| Siloam Springs Travelers | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1934–1938) |
| League | Arkansas State League (1934–1935) Arkansas-Missouri League (1936–1938) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | St. Louis Cardinals (1935) Cincinnati Reds (1936) St. Louis Browns (1938) |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (1) |
|
| Conference titles (2) |
|
| Wild card berths (1) |
|
| Team data | |
| Name | Siloam Springs Buffaloes (1934) Siloam Springs Travelers (1935–1938) |
| Ballpark | Smiley Park (1934–1938) |
The Siloam Springs Travelers were a minor league baseball team based in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The "Travelers" teams were members of the Class D level Arkansas State League from 1934 to 1935 and the Arkansas-Missouri League from 1936 to 1939, winning league a pennant in 1935 and the league championship in 1936. The 1934 team was known as the "Buffaloes." The Travelers were a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in 1938. Siloam Springs teams hosted minor league home games at Smiley Park.
Siloam Springs first hosted minor league baseball in 1934, when the Siloam Springs "Buffaloes" began play as members of the four–team Class D level Arkansas State League. [1] [2] The Bentonville Officeholders, Fayetteville Educators and Rogers Rustlers joined Siloam Springs in beginning league play on May 7, 1934. [3]
In their first season of play, the 1934 Siloam Springs Buffaloes finished the regular season as the runner up in the standings. [4] The Buffaloes ended the Arkansas State League regular season with a record of 37–34, placing second while playing the season under manager Clyde Glass. In the overall standings, Siloam Springs ended the season just 1.0 game behind first place Bentonville. The league played a split–season schedule and Siloam Springs tied with Rogers for the first–half title. In a playoff, the Rogers Rustlers beat the Siloam Springs Buffaloes by the score of 5–2 in a one–game playoff for first–half title. In the finals, Rogers defeated the Bentonville 4 games to 3. [5] [6] Jonh Graves of Siloam Springs won the Arkansas State League batting title, with an average of .387, while player/manager Clyde Glass scored 67 runs to lead the league. [6]
The Siloam Springs team became known as the "Travelers" in 1935 and became an affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals, in winning the league pennant before losing in the finals. [7] [8] The Travelers ended the 1935 season with an overall record of 66–43 losses, placing first in the regular season standings of the four–team league, and finishing 7.0 games ahead of the Rogers Cardinals, who were also a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate. [9] Ray Powell served as the Siloam Springs manager, as the Travelers won the second–half title in the split–season format. In the playoff, the Rogers Cardinals, who won the first–half title in the regular season, defeated Siloam Springs 4 games to 1 to win their second consecutive championship. [10] [6]
In 1936, the Arkansas State League evolved to become the Class D level Arkansas-Missouri League, as the league expanded to six teams. [11] [12] The Bentonville Mustangs, Cassville Blues, Fayetteville Bears, Monett Red Birds and Rogers Lions teams joined Siloam Springs as charter members of the newly named Arkansas-Missouri League. [13]
In the first season of the new league, the Travelers became an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and won both the Arkansas-Missouri League pennant and overall championship. [11] With Ray Powell returning as manager, the Travelers ended the regular season record of 74–44, to finish with the best overall record in the league, 5.0 games ahead of second place Bentonville. Silom Springs captured the second–half title in the split-season schedule. In the finals, Siloam Springs met Cassville, who had won the first half title. The Travelers defeated Cassville 4 games to 3 in the finals to capture the league championship [14] [6]
Kermit Lewis of Silam Springs led the 1936 Arkansas–Missouri League with 28 home runs. Lewis also had 164 total hits and scored 130 runs to league the league in both categories. His teammate Rudy Tone led the league with 125 RBIs. Traveler pitchers Clint Raper led the league with 23 wins and John Murray with an ERA of 1.35. [6]
The 1937 Siloam Springs Travelers continued play in the Arkansas–Missouri League play and qualified for the playoffs. [15] The Travelers ended the 1937 season with a record of 66–61, finishing 15.0 behind the first place Rogers Lions. Ray Powell concluded his tenure as manager. In the first round of the playoffs, the Fayetteville Angels defeated the Travelers 3 games 0. Rogers won their third championship with the subsequent finals' playoff win. [16] [6] Travelers player Gene Gibson led the Arkansas–Missouri League with 20 home runs. [6]
Bob Neighbors, who played for the Travelers in both the 1936 and 1937 seasons, later became the last major league player killed in action, losing his life in the Korean War. Neighbors had tried out for the Travelers after having never played baseball in high school and having only played softball. Neighbors hit four home runs in a doubleheader for Siloam Springs and eventually advanced in the minor leagues before he became a major league player for the St. Louis Browns in 1939. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He remained in the military and on August 8, 1952, he and two crew members were killed during a bombing mission in Korea. Neighbors was 34. [17] [18] [19]
