Universal Baseball Encyclopedia: Pittsburgh leagues (pre-WWI)

1903-9-27WG Independent nines had a better season than last year, with faster nines and stronger crowds.

"It is doubtful if one team around here that is well known lost one cent. Homestead is ahead of the game and Risher's pay roll is as large as in some minor leagues. Wilmerding, which is a good ball town, has been playing star players all season, and as yet it has not reported a loss. It has made money. Burgess Ed Hickey, at Milvale, Is goingg along in the even tenor of his way, and he also is ahead.

"It is doubtful if there is one team in this part of the state that has a better site than the Pittsburgh Amateurs at Friendship park. This park, which is the property of the Pittsburgh High schools, is a very valuable site for sports, and draws large crowds. The park is given out for the summer without one cent of rental being charged and as a consequence the management of a summer team has a "good thing." There are many managers of teams in the small leagues who have not as good prospects for making money as the person who has a team at Friendship park."

"All over the state the independents are ahead of the game. Altoona has had a season that exceeded expectations and at Harrisburg the sport flourished more than the backers of the team ever dreamed of before the season opened. Williamsport, which had been without the game for some years, had a big revival and its profits will, it is estimated, reach into the thousands. This is also true at Harrisburg.

"One thing that has helped to put the local teams on "velvet" is the series now being played between teams like Homestead, Millvale and Pittsburgh Amateurs. All have been money makers and if pleasant weather is given the tossers this week the managers will have more smiles coming. Tomorrow Millvale plays at Homestead and Risher has another double-header with P. A. C.

"Friday Homestead took a double-header from P. A. C. and by so doing put itself ahead of that team in the series. Someone has got the idea that Homestead, Millvale and P. A. C. should play a series, the winner to be declared the champion of Western Pennsylvania. Brilliant idea? But where does Waynesburg, Wilmerding and a few other teams come in? Probably they don't count. It is a good thing to play these series, but when the logical championship team is being "doped out, the honor should be given Homestead. Risher has campaigned his team up and down the independent circuit in this section of the state, Ohio and in Eastern Pennsylvania. In this section he has won the series from every team he has met, which means the best the land could afford. On the other hand, P. A. C. has been playing Saturday games, meeting the weaker teams. It has not played Wilmerding, Rochester, Waynesburg and this kind of clubs.

"Millvale was late in starting and at that Hickey's outfit is not as strong as Homestead. Hickey is not claiming a championship, Says he: "Because one team beats Homestead once or twice it should not follow that it is a better team. Homestead is the strongest of them all in this part. Millvale is good, but Risher has advantages that we other managers do not enjoy; hence he can get players from all over the country. We confine ourselves to local talent."

Lew Moren is now one of the best young pitchers in this part of the country. Lew Wentz is his sponsor - discovered him pitching on a boys' team in Duquesne Heights. He was regarded as the top independent righty this summer. Is currently pitching for Millvale Moren, Lew 48-57 MLB

Brownie Gessler, who was playing outfield for Punxsutawney last season, is making good with Brooklyn. Gessler, Doc 128 OPS+ in eight years

1903-10-11WG "At Philadelphia tomorrow the Harrisburg, Pa., Camden, N. J., and Wilmington, Del., baseball teams will play for what is termed the tri-state championship for the independents. Each team is expected to take to the game thousands of spectators, and the crowd looked for will break all records for a game between independent teams. Last fall Wilmington and Brandywine played to over 20,000 spectators. This game scheduled for tomorrow is unique. Partles in the east claim these teams are the leading ones in their respective states, and a double-header will decide the championship. The three captains will toss a coin a few minutes before starting time and the one getting the odd side will play the winner of the first game. the contest to start immediately after. Two umpires will officiate and they will not be known until they ap- pear on the field to start the game.

"Should Harrisburg win the so-called tri-state championship it will prevent Altoona from styling themselves the champions of Central Pennsylvania and give Homestead the title for this section.

1903-11-17WG. Howard M. Risher is the manager of Homestead L.A.C."
1913-5-29 Post. 13 baseball diamonds crowded all day with boys - need more diamonds but there is no space.

1915-8-01G "Winning Team Demanded By The Town Supporters. That is why Ridgeway pays Howard Camnitz a big league salary - enthusiasm in sport all over the country - greatest in a decade."

In 1914 the Ridgway club, which was not even very good, cost $2850 a month, 3/4 of payroll spent on pitching. This year Howard Camnitz is getting $650/month + expenses. Also on the pitching staff is the former major leaguer Rube Witherup, playing under the name of Smith. The outfielders are paid $150/month.

