Minor league baseball teams were based in Aurora, Illinois , in various seasons between 1888 and 1915.
28-626: Playing under numerous nicknames, 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. Baseball Hall of Fame member Casey Stengel played for the 1911 Aurora Blues, leading the Wisconsin-Illinois League in hitting. The Aurora teams hosted home minor league games at
56-815: A minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri , in the Midwestern United States . The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association . The Blues did not field particularly competitive teams until 1918, when they won the AA pennant. The team won again in 1923, and again in 1929. They won the Junior World Series championship both years, defeating the Baltimore Orioles and
84-512: A Class D level league, beginning play at Fox River Park. The Aurora Islanders finished with a 43–81 record under managers Snapper Kennedy and Edward Jacobson, placing eighth and last in the eight–team league. The Islanders finished 33.0 games behind the champion Appleton Papermakers . The 1911 Aurora Blues continued play in the Wisconsin–Illinois League as the league became a Class C level league in 1911. The Blues finished with
112-556: A contract. Stengel made his major league debut in 1912. The Aurora use of the "Blues" moniker reportedly corresponded with the color of the team uniforms. The earlier use "Maroons" moniker was said to have been adopted under the same circumstance. In 1912, the Aurora Blues continued play and placed seventh. The Blues ended the season with a record of 54–80 in the Wisconsin–Illinois League standings, playing under managers Guy Dickey and Tom Asmussen . Aurora finished 34.0 games behind
140-785: A playoff, claiming that Jamestown's second half games should have been thrown out for failing to complete the schedule and Olean should have won both halves. The claim was denied and the title was awarded to Wellsville. 1916 Interstate League schedule President: James A. Lindsey Olean disbanded July 12. Warren disbanded August 4; none of its second half games (6-9) were counted. Erie disbanded August 9. Games thrown out: Wins: Warren 6, Wellsville 3, Bradford 2, Erie 2, St. Marys 1, Johnsonburg 1; Losses: Warren 9, Wellsville 4, St. Marys 1. 1932 Interstate League President: William J. Willenbecher Pottstown disbanded in June, reorganized and re-formed June 17; disbanded again causing
168-621: A record of 56–57 record and in seventh place. Playing under manager Al Tebeau, the Blues finished 20.0 games behind the first place Rockford Wolverines in the final standings. On May 18, 1911, Earl Daniels, pitching for Aurora threw a no-hitter in a 2–0 victory over the Green Bay Bays . Daniels' Blues teammate Len Madden also threw a no–hitter over the Green Bay Bays in 1911, defeating them 3–0 on August 4, 1911. Future Hall of Fame member Casey Stengel played for Aurora in 1911. Stengel won
196-698: A third season, August 7 through September 8, won by Bradford. Oil City was declared the first half champion because DuBois disbanded. Playoff: Oil City 4 games, Bradford 3. 1908 Interstate League President: C.L. Rexford The league disbanded June 5. 1913 Interstate League schedule President: C.L. Rexford Zanesville disbanded July 13. The league disbanded July 21. 1914 Interstate League Presidents: Milton A. Jordan / W. Duke Jr. Playoff: Jamestown 4 games, Bradford 3. No Individual Statistics Available. 1915 Interstate League President: James A. Lindsey Jamestown disbanded August 14. Playoff: None; Olean refused to engage in
224-503: The Cleveland Indians to take over as manager for Kansas City. The Blues still struggled with attendance, though it did improve, even if Kansas City finished in last place. Another change was made as Peckinbaugh was released and Dutch Zwilling , who piloted the Blues to their 1929 championship, was brought back as manager. The Blues began to rise in the league standings and the attendance rose as well. Another ownership change
252-609: The Driving Park , Hurds Island Park and Fox River Park. Aurora first hosted a minor league baseball team when the Aurora team played as members of the 1888 Interstate League . Playing in the four–team league with Aurora were the Bloomington Reds , Peoria Reds and Terre Haute Hoosiers . The league records and 1888 standings are unknown. Aurora rejoined minor league baseball play when the 1890 Aurora Hoodoos joined
280-547: The Fox River . Aurora minor league teams reportedly played home games at Fox River Park in the seasons from 1910 to 1915. First called Riverview Park, the site contained an amusement park and became known as Fox River Park in 1910. The baseball park was located at the south end of the park. Interstate League The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952 . Earlier versions of
