Historical Minor League Schedules
 

These are some historical minor league schedules, primarily from the railroad era (pre-1960). Game times are, for the most part, not published, so I've settled on the following starting times:

• Pre-1931: 3:00 weekday games; 1:00 weekend and holiday games; 12:00 and 3:00 double-headers
• 1931 and after: 7:00 weekday games; 1:00 weekend and holiday games; 4:00 and 7:00 double-headers (weekdays); 12:00 and 3:00 double-headers (weekends and holidays)

The first night game in professional baseball was in May, 1930, and, from what I've read, it appears that the minor leagues quickly adopted that innovation. If anyone has information regarding the actual start times for the games listed here, I'd be happy to hear about it.

The primary sources for these schedules are contemporaneous publications, including:

• The Sporting Life (available at LA84 Foundation)
• The Sporting News (available at Paper of Record (subscription))
• Spalding, Reach, and other baseball annuals (search at Lahman Index of Baseball Guides)

These are the schedules that were published prior to opening day. Consequently, they do not necessarily reflect how the games were actually played, and some of these leagues may have even folded mid-season.

In many cases, there are errors in the printed schedules. This is almost inevitable, considering all the steps that a schedule would take from the league office to the publisher to the printed page. In most cases, the mistakes are obvious and easily corrected. In some cases, I've had to check other sources. If there's some doubt about a particular quirk in the schedule, I'll make a note of it.

1921 PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Teams:
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Oaks
Portland Beavers
Sacramento Senators
Salt Lake City Bees
San Francisco Seals
Seattle Rainiers
Vernon Tigers

Schedule Characteristics:
SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G188_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="188" start_month="4" start_day="5" start_day_of_week="3"

Even though the header says that this is a balanced schedule, it isn't (the game doesn't quite understand how a league without divisions can have an unbalanced schedule, so it's just better to call the schedule balanced). Teams play each other between 21 and 30 times during the season. Six teams play 189 games, while two teams play 188.

Season starts on April 5 and ends on October 2. Teams play every day from Tuesday through Sunday. No games on Mondays, unless it's a holiday. Double-headers on Sundays and holidays - Memorial Day (5/30), Independence Day (7/4), Labor Day (9/5), and, in California, Admission Day (9/9). Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00, except for the first games of Sacramento's Sunday double-headers which start at 10:00 a.m. These games were held at Stockton, about 50 miles south of Sacramento. As Lefty O'Doul reminisced in The Glory of Their Times (expanded edition): "In the Pacific Coast League, later on, I used to play Sunday morning at Stockton, grab an egg sandwich, ride 60 or 70 miles on the bus, put the wet uniform back on, and play an afternoon game in Sacramento."

You can look it up.


Attachment 367593

1922 PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Teams:
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Oaks
Portland Beavers
Sacramento Senators
Salt Lake City Bees
San Francisco Seals
Seattle Indians
Vernon Tigers

Schedule Characteristics:
SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G200_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="200" start_month="4" start_day="4" start_day_of_week="3"

This is a more balanced schedule than the 1921 schedule, but it still has some quirks. Each team plays 200 games, but some teams split road and home games evenly, while others play 101 and 99 road/home or vice versa. Teams play each other between 28 and 31 times during the season.

Season starts on April 4 and ends on October 15. Teams play every day from Tuesday through Sunday. No games on Mondays, unless it's a holiday. Double-headers on Sundays and holidays - Memorial Day (5/30), Independence Day (7/4), Labor Day (9/4). Admission Day falls on a Saturday, so no double-headers that day. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00, except for the first games of Sacramento's Sunday double-headers which start at 10:00 a.m. These games were held at Stockton, about 50 miles south of Sacramento.


Attachment 367595

1930 PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Teams:

Hollywood Stars
Los Angeles Angels
Mission (San Francisco) Reds
Oakland Oaks
Portland Beavers
Sacramento Senators
San Francisco Seals
Seattle Indians

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G201_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="201" start_month="4" start_day="8" start_day_of_week="3"

Each team plays 201 games. Teams play between 99 and 102 home games, and teams play each other between 28 and 30 times during the season.

The PCL had a split schedule in 1930. The first half of the season ended after the games on July 13.

Season starts on April 8 and ends on October 19. Teams play every day from Tuesday through Sunday. For the most part, no games on Mondays, unless it's a holiday. There are three games scheduled for Mondays (all involving Seattle) that are designated "special," and which could be rescheduled as parts of double-headers, presumably at the home team's option. Double-headers on Sundays and holidays - Memorial Day (5/30), Independence Day (7/4), Labor Day (9/1), and Admission Day (9/9). Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00, except for the first games of Sacramento's Sunday double-headers which start at 10:00 a.m. These games were held at Stockton, about 50 miles south of Sacramento.


