| Formerly | Dakota League (1921–1922) |
|---|---|
| Classification | Class D (1920–1923) |
| Sport | Minor League Baseball |
| Founder | Michael E. Cantillon |
| Inaugural season | 1920 |
| Ceased | July 17, 1923 |
| President | Michael E. Cantillon (1920–1923) Logan Powell (1923) |
| No. of teams | 16 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Most titles | 3 Mitchell Kernels (1920–1922) |
| Related competitions | North Dakota League (1923) |
The South Dakota League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played from 1920 to 1923. The South Dakota League changed its name to the shortened Dakota League for the 1921 and 1922 seasons. The South Dakota League consisted of teams based in South Dakota. Franchises from Minnesota and North Dakota were added during the two Dakota League seasons. For the 1923 season, the league was divided into two four–team Class D partner entities, the South Dakota League and the North Dakota League.
In 1920, the South Dakota League began play as an eight–team Class D level league, with all franchises based in South Dakota. The league would play four seasons and provided the first professional baseball in South Dakota since Sioux Falls played in the 1902–1903 Iowa-South Dakota League. The 1920 South Dakota League charter franchises were the Aberdeen Boosters, Huron Packers, Madison Greys, Miller Climbers, Mitchell Kernels, Redfield Reds, Sioux Falls Soos and Wessington Springs Saints. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
The league president for the duration of the South Dakota League/Dakota League was Michael E. Cantillon. Cantillon had been president of the minor league Minneapolis Millers from 1907 to 1918 and was the brainchild behind the formation of the South Dakota League. [5] [7]
In the first season for the South Dakota League, the Mitchell Kernels won the 1920 South Dakota League Championship, their first of three consecutive championships. Mitchell had a 61–36 record under Manager Hank Scharnweber, finishing 3.5 games ahead of the Sioux Falls Soos in the regular season standings to claim the title, as the league had no playoffs for its duration. Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Bottomley, at age 20, played for the 1920 Mitchell Kernels. Bottomley hit .312 with 7 home runs in 97 games. [8] [5] [9] [4] [10]
In 1921, the league changed names to the Dakota League, reforming after adding the Wahpeton–Breckenridge Twins, based in North Dakota and Minnesota. Baseball play on Sunday had been illegal in North Dakota until the law was repealed in 1920, a positive for early professional teams, who needed the revenue from large Sunday crowds to remain financially viable. Wahpeton, North Dakota newspaper publisher Robert J. Hughes formed the new Wahpeton-Breckenridge, Minnesota franchise, hiring Roy Patterson as manager. The Dakota league remained an eight–team Class D level league, with 13–player rosters. The 1921 league members were the Aberdeen Grays, Huron Packers, Madison Greys, Mitchell Kernels, Redfield Red Sox, Sioux Falls Soos, Wahpeton–Breckenridge Twins and Watertown Cubs. The Mitchell Kernels won their second consecutive league championship, again finishing ahead of the 2nd place Sioux Fall Soos. [7] [11] [5] [12] [13] [14]
Continuing play as an eight–team Class D level league, the 1922 Dakota League season saw the Mitchell Kernels claim the championship, their third consecutive title. The Fargo Athletics, Jamestown Jimkotans and Valley City Hi-Liners became new league franchises in 1922, joining the Aberdeen Grays, Mitchell Kernels, Sioux Falls Soos, Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins and Watertown Cubs. H.E. Ross founded the Jamestown Jinkotas, with former St. Louis Browns player Wib Smith serving as the Jamestown manager. J.H. Sampson served as president the Valley City Hi-Liners, with Charlie Boardman beginning the season as manager. Fargo attorney William H. Barnett was the founder of the Fargo Athletics and hired former major league player Ed Whiting to manage Fargo. On August 25, 1922, Roy Birkenstock of Jamestown threw a no-hitter in a 2–0 win over the Sioux Falls Soos. This was the league's first no–hitter. Mitchell finished the 1922 season with a 60–37 record under Manager Hank Scharnweber, 4.5 games ahead of the tied 2nd place teams, the Aberdeen Greys and Fargo Athletics. Baseball Hall of Fame member Al Simmons played for the 1922 Aberdeen Greys. At age 20, Simmons led the Dakota League with 144 hits, while batting .365 with 10 home runs. [15] [5] [7] [16] [4]
