Central League (1897)

{{Other uses|Central League (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox sports league

|logo =

|pixels =

|caption =

|sport = Baseball

|founded = {{baseball year|1897}}

|president= George Simons

|teams = 6

|country = United States

|champion = Evansville Brewers

|folded = {{baseball year|1897}}

|website =

}}

The Central League was a Class C league of minor league baseball that operated in the United States in 1897.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=396bc561|title=1897 Nashville/Henderson Centennials Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=January 28, 2015}} Representatives met to organize in Evansville, Indiana, on January 20, 1897.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46416881/central-league-organized/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Central League Organized |work=The Indianapolis Journal |location=Indianapolis |date=January 21, 1897 |accessdate=March 9, 2020 |page=26}} George Simmons was elected president, secretary, and treasurer. While the exact league lineup was not finalized at the meeting,{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46418164/work-says-it-is-a-go/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Work Says It Is a Go |work=The Nashville American |location=Nashville |date=January 27, 1897 |accessdate=March 9, 2020 |page=6}} it was resolved that the circuit was to consist of six teams who would pay a $500 deposit to guarantee they would play the entire season, and player salaries were capped at $900 per team. Officials met again on February 7 in Evansville to solidify the league's membership, and franchises were granted to clubs in Cairo, Illinois; Evansville, Terre Haute, and Washington, Indiana; Paducah, Kentucky; and Nashville, Tennessee.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46419658/central-league-organized/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Central League Organized |work=The Indianapolis Journal |location=Indianapolis |date=February 8, 1897 |accessdate=March 9, 2020 |page=5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=a600becb|title=1897 Central League|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|accessdate=March 9, 2019}}

It was reported the Nashville Centennials franchise relocated on June 4, 1897.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-9764846|title=Looking Back: The 1897 Nashville Centennials|website=MiLB.com}}

Severe financial problems throughout the circuit forced the league to disband on July 20. As of July 19, the final day of play, the Evansville Brewers were in first place with a 41–30 (.577) record, making them the de facto league champions.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46522485/baseball-news/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Baseball News |work=The Paducah Sun |location=Paducah, Kentucky |date=July 20, 1897 |accessdate=March 11, 2020 |page=1}}