 10 players; until the late 1950s, voters were advised to cast votes for the maximum 10 candidates. Any player named on 75% or more of all ballots cast is elected. A player who is named on fewer than 5% of ballots is dropped from future elections. In some instances, the screening committee had restored their names to later ballots, but in
8352-597: Was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic until September 8, 2021. The ceremony was open to the public, as COVID restrictions had been lifted. Players are currently inducted into the Hall of Fame through election by either the Baseball Writers' Association of America (or BBWAA), or the Veterans Committee , which now consists of four subcommittees, each of which considers and votes for candidates from
8448-555: Was followed by the Marion (36–24), Anderson (30–31) and Lima (26–36) teams in the final league standings of the remaining teams. The Interstate Association did not reform as a minor league after folding during the 1906 season. After the Interstate League franchise folded during the 1906 season, Saginaw immediately joined a new league and began an eight-season tenure of membership in the Southern Michigan League . The six–team Class D level Southern Michigan League, also called
8544-493: 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
8640-453: Was in effect. (DiMaggio, for example, retired after the 1951 season and was first eligible in the 1953 election.) The modern rule establishing a wait of five years was passed in 1954, although those who had already been eligible under the old rule were grandfathered into the ballot, thus permitting Joe DiMaggio to be elected within four years of his retirement. Z is for Zenith The summit of fame. These men are up there. These men are
8736-529: Was known as Opportunity Park (1919). The ballpark faced criticism when hosting professional baseball in 1906, with the playing field in Saginaw being noted as problematic in newspaper accounts. The Superior (WI) Times said, "“They have the most wonderful ballpark in the country at Saginaw, Mich. Originally the field was a lumber yard and it is not much better today, the sod having been worn away in spots, allowing sawdust to percolate through." There were also reports of wood boards still being present just underneath of
8832-593: 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,
8928-422: Was no waiting period, so any retired player was eligible, but writers were discouraged from voting for current major leaguers. Since there was no formal rule preventing a writer from casting a ballot for an active player, the scribes did not always comply with the informal guideline; Joe DiMaggio received a vote in 1945, for example. From the 1946 election until the 1954 election, an official one-year waiting period
9024-486: Was reformed to comprise the living Hall of Fame members and other honorees. The revamped Committee held three elections, in 2003 and 2007 , for both players and non-players, and in 2005 for players only. No individual was elected in that time, sparking criticism among some observers who expressed doubt whether the new Veterans Committee would ever elect a player. The Committee members, most of whom were Hall members, were accused of being reluctant to elect new candidates in
9120-418: Was reintroduced, thus restricting the committee to considering players retired for at least 16 seasons. The eligibility criteria for Era Committee consideration differ between players, managers, and executives. While the text on a player's or manager's plaque lists all teams for which the inductee was a member in that specific role, inductees are usually depicted wearing the cap of a specific team, though in
9216-416: 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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