| Lincoln Abes | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class |
|
| League | Illinois-Missouri League (1910–1914) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (2) |
|
| Team data | |
| Name | Lincoln Abes (1910–1914) |
| Ballpark | Scully/Latham Park* (1910–1914) |
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 Lincoln Abes began minor league baseball play as members of the six–team Class D 1910 Illinois–Missouri League. [1] The Pekin Celestials 66–47, Canton Chinks, Clinton Champs, Jacksonville Jacks, Macomb Potters and Pekin Celestials teams joined Lincoln in beginning league play. [2] [3] The Lincoln "Abes" moniker corresponds to President Abraham Lincoln, the namesake of the city and who lived in the region. [4]
In their first season of play, the Abes ended the 1910 season in last place in the Illinois-Missouri League final standings. With a record of 43–71, Jim Novacek and Harry Saillard served as managers during the season, as the Abes finished 23.5 games behind the champion Pekin Celestials. [5] The 1910 league standings showed the Pekin Celestials 66–47, Clinton Champs 58–57, Canton Chinks 55–62, Macomb Potters 50–43, Beardstown/Jacksonville Jacks 44–36 and Lincoln Abes 43–71. Jacksonville and Macomb both disbanded on August 17, 1910, putting the Lincoln Abes in fourth place overall. The league held no playoffs. The Lincoln Abes were unaffiliated with a major league baseball franchise and featured local players on their 1910 roster. [2] [3] [6] [7]
In their second season, the 1911 Lincoln Abes placed fifth in the Illinois–Missouri League. The Abes ended the 1911 season with a record of 59–64, playing the season +under managers Harry Saillard, James Brady, Clarence Vaught and Jack Corbett. [8] [9] [3] [10] Lincoln finished 12.0 games behind the first place Clinton Champs in the final standings. [3]
With the hiring of manager Louis Ehrgott for the 1912 season, the Lincoln Abes won the first of their back–to–back Illinois–Missouri League championships. The Abes ended the 1912 season with a record of 70–47 to place first in the Illinois–Missouri League regular season, finishing 8.5 games ahead of the second place Pekin Celestials. The league had no playoffs. [11] [12] [3] [13] Ray Wolfe of Lincoln won the league batting title, hitting .374. Wolfe also led the Illinois–Missouri League with 164 total hits and 89 runs scored. Abes pitcher Clarence Vaught won 22 games to lead the league. [3]
The 1913 Lincoln Abes defended their title, winning another 1913 Illinois–Missouri League championship. The 1913 Lincoln Abes ended the season with a record of 57–26, to finish in first place in the Illinois–Missouri League season standings. Lincoln finished 5.0 games ahead of the second place Champaign Velvets, as manager Louis Ehrgott again led the Abes to a championship. [14] [15] [3] [16] Charles Moors of Lincoln won the league batting title, hitting .440. Teammate Dick Higgins led the Illinois–Missouri League with 65 runs scored. Abes pitcher Clarence Vaught won 21 games and had 166 strikeouts to lead the league in both categories, while Ernest Hooks' 16-2 record led the league in win percentage. [3]
The Lincoln Abes' pursuit of a third straight Illinois–Missouri League championship under manager Louis Ehrgott ended during the 1914 season with the team in first place. [17] On July 3, 1914, the Abes had a record of 32–15 and were in first place. Despite being in first place, Lincoln disbanded on July 3, folding along with the Kankakee Kanks. The Champaign Velvets eventually captured the 1914 championship. The remaining four–team Illinois–Missouri League permanently folded after the 1914 season. [18] [19] [3] [20]
The Illinois–Missouri League did not return to play. [3] Lincoln has not hosted another minor league team. [21] [3]
The name of the home minor league ballpark for the Lincoln Abes is not directly referenced. [22]
A 1909 Lincoln insurance map also shows a "public park" bordered by Kickapoo, Clinton, S. McLean and Decatur Streets. [23] Today, the location is still in use as a public park called Scully Park. The park is located at 303 South Kickapoo Street in Lincoln. Scully Park was an original park when the city was plotted in 1853. [24] Latham Park was the other original city park, still in use and located at 799 Pekin Street. [25] A streetcar line in the era was described as running from the Latham Hotel, past the "baseball park" and out to the Union Cemetery. Such a route would have passed both Scully and Latham Parks. [26]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910–1914 | 5 | Lincoln Abes | Class D | Illinois-Missouri League |
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 43–71 | 4th | Jim Novacek / Harry Saillardy | No playoffs held |
| 1911 | 59–64 | 5th | Bill Salliard / James Brady / Charles Vaught / Jack Corbett | No playoffs held |
| 1912 | 70–47 | 1st | Louis Ehrgott | League Champions |
| 1913 | 57–26 | 1st | Louis Ehrgott | League Champions |
| 1914 | 32–15 | 1st* | Louis Ehrgott | Team disbanded July 2 |
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 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 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 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 Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League, known informally as the "MINK" League, was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played from 1910 to 1913. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League consisted of teams based in the four states, but not always at the same time. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League permanently folded midway through the 1913 season.
The Nebraska City Forresters were a minor league baseball franchise based in Nebraska City, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1913, the Nebraska City Forresters played exclusively as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League, winning the 1912 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League championship. Nebraska City hosted minor league home games at the 15th Street Ballpark.
The Falls City Colts were a minor league baseball franchise based in Falls City, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1913, the Colts played exclusively as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League, winning the 1910 league championship and placing second in 1911 and 1912. Falls City hosted home minor league games at the Athletic Park.
The Hiawatha Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Hiawatha, Kansas. In 1912, the Athletics played as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League. The Athletics were immediately precedec in minor league play by the 1910 Hiawatha Indians, who played the season as a member of the short-lived Class D level Eastern Kansas League. Both Hiawatha teams hosted home minor league games at League Park.
The Auburn Athletics were a minor league baseball franchise based in Auburn, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1913, the "Athletics" or interchangeable "A's" played as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League for the duration of the league, winning the 1913 league championship.
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 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 after the 1914 season.
The Great Bend Millers were a minor league baseball team based in Great Bend, Kansas in 1905 and from 1909 to 1914. The Millers played as members of the Class D level Kansas State League in 1905 and from 1909 to 1911, Central Kansas League in 1912 and returned to the Kansas State League in 1913 and 1914. Great Bend won three consecutive league championships from 1911 to 1913.
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 Aurora, Illinois, in various seasons from 1888 to 1915. Playing under numerous monikers, Aurora teams played as members of the Interstate League in 1888, Illinois-Iowa League from 1890 to 1892, Western Interstate League in 1895, Wisconsin-Illinois League from 1910 to 1912 and Bi-State League in 1915, winning the 1907 league championship. Aurora hosted home minor league games at the Driving Park, Hurds Island Park and Fox River Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Maysville, Kentucky in various seasons between 1894 and 1923. Maysville teams played as members of the Tri-State League in 1894, Blue Grass League from 1910 to 1912, Ohio State League from 1913 to 1916 and Blue Grass League from 1922 to 1923, winning one league championship. Maysville hosted home minor league games at the Maysville Base Ball Park/League Park. Baseball Hall of Fame member Casey Stengel played for the 1910 Maysville Rivermen in his first professional season.
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.
