The Adrian Reformers were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team based in

Adrian, Michigan Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County, Michigan, Lenawee County. The population was 20,645 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 5th congressional district. The c ...

. In 1895, the Reformers played as a member of the Class B level

Michigan State League The Michigan State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in various seasons between 1889 and 1941. The league franchises were based exclusively in Michigan, with the league forming on six different occasions. Twenty two different ...

, winning the league championship. The Reformers were also known by the Adrian Demons moniker during the 1895 season. In 1895, Adrian, Michigan had two teams, also playing host to the

Page Fence Giants The Page Fence Giants were a professional Black-American baseball team based in Adrian, Michigan, from 1895 to 1898, performing as one of the nation's top teams in the Negro leagues. Named after the Page Woven Wire Fence Company in Adrian, they ...

of the

negro leagues The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relativel ...

. With the two franchises sharing management, the Adrian Reformers signed six players from the Page Fence Giants during the 1895 season, integrating the Michigan State League and leading to the moniker change. The Reformers/Demons were followed in Adrian by the 1909 Adrian Yeggs, who began play in the Southern Michigan League. Adrian hosted all 1895 baseball home games at Lawrence Park.

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...

members

Bud Fowler Bud Fowler (March 16, 1858 – February 26, 1913), born "John W. Jackson", was an American baseball player, manager, and club organizer. He is the earliest known African-American player in organized professional baseball. He was elected to the ...

and

Honus Wagner Johannes Peter "Honus" Wagner ( ; February 24, 1874 – December 6, 1955) was an American baseball shortstop who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1897 to 1917, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nicknamed "the Flying Dutc ...

both played for Adrian in 1895.

History

The Adrian Reformers became members of the reformed Class B level

in 1895. The Michigan State League began play on May 21, 1895, with the Adrian Demons (Reformers), Battle Creek Adventists, Kalamazoo Kazoos, Lansing Senators, Owosso Colts, and Port Huron Marines comprising the six-team league. The Michigan State League played in the 1889 and 1890 seasons before reforming in 1895. Adrian started the 1895 season with a 7–8 record and fell behind early leader Battle Creek/Jackson. During the 1895 season, prior to a series against the Owosso Colts, with future

member

on their roster, the "Demons" signed six members of the

Negro league baseball The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relativel ...

team

to play against the Colts, possibly as injury replacements, including Baseball Hall of Fame member

. The Page Fence Giants were also based in

, and the two franchises shared management groups. In the 1895 pre-season, referring to the Page Fence Giants, the ''

Chicago Inter Ocean The ''Chicago Inter Ocean'', also known as the ''Chicago Inter-Ocean'', is the name used for most of its history by a newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, from 1865 until 1914. Its editors included Charles A. Dana and Byron Andrews. Histo ...

'' newspaper stated that the "Giants are the best colored team ever organized." In April 1895, the Giants had played two exhibition games against the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

, losing both games. The six players moving from the Page Fence Giants to the Demons were Bud Fowler, William Binga, Pete Burns, Vasco Graham, Cannon Ball Miller, and

George Wilson George Wilson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * George Balch Wilson (1927–2021), American composer, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan * George Washington Wilson (1823–1893), Scottish photographer * George Christopher (ac ...

. Binga, Burns, and Wilson returned to playing for the Page Fence Giants after the series against Owosso, while the others remained for longer durations. During the series, Adrian swept all three games playing at Owosso. When the team train arrived home to Adrian after the series sweep, they were met by celebrating fans gathered at the Wabash Depot. The entire team was taken out for a dinner celebration at Schwartz and Emmers restaurant. Erve Beck made his professional debut for Adrian in 1895, playing at age 16. The Adrian Demons/Reformers captured the 1895 Michigan State League championship. Adrian finished the season with a 57–30 record under manager R.G. Taylor. With Honus Wagner playing for Adrian in his first professional season at age 21 and with George Wilson compiling a 29–4 record on the mound, Adrian finished 3.5 games ahead of the second place Lansing Senators (56–36) in the final league standings. The Kalamazoo Kazoos (50–41) and Battle Creek Adventists / Jackson Jaxons (36–53) rounded out the final standings as both Owosso (37–47) and the Port Huron Marines (27–51) franchises folded on September 8, 1895, before the season was completed.Lutzke, Mitch (2019)The Page Fence Giants: A History of Black Baseball's Pioneering Champions. p119. McFarland & Company. Honus Wagner played 16 games for Adrian in 1895, while shuttling between Adrian and the Wagner, Pennsylvania team of the Iron and Oil League, eventually playing for five teams in his first professional season. The Michigan State League folded after the 1895 season, before returning to play in 1897 as a six–team league. The Adrian franchise did not return to the 1897 Michigan State League. The Adrian Demons were followed by the 1909 Adrian Yeggs, who began play as members of the Class D level Southern Michigan League.

Ballpark

The Adrian Demons and Adrian Reformers teams were noted to have played home minor league games at Lawrence Park. Lawrence Park also hosted

home games. The ballpark was named for its owner and had first been a racetrack. Lawrence Park was located on Maumee Street, along Race Street, west of the Raisin River, Adrian, Michigan.

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

(1895) Inducted

, 2021 *

(1895) Inducted

, 1936 * Erve Beck (1895) * William Binga (1895) *

Bill Carrick William Martin Carrick (September 5, 1873 – March 7, 1932) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed Doughnut Bill.Wilbert, Warren N. ''The arrival of the American League: Ban Johnson and the 1901 challenge to National ...

(1895) * Cannon Ball Miller (1895) *

(1895) *

Adrian Reformers players Adrian is a form of the Latin given name Adrianus or Hadrianus. Its ultimate origin is most likely via the former river Adria from the Venetic and Illyrian word ''adur'', meaning "sea" or "water". The Adria was until the 8th century BC the main ...

Adrian Demons players Adrian is a form of the Latin given name Adrianus or Hadrianus. Its ultimate origin is most likely via the former river Adria from the Venetic and Illyrian word ''adur'', meaning "sea" or "water". The Adria was until the 8th century BC the main ...

References

{{reflist

External links

Adrian - Baseball ReferenceLawrence Park video
Baseball teams established in 1895 Baseball teams disestablished in 1895 Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Michigan State League teams Sports in Adrian, Michigan 1895 establishments in Michigan 1895 disestablishments in Michigan