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Interstate League

For the football league, see Seaboard Football League.
Interstate League
SportMinor league baseball
Founded1896
First season1896
Ceased1952
No. of teams63
CountryUnited States
Most titlesWilmington Blue Rocks (4)
Lancaster Red Roses (4)
Official websiteNone

The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952.

Early leagues

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Earlier versions of the Interstate League, with years active:

In addition, a Class C level Interstate Association existed for one season, 1906, in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

1895 to 1900 Interstate League

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Cities represented 1895 – 1900

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[1]

Standings & statistics 1895 to 1900

[edit]

1895 Interstate League - schedule
President: Howard H. Zeigler

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Twin Cities Twins 38 22 .633 - Jack Darrah
Wheeling Nailers 34 22 .607 2.0 Ed Barrow
Findlay 32 21 .604 2.5 Charles Stroebel / Howard Brandenberg
Kenton 29 28 .509 7.5 Davis / Tony Zander
Columbus Buckeyes 28 31 .475 9.5 Buck West
Steubenville Stubs /
Akron /
Lima		 21 39 .350 17.0 George Moreland /
George Rhue / Timothy Donovan
Canton Duebers 11 15 .423 NA Walter Goble
Lima
/ Mansfield		 8 23 .258 NA Andy Sommers / Frank O'Brien

Canton disbanded June 2; Lima transferred to Mansfield May 5, Mansfield disbanded July 14; Steubenville transferred to Akron May 10; Akron transferred to Lima May 19, Lima disbanded July 15.
The league disbanded July 15

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
Reddy Grey Findlay Runs 64
Reddy Grey Findlay Hits 80
Reddy Grey Findlay HR 14

1896 Intestate League
President: Charles B. Powers

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Toledo Mud Hens 86 46 .652 - Charles Strobel / Frank Torreyson
Fort Wayne Farmers 70 36 .660 8.5 George Tebeau
Wheeling Nailers 57 60 .487 18.5 Issac Hughes / John Darrah
Youngstown Puddlers 54 57 .486 26.5 Art Anderson / Charles Hazen
Jackson Wolverines 53 56 .486 18.5 Alex McDonald / Leigh Lynch
New Castle Quakers 53 59 .473 20.0 Jay Faatz / Malcolm Whitehill
Washington Little Senators 43 70 .381 30.5 Byron McKeown
Saginaw Lumbermen 40 73 .354 33.5 George Black

Ft. Wayne disbanded in early September Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Fort Wayne 0; won by forfeit since Fort Wayne has already disbanded

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Erve Beck Toledo BA .371 George Kelb Toledo W 25
Erve Beck Toledo Runs 101
Erve Beck Toledo Hits 171
Jake Ganzel New Castle HR 17

1897 Interstate League
President: Charles B. Powers

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Toledo Mud Hens 83 43 .659 - Charles Strobel
Dayton Old Soldiers 74 51 .592 8.5 Frank Torreyson / Bill Armour
New Castle Quakers 72 54 .571 11.0 Paul Russell / Hurd
Fort Wayne Indians 63 59 .516 18.0 Fred Cooke
Mansfield Haymakers 63 61 .508 19.0 Con Strothers / Barton Howard
Youngstown Puddlers 59 66 .472 23.5 John Scheible / Edward Zinram
Springfield Governors 46 79 .368 36.5 Harry Rinehart / Lew Whistler
Wheeling Nailers 38 85 .309 43.5 William Harrington / Frank Torreyson

Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Dayton 2.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bade Myers Toledo BA .411 Kid Keenan Toledo W 20
Bill Hartman Toledo Runs 152 Chase Alloway Fort Wayne ERA 1.00
Bob Gilks Toledo Hits 208 John Blue Toledo Pct .857; 18-3
Dummy Kihm Fort Wayne HR 17
Joe Reiman Dayton HR 17
Joe Werrick Mansfield HR 17
Jimmy Cooper Youngstown SB 77