In their final season of 1923, the Dakota League split into two four–team partner entities to condense travel, with the leagues called the North Dakota League and South Dakota League. [7] [5]
The 1923 South Dakota League began play as a four–team Class D level league with the Aberdeen Grays, Mitchell Kernels, Sioux Falls Soos and Watertown Cubs as member franchises. The North Dakota League formed the counterpart four–team Class D league, comprising the returning Jamestown Jimkotas, and three new franchises, the Minot Magicians, New Rockford-Carrington Twins/Valley City Hi-Liners and Bismarck Capitals. The 1923 North Dakota League president was Logan Powell. On May 26, 1923, George Dennison of the Minot Magicians threw a no–hitter against the Bismarck Capitals in a 2–1 victory. The South Dakota League folded on July 17, 1923, with the Sioux Falls Soos in 1st place with a 35–22 record, 0.5 games ahead of the Aberdeen Greys. The Minot Magicians led the North Dakota League standings with a 48–21 record at the conclusion of the North Dakota League season, 15.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Jamestown Jimkotas. Both leagues permanently folded after the 1923 season. [1] [2] [5] [9] [7] [17] [18]
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Kernels | 61 | 36 | .629 | – | Hank Scharnweber |
| Sioux Falls Soos | 58 | 40 | .592 | 3.5 | Fred Carisch |
| Huron Packers | 56 | 40 | .483 | 4.5 | Bill Shipke |
| Wessington Springs Saints | 49 | 48 | .505 | 12.0 | Mattie McGrath |
| Redfield Reds/Red Sox | 46 | 49 | .484 | 14.0 | Ollie Pickering / Harry Halstead |
| Madison Greys | 42 | 50 | .457 | 16.5 | Ralph Works / Dave Altizer |
| Aberdeen Boosters | 42 | 54 | .438 | 18.5 | Dave Altizer / Ed Karger |
| Miller Climbers/Jugglers | 28 | 65 | .301 | 31.0 | Showboat Fisher / Frank Gurney |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showboat Fisher | Miller | BA | .378 | George Stueland | Sioux Falls | W | 22 | |
| G.M. Hollocher | Mitchell | Hits | 121 | George Stueland | Sioux Falls | SO | 212 | |
| Lefty Wilkus | Mitchell | Pct | .778; 14–4 |
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Kernels | 65 | 33 | .590 | – | Hank Scharnweber |
| Sioux Falls Soos | 61 | 35 | .649 | 3.0 | Fred Carisch |
| Wahpeton–Breckenridge Twins | 55 | 43 | .561 | 10.0 | Roy Patterson |
| Redfield Red Sox | 47 | 46 | .505 | 15.5 | Harry Halstead |
| Madison Greys | 45 | 50 | .474 | 18.5 | Dave Altizer |
| Watertown Cubs | 44 | 53 | .454 | 20.5 | Mattie McGrath |
| Aberdeen Grays | 35 | 62 | .361 | 29.5 | Ed Karger |
| Huron Packers | 34 | 64 | .347 | 31.0 | Jay Andrews |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Nolt | Mitchell | BA | .395 | George Stueland | Sioux Falls | W | 22 | |
| Albert Nolt | Mitchell | Runs | 121 | George Stueland | Sioux Falls | SO | 169 | |
| Albert Nolt | Mitchell | Hits | 154 | Earl Keiser | Mitchell | Pct | .909; 20–2 | |
| Albert Wenz | Madison | HR | 9 |
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Kernels | 60 | 37 | .619 | – | Hank Scharnweber |
| Aberdeen Grays | 56 | 42 | .571 | 4.5 | E.H. Harkin / Bill Shipke |
| Fargo Athletics | 56 | 42 | .571 | 4.5 | Ed Whiting |
| Sioux City Soos | 55 | 42 | .567 | 5.0 | Fred Carisch |
| Jamestown Jimkotans | 46 | 51 | .474 | 14.0 | Wib Smith |
| Watertown Cubs | 42 | 54 | .443 | 17.0 | John Mokate |
| Wahpeton–Breckenridge Twins | 42 | 55 | .439 | 18.0 | Roy Patterson |
| Valley City Hi-Liners / Bismarck Capitals | 30 | 64 | .319 | 28.5 | Charlie Boardman / Ernie Menne / J. Sampson / Louis Bachant |
Valley City (25–46) moved to Bismarck August 3. [5]
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Lewan | Watertown | BA | .394 | Cecil Duff | Mitchell | W | 15 | |
| Lyman Nason | Wahpet/Breck | Runs | 92 | Ed Lane | Wahpet/Breck | W | 15 | |
| Al Simmons | Aberdeen | Hits | 144 | Roy Birkenstock | Jamestown | SO | 160 | |
| Lyman Nason | Wahpet/Breck | HR | 17 | [ Al Zweifel | Mitchell | Pct | .824; 14–3 |
| South Dakota League standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls Soos | 35 | 22 | .614 | – | Jack Beaty |
| Aberdeen Grays | 35 | 23 | .603 | 0.5 | Nig Nolte |
| Mitchell Kernels | 28 | 27 | .5096 | 6.0 | Hank Scharnweber |
| Watertown Cubs | 15 | 41 | .268 | 19.5 | Wib Smith |
| North Dakota League standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot Magicians | 48 | 21 | .750 | – | Herb Hester |
| Jamestown Jimkotas | 32 | 35 | .478 | 15.0 | Ed Whiting / Henry Wingfield |
| New Rockford-Carrington Twins / Valley City Hi-Liners | 30 | 38 | .441 | 17.5 | Earl Pickering |
| Bismarck Capitals | 26 | 42 | .382 | 21.5 | Tom Shanley / Mo McKnight |
New Rockford–Carrington moved to Valley City July 17.
