Mississippi Valley League

Last updated
Mississippi Valley League
Classification Class D (1922–1932)
Class B (1933)
Sport Minor League Baseball
Founder Michael H. Sexton
First season1922;102 years ago (1922)
Ceased1933;91 years ago (1933)
President Michael H. Sexton (1922–1924)
Belden Hill (1925–1926)
Michael H. Sexton (1927
Belden Hill (1928–1931)
Charles A. Logan (1932–1933)
No. of teams13
Country United States of America
Most titles3
Cedar Rapids Bunnies (1922, 1925, 1930)
Dubuque Dubs (1923, 1927, 1929)
Related
competitions		 Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
Midwest League
Official website https://www.milb.com/midwest

The Mississippi Valley League (MVL) was a baseball Class D level minor league that operated from 1922 through 1933. Playing its last year as a Class B level league, the league franchises were based in Iowa and Illinois. Like many leagues at the time, the Great Depression led to its demise. The Mississippi Valley League was founded by Michael H. Sexton, of Rock Island, Illinois, who was then president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. [1]

Contents

History

The league began play in 1922 with six teams: the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, Marshalltown Ansons, Rock Island Islanders, Waterloo Hawks, Ottumwa Cardinals and the Dubuque Climbers. There were no formal playoffs, and the Bunnies finished in first place. [2] All teams from 1922 returned for 1923 with the Climbers finishing first in the league. Again, there were no formal playoffs. [3] [4]

In 1924, the league expanded to eight teams, adding the Moline Plowboys and Burlington Bees. The Dubuque Climbers became the Dubuque Dubs, though the other teams remained the same. The Hawks finished first in the league. [5] [4]

All teams from 1924 returned for 1925, with the Dubs becoming the Dubuque Ironmen. The Bunnies finished first in the league for the second time four years. [6] In 1926, the Ottumwa Cardinals became the Ottumwa Packers and the Dubuque Dubs became the Dubuque Speasmen, named after their manager Bill Speas. The Packers finished in first place. [7]

In 1927, the Speasmen returned to their former name the Dubuque Dubs. All other teams returned intact from the year before. Dubuque finished first in the league. [8] The same teams played in 1928, with the Hawks finishing in first place. [9] 1929 saw multiple league changes. The Dubs became the Dubuque Tigers. The Marshalltown Ansons and Ottumwa Packers left the league and were replaced by the Keokuk Indians and Davenport Blue Sox. The Tigers finished first in the league. [10]

All teams from 1929 returned for 1930, with the Bunnies finishing in first place for the third time in league history. [11] The teams remained intact for 1931 as well, with the Keokuk Indians finishing in first place. [12] 1932 featured no new teams, though it did have a new feature - a playoff system. All teams returned from 1931, and the Blue Sox finishing in first place. They however lost in the league playoffs four games to two to the Islanders, so the Islanders were the league champions. [13]

In 1933, the league featured only six teams for the first time since 1923. It also moved up in rank from Class-D to Class-B, and saw three new arrivals (Peoria Tractors, Quincy Indians, Springfield Senators) as well as multiple departures (Burlington Bees, Cedar Rapids Bunnies, Moline Plowboys, Waterloo Hawks, Dubuque Tigers). The Blue Sox finished in first place and defeated the Islanders four games to one in the playoffs to become league champions. [14]

The 1933 Davenport Blue Sox are ranked #58 in the All-time Top 100 teams by MiLB.com. [15] The Blue Sox finished the season 82-32, as Como Cotelle hit .407 and Ed Hall drove in 151 runs.[ citation needed ]

The Rock Island Islanders were the only team to play in the league through its entire 12-year existence. [16] [4]

Cities represented: 1922–1933

Mississippi Valley League standings and statistics

1922 to 1927

1922 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 9237.713-- Bill Speas
Marshalltown Ansons 7355.57018.5 Frank Boyle
Rock Island Islanders 6663.51226.0 Jimmy Conzelman
Waterloo Hawks 5968.46532.0Pat Ragan
Ottumwa Cardinals 4976.39241.0Jim Drohan / Carl Bond
Dubuque Climbers 4484.34447.5Larry Mullen /
Harry Henge / Joe McGinnity
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Fred LeachWaterlooBA.383Frank JohnsonCedar RapW24
Bill Speas Cedar RapidsRuns128Charles SchwieteMarshallSO180
Bill Speas Cedar RapidsHits182Frank JohnsonCedar RapPct.828; 24-5
Fred LeachWaterlooHR13

1923 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Dubuque Climbers 7850.609-- Joe McGinnity
Ottumwa Cardinals 7353.5794.0 Wally Mattick
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 6956.5527.5 Bill Speas
Waterloo Hawks 5869.45719.5 Bert Weeden
Rock Island Islanders 5373.42124.0Tommy Thompson
Marshalltown Ansons 4878.38129.0Frank Boyle