1898 Interstate League - schedule
President: Charles B. Powers

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Dayton Old Soldiers 84 65 .564 - Bill Armour
Toledo Mud Hens 86 68 .558 0.5 Charles Strobel
Springfield Governors 81 66 .551 2.0 Lew Whistler
New Castle Quakers 81 69 .540 3.5 Pop Lytle
Grand Rapids Cabinet Makers 75 79 .487 11.5 Frank Torreyson
Mansfield Haymakers 71 75 .486 11.5 Barton Howard
Fort Wayne Indians 71 84 .458 16.0 Fred Cooke /
Eddie O'Meara / George Geer
Youngstown Puddlers 53 96 .356 31.0 George Geer /
Paul Russell / Robert Pender

No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bill Hartman Toledo BA .340 Bob Ewing Toledo W 25
Bill Hartman Toledo Runs 167 Charlie Ferguson Toledo W 25
Bill Hartman Toledo Hits 214 Charles Smith New Castle SO 184
Joe Reiman Dayton HR 14 Nick Altrock Grand Rapids Pct .850; 17-3
Thayer Torreyson Grand Rapids SB 73

1899 Interstate League - schedule
President: Charles B. Powers

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
New Castle Quakers 87 53 .621 - Pat Wright
Mansfield Haymakers 86 54 .614 1.0 Dan Lowney
Fort Wayne Indians 82 58 .586 5.0 Jack Glasscock
Toledo Mud Hens 82 58 .586 5.0 Charles Strobel
Youngstown Little Giants 60 79 .432 26.5 Harry Truby / Jimmy McAleer
Wheeling Stogies 58 81 .417 28.5 Pop Lytle / Tom Nicholson
Dayton Veterans 55 85 .393 32.0 Bill Armour
Grand Rapids Furniture Makers /
Columbus Senators /
Springfield Wanderers		 49 91 .350 38.0 Frank Torreyson

Grand Rapids moved to Columbus July 20, then to Springfield July 30.
No Playoffs were held.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Billy Taylor Young/Grand/Wheel BA .331 Roscoe Miller Mansfield W 28
Bill Hartman Toledo Runs 117 Theodore Guese Fort Wayne Pct .714; 25-10
Erve Beck Toledo Hits 185
Erve Beck Toledo HR 25
Jerry McDonough Toledo SB 89

1900 Interstate League
President: Charles B. Powers

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Dayton Veterans 90 43 .677 - Bill Armour
Fort Wayne Indians 85 53 .616 7.5 Jack Glasscock / Joe Hubbard
Toledo Mud Hens 81 58 .583 12.0 Charles Strobel
Wheeling Stogies 76 58 .568 14.5 Pop Lytle / Pete Healy
Mansfield Haymakers 67 68 .496 24.0 Dan Lowney
Columbus Senators /
Anderson		 58 78 .427 33.5 Jesse Quinn
Youngstown / Marion Glass Blowers 44 92 .324 47.5 Mike J. Finn / Pat Wright
New Castle Quakers 44 95 .317 49.0 Pat Wright / Jack Wadsworth

Columbus (51-63) moved to Anderson, Indiana, August 22; Youngstown (28-67) moved to Marion August 5.
Playoff: Fort Wayne 4 games, Dayton 3.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Erve Beck Toledo BA .360 Cy Swaim Fort Wayne W 24
Otto Krueger Fort Wayne Runs 131 Bumpus Jones Fort Wayne Pct .786; 11-3
Erve Beck Toledo Hits 207
Ed Bradley Columbus/Anderson HR 18

[1]

1905 to 1908 Interstate League

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Cities represented 1905 – 1908

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[1]

Standings & statistics 1905 to 1908

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1905 Interstate League
President: Frank Baumeister / George F. Rindernecht

