Jim Have any idea when (a) the bears started and ended lifetimes or (b) ditto for Ducks? I know Ducks were there in 1914 but thats all. My relative was Jacob Plate. Ken

Ken, I'm sure that the Bears and that league started in 1948. I was a batboy for them that first year. I've been trying to think of the owner's name. I think it was Berringer. I went to Kalamazoo to college (Western) in the fall of '50 and went into service in the fall of '52. I don't remember if the league and the Bears lasted that long or not. When I got back in '56, I had other things on my mind and didn't pay any attention. I vaguely remember something about the western Michigan teams hanging on for a while. (Don't know if the Western Michigan Whitecaps are part of that heritage or not) I believe that the minor leagues went through a real downturn in the '50s and '60s and the Majors pulled back to a few leagues in warmer climates. As for the Ducks, I have a vague recollection of someone saying that the first world war really put an end to them and whatever competition they had in those days. I don't remember mention that there was a formal league. I think they scheduled games as they could with whoever was willing, probably with teams from other towns and even the Tigers if they were willing. I'm thinking right now that the best source of information on this would be the Saginaw News sports department's morgue. I'll see if I can find a web site or maybe someone out there can contact them directly and let us know the URL or get the info. Jim