The United States Baseball League was a short-lived major league franchise that operated a single season in 1912. The league folded after a single month of play. It was established by a group of men in New York City, and 8 teams were founded under it:
The league president was William Witmann. The idea of the USBL was to be the 3rd major league in the U.S. and compete with the National and American League. The USBL originally intended to have a 126-game schedule beginning on May 1, but of course failed to do so. President Witmann tried to negotiate with the National Commission guidelines and make peace, stating:
“We do not regard ourselves as outlaws, and if we are left alone we will get along without any friction with the other leagues. We will make no effort to secure players who have contracts with other clubs, neither will we form a haven for dissatisfied or suspended ballplayers…if any war is started it will have to be against us, rather than by us. I see no reason why another league cannot be carried on in perfect harmony with the leagues already in the field.”
The statement had no effect. The National Commission declared the USBL to be an "outlaw" league. Still, Witmann did his best to keep it running. On the USBL's opening day, May 1, 1912, 2,500 fans came to watch New York and Reading battle to 7-7 after 9 innings in New York. The game was called due to darkness and ended in a 10-10 tie, with both teams surrendering 3 in the tenth.
But it was just several weeks later when Washington folded their franchise for financial reasons. The Forest City was saved from disbandment, but Cincinnati and the other western clubs were threatening to move out. An emergency meeting was called on the first of June in Pittsburgh, stopping play. Just five days later, the league had folded. Poor attendance and lack of skilled players were major killers.
However, the United States Baseball League wasn't completely done. League organizers tried through the summer to give it another shot, and they did. In 1913, after 2 clubs withdrew in the blink of an eye, the USBL was left with the teams of:
Just a second game would be played in the 1913 season. After that, the league was finished. But the USBL was said to be a precursor for the newly formed Federal League of 1914.
- Chicago Green Sox
- Cincinnati Pippins
- Cleveland Forest City
- New York Knickerbockers
- Pittsburgh Filipinos
- Reading (no nickname)
- Richmond Rebels
- Washington Senators
The league president was William Witmann. The idea of the USBL was to be the 3rd major league in the U.S. and compete with the National and American League. The USBL originally intended to have a 126-game schedule beginning on May 1, but of course failed to do so. President Witmann tried to negotiate with the National Commission guidelines and make peace, stating:
“We do not regard ourselves as outlaws, and if we are left alone we will get along without any friction with the other leagues. We will make no effort to secure players who have contracts with other clubs, neither will we form a haven for dissatisfied or suspended ballplayers…if any war is started it will have to be against us, rather than by us. I see no reason why another league cannot be carried on in perfect harmony with the leagues already in the field.”
The statement had no effect. The National Commission declared the USBL to be an "outlaw" league. Still, Witmann did his best to keep it running. On the USBL's opening day, May 1, 1912, 2,500 fans came to watch New York and Reading battle to 7-7 after 9 innings in New York. The game was called due to darkness and ended in a 10-10 tie, with both teams surrendering 3 in the tenth.
But it was just several weeks later when Washington folded their franchise for financial reasons. The Forest City was saved from disbandment, but Cincinnati and the other western clubs were threatening to move out. An emergency meeting was called on the first of June in Pittsburgh, stopping play. Just five days later, the league had folded. Poor attendance and lack of skilled players were major killers.
However, the United States Baseball League wasn't completely done. League organizers tried through the summer to give it another shot, and they did. In 1913, after 2 clubs withdrew in the blink of an eye, the USBL was left with the teams of:
- Baltimore (finished with a 2-0 record, tops in the league. They defeated Lynchburg on the road 7-4)
- Brooklyn
- Lynchburg Shoemakers (they had been ejected from the Virginia League the year before, and played at the Fairgrounds in Lynchburg, VA. They fell to Baltimore 7-4 on opening day)
- Newark (defeated New York before 100 fans)
- New York (lost to Newark on opening day in their final ever game)
- Philadelphia
- Reading
- Washington Bandits (played at Georgetown Park in Georgetown, and lost to Brooklyn on opening day)
Just a second game would be played in the 1913 season. After that, the league was finished. But the USBL was said to be a precursor for the newly formed Federal League of 1914.
USBL Owners
Left to Right:
- Marshall Henderson - Pittsburgh
- William Murphy - Cleveland
- Ambrose Hussey, Jr. - co-owner Brooklyn (New York)
- William Witmann - Reading and league president
- Ernest Langraf - Richmond
- John Ryan - Cincinnati
- Hugh McKinnon - Washington
- Ambrose Hussey, Sr. - Brooklyn (New York)