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Coudersport Giants 59 38 .608 - Harry Knight / John Lawley
Erie Fishermen 58 39 .598 1.0 Daniel Koster /
Bob McLaughlin / Jack Burke
Olean Refiners 54 50 .519 8.5 Al Lawson / Eddie Foster
Bradford Drillers 46 54 .460 14.5 William Leary / Frederick Paige
Kane Mountaineers 40 56 .417 18.5 C.R. Eichelberger
Jamestown Hill Climbers /
DuBois Miners		 40 60 .400 20.5 J. Lawrence Alexander /
Paul Wrath / Menzo Sibley

Jamestown (18–23) Moved to DuBois July 12.
No Playoffs Scheduled.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot
Duke Servaitius Kane BA .352
Julius Streib Coudersport Runs 63

1906 Interstate League
President: George F. Rindernecht

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Erie Sailors 65 41 .613 - Tom O'Hara
Punxsutawney Policemen 53 45 .541 8.0 W.J. Brown
Bradford Drillers 61 53 .535 8.0 Thomas News
DuBois Miners 52 52 .500 12.0 James Breen / Ed Larkin
Kane Mountaineers 58 58 .500 12.0 James Collopy
Hornell Pigmies /
Patton		 53 56 .486 13.5 John Quinn
Olean Refiners 50 62 .446 18.0 John Ziegler / John Dailey
Oil City-Jamestown Oseejays 44 69 .389 24.5 Alfred Lawson / C.L. Rexford

Hornell (35–31) moved to Patton August 6.
No Playoffs Scheduled. No player statistics available.

1907 Interstate League
schedule
President: Frank Baumeister

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Erie Fishermen 64 51 .557 - Thomas Reynolds
Bradford Drillers 63 54 .538 2.0 Eddie Foster
Franklin Millionaires 51 52 .495 7.0 L.L. Jacklin / George Rinderknecht
Oil City Cubs 54 57 .486 8.0 James Collopy
DuBois Miners 36 26 .581 NA Ed Larkin
Kane Mountaineers 17 26 .395 NA Pop Kelchner
Olean Refiners 12 35 .255 NA Joe Flynn
Punxsutawney Policemen 33 26 .559 NA Milt Montgomery / W.J. Brown

Kane disbanded July 16; Olean disbanded July 18; Punxsutawney disbanded August 3; DuBois disbanded August 5.
The league played a third season, August 7 through September 8, won by Bradford.
Oil City was declared the first half champion because DuBois disbanded. Playoff: Oil City 4 games, Bradford 3.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jake Weimer DuBois/Oil City BA .338 Doc Hazleton
Bill Kirwin
 Bradford
Bradford		 W 16
16
Ben Jewell Oil City Runs 66 Jiggs Parson Oil City Pct .750; 15–5
Earl Sykes Oil City Hits 108

1908 Interstate League
President: C.L. Rexford

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Olean Candidates 16 2 .882 - Percy Stetler
Warren Blues 11 8 .500 6.5 Thomas McNeal
Bradford Drillers 12 9 .650 3.5 George Rinderknecht
Franklin Millionaires 8 13 .333 9.5 Bill Smith
Oil City Cubs 6 11 .316 10.0 C.L. Rexford / James Collopy
Erie Fishermen 4 12 .250 10.5 Frank Baumeister

The league disbanded June 5.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jake Weimer Olean BA .461 Tom Fleming Olean W 6
Bill Price Olean Runs 27 Tom Fleming Olean Pct 1.000; 6–0
Jake Weimer Olean Hits 30
Jake Weimer Olean HR 3

[1]

1913 Interstate League

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Cities represented 1913

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[1]

Standings & statistics 1913

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1913 Interstate League
schedule
President: C.L. Rexford

