The Jackson Convicts were a minor league baseball team based in

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is the only city and county seat of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, it is approx ...

. 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 Sout ...

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 in the era.

History

After minor league baseball began in Jackson with the 1888 Jackson Jaxons of the Tri-State 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 U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

cities of Jackson and Kalamazoo to the newly formed Southern Michigan League, 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 unclassifie ...

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, Kalamazoo White Sox, Mount Clemens Bathers, Saginaw 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 Le ...

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 Michigan State Prison 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. 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 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 mai ...

. 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 Battle Creek Crickets. 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 games behind first place Bay City Beavers. Jackson did not qualify for the two-team playoff won by the

Saginaw Ducks Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greate ...

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 (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

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 east and west. 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 Michigan State Prison. 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 (1912) * James Baxter (1915) *

Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be o ...

(1913-1914) * Wese Callahan (1915) * Al Clauss (1912) *

Bill Dammann William Henry ("Wee Willie") Dammann (August 9, 1872 – December 6, 1948) was an American left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of Chicago, he played for three seasons in Major League Baseball, all of them with the Cincinnati Reds. ...

(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 Yankee ...

(1906) * George Deneau (1906, MGR) * Bunny Fabrique (1908-1911) * William Garlow (1911) * Paddy Greene (1911) *

Arthur Hauger John Arthur Hauger (November 18, 1893 – August 2, 1944) was a major league baseball player and scout and minor league manager. Hauger was an outfielder for the Cleveland Naps. He played in fifteen games and only managed one hit (a single) ...

(1911) * Bill James (1910) * Bill Killefer (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 Hosea John Siner (March 20, 1885 – June 10, 1948) was a Major League Baseball player. He played one season with the Boston Doves in 1909. References External links Boston Doves players Major League Baseball second basemen Major L ...

(1908) *

Hooks Warner Hoke Hayden Warner (May 22, 1894 – February 19, 1947) was a baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was 170 pounds and batted left and threw right. He started his career on August 21, 1916. His final game was on ...

(1913-1914)

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