Johnsonburg & St. Marys also have high-class teams. The three teams are trying to work out a championship format to determine a winner amongst themselves, the creme de la creme.

Many other top clubs listed. Pittsburgh Collegians are in 16th year.

More interest in independent baseball than there has been since 1905.

1916-5-14 Tomorrow there will be local meeting of National Amateur Baseball Association - players, leagues, & teams invited. Local branch of NABA has 600 individual teams exclusive of leagues. It is expected that around 900 teams, comprising about 15,000 players, will join. Elimination series will be late in season. Barney Dreyfuss and "Hans" Wagner on board of directors of local organization.

1918-6-02G Hugh Tate, who will be appointed manager of Franklin tomorrow, has been continuously serving in independent ball since 1903. W/pic. A review of the clubs and managers of that graced the sandlots in that far-off day.
1918-7-07G funny story about Clyde Fullerton getting ball stuck up sleeve at third. w/cartoon.

1903-9-27WG Ashford

1914-8-16P Swissvale

1914-8-23P Ambridge Our Boys

1915-6-27G Steubenville Christian Church

1915-9-19G W.H. Mullins, championships of Salem (O.) Shop League

1916-6-11G Westminster College

1916-6-18G Waynesburg College

1917-6-03 Lemington Presbyterian of PRESS Church League.

1917-6-24G Allegheny Steel

1917-7-01G Pittsburgh Steel of Monessen

1917-7-08G Monongahela. A bit blurry

1917-7-15g Pittsburgh Steel Product at Charleroi

1917-8-05G Superior Steel team of Carnegie

1917-8-12G B&O of Connellsville

1918-5-19G Bethany College

1918-5-26G East Liverpool, O. Athletics

1918-6-02G Youngstown, OH

1918-6-23G Toronto O. motley uniforms

1918-6-30 Beltzhoover. also motley uniforms. & Taylor Tube of Washington, with positions.
1918-7-07 Pittsburgh Steel of Charleroi
1918-7-21 Moltrup Steel at Beaver Falls
1918-7-28 Monongahela
1918-8-04 P.J. Sullivan

1903-9-20WG Fast Homestead trio: Future MLB Harry McChesney, 3b-cap Mays Edmundson, and 2b Tom Cosgrove. Cosgrove, Tom /

1914-8-16P Swissvale battery

1914-8-23P Two Swissvale - shortstop Dummy Boyle and right fielder Reed

1915-6-13G action shot from Pitt v. W&J (Washington & Jefferson)

1915-6-20G action shots from Allegheny Steel - Pittsburgh Athletics. Jim Culp threw 2-hit shutout.

1915-7-04G Allegheny Steel players & executives

Davis, catcher of Monongahela

1915-7-11G four stars of Ridgway

1915-8-15G St. Marys stars

1915-8-22G Tim Shea & Bucky Umlauf.

1916-5-14G Pitcher Art Shaw of Pittsburgh Terminal club scoring from home.

1916-5-14G Carnegie Tech stars

1916-5-21G two Lawrenceville veterans.

1916-5-28G Clinton Carter

1916-6-11G Samuel Brennan, Cap. of Hazlewood Collegians.

1916-6-18G Director & Pres. of New Kensington Aluminum.

Benny & Claude Jewell of Meadville. Benjamin "Rabbit" Jewell

1916-6-25G Alderman P.J. Sullivan. President & backer of Lawrenceville.

1916-7-02G stars of New Kensington Aluminum.

Hugh Tate.

1916-7-09G the ballpark the Aluminum company built at New Kensington.

1916-7-23G Jeff Kilner, catcher-Cap of Troy Hill Athletics

1916-7-23G Bobby Freese, catcher, New Kensington Aluminum.

1916-7-30G Action pics from Vandergrift-Allegheny Steel game. Can see smoke stacks in background.

1916-8-06G five players of Pittsburgh Collegians who are graduating into majors.

1916-8-06G Allegheny Steel stars. pros

1916-8-13G Jim Culp, Aluminum. One of top independent pitchers. a veteran.

1916-8-13G Harry Carlson, Allegheny Steel.

1916-8-20G stars of Altoona

1916-8-20G Altoona's two umpires, who are doing splendidly. Former pros.

O.S.W. Fozenbaker, 1b-MG of Keyser, one of top clubs in WV, with his two sons who act as team's mascots.

1916-8-20g stars of Vandergrift, incl. Clyde Fullerton.

1916-8-27G three well-known amateurs.

1916-9-03G Ben Fraley - real name William Froelich - died yesterday of pneumonia. Just last week he had caught a game for Esplen, PA.