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Erie Sailors 57 21 .731 - Larry Quinlan
Akron Giants 47 32 .595 10.5 Johnny Siegle
Youngstown Steelmen 43 33 .566 13.0 Curley Blount
Columbus Cubs 37 38 .493 18.5 Lee Fohl
Steubenville Stubs 31 42 .425 22.5 Roy Montgomery
Wheeling Stogies 32 47 .405 25.5 Ray Ryan
Canton Senators 29 44 .397 25.5 Bade Myers
Zanesville Flood Sufferers 27 46 .370 27.5 Marty Hogan

Zanesville disbanded July 13.
The league disbanded July 21.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tom Sheehan Youngstown BA .355 Lou Schettler Erie W 14
John Dawson Erie Runs 67 Clark Sterzer Erie SO 121
Tom Sheehan Youngstown Hits 106 Lou Schettler Erie Pct .824; 14-3
Art Watson Steubenville HR 6

[1]

1914 to 1916 Interstate League

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Cities represented 1914 – 1916

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[1]

Standings & statistics 1914-1916

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1914 Interstate League
Presidents: Milton A. Jordan / W. Duke Jr.

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Jamestown Giants 59 40 .596 - Joe Lohr
Bradford Drillers 59 42 .584 1.0 Art Goodwin / Duke Servatius
Warren Bingoes 57 45 .559 3.5 Bill Webb
Olean Refiners 43 53 .448 14.5 Harry Giles / Joe Reynolds
Wellsville Rainmakers 41 60 .406 19.0 William Clarke / Elmer Bliss
Hornell Green Sox 39 58 .402 19.0 John O'Keefe / Albert Barrett
Joe Prozeller

Playoff: Jamestown 4 games, Bradford 3.
No Individual Statistics Available.

1915 Interstate League
President: James A. Lindsey

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Wellsville Rainmakers 54 32 .628 - Joe Lohr
Olean White Sox 52 30 .634 - Gus Dundon
Bradford Drillers 42 42 .500 11.0 Duke Servatius / Ray Topham
Hornell Maple Leafs 38 51 .427 14.5 Joe Prozeller / Lenny Burrell
Warren Bingoes 33 50 .398 16.5 R.W. Archer / George Bell
Jamestown Rabbits 28 42 .400 18.0 Bill Webb

Jamestown disbanded August 14.
Playoff: None; Olean refused to engage in a playoff, claiming that Jamestown's second half games should have been thrown out for failing to complete the schedule and Olean should have won both halves. The claim was denied and the title was awarded to Wellsville.[1]

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bill Colligan Olean BA .322 Everett Keener Wellsville W 14
Bill Colligan Olean Runs 62 Lefty Webb James/Hornell W 14
Joe Apple Wellsville Runs 62 Lefty Webb James/Hornell SO 152
John Steinfeldt Wellsville Hits 101 Everett Keener Wellsville Pct .778; 14-4
Charlie Moran Warren HR 3

1916 Interstate League
schedule
President: James A. Lindsey

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Ridgway 56 24 .700 - Izzy Hoffman
St. Marys Saints 49 30 .620 6.5 Curley Blount
Bradford Drillers 45 38 .542 12.5 Larry Schlafly
Wellsville Rainmakers 27 48 .360 26.5 Joe Lohr
Johnsonburg Johnnies 27 49 .355 27.0 Thomas Jones
Warren Warriors 24 19 .558 NA Frank Shaughnessy
Erie Sailors 26 37 .413 NA Bill Bradley
Olean White Sox 16 25 .390 NA Gus Dundon

Olean disbanded July 12.
Warren disbanded August 4; none of its second half games (6-9) were counted.
Erie disbanded August 9.
Games thrown out: Wins: Warren 6, Wellsville 3, Bradford 2, Erie 2, St. Marys 1, Johnsonburg 1; Losses: Warren 9, Wellsville 4, St. Marys 1.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jacob Jennis Bradford BA .357 John Verbout St. Marys W 18
Sam McConnell Ridgway Runs 64 Al Braithwood Bradford So 133
Jim McCabe Ridgway Hits 95 Bill Chapelle Wells/Ridg Pct .800; 12-3
John Gilmore Warr/St.Ma/Wells HR 4
Frank Gleich Erie HR 4

