The ballpark
The Red Oak Blue Indians played minor league home games at the Legion Park. Legion Park is still in use today as a public park and is located at North Broadway & Alix Street, Red Oak, Iowa. [10] [11]
| Red Oak Blue Indians | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1903) |
| League | Southwest Iowa League (1903) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Red Oak Blue Indians (1903) |
| Ballpark | Legion Park (1903) |
The Red Oak Blue Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Red Oak, Iowa. In 1903, Red Oak played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League, hosting minor league home games at Legion Park.
The 1903 Red Oak "Blue Indians" were the first minor league baseball team in Red Oak, Iowa. The Blue Indians played as charter members of the six–team 1903 Southwest Iowa League. The teams from Atlantic, Clarinda, the Creston Cyclones, Osceola, Iowa and Shenandoah joined Red Oak in the new league. The Southwest Iowa League began 1903 play with four teams. On June 29, 1903, the league expanded to six teams when the Creston Cyclones and the Osceola, Iowa teams joined the league. [1] [2] [3] [4]
On March 25, 1903, the Southwest Iowa League was formed at a meeting held at the Hotel Johnson in Red Oak, Iowa. E.H. Whiteside, of Atlantic, Iowa was elected league president. Atlantic, Clarinda, Iowa, Shenandoah and Red Oak were chosen as the four charter member franchises. The league decided to disallow playing games on Sundays. The initial four towns had similar populations (3,000 to 5,000) and the longest distance to travel was less than sixty miles, which was designed to keep travel expenses to a minimum. [5]
Red Oak Blue Indians opened league play on May 19, 1903, with Atlantic hosting Red Oak. Atlantic won the season opener by the score of 10–5. After the opening day game, rains postponed play until May 26, 1903 and Red Oak had to move their opener to a golf course due to unplayable field conditions. There were 250 fans on hand at the temporary ballpark. As the season progressed and attendance became an issue, Red Oak experimented with a later 6:00 PM. starting time to allow more fans to attend. But, each time the evening starting time was tried, it became dark before a full nine innings were played. [5]
The Red Oak Blue Indians failed to show for its series at Atlantic on August 28, 1903. The franchise then announced its intention fold from the league. [5] The Southwest Iowa League folded on August 29, 1903. At the time the league folded, Red Oak had an overall record of 22–33 record, placing third overall in the Southwest Iowa League. Crippen and Jimmy Deering were the Red Oak managers. The Red Oak Blue Indians finished 9.5 games behind the champion Atlantic in the six–team league. Atlantic (34–26) and Clarinda (31–30) finished ahead of Red Oak in the overall standings. The Southwest Iowa League permanently folded after their only season in 1903. [2] [3] [6] [7] [8]
Red Oak, Iowa has not hosted another minor league team. [9]
The Red Oak Blue Indians played minor league home games at the Legion Park. Legion Park is still in use today as a public park and is located at North Broadway & Alix Street, Red Oak, Iowa. [10] [11]
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 22–33 | 3rd | Crippen / Jimmy Deering | Did not qualify |
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).
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The Southwest Iowa League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1903 season. The Class D level, six–team Southwest Iowa League League consisted of teams based in the Southwest Iowa region. The Southwest Iowa League played only the 1903 season, folding on August 29, 1903.
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 Clarinda Antelopes were a minor league baseball team based in Clarinda, Iowa. Clarinda played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League in 1903 and the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League in 1910 and 1911, hosting home games at the Clarinda Ball Park.
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The Shenandoah Pin Rollers were a minor league baseball team based in Shenandoah, Iowa. Shenandoah first played as members of the Class D level 1903 Southwest Iowa League, winning the league championship in a shortened season. The Pin Rollers played in the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League in 1910 and 1911. Shenandoah teams hosted home minor league games at Sportsman's Park.
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The Atlantic team was a minor league baseball team based in Atlantic, Iowa. In 1903, the Atlantic team played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League, winning the league championship in their only season of play. Atlantic was without a known nickname, hosting minor league home games at the Atlantic City Park.
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Minor league baseball teams were based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, playing various seasons between 1904 and 1917. Fort Dodge teams played as members of the Class D level Iowa State League from 1904 to 1906 and in 1912, before joining the Central Association from 1916 to 1917. Fort Dodge hosted home minor league games at Riverside Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Augusta, Maine in various seasons between 1895 and 1908. Augusta teams played as members of the New England League from 1895 to 1896, Maine State League in 1897, New England League in 1901 and the Maine State League from 1907 to 1908. Augusta hosted home minor league games at the Augusta Driving 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.
The Pittsburg Coal Diggers were a minor league baseball team based in Pittsburg, Kansas. From 1903 to 1906, Pittsburg teams played as a member of the Missouri Valley League from 1903 to 1905 before joining the 1906 Kansas State League. The Pittsburg "Miners" won the 1905 Missouri State League championship in the final season of league, before adopting the Pittsburg "Champs" nickname for the 1906 Kansas State League season. The Pittsburg teams hosted home games at League Park.
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