1905 to 1907 Wisconsin State League Minor league baseball began in La Crosse in 1886, when the
LaCrosse Freezers played the season as members of the
Northwestern League. In 1905, the
Wisconsin State League reformed, and La Crosse joined the league, also called the "Wisconsin Association." The La Crosse "Pinks" began minor league baseball play as members of six–team
Class D level Wisconsin State League, with all league teams based in
Wisconsin. The Pinks joined the
Beloit Collegians,
Freeport Pretzels,
Green Bay Colts,
Oshkosh Indians, and
Wausau Lumberjacks teams in league play. The "Pinks" were nicknamed named after the manager of the team,
Pink Hawley. Hawley managed La Crosse from 1905 through the 1908 season. Hawley had moved to La Crosse following his major league career where he opened a cigar store. Hawley also was involved in the organization of the Wisconsin State League. . Hawley managed La Crosse from 1905 to 1908 and was the namesake of the "Pinks" nickname of the team. The 1905 La Crosse Pinks ended their first season of Wisconsin State League play as the league champions. With a record of 68–41, the Pinks placed first in the Wisconsin State League standings, finishing 7.0 games ahead of the second place Oshkosh Indians (60–47). Pink Hawley led the team to the championship as manager. The Pinks ended the 1906 season with a 76–42 record, finishing first in the league standings under manager Pink Hawley. La Crosse finished 2.0 games ahead of the second place
Freeport Pretzels in the final standings. The La Crosse nickname was continued in reference to manager Pink Hawley.
Frank Schneiberg won 22 games for La Crosse in 1906. His contract was then purchased by the
Detroit Tigers for the 1907 season. The La Crosse continued play as the 1907 Wisconsin State League expanded to eight teams, adding the
Madison Senators and
Fond du Lac Webfoots as expansion franchises. The league remained classified as a Class D level league. La Crosse ended the Wisconsin State League regular season in third place. With a record of 67–50, playing under manager Pink Hawley, the Pinks finished 10½ games behind the first place Freeport Pretzels in the eight–team league. The 1907 team was also known as the "Badgers." After the scouts recommended Konetchy to McCloskey, His contract was purchased by the
St. Louis Cardinals from the La Crosse Pinks during the 1907 season for $1,000. Konetchy then signed a contract with the Cardinals for $275 per month and made his major league debut the next day. After his lengthy major league and career ended with 2,175 hits, Konetchy later returned to his hometown as a manager, leading the 1940
La Crosse Blackhawks to the Wisconsin State League championship.
1908 Wisconsin-Illinois League La Crosse continued play as the Wisconsin State League changed names to become the
Wisconsin-Illinois League, remaining a Class D level league. The name change occurred after the
Rockford Reds joined the
Freeport Pretzels as Illinois based teams in the league. The 1908 La Crosse Pinks ended the Wisconsin-Illinois League season in third place and finished the season with 66–57 record. The Pinks played just one season in the eight–team Wisconsin-Illinois League in their final season under manager Pink Hawley. The La Crosse Pinks ended the season 7.0 games behind the champion
Wausau Lumberjacks.
1909 to 1912 Minnesota-Wisconsin League In 1909, Pink Hawley left La Crosse and became the manager of the
Oshkosh Indians, as the La Crosse franchise joined a new league. Beginning play in the new league, La Crosse finished in third place in the Minnesota-Wisconsin League final standings. The Outcasts ended the 1909 season with a record of 69–56 in the six-team league. The 1909 La Crosse manager was Joe Safford, replacing Pink Hawley, as La Crosse ended the season 4½ games behind the first place Duluth White Sox, no playoffs were held. La Crosse finished with a record of 56–68, playing the season under manager Joe Safford. The Outcaste ended the season 23½ games behind the first place
Eau Claire Commissioners in the final standings. La Crosse again placed fifth in the 1911 Minnesota-Wisconsin League final standings. The Outcasts ended the season with a record of 47–68 playing under managers
Bumpus Jones and Carl Bond. The
Superior Red Sox won the championship with a record of 72–46 and finished 28.5 games ahead of fifth place La Crosse. On May 27, 1912,
Baseball Hall of Fame member
Burleigh Grimes of the Eau Claire Commissioners pitched against La Crosse at Eau Claire. Grimes defeated La Crosse by the score of 6–2 after the Outcasts committed eight errors in the game. On June 17, 1912, Grimes beat La Crosse again, pitching at Eau Claire and winning 9–2. Continuing play to begin the 1912 season, the La Crosse "Outcats" played the final season of the Minnesota-Wisconsin League, which reduced to a four-team in the league's final season. The Colts moved from
St. Paul, Minnesota on July 23, 1913, with a 28–54 record. The team finished the season playing as the La Crosse "Colts" after the relocation. After compiling a 12–24 record while based in La Crosse, the Colts ended the season with an overall record of 40–78 to finish in seventh place in the eight-team league. ==The ballpark==