308-604: The Illinois-Iowa League , an Independent league. Aurora played their home games at both the Driving Park and Hurds Island Park. The Hoodoos finished the 1890 season with a 52–54 record, placing fifth in the eight–team league under manager Tim Manning . Aurora finished 13.5 games behind the first place Ottumwa Coal Palace Kings in the final standings. In 1891, the Aurora Maroons continued play in
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#1732781190649336-898: The Rochester Red Wings of the International League , respectively, in best-of-nine series. In 1935, the Blues became a farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates . In 1936 they became an affiliate of the New York Yankees . They won the AA championships five times in the 1930s and 1940s. They defeated the Newark Bears , another Yankees farm club, in the 1938 Junior World Series. When the American League Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955,
364-517: The 1903 season before reverting back to the Blues nickname in 1904. They won their first league championship in 1918. They would win two more, one in 1923 and the second in 1928. However, the onset of The Great Depression took a toll on the team as attendance began to fall. At one point, the Blues lead the league in attendance, but that number would soon be cut in half. Frustrated with how things were going in Kansas City, owner George Muehlebach sold
392-557: The Aurora Blues. Stengel had been assigned to the Aurora Blues after trying out for their counterpart, the Kansas City Blues. This, after Stengel had begun his professional career in playing for the Kankakee Kays , Shelbyville Grays and Maysville Rivermen in 1910. Brooklyn Dodgers scout Larry Sutton took a train from nearby Chicago to see Stengel play for Aurora on numerous occasions, eventually signing Stengel to
420-679: The Blues moved to Denver, Colorado , and became the Denver Bears . The 1923, 1929, and 1939 Blues were recognized as being among the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time . Preceded in Kansas City by the Kansas City Blues of the Western League and Western Association , the 1902 Kansas City Blues were admitted to the American Association . They changed their name to the Kansas City Cowboys for
448-562: The Illinois-Iowa League, but disbanded during the season. On June 17, 1891, the Maroons had a record of 11–27 when the franchise disbanded. Aurora was managed by Harry Smith, Ed Wiswell and Tim Manning. After Aurora folded, Tim Manning became manager of the league member Joliet Giants , leading them to a second-place finish. Aurora briefly rejoined the 1892 Class F level Illinois-Iowa League before disbanding. After beginning
476-1876: The Interstate League, with years active: In addition, a Class C level Interstate Association existed for one season, 1906 , in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. 1895 Interstate League - schedule President: Howard H. Zeigler Canton disbanded June 2; Lima transferred to Mansfield May 5, Mansfield disbanded July 14; Steubenville transferred to Akron May 10; Akron transferred to Lima May 19, Lima disbanded July 15. The league disbanded July 15 1896 Intestate League President: Charles B. Powers Ft. Wayne disbanded in early September Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Fort Wayne 0; won by forfeit since Fort Wayne has already disbanded 1897 Interstate League President: Charles B. Powers Playoff: Toledo 4 games, Dayton 2. 1898 Interstate League - schedule President: Charles B. Powers No Playoffs Scheduled. 1899 Interstate League - schedule President: Charles B. Powers Grand Rapids moved to Columbus July 20, then to Springfield July 30. No Playoffs were held. 1900 Interstate League President: Charles B. Powers Columbus (51-63) moved to Anderson, Indiana, August 22; Youngstown (28-67) moved to Marion August 5. Playoff: Fort Wayne 4 games, Dayton 3. 1905 Interstate League President: Frank Baumeister / George F. Rindernecht Jamestown (18–23) Moved to DuBois July 12. No Playoffs Scheduled. 1906 Interstate League President: George F. Rindernecht Hornell (35–31) moved to Patton August 6. No Playoffs Scheduled. No player statistics available. 1907 Interstate League schedule President: Frank Baumeister Kane disbanded July 16; Olean disbanded July 18; Punxsutawney disbanded August 3; DuBois disbanded August 5. The league played
504-535: The Wisconsin-Illinois League batting title, hitting .352, while adding 50 Stolen bases and 27 outfield assists. Aurora manager Al Tebeau was instrumental in bringing Casey Stengel to the 1911 Aurora Blues, having ties to the Kansas City Blues , Stengel's hometown team. Tabeau previously ran a saloon and hotel in Montgomery, Illinois , becoming a manager of the baseball franchise in Joliet, Illinois before moving to
