The Hiawatha Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Hiawatha, Kansas. In 1912, the Athletics played as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League. The Athletics were immediately precedec in minor league play by the 1910 Hiawatha Indians, who played the season as a member of the short-lived Class D level Eastern Kansas League. Both Hiawatha teams hosted home minor league games at League Park.
| Hiawatha Athletics | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1910, 1912) |
| League | Eastern Kansas League (1910) Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League (1912) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Hiawatha Indians (1910) Hiawatha Athletics (1912) |
| Ballpark | League Park (1910, 1912) |
History edit
Minor league baseball play began in Hiawatha, Kansas in 1910,[1] when the Hiawatha Indians played as charter members of the six–team Class D level Eastern Kansas League. The 1910 team was also referred to as the "Boosters."[2]
The Seneca, Sabatha, Holton, Horton Hammers and Marysville teams joined Hiawatha in league play.[3] After beginning league play on June 8, 1910, Hiawatha ended their 1910 season with a record of 44–44 to place third in the Eastern Kansas League standings, playing the season under managers Spec Willey, Swift and Pepper Williford.[4] Hiawatha finished 12.5 games behind the first place Sabetha team in the six–team league. The Eastern Kansas League permanently folded after its only season in 1910.[5][1][6][7]
Minor league baseball returned to Hiawatha in 1912, with the team finishing last in the standings in a new league.[8] The 1912 Hiawatha Athletics began play as members of the six-team, Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League, known informally as the MINK League.[9] Hiawatha replaced the Clarinda Antelopes franchise in the league. The Auburn A's, Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers, Falls City Colts, Humboldt Infants and Nebraska City Foresters teams joined Hiawatha in beginning league play on May 9, 1912.[10][5]
On July 4, 1912, Falls City Colts pitcher Ed Finch threw the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League's only no–hitter in a 7–0 Falls City victory over the Hiawatha Athletics.[1]
The Athletics ended the 1912 season with a record of 35–66, placing sixth in the six–team MINK standings. Hiawatha finished 27.0 games behind the champion Falls City Colts. The Athletics played under managers Robert Kahl and Jack Forester.[11] The Hiawatha franchise permanently folded after the 1912 season as the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League reduced to four teams for their final season in 1913, with The Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers also folding following the 1912 season.[12][5]
Hiawatha, Kansas has not hosted another minor league team.[13]
The ballpark edit
The 1910 and 1912 Hiawatha teams played minor league home games at League Park in Hiawatha, Kansas. The location of League Park is unknown.[14]
Timeline edit
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 1 | Hiawatha Indians | Class D | Eastern Kansas League | League Park |
| 1912 | 1 | Hiawatha Athletics | Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League |
Year–by–year records edit
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 44–44 | 3rd | Spec Willey Swift / Pepper Williford |
No playoffs held |
| 1912 | 35–66 | 6th | Robert Kahl / Jack Forester | No playoffs held |
Notable alumni edit
- Clifton Marr (1912)
References edit
- ^ a b c "Baseball in Kansas, 1867-1940 - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org.
- ^ "1910 Hiawatha Boosters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1910 Eastern Kansas League (EKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Hiawatha Indians Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "1910 Hiawatha (KS) Eastern Kansas League roster". The Kansas Democrat. June 16, 1910. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "1910 Eastern Kansas League schedule". Hiawatha Daily World. June 17, 1910. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "1912 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1912 Hiawatha Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1912 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1910 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (November 5, 2008). "Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas (MINK) League".
- ^ "Hiawatha, Kansas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "League Park in Hiawatha, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1912 Hiawatha Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1910 Hiawatha Indians minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.