Attachment 369891

EDIT: corrected a discrepancy between league games and games per team. The corrected file is now attached.

Thanx i really needed these. I am adding the PCL in 1920 as part of my ABF league with Satchel Paige & Josh Gibson to 2 of the teams and later on the DiMaggio's to the Seals.

1913 COTTON STATES LEAGUE

Teams:
Columbus (MS) Swamp Angels
Clarksdale (MS) Joy Riders
Jackson (MS) Lawmakers
Meridian (MS) Metropolitans
Pensacola Snappers
Selma (AL) Centralites

Schedule Characteristics:
SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G110_T6_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="110" start_month="4" start_day="10" start_day_of_week="5"

Each team plays 110 games. Teams play each other 22 times during the season.

Season starts on April 10 and ends on August 15. Only Pensacola and Clarksdale have home games on Sundays. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday, Sunday, and holiday (Confederate Memorial Day (4/28) and Independence Day (7/4)) games start at 1:00. Double-header games (only on July 4) start at noon and 3:00.

Attachment 367795

1913 CANADIAN LEAGUE

Teams (all locations in Ontario):

Berlin (Kitchener) Busy Bees
Brantford Red Sox
Guelph Maple Leafs
Hamilton Hams
London Tecumsehs
Ottawa Senators
Peterborough Petes
St. Thomas Saints

Schedule Characteristics:

<SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G107_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="107" start_month="5" start_day="7" start_day_of_week="4">

Despite what the header says, this is not a balanced schedule. Each team plays 106 or 107 games. Teams play each other anywhere from 9 to 19 times during the season and play from 49 to to 58 home games. This is a messed up schedule. What's wrong with you, Canada? There were some gaps in the schedule that I assumed were mistakes and which I fixed. That still left the schedule in a mess.

Season starts on May 7 and ends on September 1. No games are scheduled on Sundays. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday and holiday (King George's Birthday (6/3), Dominion Day (7/1), Civic Holiday (8/4), Labour Day (9/1)) games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00.


Attachment 368136

1911 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Teams:

Columbus Senators
Indianapolis Indians
Kansas City Blues
Louisville Colonels
Milwaukee Brewers
Minneapolis Millers
St. Paul Saints
Toledo Mud Hens

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G168_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="168" start_month="4" start_day="12" start_day_of_week="4"

Each team plays 168 games. Teams play each other 24 times during the season.

Season starts on April 12 and ends on October 1. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday and Sunday games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00, except for Minneapolis/St. Paul split home-and-home double-headers, which start at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00.


Attachment 368330

1896 EASTERN LEAGUE

Teams:

Buffalo Bisons
Providence Grays
Rochester Blackbirds
Scranton Miners
Springfield Ponies
Syracuse Stars
Toronto Canadians
Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons
(Toronto dropped out mid-season and was replaced by the Albany Senators)

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G112_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="112" start_month="5" start_day="1" start_day_of_week="6"

Each team plays 112 games. Teams play each other 16 times during the season.

Season starts on May 1 and ends on September 15. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday and holiday (Queen's Birthday (5/25), Dominion Day (7/1)) games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00, except for split home-and-home double-headers (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Buffalo/Rochester, Rochester/Syracuse), which start at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00.


Attachment 368745

1912 UNITED STATES BASEBALL LEAGUE

Teams:

Chicago Green Sox
Cincinnati Pippins
Cleveland Forest City
New York Knickerbockers
Pittsburgh Filipinos
Reading
Richmond Rebels
Washington Senators

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G126_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="126" start_month="5" start_day="1" start_day_of_week="4"

Each team plays 126 games. Teams play each other 18 times during the season.

Season starts on May 1 and ends on September 28. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday, Sunday, and holiday (Memorial Day (5/30)) games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00. Sunday games only at Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland.

The USBL was a misbegotten attempt to form a third major league. It failed miserably, never attracting any notable big-league talent to its rosters and lasting only a couple of months before it folded. Brooklyn was originally slated to have a club, but Reading replaced it before the season started.

Attachment 368930

1900 AMERICAN LEAGUE

Teams:

Buffalo Bisons
Chicago White Stockings
Cleveland Lake Shores
Detroit Tigers
Indianapolis Hoosiers
Kansas City Blues
Milwaukee Brewers
Minneapolis Millers

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G140_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="140" start_month="4" start_day="18" start_day_of_week="4"

Each team plays 140 games. Teams play each other 20 times during the season.

