Wisconsin State League
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. In 1942 the league expanded to eight teams, adding the Janesville Cubs and Oshkosh Giants. 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.
List of teams
Wisconsin State League (1905–1907, 1922-1925, 1928-1931, 1940-1942, 1946-1953)
- Appleton Papermakers
- Beloit Collegians
- Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans
- Eau Claire Tigers
- Fond du Lac Panthers
- Freeport Pretzels
- Fond du Lac Webfoots
- Green Bay Bluejays
- Green Bay Blue Sox
- Green Bay Colts
- Green Bay Orphans
- Janesville Bears
- Janesville Cubs
- Kenosha Twin Sixes
- Kosciuszko Reds, Milwaukee
- La Crosse Badgers
- La Crosse Blackhawks
- La Crosse Pinks
- Madison Blues
- Madison Senators
- Manitowoc Shipbuilders
- Oshkosh Giants
- Oshkosh Indians
- Racine Belles
- Sheboygan Chairmakers
- Sheboygan Indians
- Twin Rivers Mirros
- Union Oils, Milwaukee
- Wausau Lumberjacks
- Wisconsin Rapids White Sox
Wisconsin–Illinois League (1908–1914, 1926-1927, 1932)
- Appleton Papermakers
- Aurora Blues
- Aurora Islanders
- Beloit Fairies
- Duffy Florals, Chicago
- Fond du Lac Cubs
- Fond du Lac Giants
- Fond du Lac Molls
- Fond du Lac Mudhens
- Freeport Pretzels
- Green Bay Bays
- Green Bay Tigers
- Harley Mills
- Kenosha Twin Sixes
- La Crosse Boosters
- La Crosse Pinks
- Logan Squares
- Madison Blues
- Madison Senators
- Marinette-Menominee Twins
- Milwaukee Creams
- Niesen's Chicago Pyotts
- Oshkosh Indians
- Racine Eskimos
- Racine Malted Milks
- Racine Belles
- Racine Malted Milks
- Rockford Reds
- Rockford Wolverines
- Rockford Wolves
- Sheboygan Chairmakers
- St. Michael's
- Wausau Lumberjacks
Season Standings
1908 season (W-I League)"Locals Finish in Second Place," ''La Crosse Tribune'', Sep. 14, 1908
1909 season (W-I League)"League Standings in Capsule Form," ''Racine Journal'', Sep. 13, 1909
1910 season (W-I League)"W.-I. Flag to Appleton," ''Chicago Examiner'', Sep. 8, 1910
1911 season (W-I League)"League Baseball in Condensed Form," ''Racine Journal'', Sep. 11, 1911
1912 season (W-I League)"Baseball Results," ''Monmouth Daily Atlas'', Sep. 17, 1912
1913 season (W-I League)"Here's Best Race in 1913 Baseball," ''Chicago Examiner'', Sep. 8, 1913
1914 season (W-I League)"Standing of the Teams," ''Racine Journal'', Sep. 14, 1914
1922 season (Wis. State League)"Team Standings," ''Manitowoc Herald News'', Sep. 18, 1922
1923 season (Wis. State League)"Standings and Results as the Schedule Closes," ''Sheboygan Press Telegram'', Sep. 24, 1923
1924 season (Wis. State League)"How They Stand," ''Appleton Post Crescent'', Sep. 22, 1924
1925 season (Wis. State League)"Racine Here for a Final Clash Sunday," ''Sheboygan Press'', Oct. 3, 1925
1926 season (W-I League)"W-I Association Standings," ''Sheboygan Press'', Oct. 1, 1926
1927 season (W-I League)"Final Standings, Wisconsin State League," ''Sheboygan Press'', Sep. 14, 1927
1928 season (Wis. State League)"Two Rivers Cop the Pennant of the Wisconsin State League," ''Sheboygan Press'', Sep. 10, 1928
1929 season (Wis. State League)"Team Standings," ''Racine Journal News'', Sep. 3, 1929
1930 season (Wis. State League)"Blues Win Pair, in Third Place" ''Capital Times'', Sep. 2, 1930
1931 season (Wis. State League)"Chairs Split with Mirros," ''Manitowoc Evening Times'', Sep. 8, 1931
1932 season (W-I League)"W-I League Standings," ''Wisconsin State Journal'', Sep. 3, 1932
1933 season (W-I League)"W-I League Standings," ''Wisconsin State Journal'', Dec. 31, 1933
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: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:
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.
1936 season (Wis. State League)
First half of the split season: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.
Second half of the split season:
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: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:
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.