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Naleway | Sioux Falls | BA | .337 | Frank Brindza | Aberdeen | W | 10 | |
| Lyman Nason | Mitchell | Runs | 50 | William Ludolph | Sioux Falls | SO | 77 | |
| Louis Benson | Aberdeen | Runs | 50 | William Ludolph | Sioux Falls | PCT | .769 10–3 | |
| John Hart | Mitchell | Hits | 68 | |||||
| Robert Lee | Mitchell | Hits | 68 | |||||
| Wesley Clemons | Aberdeen | HR | 10 |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Wingfield | Jamestown | BA | .402 |
| Fred Gunther | Minot | Hits | 88 |
| Albert Chenoweth | Jamestown | Hits | 88 |
| George Coleman | Minot | Runs | 72 |
| Albert Wenz | Jamestown | HR | 6 |
| Henry Oliver | Minot | HR | 6 |
The Fargo-Moorhead Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1933 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1960, representing the neighboring cities of Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota. The Twins won six league championships during their seasons of play. Earlier minor league teams had also represented the cities. Baseball Hall of Fame members Dizzy Dean (1941) and Lloyd Waner (1947) are Fargo-Moorhead Twins alumni, as is 2x AL Most Valuable Player Roger Maris.
The Mitchell Kernels were a minor league baseball team based in Mitchell, South Dakota. The Kernels played as members of the South Dakota League (1920), Dakota League (1921–1922), South Dakota League (1923), Nebraska State League (1936–1937) and Western League (1939–1940), winning four league championships. The Mitchell Kernels were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936 and 1937.
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The Bismarck-Mandan Pards were a minor league baseball team based in Bismarck, North Dakota in partnership with neighboring Mandan, North Dakota. The Bismarck–Mandan Pards played as members of the Northern League from 1962 to 1964 and in 1966. Previous Bismarck minor league teams played as members of the 1922 Dakota League, 1923 North Dakota League and the Manitoba-Dakota League from 1955 to 1957. The Bismarck–Mandan Pards were a minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins from 1962 to 1964 and Houston Astros in 1966. Bismarck hosted home minor league games at the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark
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The Red River Valley League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1897 season. The four–team, Class F level Red River Valley League consisted of teams based in North Dakota and Minnesota. The Red River Valley League played just the 1897 season, before permanently folding. The Moorhead Barmaids were league champions.
The Minot Mallards were a minor league baseball team based in Minot, North Dakota. Earlier Minot teams preceded the Mallards and played as members of the 1917 Northern League and 1923 North Dakota League. Beginning play in 1950, the Mallards played as members of the Manitoba-Dakota League (1950–1957), Northern League and Prairie League (1995–1997), winning seven league championships in their history. The Mallards hosted minor league home games at Corbett Field and were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1958 to 1960 and Kansas City Athletics in 1962.
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The Jamestown Jimmies were a minor league baseball team based in Jamestown, North Dakota. Earlier Jamestown teams played as members of the Class D level Dakota League in 1922 and North Dakota League in 1923, with the Jimmies playing as members of the Northern League in 1936 and 1937. The 1936 Jamestown Jimmies were a St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliate and won the league pennant. The Jimmies hosted minor league home games at City Park, after the "Jimkotans" and "Jimkotas" played at McElroy Park, in the same location.
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The Watertown Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, South Dakota. The unaffiliated Cubs played as members of the Class D level Dakota League in 1921 and 1922 and South Dakota League in 1923. Watertown hosted minor league home games at Riverside Park.
The Wessington Springs Saints were a minor league baseball team based in Wessington Springs, South Dakota. In 1920, the Saints briefly played as members of the Class D level South Dakota League, hosting home minor league games at the Wessington Springs City Park.
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The Redfield Reds were a minor league baseball team based in Redfield, South Dakota. In 1920 and 1921, the Reds played as members of the South Dakota League in 1920 and Dakota League in 1921. Redfield hosted home minor league games at College Park, also playing select Sunday games at Armandale Park.
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