Kalamazoo Celery Pickers
Doyle and Hungerford were both local business leaders and still active baseball players who spearheaded an effort to build a ballpark in Kalamazoo.
[2] The Akron Acorns, Columbus Buckeyes, Mansfield, Sandusky Suds, Steubenville Stubs, Wheeling Nail Cities and Zanesville Kickapoos teams joined Kalamazoo in beginning league play on May 2, 1887.
Kalamazoo finished 13.5 games ahead of the second place Zanesville Kickapoos as the Ohio State League held no playoffs.
[12] The Adrian Reformers, Battle Creek Adventists, Jackson Jaxons, Lansing Senators, Owosso Colts and Port Huron Marines teams joined with Kalamazoo in beginning league play.
It was reported in the local paper that “Every seat in the grandstand was taken, and there were at least a hundred carriages and buggies on the ‘foul’ ground, beside a large congregation that was compelled to stand.” [13] The 1895 Kalamazoo team was known as the "Celery Pickers" for the first time and ended the season with a record of 55–41.
[14] Kalamazoo finished 9.0 games behind the first place Adrian Demons who had Baseball Hall of Fame members Bud Fowler and Honus Wagner on their roster during the season.
The Battle Creek Crickets, Jackson Convicts, Mount Clemens Bathers, Saginaw and Tecumseh Indians teams joined the Kalamazoo "White Sox" as charter members.
[25] Managed by Clarence Pickell and Red Killefer, the White Sox finished 6.5 games behind the first place Mount Clemens Bathers, with a 63–41 final record.
[4] The Kalamazoo White Sox continued play in the 1908 Southern Michigan League and finished as the runner up for the third consecutive season.
Led by returning manager Maurice Myers, Kalamazoo ended the season 3.0 games behind the first place Saginaw Wa-was, as the league held no playoffs.
The Kazoos tied for first place in the eight-team Southern Michigan League final standings and then captured the playoff victory.
Due to the tie in the standings, a playoff series was held, and Kalamazoo beat Lansing 4 games to 2 in the finals to claim the league championship.
The Kazoos were managed by Charles Wagner for the final time, with the team finishing 47.5 games behind first place Bay City Beavers.
[49][4] In 1915, the Kalamazoo Kazoos did not return to play in the final season of Southern Michigan League, which permanently folded on July 7, 1915.
As a result, local businessman E. M. Sergeant led an effort organize a team for the newly reformed Central League.
In February 1920 Sergeant signed a contract with what local papers called “one of the best known baseball men in America” Harry T. “Rube” Vickers, to manage the new team.
Vickers received assistance from Philadelphia A's owner/manager and Connie Mack and baseball scout Henry L. Turner in securing players.
The Grand Rapids Joshers, Ludington Mariners and Muskegon Muskies teams joined Kalamazoo in 1920 league play.
[55] The 1921 managers were George Tomer and Grover Prough, as Kalamazoo finished 16.5 games behind the first place Ludington Mariners in the six-team league.
Ending the season, with a record of 61–67, the Celery Pickers finished in fourth place in the six-team Class B level Central League.
[58][4] The Battle Creek Custers, Bay City Wolves, Flint Vehicles, Grand Rapids Billbobs, Hamilton Tigers, London Tecumsehs and Saginaw Aces teams joined Kalamazoo in beginning league play on May 15, 1923.
No playoffs were held, and Kalamazoo ended the season 12.0 games behind the first place Bay City Wolves in the final league standings.
[65] Continuing play in 1926, the Celery Pickers finished in seventh place in the newly formed Michigan State League.
Local baseball players Bill Doyle and Ollie Hungerford led the effort to build the ballpark on vacant land at the site.
The ballpark opened on June 18, 1886, in strong fashion, with a game between a local Kalamazoo team and the Chicago White Sox.
[69] North Side Park filled the void created in the absence of the Wheaton Avenue Grounds and construction was spearheaded by Kalamazoo banker Ed Dayton.
At the beginning of the 1896 season, the park was enlarged, and the original grandstand moved the south to accommodate a new quarter-mile plank bicycle track on the grounds.
Following the 1897 season, now without a professional team, North Street Park was abandoned and was dismantled in 1898, with the grandstand lumber sold at auction.
The site location was just west of Recreation Park on the south side of Lake Street and a short walk from the streetcar line.
The company had purchased an old circus ground, located at the corner of Harrison and Frank streets, with future plans to build a production facility on the property.
