Ironton Nailers

The Ironton Nailers were a old time baseball team from Ironton, Ohio and their nickname was of course a reference to the iron and steel industry in the area. The team started play in 1911 in the Mountain States League, which was a Class D league that comprised teams from Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. The Nailers finished last in their initial campaign in 1911. The team was renamed the Ironton Forgers for the 1912 season and were in first place when the league folded halfway through the season. 

From 1913 through 1915, the Nailers were members of the Ohio State League, a small league consisting of six to eight teams from Ohio. The league and the Nailers would fold midway through the 1915 season. 

Baseball in this era was deeply rooted in local identity, and teams like the Nailers helped foster community spirit and the development of America's pastime. The team played during a time when professional baseball was rapidly expanding across small towns, and saw many cities and states establish their own leagues and teams.