# Empire State League (1905–1907)

The Empire State League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1905 to 1907. The 14 different league franchises were based exclusively in New York (state). The league name was succeeded by the 1913 Empire State League based in Georgia and Empire State League (1987) based in New York (state).

## History

On March 22, 1905, the Empire State League was formed at a meeting held in Syracuse, New York. The teams were selected and R.C. Mayor of Rome was elected secretary and treasurer. Salaries were set at $600.00 per month for each team.
The 1905 Empire State League began play as an eight–team independent league on May 26, 1905. Seneca Falls won the championship with a 42–26 record and several teams folded or relocated during the 1905 season.
In 1906, the Empire State League reduced to six teams, beginning the season on May 26, 1906 and becoming a Class D level minor league. With a record of 48–26, Seneca Falls again won the championship.
In its final season of play, the 1907 Empire State League continued play as a six–team Class D level league and crowned a new champion. The Oswego Starchmakers finished 1.0 game ahead of second place Seneca Falls to win the league championship.
M.T. Roche served as president of the Empire State League for all three seasons of play.

## Cities represented

* Auburn, NY: Auburn 1906–1907
* Canandaigua, NY: Canandaigua 1905
* Cortland, NY: Cortland 1905
* Fulton, NY: Fulton 1905–1907
* Geneva, NY: Geneva 1905–1907
* Ilion, NY: Ilion 1905
* Lyons, NY: Lyons 1905, 1907
* Oneida, NY: Oneida 1905
* Oswego, NY: Oswego Starchmakers 1905–1907
* Palmyra, NY: Palmyra 1905
* Penn Yan, NY: Penn Yan 1906
* Rome, NY: Rome 1905
* Seneca Falls, NY: Seneca Falls 1905–1907
* Syracuse, NY: Syracuse 1906

## Standings & statistics

1905 Empire State League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Seneca Falls | 42 | 26 | .618 | - | Larry Sutton / J. Doyle |
| Palmyra / Geneva | 33 | 22 | .600 | 2½ | Bade Myers / George Williams |
| Rome | 41 | 30 | .577 | 2½ | NA |
| Lyons | 31 | 35 | .470 | 10.0 | Jay Faatz |
| Oswego Starchmakers | 32 | 44 | .421 | 14.0 | NA |
| Ilion / Fulton | 20 | 39 | .339 | 22½ | NA |
| Oneida | 22 | 13 | .629 | NA | Flanagan |
| Canandaigua | 11 | 19 | .367 | NA | NA |
| Cortland | 00 | 00 | .000 | NA | NA |
Palmyra moved to Geneva in June; Ilion moved to Fulton July 10; Cortland disbanded July 18 (record unknown); Oneida disbanded July 25; Canandaigua disbanded July 27.
1906 Empire State League schedule
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Seneca Falls | 48 | 32 | .600 | - | Edward McGuire |
| Geneva | 47 | 32 | .595 | ½ | John Murray |
| Auburn | 37 | 35 | .514 | 7.0 | Willard Hoagland |
| Oswego Starchmakers | 40 | 38 | .513 | 7.0 | Larry Sutton / William Mackey |
| Fulton | 30 | 45 | .400 | 15½ | John Stevenson |
| Penn Yan / Syracuse | 20 | 40 | .333 | 18.0 | Manion / John O'Neil |
Penn Yan (20–40) moved to Syracuse August 23; Syracuse folded before playing a game.
1907 Empire State League schedule
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Oswego Starchmakers | 55 | 29 | .655 | - | Chauncer Elliot |
| Seneca Falls | 56 | 32 | .636 | 1.0 | T.C. Doyle |
| Auburn | 44 | 39 | .530 | 10½ | Willard Hoagland |
| Fulton | 43 | 42 | .506 | 12½ | John Stevenson |
| Geneva | 34 | 51 | .400 | 21½ | John Murray |
| Lyons | 25 | 64 | .281 | 32½ | J.M. Flynn |