1917-6-24 Bert Wilson, of-MG of Alumnium. Former milb

1917-7-08G Tom Doran, Altoona pitcher

1917-7-08G action shots from Ambridge game - some players of Waynesburg - all rather blurry

1917-7-08G manager, business manager, and captain of Pittsburgh Steel Product

1917-7-15g pic of Jimmy Beeson, Greenfield, prominent player for years

1917-7-15 action pic of Durell, strong catcher of Moltrup Steel team at Beaver Falls.

1917-7-22g action pic - Tillie Dewar of Monongahela stealing home - and pic of former MLB Ody Abbott

1917-7-29g action pic - Harry Fowler scoring only run for Ambulance Corp in game v. Coraopolis

1917-7-29g pics of five Ambridge players - including Vern Hughes

1917-8-19G Joe Phillips, former milb. Manager of Pittsburgh Steel Products at Charleroi.

1917-8-26 action pics from Franklin v. Ambridge game, incl. Swetonic.

1917-8-26G Tom White, Monongahela outfielder

1917-9-02G stars of Franklin club

1917-9-09G four of Coraopolis

1918-5-05G REALLY COOL. Pic of crowd at 319th Infantry-Graybers game.

1918-5-12G Martins Ferry, O. MG & pres.
1918-6-02 Jim Clancy, 2b-MG, Central Steel, Massillon

1918-6-09G Charles C. Judge. 1b-MG of Davis A.A.

1918-6-09G Action pic from Beltzhoover v. Moltrup at Beaver Falls

1918-6-16G four stars of Martins Ferry O.

1918-6-23 first base plays at Monongahela

1918-6-30 Doyle, second baseman of Ambridge. Former milb - his home is in Cincinnati.

1918-6-30 Houser, of Steubenville, currently playing 2b for Toronto OH. Has been playing 15 years.
1918-7-21 old-time stars (Karl Kelly and Henny May) with Vandergrift - picture of Ernie Bechtel,

a star pitcher a decade ago, now an umpire
1918-7-28 three star pitchers of Pittsburgh Collegians
1918-8-04 Howard Archer, Shook, & MG Johnny Jones Beltzhoover

1918-8-18 pic of Swede Peterson, now with Toronto IL, in Franklin uniform.

1918-7-18 J.G. (Red) McKenna, former milb, now with Aluminum.

1903-9-15WG Farmer Brown, NYSL p, with Homestead L.A.C. "Bill Coleman again demonstrated that he is one of the leading independent pitchers in the state." Wilmerding had a beefed-up lineup, including Hans Lobert. Some good talk.

McChesney, Harry with Homestead.

1903-9-19WG Pittsburgh Amateurs 5, champion Homestead 1. At Friendship Park. Alex Pearson pitched for Homestead. "The Amateurs played beyond their speed. It was their day and they sprung a big surprise by winning. In the betting at the park they were extreme outsiders and the Homestead money went begging. Early in the game Pearson had speed that was bewildering..."

Bill Coleman won 9-2 for Wilmerding. Misc. boxes.

1915-7-31G Ehmke on mound for Johnsonburg.
1915-8-14 Ambridge finally loses after winning 18 straight.

1915-9-18G Conemaugh of Johnstown beat Pitcairn, amateur champions of Pittsburgh, 10-8. Will meet winner of Detroit-Cleveland series for second round of national championship. Large excited crowd for game.

1916-5-20G Aluminum opening game. Description of new ball park and roster.
1918-8-17 Aluminum nine won sectional independent championship over Allegheny Steel. Over 5K ATT. Knetzer, Jake Pitler, Onslow, Rheam.

1916-6-11 Ed Mullaney, Vandergrift, former MLB.

1914-8-16P Lots of boxes
1914-8-16P Standings + boxes for Allegheny Valley & Beaver County Leagues box.
1914-8-23P Lots of boxes.

Allegheny County League

1915 9-05 standings final batting+fielding

Allegheny and Washington League

1909

Black, Harry

Wagner, Al "Butts"

1910-2-22 League will play again this year. All of its teams finished the season last year for the first time in the circuit's brief life. Carnegie claim to have what will be their finest team ever this year, with Harry Black and Al Wagner. They will play on the Heidelberg diamond.

Canonsburg fans begged the management to get Harry Sheaff and J.M. Perritte back this year, and on account of their begging they have returned.

Teams and league officials listed.

Beaver County League

beginning:
1905

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=355422
https://www.timesonline.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2019/03/12/diamond-days-baseball/5734524007/ Good article