532-840: The World War II period. This circuit, which began as Class C and was upgraded to Class B in 1940 , typically had teams in Allentown , Harrisburg , Lancaster and Sunbury , all in Pennsylvania ; Hagerstown, Maryland ; Trenton, New Jersey ; and Wilmington, Delaware . Its final champion was the Hagerstown Braves , a Boston Braves affiliate. That season, the York White Roses led the league in attendance, attracting over 78,000 fans. Kansas City Blues (American Association) The Kansas City Blues were
560-471: The ballpark from 1890 to 1892, likely playing Sunday games at the ballpark. The Driving Park later became known as Aurora Downs . The ballpark was located between Pennsylvania Avenue and Lake Street (Route 31) in Aurora, Illinois. In 1890 and 1891, Aurora was noted to also have played some home games at Hurds Island Park. The ballpark, which also hosted football games, was located on Hurds Island, which lies on
588-487: The first place Oshkosh Indians in the final standings. The Aurora franchise folded after the 1912 season, replaced by the Milwaukee Creams franchise in the 1913 Wisconsin-Illinois League. In Aurora's final season of minor league play, the 1915 Aurora Foxes became members of the six–team Class D level Bi-State League . The Foxes had a 25–27 record and were in fourth place under manager Clarence Marshall, when
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#1732781190649616-503: The franchise to a group headed by Hollywood actor Joe E. Brown , and included former MLB star Tris Speaker . Speaker would also serve as the team's manager. The change in ownership did little to spark interest in the team and Speaker was replaced as manager with Nick Allen . who had won a championship with St. Paul. The franchise was sold again, this time to Kansas City resident and former Cubs player Johnny Kling who in turn hired Roger Peckinpaugh , who had just been released as manager by
644-484: The league to fold; Norristown (2-4) moved to St. Clair May 28, then disbanded June 12; Tamaqua (8-12) moved to Slatington June 8; Lancaster disbanded June 17. The league disbanded June 20. The longest tenured version of the Interstate League was the last incarnation, which played in the Mid-Atlantic states from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor leagues to operate continuously during
672-416: The season with a 2–12 record and in fourth place playing under manager William McDowell. Aurora was 8.5 games behind first place Terre Haute Hottentots in the final standings. The league began the season with six teams and ended the season playing with four. The Western Interstate League folded after the 1895 season. After a fifteen–year absence, Aurora became members on the 1910 Wisconsin-Illinois League ,
700-658: The season without a team, the Peoria Distillers relocated to Aurora on May 31, 1892, and became the Aurora Indians . The 1892 team had a 17–8 record in Peoria and a 9–19 record in Aurora, playing under manager Mike Trost in both locations. The Aurora Indians disbanded on July 5, 1892, with a 26–27 overall record. In 1895, Aurora played as members of the Class B level Western Interstate League . Aurora finished
728-478: The stars of the Blues that season was a 21 year old shortstop named Phil Rizzuto . The Blues would never have a team as great as the 1939 squad again, but the team was a launching pad for future major league players like Johnny Lindell and in later years, Mickey Mantle . And by the 1950s it was over for the Blues altogether, as the franchise ceased once the A's moved from Philadelphia to Kansas City. Hall of Fame alumni Players and managers Well-known members of
756-558: The team disbanded on July 5, 1915. The Foxes were 7.0 games behind the first place Streator Boosters , as the entire Bi-State League disbanded on July 7, 1915. The league disbanded because the neighboring Elgin Watch Makers franchise had joined Aurora in disbanding on July 5, 1915, and the league could not continue without the two teams. Aurora has not hosted another minor league franchise. The Aurora minor league teams first hosted home games at Driving Park . Aurora teams played at
784-409: Was afoot as Kling sold the franchise to the New York Yankees who quickly made the Blues one of their farm teams. The home opener in 1939 was a near sell out and the fans went home happy, as outfielder Vince Dimaggio hit a home run in his first at bat. The Blues routed Louisville 8-2 en route to a season that saw Kansas City win 107 games. However, the Blues lost to Indianapolis in the playoffs. One of
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