[1]

1932 Interstate League

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Cities represented 1932

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[1][2]

Standings & statistics 1932

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1932 Interstate League
President: William J. Willenbecher

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Stroudsburg Poconos 19 7 .731 - Ed Murphy
Pottstown Legionaires 18 8 .692 1.0 Earl Potteiger
Norristown /
St. Clair Saints		 11 10 .524 8.5 Steve Yerkes
Tamaqua Dukes /
Slatington Dukes		 10 16 .385 9.0 Lee Strait
Washington Potomacs 9 17 .346 9.0 Edward Neff
Lancaster Red Sox 7 16 .304 10.5 Bud Shaw /
Jimmy Sheckard / Otto Sandberger

Pottstown disbanded in June, reorganized and re-formed June 17; disbanded again causing the league to fold; Norristown (2-4) moved to St. Clair May 28, then disbanded June 12; Tamaqua (8-12) moved to Slatington June 8; Lancaster disbanded June 17.
The league disbanded June 20.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dom Dallessandro Norris/St.Cla BA .418 Ed Cole Stroudsburg W 7
Mickey Haslin Stroudsburg BA .418 Matt Ramsey Pottstown W 7
Frank DeManicore Stroudsburg Runs 39 Jack Crimmins Tama/Slating SO 47
Mickey Haslin Stroudsburg Hits 48 Matt Ramsey Pottstown Pct .875; 7-1
Frank DeManicore Stroudsburg HR 7
Mickey Haslin Stroudsburg HR 7
Paul Piontek Stroudsburg HR 7
Paul Piontek Stroudsburg RBI 37

[1][2]

1939–1952

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Interstate League
SportBaseball
Founded1939
First season1939
Ceased1952
No. of teams4 (1939)
8 (1940–1941) (1946–1952)
6 (1942–1945)
Country United States
Last
champion(s)		Hagerstown Braves
Most titlesWilmington Blue Rocks (4)
Lancaster Red Roses (4)
Official websiteNone

The longest tenured version of the Interstate League was the last incarnation, which played in the Mid-Atlantic states from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor leagues to operate continuously during the World War II period.

This circuit, which began as Class C and was upgraded to Class B in 1940, typically had teams in Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Sunbury, all in Pennsylvania; Hagerstown, Maryland; Trenton, New Jersey; and Wilmington, Delaware. Its final champion was the Hagerstown Braves, a Boston Braves affiliate. That season, the York White Roses led the league in attendance, attracting over 78,000 fans.

Cities/Teams/Years

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Cities represented Teams Major League Affiliate Year(s)
Allentown, Pennsylvania Allentown Dukes Boston Braves 1939
Allentown Fleetwings St. Louis Cardinals 1940
Allentown Wings Philadelphia Phillies (1941)
St. Louis Cardinals (1942–43)		 1941–43
Allentown Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals 1944–52
Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport Bees Boston Braves 1941
Hagerstown, Maryland Hagerstown Owls Detroit Tigers (1941–44) (1947–48)
Chicago Cubs (1945–46)
Washington Senators (1949)		 1941–49
Hagerstown Braves Boston Braves 1950–52
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg Senators Pittsburgh Pirates (1941–42)
Cleveland Indians (1946–51)
Philadelphia Athletics (1952)		 1940–42, 1946–52
Hazleton, Pennsylvania Hazleton Mountaineers Unaffiliated 1939–40
Lancaster, Pennsylvania Lancaster Red Roses Philadelphia Athletics (1944–47)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1948–52)		 1940–52
Reading, Pennsylvania Reading Chicks Unaffiliated 1940
Reading Brooks Brooklyn Dodgers 1941
Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury Athletics Philadelphia Athletics 1951
Salisbury Reds Cincinnati Reds 1952
Sunbury, Pennsylvania Sunbury Senators Unaffiliated 1939
Sunbury Indians Unaffiliated 1940
Sunbury Yankees[3] New York Yankees 1946–47
Sunbury Reds Cincinnati Reds 1948–49
Sunbury Athletics Philadelphia Athletics 1950
Sunbury Giants New York Giants 1951–52
Trenton, New Jersey Trenton Senators Unaffiliated 1939–41
Trenton Packers Philadelphia Phillies (1942–43)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1944)		 1942–44
Trenton Spartans Brooklyn Dodgers 1945
Trenton Giants New York Giants 1946–50
Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington Blue Rocks Philadelphia Athletics (1940–43)
Philadelphia Phillies (1944–52)		 1940–52
York, Pennsylvania York Bees Boston Braves 1940
York White Roses Pittsburgh Pirates (1943–50)
St. Louis Browns (1952)		 1943–52

