The Jackson Convicts 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

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 31,309 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along Interstate 94 in Michigan, Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127 in Michigan, U.S ...

. From 1906 to 1915, Jackson teams played as members of the

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 ...

for the duration of the league but did not claim a league championship in their tenure. In 1914 and 1915, Jackson played one season each known as the "Chiefs" and "Vets." Jackson teams hosted home minor league teams at Keeley Park. The team "Convicts" nickname corresponded to Jackson serving as home to the

Michigan State Prison Michigan State Prison or Jackson State Prison, which opened in 1839, was the first prison in Michigan. After 150 years, the prison was divided, starting in 1988, into four distinct prisons, still in Jackson: the Parnall Correctional Facility whi ...

in the era.

History

After minor league baseball began in Jackson with the 1888 Jackson Jaxons of the

Tri-State League The Tri-State League was the name of six different circuits in American minor league baseball. History The first league of that name played for four years (1887–1890) and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia. The second league ...

, the Convicts were preceded by the 1902 Jackson White Sox, who played a partial season in the

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 ...

. On February 19, 1906, the National Commission awarded the

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

cities of Jackson and Kalamazoo to the newly formed

, after the existing

Interstate League The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. Early leagues Earlier versions of the Interstate League, with years active: *1896–1901: an unclassified ...

had first claimed the Kalamazoo franchise for that league. In 1906, the Jackson Convicts became charter members of the six–team Class D level

, also called the "Southern Michigan Association". The

Battle Creek Crickets The Battle Creek Crickets were a minor league baseball team based in Battle Creek, Michigan. From 1906 to 1915, the "Crickets" played as members of the Southern Michigan League for the duration of the league, winning the 1913 league championship. ...

Kalamazoo White Sox Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 73,598. It is the principal city of the Kalamazoo–Portage metropolitan are ...

Mount Clemens Bathers The Mount Clemens Bathers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Between 1906 and 1914, the Bathers played as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Southern Michigan League in 1906 and 1907, Border League (b ...

Saginaw Saginaw () is a city in Saginaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 44,202 at the 2020 census. Located along the Saginaw River, Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of ...

and

Tecumseh Indians The Tecumseh Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Tecumseh, Michigan. From 1906 to 1908, while hosting minor league home games at Athletic Park, Tecumseh teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Southern Michigan Lea ...

teams joined Jackson in beginning league play on May 6, 1906. Jackson's "Convicts" nickname for the ballclub corresponds to the city being home to the

in the era. The first state prison, located in Jackson was built in 1842. Today, the original 1842 prison site houses residential apartments, several art galleries and a

bicycle cooperative A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered transport, human-powered or motorized bicycle, motor-assisted, bicycle pedal, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, with two bicycle wheel, wheels attached to a ...

. In their first season of play, the Convicts ended the 1906 season with a record of 52–52 to place fourth in the final Southern Michigan League standings. Managed by Mo Meyers and George Deneau, Jackson finished 17.0 games behind the first place Mount Clemens Bathers. Mount Clemens (69-34) was followed by the second place Kalamazoo White Sox (63–41), who were followed by the Tecumseh Indians (57–47), Jackson Convicts (52–52), Battle Creek Crickets (39–56) and Saginaw (34–60). Michigan State Prison Jackson D

The Jackson Convicts continued play in the 1907 eight-team Southern Michigan League but folded during the season. On July 15,1907, Jackson folded with a record of 17-27 playing the partial season under manager Bruce Haynes. The Tecumseh Indians won the league championship after the league played the remainder of the season with seven teams. Despite folding the previous season, the Convicts returned to play in the 1908 Michigan State League. On June 30, 1908, the Saginaw Wa-was and Jackson played a 20-inning game at Keeley Park in Jackson. Saginaw won the game 5-4. Jackson ended the season with a record of 68–57 and in third place. Led by manager Bo Slear, the Convicts finished the season 4.5 games behind the first place Saginaw Wa-was, as the league held no playoffs. The Convicts were involved in a close championship race in the 1909 Southern Michigan League, which held no playoffs. Jackson ended the season with a final record of 71–52 to place third in the eight-team league. Playing under returning manager, Bo Slear, the Convicts ended the season just 1.0 game behind first place Saginaw. Elmer Criger finished 22-7 to lead the league. In a close race, the Saginaw Wa-was finished with a record of 73-52, followed by the second place

Flint Vehicles The Flint Vehicles were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1921 to 1926. They were a part of the Michigan–Ontario League and were preceded in the league by the Flint Halligens in 1919 and 1920. In 1921, future Pittsburgh Steel ...

