Holland Wooden Shoes

The Holland Wooden Shoes were a minor league baseball team based in Holland, Michigan. In 1910 and 1911, the Wooden Shoes played as members of the Class D level Western Michigan League and its successor, the 1911 Michigan State League. The Wooden Shoes hosted home games at the 19th Street Grounds.

Holland Wooden Shoes
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1910–1911)
LeagueWestern Michigan League (1910)
Michigan State League (1911)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameHolland Wooden Shoes (1910–1911)
Ballpark19th Street Grounds (1910–1911)

History

Minor league baseball began in Holland, Michigan in 1910, when the Holland "Wooden Shoes" became charter members of the reformed four–team Class D level Western Michigan League. Holland joined the Cadillac Chiefs, Muskegon Speed Boys and Traverse City Resorters in beginning league play on May 28, 1910.[1][2]

The Holland, Michigan use of the "Wooden Shoes" moniker corresponds to namesake Holland culture. In the country of the Netherlands (often incorrectly referred to as Holland), wooden shoes or clogs are prevalent in history and culture.[3][4]

In their first season of play, the 1910 Holland Wooden Shoes finished last in the Western Michigan League final standings. Beginning play on May 28, 1910, the Wooden Shoes ended the 1940 regular season with a record of 40–56, playing under managers Charles Doyle, Emerson Dickerson and Clyde McNutt. Holland finished in fourth place as Cadillac won the championship with a 53–42 record, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Wooden Shoes. In the final standings, Cadillac was followed by second place Traverse City Resorters (50–45), third place Muskegon (48–48) and fourth place Holland (40–56).[5][6][2][7]

The Holland Wooden Shoes played their final season in 1911. Holland joined a new league, as the Western Michigan League expanded and became the reformed six–team Class D level Michigan State League. The Manistee Colts and Boyne City Boosters franchises joined the four returning 1910 Western Michigan League teams in beginning league play on May 23, 1911. Holland ended the 1911 season with a record of 48–71 and placed fifth in the final standings. Managed by Clyde McNutt, Ted Penfold, Ed McDonough and W. Schaefer, the Chiefs finished 26.0 games behind the first place Manistee Colts.[8][9][10][7]

The Holland franchise was replaced by the Ludington Mariners in the 1912 Michigan State League. Holland, Michigan has not hosted another minor league team.[11]

Today, the Holland baseball Little League hosts an annual "Wooden Shoe Tournament."[12]

The ballpark

The Holland Wooden Shoes hosted minor league home games at 19th Street Grounds. The ballpark was also known as Athletic Park. Today, the park is known as Rosa Parks Green. The location is 84 East 19th Street, Holland, Michigan.[13][14][15]

(2009) De Zwaan Dutch Mill. National Register of Historic Places. Holland, Michigan

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
19101Holland Wooden ShoesClass DWestern Michigan League19th Street Grounds
19111Michigan State League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
191040–564thCharles Doyle /
Emerson Dickerson / Clyde McNutt		No playoffs held
191148–715thClyde McNutt / Ted Penfold
Ed McDonough / W. Schaefer		No playoffs held

Notable alumni

See also

Holland Wooden Shoes players

References
  1. "1910 Michigan State League (MSL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1910 Michigan State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Wooden shoes from Holland". www.holland.com. March 11, 2011.
  4. "Why Did The Dutch Walk On Wooden Shoes?". Netherlands Insiders.
  5. "1910 Holland Wooden Shoes minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1910 Holland Wooden Shoes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  8. "1911 Michigan State League (MSL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1911 Holland Wooden Shoes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1911 Holland Wooden Shoes minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "Holland, Michigan Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "Wooden Shoe Tournament". www.hollandlittleleague.com.
  13. "19th Street Grounds in Holland, MI minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "Rosa Parks Green - Neighborhoods".
  15. "Rosa Parks Green". Holland, MI.
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