Marion, Ohio first hosted minor league baseball in 1900, when the Marion "Glass Blowers" played a partial season as members of
Class B level
Interstate League. The Diggers were preceded in minor league play by the 1906 "Marion" team that played a partial season in the
Class B level
Interstate Association and the 1906 and 1907
Marion Moguls of the
Class C level
Ohio-Pennsylvania League. The
Lancaster Lanks,
Lima Cigarmakers,
Mansfield Pioneers,
Newark Newks and
Springfield Reapers teams joined Marion in beginning Ohio State League play on April 23, 1908. Marion finished 8½ games behind the first place Lima Cigarmakers in the final standings. Marion finished the season 6.0 games behind the first place
Portsmouth Cobblers in the six-team league final standings. Joe Lewis returned as the Marion manager. In 1911, an expanded Ohio State League added two teams and Diggers placed second in the eight-team league. Marion ended the season with an 80-59 record, playing a third season under returning manager Joe Lewis. The Diggers finished 4.0 games behind the first place
Springfield Reapers in the final standings. In their final season of play, the 1912 Marion Diggers relocated during the season, as the Ohio State League returned to a six–team league. On July 11, 1912, the league took over the Marion franchise and moved it to
Ironton, Ohio on July 15, with a 32-44 record. Playing as the
Ironton Orphans, the team ended the season with an overall record of 65–72, finishing 24½ games behind the first place Portsmouth Cobblers. Fred Johnston,
Fred Odwell and Bill Johnstone managed the team. ==The ballpark==