The Youngstown Steelmen was a minor league baseball franchise that competed in three different leagues between 1910 and 1915. The club, based in Youngstown, Ohio , participated at various times in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League , the Tri-State League , and the Central League . The Steelmen's most notable alumnus was Everett Scott , who played with the club between 1910 and 1913. Scott later served as a shortstop for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees .
12-628: The Steelmen succeeded the Youngstown Indians , a team that placed last in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League at the close of the 1909 season. The renamed franchise was owned by former Indians coach W. R. Terry and business partner Paul Powers. In the 1910 season, the Steelmen, under the management of Frank Eustace, placed seventh in the eight-team league, with a record of 55–67. The club's performance improved dramatically during
24-595: A Minor League Baseball club that competed during the 1909 season in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League . The team showed great promise at the outset of the season but finished with a disappointing 46–78 record, placing last in the league. The league championship that year went to an Akron franchise, which closed the season with an 81–40 record. The short-lived Youngstown Indians team succeeded other minor league clubs in Youngstown, Ohio , including
36-644: The Youngstown Steelmen , the team competed in the Ohio–Pennsylvania League during the 1910 and 1911 seasons. The Steelmen joined the Central League in 1912, and that year, narrowly lost the pennant to a rival franchise from Fort Wayne, Indiana , placing second in the league. Central League (baseball) The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically in 1900, from 1903–1917, 1920–1922, 1926, 1928–1930, 1934, and 1948–1951. In 1926,
48-589: The Ohio–Pennsylvania League, but the following year, their season was cut short when the owners of the Youngstown franchise "threw up the sponge in mid-season". In 1909, the newly established Youngstown Indians secured the backing of a stock company in New Castle, Pennsylvania , and were managed by W.R. Terry. The challenges facing the Youngstown Indians reflected perennial difficulties within
60-414: The Ohio–Pennsylvania League, including weak financial support for teams and uneven ticket sales. The Spalding Guide' s Youngstown-based correspondent, W. A. Mason, noted that support for the league in that city had eroded because of the local club's poor performance. "Youngstown had the tailend team and the fans had been used to winning ball", Mason wrote. He added, however, that the league, "taking together
72-543: The Youngstown Champs. Toward the end of the season, Wright took the extraordinary step of backing the Youngstown Indians, when their New Castle owners "gave it up". This move preserved the eight-team league, which also included teams from Akron, East Liverpool , McKeesport , New Castle , Canton , and Steubenville . At the close of the 1909 season, the club came under the co-ownership of former Indians manager Terry and business partner Paul Powers. Renamed as
84-575: The championship Youngstown Ohio Works and Youngstown Champs . The 1907 sale of the Ohio Works team to investors in Zanesville, Ohio , paved the way for the establishment of the Champs. Like the Ohio Works club, which won two consecutive league championships, the Champs were sponsored by local industrial leader Joseph A. McDonald and his brother, Thomas. The Champs won the 1907 championship of
96-534: The following season. In 1911, under manager Bill Phillips, the Steelmen placed second in the league, with a record of 82–50. The championship was taken that year by the Akron Champs, which closed with a record of 90–42. The Steelmen moved to the Central League in the 1912 season, where it narrowly lost the championship to the Fort Wayne Railroaders . Although the Steelmen ended
108-517: The gate receipts and the moneys received from the sale and drafting of players", proved to be a "moneymaker" for the first time since its establishment. Despite its improved financial situation, the Ohio–Pennsylvania League narrowly escaped the prospect of dissolution late in the 1909 season. As the Spalding Guide reports, the league's unraveling was prevented only by the guidance of the league president, Sam L. Wright, who had earlier managed
120-509: The league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season. The Central League later reformed in 1928. The Central League hosted teams from 37 cities over its six decades of league play. Teams from the states of Indiana , Illinois , Michigan , Ohio , Pennsylvania and West Virginia were represented. Before the current minor league baseball classification system
132-686: The season with a 74–54 record, the Railroaders closed with 77 wins and 52 losses. The Spalding Guide (1913) observed that the Steelmen "gave Fort Wayne a terrific drive for the championship and for much of the season the pennant looked as if it would be won by the Ohio club". The Steelmen moved to the Tri-State League in 1913, but returned to the Central League in 1915. Youngstown Indians The Youngstown Indians were
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#1732797968467144-1690: Was introduced in 1963, minor leagues/teams were classified from Class D up to Class Triple-A . The following is a list of the various classifications that the Central League had during its years of operation: The following are cities and former teams that made up the Central League. 1900 Central League Peoria disbanded July 8; Springfield (4-14) transferred to Jacksonville May 21; Jacksonville disbanded July 8. Playoffs : Danville defeated Bloomington 1903 Central League Anderson (15-12) moved to Grand Rapids May 30 1904 Central League Marion (12-15) moved to Peoria (27-33) May 30; Peoria returned to Marion July 31; Evansville disbanded September 6 1905 Central League Fort Wayne (31-41) moved to Canton July 10 1906 Central League 1906 - schedule 1907 Central League 1908 Central League 1909 Central League 1910 Central League 1911 Central League Grand Rapids (25-36) moved to Newark June 27; South Bend (42-36) moved to Grand Rapids July 13; Evansville (54-54) moved to South Bend August 11 1912 Central League 1913 Central League 1913 - schedule 1914 Central League Springfield disbanded August 8 1915 Central League 1916 Central League Grand Rapids played some games at Battle Creek, MI Playoffs : Dayton 4 games, Springfield 2 1917 Central League South Bend (26-35) moved to Peoria July 8 Playoffs : Grand Rapids 4 games, Peoria 3 1920 Central League 1920 - schedule 1921 Central League Jackson (27-45) moved to Ionia July 20 1922 Central League Playoffs : Grand Rapids 5 games, Ludington 3 1926 Central League League merged with
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