In 1938 the Travelers became an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, finishing last in the Arkansas–Missouri League standings. [20] Siloam Springs ended the regular season with a record of 36–79, placing sixth in the standings, finishing 37.0 games behind the first place Neosho Yankees. Vincent Mullen, Clifton Marr and Michael Sertich served as managers, as the team did not qualify for the playoffs won by Neosho. [21] [6]
The 1939 Arkansas–Missouri League continued play reduced by two franchises and played the season as a four–team league, without a Siloam Springs franchise. [22] [6]
In 1940, the Siloam Springs Cardinals team returned to the league and played the final season of the Arkansas–Missouri League. [23] [6]
The Siloam Springs minor league teams hosted minor league home games at Smiley Park. [24] The ballpark site was located at the present site of Northside Elementary School. [25] Today, Northside Elementary School is located at 501 West Elgin Street in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. [26]
In the era of Blue laws, on Sundays Siloam Springs teams played home games across the border in neighboring West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. [25]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Affiliate | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 1 | Siloam Springs Buffaloes | Class D | Arkansas State League | None | Smiley Park |
| 1935 | 1 | Siloam Springs Travelers | St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| 1936 | 1 | Arkansas-Missouri League | Cincinnati Reds | |||
| 1937 | 1 | None | ||||
| 1938 | 1 | St. Louis Browns | ||||
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 37–34 | 2nd | Clyde Glass | Lost one game playoff |
| 1935 | 66–43 | 1st | Ray Powell | League pennant Lost in finals |
| 1936 | 74–44 | 1st | Ray Powell | League champions |
| 1937 | 66–61 | 3rd | Ray Powell | Lost in 1st round |
| 1938 | 36–79 | 6th | Vincent Mullen / Clifton Marr Michael Sertich | Did not qualify |
The Arkansas State League was an American minor league baseball league that played in various seasons between 1894 and 1935, forming three different times. The first version was in operation in 1894, followed by an 1897 league. The Class D level league operated from 1908 to 1909 in Arkansas and Louisiana and also in 1934 to 1935 in Arkansas and Missouri. In 1936, the league evolved to become the Arkansas-Missouri League. Little Rock and Rogers each won two league championships.
The Zanesville Greys were a minor league baseball team based in Zanesville, Ohio. The Greys played as members of the Class C level Middle Atlantic League from 1933 to 1937, winning league championships in 1933, 1934 and 1936. The Greys were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1933 to 1936 and the Boston Bees in 1937, before Zanesville folded for three seasons. In 1941 and 1942, the Zanesville Cubs resumed Middle Atlantic League play, becoming a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
The Arkansas–Missouri League was a Class D level league in Minor League Baseball that operated from 1936 to 1940. The league was previously known as the Arkansas State League.
The West Plains Badgers were a minor league baseball team located in West Plains, Missouri. In 1936, the Badgers played briefly as members of the Class D level Northeast Arkansas League before the team relocated during the season to become the Caruthersville Pilots. The team won the 1936 Northeast Arkansas League championship. The Badgers hosted home games at American Legion Field.
The Caruthersville Pilots were a minor league baseball team located in Caruthersville, Missouri. The Pilots played as exclusively members of the Class D level Northeast Arkansas League from 1936 to 1940 after a Caruthersville team had played in the 1910 league. Caruthersville won league championships in 1910, 1936 and 1939. For their duration, the Caruthersville Pilots were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and hosted home games at the American Legion Park.
The Springfield Browns was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Springfield, Illinois between 1931 and 1950. Springfield teams played as members of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1931–1932), Mississippi Valley League (1933), Central League (1934), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League and Mississippi-Ohio Valley League (1950), winning the 1939 league championship. Hosting home games at Reservoir Park, Lanphier Park and Jim Fitzpatrick Memorial Stadium, Springfield teams were an affiliate of the 1931 St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Cardinals (1933–1934), 1935 Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns.
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).
The Huntsville Red Birds were a minor league baseball team that represented Huntsville, Arkansas in the Arkansas State League during the 1935 baseball season. The franchise relocated to become the Monett Red Birds for the 1936 season.
