The ballparks
The exact name and location of the Lyons Lions' home ballpark is not directly referenced. In the era, Workman Park was the only public park in Lyons, established in 1882. The park is still in use today as a public park. [21] [22]
| Lyons Lions | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1909–1913) |
| League | Kansas State League (1909–1911) Central Kansas League (1912) Kansas State League (1913) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (1) | 1909 |
| Team data | |
| Name | Lyons Lions (1909–1913) |
| Ballpark | Workman Park* (1909–1913) |
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.
Minor league baseball in Lyons, Kansas began with the 1909 Lyons "Lions." Lyons became members of the reformed eight–team Class D level Kansas State League. The Arkansas City-Winfield Twins, Great Bend Millers, Hutchinson Salt Packers, McPherson Merry Macks, Newton Railroaders, Strong City-Cottonwood Falls Twins and Wellington Dukes joined Lyons as 1909 league members. [1] [2]
In their first season of play, the Lyons Lions won the 1909 Kansas State League championship. Lyons ended the 1909 season with a record of 61–37, to finish first in the Kansas State League. The Lions finished 0.5 games ahead of the second place Hutchinson Salt Packers as Cecil Bankhead served as manager in leading the team to the championship. Pitcher Robert Hassler of Lyons led the league with 25 wins and 193 strikeouts. No playoffs were held for the duration of the league. [3] [1] [4] [5]
On June 21, 1909, Lyons and McPherson played a 21–inning game at McPherson. Lyons defeated the McPherson Merry Macks 2–1 in the contest, which was played in 2:50. [6]
Continuing play in 1910, Lyons placed third in the Kansas State League standings. The Lyons Lions finished the 1910 season with a record of 57–53 as Cecil Bankhead, Joe Riggert, Hi Ebright and John Jones served as managers. Player/manager Joe Riggert led the Kansas State League with a .362 batting average and 13 home runs, while teammate Walt Sizemore led the league with 18 wins. The Lions finished 13.5 games behind the first place Hutchinson Salt Packers in the final standings. [7] [8] [9] [5]
The 1911 Lyons Lions of the Kansas State League ended the 1911 season with a record of 37–27, playing a shortened season. The league disbanded on July 11, 1911, due to crop failures and drought. When the league ceased play, Lyons was in third place in the standings. Spencer Abbott served as manager, as the Lions finished 4.5 games behind the first place Great Bend Millers in the shortened season. [10] [11] [12]
The Lyons Lions switched leagues in 1912, as Lyons became members of the six–team Class D level Central Kansas League The Lions ended the 1912 season with a 36–54 record, placing fifth in the standings. Blackie Wilson served as manager, as Lyons finished 18.0 games behind the first place Great Bend Millers. The Central Kansas League permanently folded following the 1912 season. [13] [14] [15]
In 1913, the Lyons Lions played their final season. Lyons continued play and joined the six–team Class D level Kansas State League. The Manhattan Giants and Junction City Soldiers folded from the league mid season. The Lions ended their final Kansas State League season with a record of 50–39, placing third. The Lions finished 3.0 games behind the first place Great Bend Millers as William Nelson served as the Lyons' manager. Lyons pitcher J.L. O'Byrne led the league with 17 wins in the shortened season. [5] [16] [17] [18]
Lyons folded after the 1913 season as the Kansas State played as a four–team league in 1914. [5] Lyons, Kansas has not hosted another minor league team. [19]
Today, the "Lyons Lions" nickname is still in use locally by Lyons High School sports teams. [20]
The exact name and location of the Lyons Lions' home ballpark is not directly referenced. In the era, Workman Park was the only public park in Lyons, established in 1882. The park is still in use today as a public park. [21] [22]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909–1911 | 3 | Lyons Lions | Class D | Kansas State League |
| 1912 | 1 | Central Kansas League | ||
| 1913 | 1 | Kansas State League | ||
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 61–37 | 1st | Cecil Bankhead | League champions |
| 1910 | 57–53 | 3rd | Cecil Bankhead/ Joe Riggert Mills Ebright / John Jones | No playoffs held |
| 1911 | 37–27 | 3rd | Spencer Abbott | No playoffs held |
| 1912 | 36–54 | 5th | Fred Wilson | No playoffs held |
| 1913 | 50–39 | 3rd | William Nelson | No playoffs held |
The Central Kansas League was a Class D level baseball league established in 1908, playing through 1912. Member teams were based exclusively in Kansas. The Central Kansas League evolved from and into the Kansas State League.
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 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 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 Auburn Athletics were a minor league baseball franchise based in Auburn, Nebraska from 1910 to 1913. The "Athletics" or interchangeable "A's" were the only minor league team hosted in Auburn, playing as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League for the duration of the league.
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 home games at Athletic Park from 1909 to 1911, before moving to Southside Park.
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.
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, playing as the Larned Cowboys in 1909. In 1911, the Kansas State League, Larned included, folded during the season due to drought. Larned hosted home minor league games at City Park.
The McPherson Merry Macks were a minor league baseball team based in McPherson, Kansas. From 1908 to 1911, the Merry Macks played as members of the Class D level Central Kansas League in 1908 and Kansas State League from 1909 to 1911, hosting home 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, having been preceded in league play by the 1887 Wellington Browns, who won the Kansas State League championship. Wellington hosted minor league home games at Woods Park.
The Seward Statesmen were a minor league baseball team based in Seward, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1913, the Statesmen teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League, hosting home games at Fairgrounds Park. During their final 1913 season, the franchise was relocated to Beatrice, Nebraska after a tornado struck the city of Seward.
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.
The Portsmouth Cobblers were a minor league baseball team based in Portsmouth, Ohio. From 1908 to 1915, the Cobblers played exclusively as members of the Class D level Ohio State League, winning league championships in 1910, 1912, 1914 and 1915. The Cobblers hosted home games at Millbrook Park and were immediately succeeded by the 1916 Portsmouth Truckers who won the Ohio State League championship. The "Cobblers" nickname was in reference to the large shoe industry in Portsmouth in the era.
The Lima Cigarmakers were a minor league baseball team based in Lima, Ohio. From 1908 to 1912, the Cigarmakers played as members of the Class D level Ohio State League, winning the 1909 league championship. The Cigarmakers hosted home minor league games at San Felice Park.
The Jackson Convicts were a minor league baseball team based in Jackson, Michigan. From 1906 to 1915, Jackson teams played as members of the Southern Michigan League for the duration of the league but did not claim a league championship in their tenure. In 1914 and 1915, Jackson played one season each known as the "Chiefs" and "Vets." Jackson teams hosted home minor league teams at Keeley Park. The team "Convicts" nickname corresponded to Jackson serving as home to the Michigan State Prison in the era.
The Battle Creek Crickets were a minor league baseball team based in Battle Creek, Michigan. From 1906 to 1915, the Crickets played as members of the Southern Michigan League for the duration of the league, winning the 1913 league championship. The Battle Creek Crickets teams hosted their home minor league games at Athletic Park.
The New Bedford Whalers were a minor league baseball team based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Between 1895 and 1933, New Bedford teams played as members of the New England League, Colonial League (1914–1915), New England League and 1934 Northeastern League, winning the 1910 and 1933 league championships. New Bedford was nicknamed the "Whalers" in each season, with the exceptions of the "Browns" in 1896 and the "Millmen" in 1928. New Bedford hosted home minor league games at Olympic Field beginning in 1893 through 1898 and at Sargent Field from 1903 until their final season of 1934.