League champions

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Season Interstate League champion Interstate League runner-up Other postseason participants
1939 Allentown Dukes Sunbury Senators Trenton Senators
1940 Lancaster Red Roses Reading Chicks Trenton Senators; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1941 Harrisburg Senators Trenton Senators Hagerstown Owls; Reading Brooks
1942 Wilmington Blue Rocks Hagerstown Owls Harrisburg Senators; Allentown Wings
1943 Lancaster Red Roses York White Roses Hagerstown Owls; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1944 Lancaster Red Roses Allentown Cardinals Wilmington Blue Rocks; York White Roses
1945 Lancaster Red Roses Allentown Cardinals Trenton Spartans; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1946 Harrisburg Senators Wilmington Blue Rocks Hagerstown Owls; Allentown Cardinals
1947 Wilmington Blue Rocks Allentown Cardinals Trenton Giants; Harrisburg Senators
1948 Trenton Giants York White Roses Wilmington Blue Rocks, Sunbury Reds
1949 Trenton Giants Harrisburg Senators Allentown Cardinals; Wilmington Blue Rocks
1950 Wilmington Blue Rocks Hagerstown Braves Harrisburg Senators; Trenton Giants
1951 Wilmington Blue Rocks Sunbury Giants Hagerstown Braves; Allentown Cardinals
1952 Hagerstown Braves Lancaster Red Roses York White Roses, Allentown Cardinals

Individual records

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Hitting

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Pitching

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No-hitters

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Year Date Pitcher Team Opposition Score Notes
1940 July 2 Don Kepler Sunbury York 6-0 7 innings
1942 August 24 Jack Casey Trenton Hagerstown 2-3 lost game
1943 July 1 Steve Gerkin Lancaster Trenton 4-0 7 innings
1944 June 25 Hal Kelleher Trenton York 6-0 7 innings
1946 June 10 Whitey Konikowski Trenton Harrisburg 4-0 7 innings
1949 May 7 Tony West Trenton Westbury 11-0
1950 June 11 Joe Micciche Trenton Harrisburg 9-0
1950 August 25 Tony Segzda York Sunbury 6-0
1951 April 28 Keith Kelley Lancaster Wilmington 10-0
1951 June 14 William Minton Salisbury Harrisburg 0-2 lost game
1951 July 18 Tom Casagrande Wilimington York 0-1 11 innings; lost game
1951 July 28 Ernest Nichols Lancaster Salisbury 6-2
1951 August 20 Tom Casagrande Wilmington Harrisburg 4-0 7 innings
1952 June 5 Bob Berresford Harrisburg Wilmington 1-0
1952 August 6 Doug Gostlin Lancaster Sunbury 1-0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ a b "1932 Interstate League".
  3. ^ "Ed Baker presents Mike Daddario's Sunbury Memorial Field - Sunbury Pennsylvania - Former Home of the Sunbury Reds". www.digitalballparks.com.

Further reading

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