The ballparks
The Larned minor league teams played home games at the City Park in Larned. [20] In the era of Sunday laws it was noted that Sunday baseball was allowed to be played in Larned, Kansas. [21]
| Larned Wheat Kings | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1909–1911) |
| League | Kansas State League (1909–1911) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Larned Cowboys (1909) Larned Wheat Kings (1910–1911) |
| Ballpark | City Park (1909–1911) |
The Larned Wheat Kings were a minor league baseball team based in Larned, Kansas. From 1909 to 1911, Larned teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Kansas State League. The team began play known as the Larned "Cowboys" in the 1909 season. In 1911, the Kansas State League, Larned included, folded during the season due to drought. Larned hosted home minor league games at City Park.
Minor league baseball in Larned, Kansas began during the 1909 season, when the Larned Cowboys came into existence during the season. On July 12, 1909, the Strong City-Cottonwood Falls Twin Cities team, with a 22–41 record relocated to Larned and the Cowboys became members of the reformed eight–team Class D level Kansas State League. Larned immediately joined the Arkansas City-Winfield Twins, Great Bend Millers, Hutchinson Salt Packers, Lyons Lions, McPherson Merry Macks, Newton Railroaders and Wellington Dukes teams as 1909 league members. [1]
Completing their first season of play, the Twin Cities/Cowboys team finished in last place. [2] After compiling a 10–24 record while based in Larned, the team finished with a 32–65 overall record to finish in eighth place. Playing under managers Harry Freese and Farmer Weaver, the Cowboys finished 28.5 games behind the first place Lyons Lions in the final Kansas State League standings. [1] [3] [4]
Continuing play as members of the 1910 Kansas State League, the Larned team played under the Larned "Wheat Kings" moniker. [5] The Larned "Wheat Kings" nickname corresponds with local agriculture production in the region. Today, the Larned region continues its history as a strong wheat producing region. [6] [7]
Larned finished the 1910 season with a record of 46–56 to place seventh under returning manager Farmer Weaver and Harry McLear. Weaver resigned as manager with the team on an 11–game losing streak and a record of 15–25 at the time of his departure. The Wheat Kings finished 20.5 games behind the first place Hutchinson Salt Packers in the final 1910 standings. [8] [9] [10] [4]
On August 19, 1910, Larned pitcher Harry Watson threw a no-hitter in a 2–0 victory over the Great Bend Millers. [11]
The 1911 Larned Wheat Kings played their final season as the Kansas League folded during the season. [12] [13] The Wheat Kings ended the 1911 season with a record of 23–32, after the league disbanded on July 11, 1911, due to crop failures and drought. When the league ceased play, Larned was in sixth place in the standings. Harry Berte served as manager as the Wheat Kings finished 14.0 games behind the first place Great Bend Millers in the shortened season. [14] [15] [4]
After serving as an umpire in the 1911 Kansas State League, in 1912, former Larned manager Farmer Weaver was sentenced to 21 years in prison for domestic crimes. He was later released in 1914, with a former teammate serving as his parole clerk. [16] [10]
After the Kansas State League folded following the 1911 season, the league did not play in 1912 and resumed play in 1913 without a Larned franchise. [17] [4] Larned, Kansas has not hosted another minor league team. [18] [19] [4]
The Larned minor league teams played home games at the City Park in Larned. [20] In the era of Sunday laws it was noted that Sunday baseball was allowed to be played in Larned, Kansas. [21]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 1 | Larned Cowboys | Class D | Kansas State League | City Park |
| 1910–1911 | 2 | Larned Wheat Kings | |||
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 32–65 | 8th | Butch Freese / Farmer Weaver | Strong City-Cottonwood moved to Larned July 12 10–24 record in Larned |
| 1910 | 46–56 | 7th | Farmer Weaver (15–25) / Harry McLear (31-31) | No playoffs held |
| 1911 | 23–32 | 6th | Harry Berte | League folded July 11 |
The Kansas State League was a minor league baseball league in the United States that operated in the state of Kansas in the late 19th century and into the early 20th century.
The Salina Coyotes was the final moniker of minor league baseball teams based in Salina, Kansas between 1898 and 1914. In that span, Salina teams played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League (1898), Central Kansas League, and Kansas State League (1913–1914), winning the 1898 league championship. The early Salina teams hosted minor league games at Athletic Park. The Coyotes were succeeded by the 1922 Salina Millers of the Southwestern League.
The Sapulpa Sappers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Between 1909 and 1923, Sapulpa teams played as members of the Western Association from 1909 to 1911, Southwestern League in 1921, Southwestern Association in 1922 and Southwestern League in 1923, capturing the 1922 league championship.
The Newton Railroaders were a minor league baseball team based in Newton, Kansas between 1909 and 1924. Preceded by the 1888 Newton team and the 1908 Newton Browns, Newton minor league teams played as members of the Western League in 1888, Central Kansas League in 1908, Kansas State League from 1909 to 1911, Central Kansas League in 1912 and Southwestern League in 1924. The Newton Browns and Railroaders hosted home games at Athletic Park.
