The ballpark
The Sterling Blue Coats and Sterling Infants played home minor league games at the Sporting Association Grounds in Sterling, Illinois. The location of the Sterling Association Grounds ballpark is not known. [11] [12]
| Sterling Infants | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Independent (1890) Class D (1910) |
| League | Illinois-Iowa League (1890) Northern Association (1910) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Sterling Blue Coats (1890) Sterling Infants (1910) |
| Ballpark | Sporting Association Grounds (1890, 1910) |
The Sterling Infants were a minor league baseball team based in Sterling, Illinois. In 1910, the Sterling Infants played as members of the Class D level Northern Association. Previously, the 1890 Sterling Blue Coats were briefly members of the 1890 Illinois-Iowa League. Both teams played a partial season in their leagues and hosted minor league home games at the Sporting Association Grounds.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler played for the 1890 Sterling Blue Coats, integrating the team and the Illinois–Iowa League.
Minor league baseball began in Sterling, Illinois when the 1890 Sterling Blue Coats became members of the 1890 Independent level Illinois-Iowa League. [1] After Sterling began play in the eight–team league, the Blue Coats had a record of 21–51 on July 31, 1890 when the franchise moved to nearby Galesburg, Illinois. [2] On September 4, 1890, the Galesburg Pavers, after compiling an 8–17 record in Galesburg, moved again to Burlington, Iowa to become the Burlington Hawkeyes. In Burlington, the franchise disbanded on September 10, 1890. [3] [2]
The 1890 Sterling/Galesburg/Burlington team finished with a 30–72 overall record when they disbanded. The team was in eighth place in the Illinois-Iowa League standings, finishing 33.5 games behind the first place Ottumwa Coal Palace Kings (63–43). [2] Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler played for the Sterling/Galesburg/Burlington team in 1890, hitting.322 for the season. [4] [5]
Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler played for the Sterling/Galesburg/Burlington team. Fowler was the first known African-American to play professional baseball, becoming a pioneer for baseball players. [6] [3] Fowler hit .322 for the season. [4] [5] Playing for the Sterling/Galesburg/Burlington team in 1890, Fowler hit .322 for the season. [4] [5]
In 1910, minor league baseball returned to Sterling during the season. [7] On June 21, 1910, the Joliet Jolly-ites of the Class D level Northern Association relocated to Sterling with a 21–18 record. The Sterling "Infants" played the remainder of the season, having a 3–16 record in Sterling to finish with a 24–34 overall record. [8] The Joliet Jolly-ites/Sterling Infants placed sixth in the Northern Association standings, playing the season under manager Hunkey Hines. The Northern League permanently disbanded on July 19, 1910. [2] [9]
Sterling, Illinois has not hosted another minor league team. [2] [10]
The Sterling Blue Coats and Sterling Infants played home minor league games at the Sporting Association Grounds in Sterling, Illinois. The location of the Sterling Association Grounds ballpark is not known. [11] [12]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 1 | Sterling Blue Coats | Independent | Illinois-Iowa League | Sporting Association Grounds |
| 1910 | 1 | Sterling Infants | Class D | Northern Association | |
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 30–72 | 8th | James Donnelly/Charles Wirsche Al Weddige/Clarence | Moved to Galesburg/Burlington |
| 1910 | 24–34 | 6th | Hunkey Hines | Joliet (21–18) moved to Sterling June 21 |
Bud Fowler, born "John W. Jackson", was an American baseball player, manager, and club organizer. He is the earliest known African-American player in organized professional baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.
The Illinois–Iowa League was a Minor league baseball league which operated in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana from 1890 to 1892.
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 Keokuk Indians was a primary nickname of the various minor league baseball teams based in Keokuk, Iowa between 1875 and 1962.
The Northern Association was a Class D level minor league baseball league. The eight-team league had franchises based in Illinois and Iowa. The league began and ended play in 1910, disbanding on July 19, 1910. The Joliet Jolly-ites moved to Sterling on June 21. The Clinton and Freeport teams disbanded on June 28; The Elgin and Kankakee franchises disbanded on July 11.
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 Eastern Iowa League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1890 and 1895 seasons. The eight–team Independent level Eastern Iowa League consisted of teams based in Iowa and Illinois. The Eastern Iowa League permanently folded following the 1895 season.
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 Freeport Pretzels were a minor league baseball franchise based in Freeport, Illinois. Between 1908 and 1915, Freeport teams played as members of the Wisconsin State League (1905–1907), Wisconsin-Illinois League (1908–1909), 1910 Northern Association, 1915 Bi-State League and 1915 Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. Freeport won the 1907 Wisconsin State League championship and hosted home minor league games at Taylor Park.
The Maryville Comets were a minor league baseball team based in Maryville, Missouri in 1910 and 1911. The Comets played exclusively as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League, winning the 1911 league championship in their final season.
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.
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 Elgin Watch Makers were a minor league baseball team based in Elgin, Illinois in 1915. Elgin teams played as members of the Class D level Northern Association in 1910 and Bi-State League in 1915, winning the 1910 league championship. Elgin played as the Elgin "Kittens" in 1910 in a shortened season, with the nickname being a tribute to manager Mal Kittridge. The Elgin minor league teams hosted home games at Trout Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Galesburg, Illinois between 1890 and 1914. Galesburg teams played as members of the Central Interstate League and Illinois-Iowa League in 1890, Eastern Iowa League in 1895, the Illinois-Missouri League in 1908 and 1909 and the Central Association from 1910 to 1912 and 1914. Galesburg hosted home games at Willard Field, Illinois Field and Lombard College Field.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Jacksonville, Illinois, playing in eight leagues under four nicknames in their seasons of play between 1892 and 1910. Jacksonville teams played as members of the 1892 Illinois–Iowa League, Western Association (1894–1895), 1900 Central League, 1906 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League, 1907 Iowa State League, Central Association (1908–1909), 1910 Northern Association and 1910 Illinois–Missouri League. Jacksonville teams hosted minor league home games exclusively at League Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Muscatine, Iowa from 1910 to 1916, playing under five different nicknames. Muscatine teams played as members of the 1910 Northern Association and Central Association from 1911 to 1916. Muscatine teams hosted home games at League Field.
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 Aurora, Illinois between 1890 and 1910, before resuming play in 2002. Joliet teams played as members of the Illinois-Iowa League from 1890 to 1892, the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League in 1903 and Northern Association in 1910.
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.