by 62 was the oldest semi- pro organizational baseball league in the area, and had teams throughout southern illinois - Troy Red Birds, Collinsville Boosters, Pochantas Braves, McAteer Glass, Moose Lodge No. 4 of East St. Louis, Sacred Hearts, Mercer Funeral Home of Granite City, Maryville Red Sox and Carpenter - with Wood River Township - the Merchants (sponsored by different merchants thu WR and Roxana and S. Roxanna) entering the Same year for the first time