The Northern State of Indiana League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played from 1909 to 1911. The six–team Northern State of Indiana League consisted of teams based in Indiana.
The Bluffton Babes were a minor league baseball team based in Bluffton, Indiana. From 1909 to 1911, the Babes played as members of the Class D level Northern State of Indiana League, having been preceded by Bluffton teams of the 1890 Indiana State League and 1907 Ohio-Indiana League. The Babes won the league championship in 1909.
The Manhattan Maroons were a minor league baseball team based in Manhattan, Kansas. From 1909 to 1911, the Maroons played as members of the Class D level Central Kansas League and were followed in the league by the 1912 Manhattan "Elks," before the franchise joined the 1913 Kansas State League. Manhattan teams hosted minor league home games at Athletic Park from 1909 to 1911, before moving to Southside Park.
The Abilene Reds were a minor league baseball team based in Abilene, Kansas. Abilene teams played the 1909 and 1910 seasons as members of the Class D level Central Kansas League. The Reds followed the 1909 Abilene "Red Sox," as Abilene hosted minor league home games at the Abilene Ball Park, which is known today as Eisenhower Park and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Lyons Lions were a minor league baseball team based in Lyons, Kansas. From 1909 to 1911, Lyons played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League, Central Kansas League in 1912 and Kansas State League in 1913.
The Great Bend Millers were a minor league baseball team based in Great Bend, Kansas. The "Millers" played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League in 1905 and from 1909 to 1911. Great Bend continues play in the Central Kansas League for one season in 1912 before returning to Kansas State League play in 1913 and 1914. Great Bend won three consecutive league championships from 1911 to 1913. Great Bend hosted home minor league games at the Fairgrounds in 1905 and at League Park in all the subsequent seasons.
The McPherson Merry Macks were a minor league baseball team based in McPherson, Kansas. The "Merry Macks" played as members of the 1908 Class D level Central Kansas League and Kansas State League from 1909 to 1911. McPherson hosted home minor league games at the County Fair Association Fairgrounds.
The El Dorado Crushers were a minor league baseball team based in El Dorado, Kansas. In 1911, the Crushers played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League, hosting home games at Main Park.
The Wellington Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Wellington, Kansas. From 1909 to 1911, the "Dukes" played exclusively as members of the Kansas State League. The Dukes were preceded in Kansas State play by the 1887 Wellington "Browns," who won the league championship. Wellington hosted minor league home games at Woods Park.
The Coffeyville Refiners was the final nickname of the minor league baseball teams based in Coffeyville, Kansas. Between 1896 and 1911, Coffeyville teams played as members of the 1896 Kansas State League, 1902 Missouri Valley League, 1906 Kansas State League, 1907 Oklahoma-Arkansas-Kansas League and 1911 Western Association, with a different nickname in each season. The "Refiners" played as members of the Class D level Southwestern League from 1921 to 1924, winning the 1923 league championship. Coffeyville hosted home minor league games at Osborn Park in 1896, Mineral Park in 1902 and at Forest Park for the seasons from 1906 to 1924.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Lafayette, Indiana in various seasons between 1909 and 1994. Lafayette teams played as members of the Northern State of Indiana League from 1909 to 1911, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League in 1955, the Midwest League in 1956 and 1957 and 1994 Great Central League, winning two league championships. Lafayette was a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1955 and Boston Red Sox in 1956 and 1957.
Minor league baseball teams were based in South Bend, Indiana in various seasons beginning in 1888 through 1932, setting the foundation for the current franchise, who began play in 1988. South Bend teams played as members of the Indiana State League (1888), Central League (1903–1912), Southern Michigan League (1914–1915) and the Central League under numerous monikers. These South Bend teams directly preceded South Bend becoming a Midwest League franchise in 1988. They remain in minor league play today as the South Bend Cubs.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Arkansas City, Kansas in various seasons between 1887 and 1926. Arkansas City teams played as members of the Kansas State League in 1887 and 1909 to 1910 and the Southwestern League from 1924 to 1926.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Ellsworth, Kansas in four seasons between 1905 and 1910. Ellsworth teams played as members of the Class D level 1905 Kansas State League and the Central Kansas League from 1908 to 1910. Ellsworth won league championships in 1905, 1909 and 1910.
Playing from 1909 to 1911, the Wabash Rockeries was the final nickname of the minor league baseball teams based in Wabash, Indiana between 1899 and 1911. Wabash teams played as members of the 1899 Indiana-Illinois League, the 1900 Indiana State League and Northern State of Indiana League from 1909 to 1911. Wabash won the 1900 and 1910 league championships. Wabash hosted home minor league games at City Park.
The Hutchinson Salt Packers were a minor league baseball team based in Hutchinson, Kansas. Hutchinson played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League three in three different tenures: in 1905, from 1909 to 1911 and in 1914, winning the 1910 league championship. In between Kansas State League membership, the Salt Packers played as a member of the Class C level Western Association from 1906 to 1909. Hutchinson hosted minor league games at Cook Athletic Park, which was destroyed by fire in 1910 and replaced by Gano Park in 1911.