The Adrian Yeggs were a

Southern Michigan League The Southern Michigan League was a Minor League Baseball circuit which operated between 1906 and 1912. It was classified as a Class D league from 1906 to 1910 and as a Class C league from 1911 to 1912. After that, the league was known as the South ...

baseball 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 ...

, United States that played from 1909 to 1914 as a whole and 1909 to 1911 under the Yeggs nickname.

History

According to the book ''Baseball Team Names, 1869-2012'', they were named after safe-cracker James Yeggs, one of the most well-known inmates at a prison located in Adrian. Carl Vandagrift,

Frank Gilhooley Francis Patrick "Frank" Gilhooley Sr. (June 10, 1892 – July 11, 1959) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball, playing mostly as a right fielder from through for the St. Louis Cardinals (1911–12), New York Yankees (1913–18) a ...

and Elmer Smith played for them. In 1912, they were renamed to the Adrian Lions Major League Baseball players that played for them include Emil Huhn,

Cowboy Jones Albert Edward "Cowboy" "Bronco" Jones (August 23, 1874 – February 9, 1958) was a professional baseball pitcher. He pitched one full season and parts of three others in Major League Baseball from 1898 until 1901 for the Cleveland Spiders and St. ...

, Elmer Smith and Bun Troy. They became the Adrian Champs in 1913. They finished first in the league with a 78-47 record and were managed by Dan Jenkins. The team was probably named after the Lion motor car manufactured in Adrian. The factory burned down during 1912 and the company ceased operations, thus the change of name in 1913. In 1913, they were named the Adrian Champs. Major League Baseball players that played for them include Cecil Coombs,

Paul Smith Paul Smith is the name of: Music * Paul Smith (composer) (1906–1985), American film music composer * Paul Smith (pianist) (1922–2013), Los Angeles jazz pianist * Paul Smith (English singer) (born 1979), vocalist and songwriter of British in ...

, Johnny Mitchell, Emil Huhn,

and Bun Troy. Prior to being the Adrian Champs, they were the

Adrian Lions 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 ...

. They became the Adrian Fencevilles in 1914. In 1914, their final season, they were named the Adrian Fencevilles. They were the last team to ever play in Adrian, Michigan.BR Minors
/ref>

Timeline

References

{{reflist Baseball teams established in 1909 Baseball teams disestablished in 1914 Defunct minor league baseball teams 1909 establishments in Michigan 1914 disestablishments in Michigan Sports in Adrian, Michigan Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Southern Michigan League teams