Season starts on April 18 and ends on September 18. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday, Sunday, and holiday (Memorial Day (5/30)) games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00. Sunday games everywhere except at Cleveland and Indianapolis.

This is the schedule for the American League the year before it became a major league.


Attachment 368972

Great stuff, Joe. Thanks!

1913 SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Teams:

Albany (GA) Babies
Charleston (SC) Sea Gulls
Columbus (GA) Foxes
Jacksonville Tarpons
Macon Peaches
Savannah Colts

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G120_T6_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="120" start_month="4" start_day="17" start_day_of_week="5"

Each team plays 120 games. Teams play each other 24 times during the season.

Season starts on April 17 and ends on September 1. No games on Sundays. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday and holiday (Confederate Memorial Day (4/28)) games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00.


Attachment 369154

Way to go Joe !!! You da man !!! :thumbup1:

(this one's for you, txranger :))

1913 TEXAS LEAGUE

Teams:

Austin Senators
Beaumont Oilers
Dallas Giants
Ft. Worth Panthers
Galveston Pirates
Houston Buffaloes
San Antonio Bronchos
Waco Navigators

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G154_T8_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="154" start_month="4" start_day="10" start_day_of_week="5"

Each team plays either 154 or 153 games. Teams play each other 20, 24, or 25 times during the season.

Season starts on April 10 and ends on September 7. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday, Sunday, and holiday (Labor Day (9/1)) games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00.

This is an unusual schedule in that there are no off days. Every team plays every day from opening day to the end of the season.


Attachment 369437


EDIT: The reason that some teams play only 153 games is because the printed schedule lists San Antonio at Houston and Austin at Ft. Worth as single games on Labor Day. The other clubs play double-headers on that date. There's a good chance that the printed schedule is incorrect, and that all the teams are supposed to play double-headers on Labor Day. The attached modified schedule makes that change.

Attachment 369892

1905 WESTERN LEAGUE

Teams:

Colorado Springs Millionaires
Denver Grizzlies
Des Moines Underwriters
Omaha Rourkes
Sioux City Packers
St. Joseph Saints
(Colorado Springs dropped out mid-season and was replaced by the Pueblo Indians)

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G150_T6_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="150" start_month="4" start_day="26" start_day_of_week="4"

Each team plays 150 games. Teams play each other 30 times during the season.

Season starts on April 26 and ends on September 24. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday and Sunday games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00.


Attachment 369605

1913 CENTRAL LEAGUE

Teams:

Dayton Veterans
Evansville River Rats
Ft. Wayne Champs
Grand Rapids Bill-eds
Springfield (IL) Reapers
Terre Haute Terre-iers

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILN_BGY_G140_T6_C_" inter_league="0" balanced_games="1" games_per_team="140" start_month="4" start_day="23" start_day_of_week="4"

Each team plays 140 games. Teams play each other 28 times during the season.

Season starts on April 23 and ends on September 7. Weekday games start at 3:00. Saturday and Sunday games start at 1:00. Double-header games start at noon and 3:00.

August 18 is the only off-day in the entire schedule.


Attachment 369885

1959 PAN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Teams:

Mexican League

Mexico City Reds (Diablos Rojos)
Mexico City Tigers (Tigres)
Monterrey Sultans (Sultanes)
Nuevo Pueblo Owls (Tecolates)
Poza Rica Oilers (Petroleros)
Veracruz Eagles (Aguilas)

Texas League

Amarillo Gold Sox
Austin Senators
Corpus Christi Giants
San Antonio Missions
Tulsa Oilers
Victoria Rosebuds

Schedule Characteristics:

SCHEDULE type="ILY_BGN_G146_SL1_D1_T6_SL2_D1_T6_C_" inter_league="1" balanced_games="0" games_per_team="146" start_month="4" start_day="10" start_day_of_week="6" allstar_game_day="94"

Each team plays 146 games. Teams play 22 games against each team in their league and 6 games against each team in the other league.

Season starts on April 10 and ends on September 2. Weekday games start at 7:00. Weekend, holiday (5/1 (Mexico), 7/3 (US)), and home opener games start at 1:00. Weekend double-header games start at noon and 3:00. Weekday double-header games (twi-night) start at 4:00 and 7:00.

An early (perhaps the earliest) example of interleague play. All-Star Game scheduled for July 12 at Mexico City. The association between the Mexican League and the Texas League lasted only two years (1959-60).


Attachment 370029