The Siloam Springs Cardinals were a minor league baseball team that represented Siloam Springs, Arkansas. In 1940 Siloam Springs played as members of the Arkansas–Missouri League in the final season of the league. The Siloam Springs "Cardinals" were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals followed previous Siloam Springs teams in the Arkansas–Missouri League and its predecessor, the Arkansas State League between 1934 and 1938.
The Crookston Pirates were a minor league baseball team based in Crookston, Minnesota. Crookston teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Northern League, in two different spans, fielding league teams from 1902 to 1905 and again from 1933 to 1941. The Crookston Pirates were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in 1936, St. Louis Cardinals in 1937 and Boston Red Sox in 1938. Crookston teams hosted home Northern League games at Crookston Field (1902–1905) and Highland Park (1933–1941).
The Opelousas Indians was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Opelousas, Louisiana. Between 1907 and 1941, Opelousas teams played as members of the Class D level 1907 Gulf Coast League, 1932 Cotton States League, playing that season known as the "Orphans" and Evangeline League from 1934 to 1941. The Indians won the 1937 league championship. Opelousas hosted minor league home games at Elementary School Park. The Opelousas Indians were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1935 to 1937 and in 1939.
The Rogers Lions were a minor league baseball team based in Rogers, Arkansas in 1936 and 1937. Beginning play as the Rogers Rustlers in 1934, and with Rogers using other nicknames, Rogers teams were members of the Class D level Arkansas State League from 1934 to 1935 and the Arkansas-Missouri League from 1936 to 1938, winning league championships in 1934, 1935 and 1938. Rogers was a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935 and the Cincinnati Reds in 1938. Rogers teams hosted minor league home games at the Athletic Park.
The Neosho Yankees were a minor league baseball team based in Neosho, Missouri. From 1937 to 1940, Neosho teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Arkansas–Missouri League, winning the 1938 league pennant. Adopting their nickname, Neosho served as a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees from 1938 to 1940, after playing in 1937 as the unaffiliated Neosho "Night Hawks." Neosho teams hosted minor league home games at the Neosho High School Stadium.
The Monett Red Birds was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Monett, Missouri in 1901 and from 1936 to 1939. The Monett Railroadmen played as members of the Independent Missouri Valley League in 1901 and the Red Birds played in the Class D level Arkansas–Missouri League from 1936 to 1939. Their home ballpark was J.C.C. Park.
The Cassville Tigers were a minor league baseball team based in Cassville, Missouri in 1935. With the Tigers succeeded by the 1936 Cassville Blues, Cassville played as members of the Class D level Arkansas State League in 1935 and the Arkansas-Missouri League in 1936. Cassville hosted home games at the Cassville Athletic Park.
The Norfolk Elk Horns or the shortened "Elks" was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Norfolk, Nebraska between 1914 and 1941. The Norfolk minor league teams played as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League, Tri-State League (1924), Nebraska State League (1928–1938) and Western League (1939–1941), winning league championships in 1935 and 1938. The Norfolk minor league teams hosted home games at Athletic Park.
The Fostoria Red Birds were a minor league baseball team based in Fostoria, Ohio, playing from 1937 to 1941. First known as the Fostoria "Cardinals" in 1936, Fostoria teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Ohio State League and for their entire existence, the franchise played as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Fostoria hosted home minor league home games at Redbird Park.
The Osceola Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Osceola, Arkansas. In 1936 and 1937, Osceola played exclusively as members of the Northeast Arkansas League, with the team becoming a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns in 1937. The Indians hosted minor league home games at the Osceola High School Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Norfolk, Nebraska in various seasons between 1914 and 1941. The Norfolk minor league teams played as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League in 1914 to 1915 and 1922 to 1923, the Tri-State League in 1924, the Nebraska State League from 1928– to 1938 and the Western League from 1939 to 1941. The 1936 Norfolk Elks were a St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliate, before Norfolk teams played as an affiliate of the New York Yankees from 1937 to 1941, with Norfolk hosting minor league home games at Athletic Park.
The Bartlesville Reds were a minor league baseball team based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. From 1931 to 1938, Bartlesville teams played as a member of the Class C level Western Association, with one partial season in the 1933 Western League as a Detroit Tigers minor league affiliate. The Bartlesville Reds were a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in 1934 and 1935 and the Bartlesville "Blues" were a New York Yankees affiliate in 1937. Playing under six nicknames in eight seasons, Bartlesville hosted minor league home games at Bartlesville Municipal Athletic Field, known today as Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.