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bill Speas Cedar RapidsBA.363John DillOttumwaW22
John ArmstrongDubuqueRuns93George BrownWaterlooSO175
Bill Speas Cedar RapidsHits182Emil LevsonCedar RapidsPct.826; 19-4
Andrew McEwanWaterlooHR8J. JohnsonCedar RapidsIP317

1924 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Waterloo Hawks 8440.678-- Cletus Dixon
Dubuque Dubs 7051.57912.5John Armstrong
Rock Island Islanders 6457.52918.5Preston Gray
Ottumwa Cardinals 5861.48723.5 Wally Mattick
Moline Plowboys 5965.47825.0Jim Shollenberger
Burlington Bees 5467.44628.5Henry Wingfield
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 5467.44628.5 Bill Speas
Marshalltown Ansons 4378.35539.5Jack Lacey / Frank Boyle

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Fred Schulte WaterlooBA.368Ovid McCrackenWaterlooW23
Hal Anderson OttumwaRuns126Richard DidierOttumwaSO145
Fred Schulte WaterlooHits167 Claude Willoughby WaterlooPct.750; 21-7
Fred Schulte Waterloo3B25
Stan Keyes Rock IslandHR20

1925 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 7451.592--43,429 Bill Speas
Moline Plowboys 7352.5841.039,738Jim Schollenberger
Rock Island Islanders 6560.5209.043,157Preston Gray
Ottumwa Cardinals 6164.48813.030,572 Wally Mattick
Dubuque Ironmen 6065.48014.046,175 Joe McGinnity / John Armstrong
Waterloo Hawks 5966.47215.054,702 Cletus Dixon
Marshalltown Ansons 5570.44019.030,442Frank Boyle
Burlington Bees 5372.42422.042,179Dick Speer /
Whitey Mann / Ed Reichle

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Como Cotelle DavenportBA.407 Al Piechota DavenportW19
George Meyer DavenportRuns130 Ray Harrell QuincySO193
Simon RosenthalQuincyHits166 Al Hollingsworth Rock IslandERA3.11
Ed HallDavenportHR28Torsten LengquistDavenportPCT.833 10-2
Ed HallDavenportRBI151

1926 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Ottumwa Packers 7545.625--Pat Harkins
Moline Plowboys 7150.5874.5Jim Shollenberger
Waterloo Hawks 6752.5637.5 Cletus Dixon
Burlington Bees 6853.5627.5Ed Reichle
Rock Island Islanders 6555.54210.0Preston Gray
Dubuque Speasmen 5663.47118.5 Bill Speas
Marshalltown Ansons 4179.34234.0Elmer Lane / Casey Coffin /
Dick Brannigan / Dan O'Leary
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 3884.31138.0Fred Beck /
Jack Lacy / Dutch White

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Red Worthington WaterlooBA.389Alvin BauerOttumwaW25
Les SmithOttumwaRuns99Robert ShanklinRock IslandSO188
Red Worthington WaterlooHits185Alvin BauerOttumwaPct.862; 25-4
Les SmithOttumwaHR20
Nick ConradMarshalltownSAC36

1927 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Dubuque Dubs 6641.617-- Bill Speas
Waterloo Hawks 7547.6150.5 Cletus Dixon
Burlington Bees 7152.5774.5Ed Reichle
Marshalltown Ansons 6554.5468.5Jim Shollenberger
Moline Plowboys 6355.53410.0 Fritz Mollwitz
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 5070.41724.0Pete Hughes/ Spoke Emery
Rock Island Islanders 4075.34831.5Joe Kernan
Ottumwa Packers 4177.34732.0Pat Harkins

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jim Stroner Rock IslandBA.380Duncan GrantWaterlooW22
James WorthDubuqueRuns127Harold McKainWaterlooSO147
James WorthDubuqueHits171Duncan GrantWaterlooSO147
Len Koenecke MolineHR20Elbert FischDubuquePct.800; 20-5

1928 to 1933

1928 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Waterloo Hawks 8141.664-- Cletus Dixon
Moline Plowboys 6954.56112.5Richard Manchester
Rock Island Islanders 6759.53216.0Lester Patterson
Dubuque Dubs 6360.51218.5 Bill Speas / John Armstrong
Burlington Bees 5961.49221.0Ed Reichle
Marshalltown Ansons 5865.47222.5Jim Shollenberger /
George Tomer / Ben Diamond
Ottumwa Packers 4872.40032.0Preston Gray / Bill Speas
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 4578.36636.5 Spoke Emery / Bob Hasbrook

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Len Koenecke MolineBA.389Duncan GrantWaterlooW21
Walter GeninRock IslandRuns115 Ray Wolf MolineW21
Len Koenecke MolineHits182 Bob Weiland MolineSO209
Len Koenecke MolineHR22Duncan GrantWaterlooPct.808; 21-5

