| LaSalle Blue Sox | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class |
|
| League | Illinois-Missouri League (1914) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | LaSalle Blue Sox (1914) |
| Ballpark | Hegeler Park* (1914) |
The LaSalle Blue Sox were a minor league baseball franchise based in LaSalle, Illinois and LaSalle County, Illinois, In 1914, the Blue Sox played as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League, finishing in fourth place before the league folded following the season.
LaSalle first hosted minor league baseball in 1914, when the LaSalle "Blue Sox" began play as members of the six–team Class D level Illinois–Missouri League. [1] LaSalle and the new Ottawa, Illinois based franchise replaced the Canton Chinks and Pekin Celestials franchises in the league. [2]
The Champaign-Urbana Velvets, Kankakee Kanks, Lincoln Abes, Ottawa Indians and Streator Boosters teams joined with LaSalle in beginning league play on May 13, 1914. [3] [2] 1914 would be the final season for the Illinois–Missouri League, which was first formed in 1908. [2]
On May 20, 1914, Lincoln defeated LaSalle in a game at LaSalle by the score of 2–1. Player/manager John Fitzpatrick was the third basemen for LaSalle in the loss. [4]
The LaSalle Blue Sox finished in fourth place in 1914, as the Illinois–Missouri league lost two teams during the season. [5] On July 3, 1914, the Lincoln Abes had a record of 32–15 and were in first place when they disbanded along with the Kankakee Kanks. The Champaign Velvets eventually captured the 1914 championship, with LaSalle finishing last among the remaining four teams, when the season ended on August 9, 1914. The LaSalle Blue Sox franchise completed the season with a record of 26-60, playing under managers Anthony Hinley and LaSalle native John Fitzpatrick. [6] [1] [2]
John Fitzpatrick was a native of LaSalle and had an extensive career as a coach/manager following his playing career. As a player, Fitzpatrick played in 1,933 games over 21 seasons (1924–41; 1944–46) as a minor league player, batting .288, but never received a promotion to the major leagues. [7] At one point is his career, he went one and a half years without striking out. Fitzpatrick served as a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1953 to 1955 and the Milwaukee Braves from 1958 to 1959. He managed minor league teams intermittently beginning in 1936 through 1966. [7] Fitzpatrick hit .261 playing in 79 games as player/manager for LaSalle. [8]
The final standings were led by the Champaign–Urbana Velvets, who finished with a 62–27 record, followed by the Ottawa Indians (47–38), Streator Boosters (40–48) and the La Salle Blue Sox (26–60), who ended the season 25.5 games behind Champaign–Urbana. As the Lincoln Abes (32–15) and Kankakee Kanks (14–33) had folded, they were not counted in the final standings. The Illinois–Missouri League permanently folded after the 1914 season. [9] [2]
LaSalle, Illinois has not hosted another minor league team. [10]
The name of the home minor league ballpark for the LaSalle Blue Sox is not directly referenced. [11] Hegeler Park was in use in the era. The park land was donated by the Hegeler family in the early 1900s. Still in use today as the city's largest public park containing ballfields and other amenities, Hegeler Park is located on St. Vincent Avenue between Maple Road and McArthur Road in LaSalle, Illinois. [12]
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 26–60 | 4th | Anthony Hinley / John Fitzpatrick | No playoffs held |
The Illinois–Missouri League was an American minor league baseball league. The Class D league began operations in 1908, and continued through 1914 with teams located in Illinois and Missouri. The Lincoln Abes won consecutive league titles in 1912–1913. Baseball Hall of Fame members Grover Cleveland Alexander and Ray Schalk are league alumni.
The Bi-State League was an American baseball Class D level minor league which operated in 1915. It was the successor of the Wisconsin–Illinois League and was represented by five teams from Illinois and one from Wisconsin. The Bi-State folded during the 1915 season.
The Rock Island Islanders was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Rock Island, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities, between 1892 and 1937. Rock Island teams played as members of the Illinois–Iowa League (1892), Western Association (1894), Eastern Iowa League (1895), Western Association (1898–1899), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1911), Central Association (1914), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Mississippi Valley League (1922–1933) and Western League (1934–1937).
The Kankakee Kanks were a minor league baseball team located in Kankakee, Illinois. Kankakee teams played a member of the Class D level Northern Association in 1910, playing as the Kankakee "Kays" and the Illinois-Missouri League from 1912 to 1914. The Kankakee teams hosted home minor league games on the grounds of the Kankakee State Hospital.
