The Flandreau Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Flandreau, South Dakota . In 1902, Flandreau played as member of the Class D level Iowa-South Dakota League , winning a split–season title before disbanding. The Indians hosted minor league home games at Flandreau Park.
16-754: The 1902 Flandreau Indians became charter members of the six–team Iowa-South Dakota League . The Iowa-South Dakota League was formed as a Class D level League and Flandreau joined the league on June 20, 1903, after the season had begun. The president of the Iowa–South Dakota League was J.U. Sammis, an attorney who practiced and resided in Le Mars, Iowa. Flandreau joined the Le Mars Blackbirds , Rock Rapids Browns , Sheldon , Sioux City Cornhuskers and Sioux Falls Canaries as charter Iowa-South Dakota League members. In their first season of play,
32-667: A record of 1–22. On June 25, Council Bluffs transferred to Sheldon–Primghar, which was awarded a record of 14–11. Rock Rapids Browns The Rock Rapids Browns were a minor league baseball team based in Rock Rapids, Iowa . The Rock Rapids Browns played the 1902 season as members of the Class D level Iowa-South Dakota League . The Rock Rapids Browns are the only minor league team hosted in Rock Rapids to date. Minor league baseball began in Rock Rapids, Iowa in 1902, when
48-635: The Rock Rapids Browns became charter members of the six–team Iowa-South Dakota League . Rock Rapids joined the Flandreau Indians , Le Mars Blackbirds , Sheldon , Sioux City Cornhuskers and Sioux Falls Canaries teams as charter members in the newly formed Class D level league. In their first season of play, the Rock Rapids Browns placed fifth in the 1902 Iowa–South Dakota League final standings. The Browns ended
64-486: The 1902 Iowa–South Dakota League overall standings, but won the second split–season title. The overall standings featured the 1st place Sioux Falls Canaries (65–24), followed by the Flandreau Indians (51–19), Sioux City Cornhuskers (56–40), Le Mars Blackbirds (43–48), Rock Rapids Browns 39–52 and Sheldon (14–71). The Sioux Falls Canaries won the first–half championship. After Flandreau won the second–half title,
80-477: The 1903 Iowa–South Dakota League final championship. The 1903 president of the Iowa–South Dakota League was J. U. Sammism, a Le Mars, Iowa attorney. 1902 Iowa–South Dakota League schedule Flandreau joined on June 20, and was awarded a record of (9–9), which made its overall first-half record 31–22. Flandreau won the second half and folded before the playoff against Sioux Falls. 1903 Iowa–South Dakota League Council Bluffs folded on June 20 with
96-408: The Flandreau Indians joined the league on June 20, 1902, playing under player/manager Arthur Hillebrand , who also served as a college football and baseball coach while managing Flandeau. The Indians were given a record of 9–9 to begin the season, which made its overall first–half record 31–22 (22–13 in actual games played). Flandreau won the second–half title with a 29–6 record. Flandreau placed 2nd in
112-469: The Flandreau Indians were unable to continue the team for the playoff against Sioux Falls. Johnny Dorman of Flandreau won the 1902 Iowa-South Dakota League batting title with a batting average of .314, while Dan Stearns ended a lengthy playing career with the team at age 41. Manager Art Hillebrand and his brother Homer Hillebrand played together for the 1902 Indians. Art Hillebrand was a college football and baseball coach while serving as player/manager for
128-577: The Flandreau Indians. Art coached at Navy and Princeton , winning the 1903 Football National Championship at Princeton. Flandreau player Ralph Hutchinson played college football at Princeton with Hillebrand. Art Hillebrand was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970. At the May, 1903 organizational meeting for the second season of the Class D level Iowa–South Dakota League,
144-520: The Flandreau franchise did not send a representative and the franchise folded. At the meeting, the Sioux Falls franchise was represented by C.H. Craig, LeMars by Bobby Black , Sioux City by Dr. George B. Wood, Charles Hughson and Frank E. Lohr. Flandreau, Rock Rapids and Sheldon did not send a representative. The Council Bluffs Bluffers franchise was selected as a replacement city, represented at
160-565: The ballpark plays host to the Flandreau Cardinals amateur baseball team. The ballpark is located at 22974 Flandreau Park Road in Flandreau, South Dakota. Flandreau Indians players Iowa-South Dakota League The Iowa–South Dakota League was a minor league baseball circuit that operated from 1902 to 1903 in the states of Iowa and South Dakota . The league was a Class D level league in both seasons. The Sioux Falls Canaries (1902) and Le Mars Blackbirds (1903) won
176-508: The field, angry at an umpire. It was also reported that after the Browns started poorly, a meeting was held in Rock Rapids and fans were sent out to the Iowa cities of Des Moines , Algona , Sioux City and Flandreau to scout for better players. Reports noted that by mid–August, Rock Rapids pitcher Ralph Thomas had been suspended from the team for "drunkenness." Rock Rapids teammate Joe Snooks
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#1732790761864192-418: The league championships. The Iowa–South Dakota League contained six teams in its inaugural season, before being reduced to three in the final season. The Flandreau Indians , Le Mars Blackbirds , Rock Rapids Browns , Sheldon , Sioux City Cornhuskers and Sioux Falls Canaries were the charter members in 1902. The Sioux Falls Canaries won the championship in 1902, with the Le Mars Blackbirds capturing
208-419: The meeting by Buck Keith and Frank Wilson. Flandreau, South Dakota has not hosted another minor league team. Today, the Flandreau Cardinals amateur team plays home games at Flandreau Park. The Flandreau Indians were noted to have played 1902 minor league home games at Flandreau Park . Originally called Riverside Park, Flandreau Park is still in use today as a public park with ballfields and amenities. Today,
224-475: The season with a record of 32–59, finishing 34.0 games behind the first place Sioux Falls Canaries, as the Iowa–South Dakota League held no playoffs. The Browns, playing under manager "Grandpa" Greene, finished behind the Sioux City Cornhuskers, Flandreau Indians and Le Mars Blackbirds and ahead of sixth place Sheldon teams. After a home game in Rock Rapids, it was reported that fans rushed
240-422: Was also suspended from the team for "drunkenness" and insulting a "respectable married lady of Rock Rapids." Placing fifth in the 1902 league standings, Rock Rapids finished behind the champion Sioux Falls Canaries (65–24), Sioux City Cornhuskers (56–40) Flandreau Indians (51–19), Le Mars Blackbirds (43–48) and ahead of Sheldon (14–71). The Rock Rapids Browns permanently folded after the 1902 season. A meeting
256-418: Was held to discuss the franchise returning to play in 1903, which did occur without a Rock Rapids team in the league. The Iowa–South Dakota League played its final season in 1903 as a four–team league before folding. The name of the minor league ballpark for the Rock Rapids Browns is not directly referenced. The site of today's Borman Forster Fields was in use during the era as a public park. Still in use as
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