Mountain State League
The Mountain State League was a Class-D professional baseball league that existed from 1936 to 1941 and a Class-C league in 1942.[1]
1937
The league began play in 1937 with six teams: the Beckley Bengals, based in Beckley, West Virginia; the Welch Miners, based in Welch, West Virginia; the Williamson Colts, based in Williamson, West Virginia; the Bluefield Blue-Grays, based in Bluefield, West Virginia; the Logan Indians based in Logan, West Virginia and the Huntington Boosters, based in Huntington, West Virginia. The Boosters withdrew from the league on August 1.
The league originally began with a split-season format. However, that was abandoned on August 24.
The Bengals finished first in the league and won the league championship.
1938
Except for the Huntington Boosters, all the teams from 1937 returned to the league in 1938. Huntington did host a team. However, it was known as the Huntington Bees.
The Logan Indians finished first in the league. However, they lost in the league finals to the Beckley Bengals, who were once again the league champions.
Stan Musial played for the Colts in 1938.[2]
1939
1939 saw a few changes to the league. The Williamson Colts became the Williamson Red Birds, while the Huntington Bees became the Huntington Boosters again. The Beckley Bengals left the league and were replaced by the Ashland Colonels, based in Ashland, Kentucky.
The Red Birds finished first in the league. However, they lost the league finals to the Blue-Grays.
Stan Musial played for the Red Birds in 1939.
1940
For the 1940 season, the Boosters became the Huntington Aces. All other teams returned with their 1939 names. The Red Birds finished first in the league and won the league championship.
1941
The league played its final season as a Class-D league in 1941. All teams from 1940 returned. The Logan Indians finished first in the league and won the league championship.
1942
The league was a Class-C league in 1942. The Huntington team changed its name again, to the Huntington Jewels. They finished first in the league, though lost to the Ashland Colonels in the league finals.