at 72-52 and the Convicts at 71-52. Jackson placed seventh in the eight-team league in 1910. Playing under continuing manager Bo Slear, the Convicts finished with a final record of 51-85. Jackson ended the Southern Michigan League season 34.5 games behind the first place Lansing Senators. In 1911, the Southern Michigan League was upgraded from a Class D league to a Class C league and the Convicts finished in last place. With a record of 39–98 under manager Charley Fox, Jackson finished 48.0 games behind the first place Kalamazoo Celery Pickers (88-51). John Connors of Jackson won the Michigan State League batting title, hitting .377. The Convicts finished as the runner-up in the 1912 Southern Michigan League standings. Jackson ended the season with a record of 71–55, placing second, as Mo Meyers returned as manager. The Convicts finished 3.5 games behind first place

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 ...

. Jackson's John Connors had 168 hits to lead the league. The 1913 season was the final season for Jackson playing as the "Convicts." Jackson ended the season in third place in the eight-team Southern Michigan League, with a 66-60 record. Mo Myers continued as manager as the Convicts ended the season 15.5 games behind first place

. Jackson continued Southern Michigan League play in 1914 and became known as the "Chiefs." The league expanded to a ten-team league. with a 70-71 record, Jackson placed sixth of the ten teams. The Chiefs were managed by Mo Meyers and Don Brown, finishing 24.0 games behind first place

Bay City Beavers The Bay City Beavers were a Southern Michigan League baseball team based in Bay City, Michigan Bay City is a city in Bay County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 32,661 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 cens ...

. Jackson did not qualify for the two-team playoff won by the

Saginaw Ducks The Saginaw Ducks were a minor league baseball team based in Saginaw, Michigan. Saginaw teams played as members of the Class B level Southern Michigan League in 1906 and from 1908 to 1915, winning league championships in 1908, 1909 and 1914. Sagin ...

over Bay City. In the final season of the league, the 1915 six-team Southern Michigan League folded on July 7, 1915, with the onset of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

greatly affecting minor leagues. Jackson played as the "Vets" in 1915. When the league folded, the Vets had a record of 29-34 and finished in third place, ending 14.0 games behind first place

South Bend Factors South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...

in the final standings. The Southern Michigan League never reformed. Jackson, Michigan has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

Jackson teams hosted home minor league games at Keeley Park. The 7,000 capacity ballpark was located North of Ganson Street, across the Grand River from the

. Today, Keeley Park, also known as the "Jackson County Fairgrounds" is still in use as a public park, with an event center and amenities. The park remains home to the annual Jackson County Fair and is located at 200 West Ganson Street.

Timeline

Year-by–year records

Notable alumni

Red Bowser James Harvey "Red" Bowser (September 20, 1881 – May 22, 1943) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox.James Baxter (1915) *

Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023) was an American professional American football, football player, civil rights activist, and actor. He played as a Fullback (gridiron football), fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the ...

(1913–1914) * Wese Callahan (1915) *

Al Clauss Albert Stanley "Lefty" Clauss (June 23, 1891 – September 13, 1952) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Clauss played for the Detroit Tigers in . In 5 career games, he had a 0–1 record, with a 4.73 ERA. He batted right and threw left-h ...

(1912) * Bill Dammann (1908) *

Bert Daniels Bernard Elmer Daniels (October 31, 1882 – June 6, 1958) was a major league baseball player from 1910 to 1914. Daniels' first four years were with the New York club in the American League, called the Highlanders through 1912, and the Yankees ...

(1906) * George Deneau (1906, MGR) * Bunny Fabrique (1908–1911) * William Garlow (1911) *

Paddy Greene Patrick Joseph Greene (March 20, 1875 – October 20, 1934) was a professional baseball player. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Highlanders and Detroit Tigers in 1902 and 1903 ...

(1911) * Arthur Hauger (1911) *

Bill James George William James (born October 5, 1949) is an American baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books about baseball history and statistics. His a ...

(1910) *

Bill Killefer William Lavier Killefer (October 10, 1887 – July 3, 1960), nicknamed "Reindeer Bill", was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1909 to 1921 for the St. Louis Brown ...

(1907) *

Jake Pitler Jacob Albert Pitler (April 22, 1894 – February 3, 1968) was an American second baseman and longtime coach in Major League Baseball. Born in New York City, and Jewish, he moved with his family to Western Pennsylvania when he was a boy, and he g ...

(1913–1915) * Hosea Siner (1908) * Hooks Warner (1913–1914) * Jackson Convicts players * Jackson Chiefs players *

Jackson Vets players Jackson may refer to: Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson South, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson oil field in Durha ...

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Jackson - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Baseball teams established in 1906 Baseball teams disestablished in 1913 Jackson, Michigan Southern Michigan League teams