The Sterling Infants were a minor league baseball team based in Sterling, Illinois. In 1910, the Sterling Infants played as members of the Class D level Northern Association. Previously, the 1890 Sterling Blue Coats were briefly members of the 1890 Illinois-Iowa League. Both teams played a partial season in their leagues and hosted minor league home games at the Sporting Association Grounds.
The Macomb Potters were a minor league baseball franchise based in Macomb, Illinois. From 1908 to 1910, the Potters played exclusively as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League. The Potters hosted exhibition games in Macomb against the Chicago Cubs in both 1909 and 1910, losing both contests.
The Canton Chinks were a minor league baseball team based in Canton, Illinois. From 1908 to 1913, Canton teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League, as the 1912 team played as the "Highlanders." Canton hosted home minor league games at Athletic Park.
The Lincoln Abes were a minor league baseball team based in Lincoln, Illinois. From 1910 to 1914, the Abes played as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League. Lincoln won consecutive league championships in 1912 and 1913 and were in first place when the franchise folded during the 1914 season. The "Abes" nickname corresponded to President Abraham Lincoln, who was the namesake of the city and resided in the area.
The Streator Boosters were a minor league baseball team based in Streator, Illinois. Beginning play as the Streator "Speedboys" in 1912, Streator teams played as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League from 1912 to 1914 and the Bi-State League in 1915, winning the 1915 league championship. Streator hosted minor league home games at Streator City Park.
The Beardstown Infants were a minor league baseball team based in Beardstown, Illinois. In 1909 and 1910, the Infants played as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League, hosting home games at Schmoldt Park.
The Taylorville Tailors were a minor league baseball team based in Taylorville, Illinois. The Tailors teams played as members of the Class D level Eastern Illinois League in 1907 and 1908. Following the folding of the Eastern Illinois League, the 1911 Taylorville "Christians" played the season as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League.
The Berrien Springs Grays were a minor league baseball team based in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In 1910, the Grays were charter members of the Class D level Indiana-Michigan League, winning the league championship in the league's only season of play. Berrien Springs hosted home minor league games at Grove City Park,
The Niles Blues were a minor league baseball team based in Niles, Michigan. In 1910, the Blues played their only season as charter members of the short–lived Class D level Indiana-Michigan League, hosting home games at LaPierre Park.
The Elkhart Blue Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Elkhart, Indiana. The Blue Sox played as members of the 1910 Class D level Indiana-Michigan League. The Blue Sox were preceded in minor league play by two "Elkhart" teams that played single seasons as members of the Indiana State League in 1888 and 1890.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Galesburg, Illinois between 1890 and 1914. Galesburg teams played as members of the Central Interstate League and Illinois-Iowa League in 1890, Eastern Iowa League in 1895, the Illinois-Missouri League in 1908 and 1909 and the Central Association from 1910 to 1912 and 1914. Galesburg hosted home games at Willard Field, Illinois Field and Lombard College Field.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Jacksonville, Illinois, playing in eight leagues under four nicknames in their seasons of play between 1892 and 1910. Jacksonville teams played as members of the 1892 Illinois–Iowa League, Western Association (1894–1895), 1900 Central League, 1906 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League, 1907 Iowa State League, Central Association (1908–1909), 1910 Northern Association and 1910 Illinois–Missouri League. Jacksonville teams hosted minor league home games exclusively at League Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Aurora, Illinois, in various seasons between 1888 and 1915.
Minor league baseball franchises were based in Champaign, Illinois and neighboring Urbana, Illinois in various seasons between 1889 and 1914. Champaign and Urbana teams played as members of the Independent level Illinois-Indiana League in 1889 and the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League from 1911 to 1914, winning the 1914 league championship.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Monmouth, Illinois in various seasons between 1889 and 1913. Monmouth teams played as members of the Central Interstate League in 1889, Illinois-Iowa League in 1890, Illinois-Missouri League from 1908 to 1909 and Central Association from 1910 to 1913. Monmouth won the 1909 Illinois-Missouri League championship and hosted home games at the 11th Street Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Ottawa, Illinois in various seasons between 1890 and 1915. Ottawa minor league teams played as members of the Illinois-Iowa League in 1890 and 1891, Illinois-Missouri League in 1914 and the Bi-State League in 1915. Ottawa hosted home minor league games at Lincoln–Douglas Park.