1929 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Dubuque Tigers 7551.595--Lester Patterson
Waterloo Hawks 7254.5713.0 Cletus Dixon
Davenport Blue Sox 6957.5486.0Ed Reichle
Moline Plowboys 6363.50012.0Richard Manchester
Burlington Bees 6264.49213.0George Young
Keokuk Indians 6065.48014.5Ben Diamond
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 5867.46416.5 Bill Speas / Tibb Serre
Rock Island Islanders 4482.34931.0Walt Genin / Buck Wheat

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Spot GrantCedar RapidsBA.368Albert EckertDubuqueW19
Paul Speraw DubuqueRuns112H.H. MillerCedar RapidsW19
Ed HendeeDavenportHits183Fred WitteDavenportW19
Ken StormWaterlooHR23Lester NeisslieMolineSO141
Jack FrostWaterlooAB547 Johnny Niggeling WaterlooPct.789;15-4

1930 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 7155.564-- Paul Speraw
Rock Island Islanders 7056.5561.0Clarence Roper
Davenport Blue Sox 6461.5126.5Ed Reichle
Moline Plowboys 6362.5047.5Riley Parker
Waterloo Hawks 6363.5008.0 Cletus Dixon
Burlington Bees 6165.48410.0George Young
Keokuk Indians 5670.44515.0Sam Schwartz / Lester Patterson /
Henry Wingfield / John Schinski
Dubuque Tigers 5571.43716.0Richard Manchester / Ed Woerber

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Riley ParkerMolineBA.376Delano WetherellRock IslandW21
Dick EsreyMolineRuns114Delano WetherellRock IslandSo217
Dick EsreyMolineHits183 Walter Murphy Rock IslandPct.667; 10-5
Joe PrerostWaterlooHR15
John Kerr Cedar RapidsSB84

1931 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Keokuk Indians 7351.589--Bob Rice
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 7452.5870.5 Paul Speraw
Moline Plowboys 6858.5406.0Riley Parker
Burlington Bees 6460.5169.0Art Mueller
Rock Island Islanders 6165.48413.0Clarence Roper
Waterloo Hawks 5768.45616.5Dick Manchester / Babe Thomas
Davenport Blue Sox 5373.42121.0Ed Reichle / Cletus Dixon
Dubuque Tigers 5174.40822.5Preston Gray /
Ed Hendee / Elmer Peters

Playoffs: None Scheduled

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Riley ParkerMolineBA.374 Gil Paulsen BurlingtonW19
Pep Young KeokukRuns125John ZieglerCedar RapidsW19
Dick EsreyMolineHits176Al GizelbachBurlingtonSO185
Malcolm PickettMolineHR13 Gil Paulsen BurlingtonERA2.21
Fred NewtonRock IslandPCT.750 12-4

1932 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Davenport Blue Sox 7847.624-- Cletus Dixon
Rock Island Islanders 7056.5568.5George Young/ Riley Parker
Burlington Bees 6960.53511.0Art Mueller / Jack Tesar
Keokuk Indians 6761.52312.5Bob Rice
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 6560.52013.0 Paul Speraw
Moline Plowboys 5566.45521.0Ernie Lorbeer
Waterloo Hawks 5273.41626.0 Doc Bennett
Dubuque Tigers 4780.37032.0Clarence Roper / Dave Lamb

Playoffs: Rock Island 4 games, Davenport 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Brown BraleyKeokukBA.374Fred NewtonDavenportW20
Harold PatchettMolineRuns90 Ed Linke DavenportSO228
Thomas LeonardRock IslandHits163Fred NewtonDavenportPct.800; 20-5
Lawrence WilbanksMolineHR9
William MizeurCedar RapidsRBI86

1933 Mississippi Valley League
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Davenport Blue Sox 8232.719- Cletus Dixon
Rock Island Islanders 6453.54719.5Riley Parker
Peoria Tractors 6253.53920.5 Paul Speraw / Frank Murphy
Quincy Indians 5359.47328.0 Joe Klugmann
Springfield Senators 4370.38138.5 Clay Hopper
Keokuk Indians 4077.34243.5 Ed Sicking / Ray Caldwell

Playoffs: Davenport 4 games, Rock Island 1

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Como Cotelle DavenportBA.407 Al Piechota DavenportW19
George Meyer DavenportRuns130 Ray Harrell QuincySO193
Simon RosenthalQuincyHits166 Al Hollingsworth Rock IslandERA3.11
Ed HallDavenportHR28Torsten LengquistDavenportPCT.833 10-2
Ed HallDavenportRBI151

[4]

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References

  1. ↑ "Minor League Presidents | MiLB.com History | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  2. ↑ "1922 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ↑ "1923 Mississippi Valley League | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  5. ↑ "1924 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ↑ "1925 Mississippi Valley League | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ↑ "1926 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ "1927 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ↑ "1928 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ "1929 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ↑ "1930 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ↑ "1931 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ↑ "1932 Mississippi Valley League | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ↑ "1933 Mississippi Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ↑ "Top 100 Teams | MiLB.com History | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  16. ↑ "Mississippi Valley League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
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