Joyce Park

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Joyce Park
Former namesKeokuk Baseball Park
LocationMain Street (Hwy 218) and Joyce Park Road
OwnerCity of Keokuk
Capacity 3,500 (1962)
Field size(LF-CF-RF): 320-381-265 (1961) 306-385-345 (1962)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1920
Built1920
Opened1921
Demolished1964
Tenants
Midwest League
Keokuk Dodgers (1962)
Keokuk Cardinals (1958–1961)
Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League
Keokuk Kernels (1952–1957)
Central Association
Keokuk Pirates (1947–1949)
Western League
Keokuk Indians (1935)
Mississippi Valley League
Keokuk Indians (1929-1933)

Joyce Park was a minor league baseball park in Keokuk, Iowa.

Contents

Joyce Park hosted Keokuk minor league teams in various seasons between 1929 and 1962. The park had dimensions of (LF-CF-RF): 320-381-265 (1961) 306-385-345 (1962) and had a capacity of 3,500 (1962). [1] Notable Keokuk players of the Joyce park era included Home Run record holder Roger Maris and All-Star player and baseball announcer Tim McCarver.

In 1958, a live microphone was placed in home plate at Joyce Park by the Keokuk Cardinals in order to broadcast live player conversations over the PA system. The concept received coverage nationally. However, the experiment was ended due to foul language.

Today, a new park of the same name has been constructed at a different Keokuk location.

History

After early teams played at Hubinger Park, land was purchased privately on June 9, 1920, for what would become Joyce Park. The location at Main Street (Hwy 218) and Joyce Park Road was originally called Keokuk Baseball Park through 1933. [2] [3]

Joyce Park was home to the Keokuk Dodgers (1962), Keokuk Cardinals (1958–1961), Keokuk Kernels (1952–1957), Keokuk Pirates (1947–1949) and Keokuk Indians (1929–1933, 1935) minor league teams. Keokuk played as members of the Midwest League (1958–1962), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1952–1957), Central Association (1947–1949), Western League (1935) and Mississippi Valley League (1929–1933). [4]

The Keokuk teams played as minor league affiliates of the Los Angeles Dodgers (1962), St. Louis Cardinals (1958–1961, 1931–1932), Cleveland Indians (1954–1957) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1947–1949), usually taking the nickname of their affiliate team. [4]

On September 9, 1931, Keokuk Baseball Park hosted a major league team. The Keokuk Indians played an exhibition game at Keokuk Baseball Park against the St. Louis Cardinals, then nicknamed the Gashouse Gang. [5]

On September 10, 1934, Thomas H. Joyce bought the baseball park. Joyce deeded the land to the city of Keokuk under the conditions it remain a baseball park. The ballpark then took his name. [2]

In 1957, prisoners at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowa formed a team called the "Fort Madison Prison Chiefs." The Chiefs played the Keokuk Kernels at Joyce Field in an exhibition. The spirit of the game was so successful, the Kernels played inside the prison the next season. [6]

Home plate microphone

In 1958, the Keokuk Cardinals placed a hidden live microphone under home plate at Joyce Park. The purpose was to broadcast the player and umpire conversations and broadcast them live for fans over the PA system. The installed microphone reportedly picked up conversations within thirty feet. The first usage of the home plate microphone was on May 16, 1958. However, foul language led to discontinuing the live microphone after the 1958 season. Magazines Grit (June 1, 1958) and Popular Science (August 1958) did feature stories on the Keokuk microphone broadcasting. [2] [7] [8]

After minor league baseball left Keokuk in 1962, the first Joyce Park was demolished in 1964. Today, a new Joyce Park, with baseball and softball fields, sits on 54 acres at 3574 Highway 218 (US Highway 218 at Highway 61), Keokuk, Iowa. [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwest League</span> American Minor League baseball league

The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keokuk, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Keokuk is a city in and a county seat of Lee County, Iowa, United States. It is Iowa's southernmost city. The population was 9,900 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is named after the Sauk chief Keokuk, who is recognized with a statue in Rand Park. It is in the extreme southeast corner of Iowa, where the Des Moines River meets the Mississippi. It is at the junction of U.S. Routes 61, 136 and 218. Just across the rivers are the towns of Hamilton and Warsaw, Illinois, and Alexandria, Missouri. Keokuk, along with the city of Fort Madison, is a principal city of the Fort Madison-Keokuk micropolitan area, which includes all of Lee County, Iowa, Hancock County, Illinois and Clark County, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Rapids Kernels</span> American Minor League baseball team

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels are owned by Cedar Rapids Ball Club, Inc..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quad Cities River Bandits</span> American Minor League baseball team

The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, one of the Quad Cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burlington Bees</span> American Minor League baseball team

The Burlington Bees are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Burlington, Iowa, and have played their home games at Community Field since 1947. Founded in 1889, the Bees played in Minor League Baseball's Midwest League from 1962 to 2020. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Burlington was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne TinCaps</span> American Minor League baseball team

The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Minor League Baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The TinCaps compete in the Midwest League as the High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Parkview Field. The TinCaps won the Midwest League championship in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eau Claire Bears</span> Minor league baseball team

The Eau Claire Bears was the primary nickname of the minor league baseball teams from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Eau Claire was a member of the Class C Northern League and were affiliates of the Boston Red Sox (1936), Chicago Cubs (1937-1939) and the Boston Braves (1947-1962). The team played its home games at Carson Park in Eau Claire. Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Hank Aaron, Joe Torre and Ford C. Frick Award recipient Bob Uecker played for Eau Claire.

The Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League was a low-level Minor League Baseball organization that operated for the better part of 60 seasons, with teams based in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The league began play in 1901 and disbanded after the 1961 season. It was popularly known as the Three–I League and sometimes as the Three–Eye League.

The Western League was the name of several American sports leagues in Minor League Baseball. This article concentrates on the Western Leagues that operated from 1900 to 1937 and from 1947 to 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Unser (baseball)</span> American baseball player (1912-1995)

Albert Bernard Unser was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Detroit Tigers (1942–1944) and Cincinnati Reds (1945). He was a native of Morrisonville, Illinois and the father of MLB center fielder Del Unser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Nelson</span> American baseball player (1924-2006)

Glenn Richard"Rocky"Nelson was an American professional baseball first baseman who played in Major League Baseball for all or parts of nine seasons between 1949 and 1961 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers and Cleveland Indians. A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Nelson batted and threw left-handed, stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg). He signed his first professional contract in 1942 with the Cardinals' organization. He then missed three seasons (1943–1945) while serving in the United States Army during World War II.

The Lincoln Links were an American minor league baseball franchise that represented Lincoln, Nebraska, for 18 seasons over a 23-year period (1917–39) during the 20th century. They played in the Class A Western League, the Class D Nebraska State League and the Class D Western League of 1939–41 (1939).

The Keokuk Indians was a primary nickname of the various minor league baseball teams based in Keokuk, Iowa between 1875 and 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubuque, Iowa minor league baseball</span> Minor league baseball team

Minor league baseball teams have operated in the city of Dubuque, Iowa under a variety of names in various leagues, playing in 52 seasons between 1879 and 1976. Dubuque teams were an affiliate of the Houston Astros (1975–1976), Kansas City Royals (1968), Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians (1961–1966), Pittsburgh Pirates (1959–1960) and Chicago White Sox (1954–1958).

The Hobbs Pirates was the final name of a minor league baseball club based in Hobbs, New Mexico from 1955 through 1961. Hobbs teams played as members of the West Texas-New Mexico League (1937–1938), Longhorn League (1955), Southwestern League (1956–1957) and Sophomore League (1958–1961), winning three league championships. Hobbs minor league teams hosted home games at Bender Park.

The Mattoon Phillies was a primary nickname for the minor league baseball teams based in Mattoon, Illinois between 1899 and 1957. Mattoon teams played as members of the Indiana–Illinois League (1899), Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (1906), Eastern Illinois League (1907–1908), Illinois State League (1947–1948), Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1949–1955) and Midwest League (1956–1957).

The Davenport Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Davenport, Iowa. In 1946, the "Cubs" began play as members of the Class B level Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, continuing the tenure of Davenport teams in the league. The Cubs were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and played through 1947. The Davenport "Pirates", Davenport "Quads," Davenport "Tigers" and Davenport "DavSox" teams completed Davenport's membership in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League through 1957. Davenport won the 1946 league pennant and 1949 league championship. The Davenport Braves team resumed play beginning in 1960, as Davenport joined the Midwest League.

The Basin League was an independent collegiate minor league, that operated from 1953 to 1973, featuring teams primarily from South Dakota and one from Nebraska. The league name reflected the number of teams situated along the Missouri River Basin. The league roster structure evolved from having some professional players to totally being amateur. The Basin League was a pioneer of what is known today as collegiate summer baseball.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Hannibal, Missouri in various seasons between 1908 and 1955. Hannibal teams played as members of the Illinois–Missouri League in 1908, Central Association from 1909 to 1912, Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League from 1916 to 1917, Central Association from 1948 to 1949 and the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League from 1952 to 1955. The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League evolved to become the Midwest League.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Ardmore, Oklahoma, playing in various seasons between 1904 and 1961. Ardmore teams played in the 1904 Texas League, Texas-Oklahoma League (1911–1914), 1917 Western Association, Texas-Oklahoma League (1921–1922), 1923 Western Association, 1924 Oklahoma State League, Western Association (1924–1926), Sooner State League (1947–1957) and Texas League (1961). Ardmore captured league championships in 1923, 1925 and 1957.

References

  1. ↑ "Joyce Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "The History of Keokuk, Iowa Baseball". Archived from the original on 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  3. ↑ Joel Dinda. "Keokuk's Joyce Park - MWLguide.com".
  4. 1 2 "Keokuk, Iowa Register History - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ "The History of Keokuk, Iowa Baseball". Archived from the original on 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  6. ↑ "Rehabilitating In Prison". Play Ball! Baseball in the Heartland. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  7. ↑ "Look back at Keokuk minor league teams from 1947-62". Daily Gate City. August 13, 2004. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  8. ↑ Steve Smith. "The Keokuk Cardinals, 1958-1961". SABR. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Joyce Park II - Keokuk Iowa - Former Home of the Keokuk Kernals".
  10. ↑ "Public Parks".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.