The Keokuk Indians was a primary nickname of the various minor league baseball teams based in Keokuk, Iowa between 1875 and 1962.
31-669: The 1875 Keokuk Westerns franchise were members of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , a league that directly evolved to become today's Major League Baseball . Keokuk teams also played as members of the Western League (1885), Iowa League of Professional Baseball Clubs (1904–1907), Central Association (1908–1915), Mississippi Valley League (1929–1933), Western League (1935), Central Association (1947–1949), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1952–1957) and Midwest League (1958–1962) Keokuk
62-787: A 73–51 season. From 1947 to 1949, the Keokuk Pirates played in the Central Association as an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates , as the league reformed along with 1947 members Burlington Indians , Clinton Cubs , | Hannibal Pilots , Rockford Rox and the Moline A's . The Keokuk Pirates made the playoffs all three seasons of play in the Central Association, losing in the first round in 1947 and 1949. In 1948, Managed by Phil Seghi , Keokuk defeated
93-785: A baseball team in Iowa is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Peoria Chiefs The Peoria Chiefs are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals . The team was established in 1983 as the Peoria Suns . They are located in Peoria, Illinois , and are named for the Peoria Indian tribe for which the city
124-597: A facility called Lake View Park , on the southeast corner of Northeast Adams Street and Grant Street, which would remain the home of various Peoria clubs for the next four decades. The 1895 club was dubbed the Peoria Distillers , referencing the Hiram Walker plant. From 1891 to 1911, Frank E. Murphy from Green Bay, Wisconsin , became involved with baseball, beginning with the purchase of the Peoria team of
155-521: A major league . It was geographically the farthest west that major league baseball had progressed up to that time. In 1875, the NA entry fee was $ 20 for one championship season. The Westerns won one of 13 games (1–12 record) before going out of business. On June 14, 1875, the Western club played their last game and dropped out of the league two days later. For 1876, stronger clubs in bigger cities, led by
186-552: A new franchise in the Three-I League in 1953. This club disbanded after 1957, and Peoria was again without professional ball, for the next 25 years until the current Chiefs set up shop. The Woodruff Field site is now a softball facility called Woodruff Park. The Peoria Suns were established in 1983. They played their home games at Meinen Field , built in 1968, near the Bradley University campus. The team's name
217-634: A new season attendance record of 259,794, an average of 3,800 per game. Sandberg returned to manage the Chiefs in 2008. The team set a Midwest League single-game attendance record on July 29, 2008, when the Chiefs drew a crowd of 32,103 to Wrigley Field in Chicago for a game against the Kane County Cougars . The Chiefs' affiliation with the Cubs ended after the 2012 season, and they entered into
248-624: A player-development contract with the St. Louis Cardinals . Under Major League Baseball 's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Chiefs were organized into the High-A Central . In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name used by the regional circuit before the 2021 reorganization. During a game on July 23, 2008, Dayton Dragons hit three Chiefs batters. The teams played again
279-591: The Chicago White Stockings , organized the National League on a different basis, chiefly in order to exclude weaker clubs from smaller cities such as Keokuk. The Westerns were managed by Joe Simmons and played their home games at Perry Park , which was located in a field located beyond Rand Park. Their top hitter was catcher Paddy Quinn , who went 14-for-43 for a batting average of .326. This article about
310-832: The Hannibal Pilots 4–1 in the first round playoffs. They were then defeated by the Clinton Cubs 4 games to 0 in the Finals. The Central Association folded after the 1949 season. In 1952, Keokuk joined the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League , playing as the Keokuk Kernels , a moniker derived from The Hubinger Company, a local corn starch producer. The Keokuk Kernels were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (1954–1957) The 1955 Kernels captured
341-637: The National Association , a league that directly evolved into today's major League Baseball . On May 4, 1875, the Keokuk Westerns hosted the Chicago White Stockings (present-day Chicago Cubs ) and the teams played the first professional baseball game in Iowa. In 1885, the Keokuk Hawkeyes played one season as members of the Western League . Bud Fowler played for the Hawkeyes and became
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#1732787809739372-719: The St. Louis Cardinals squad, nicknamed the Gashouse Gang . Joyce Park was named after Thomas H. Joyce Sr., who bought the Keokuk Baseball Park and donated it to the city. The address was 3001 Main Street, Keokuk, Iowa. In 1958, the team placed a hidden live microphone under the home plate at Joyce Park. This was done to broadcast the players' live talking over the PA system during a game. The microphone could reportedly pick up conversations within 30 feet. The first usage
403-525: The Dragons manager, Donnie Scott, and the two argued for a few minutes before the umpires broke it up. During the coaches' argument, pitcher Castillo fired a ball at the Dragons' dugout. The ball struck a fan, who was taken to the hospital. Brandon Menchaca proceeded to tackle Castillo from behind as both benches cleared, delaying the game for 69 minutes. After the game, Castillo was arrested for felonious assault. The injured fan, Chris McCarthy, suffered
434-715: The Iowa-Illinois-Indiana League Championship. After a 92-34 regular season, Keokuk defeated the Peoria Chiefs 3–0 in the first playoff series. The Kernels defeated the Burlington Bees 3 games to 1 in the 1955 Finals. The 1955 championship team was ranked thirtieth in the All-Time Top 100 Minor League Teams by Minor League Baseball and historians Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright . A year after having Roger Maris on
465-540: The J. C. Hubinger Mansion at Rand Park. The 1885 Keokuk Hawkeyes team of the Western League played home games at Sportsman's Park . Located at 15th Street & Palean Street. Due to Sunday laws in Iowa, the 1885 team would take a ferry across the Mississippi River to Illinois and play at High Banks Park on Sundays. The 1875, the Keokuk Westerns played home games at Perry Park . The ballpark
496-812: The Kernels drew 39,179 fans for the 1955 season. In 1957, prisoners at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, Iowaa formed a team called the Fort Madison Prison Chiefs . The Chiefs played the Keokuk Kernels at Joyce Field in an exhibition. The spirit of the game was so successful, Keokuk played inside the prison the next season. In 1958, the Mattoon Phillies franchise relocated to Keokuk, with
527-649: The Midwest League, which he later renamed the Peoria Hoosiers . That nickname would stick with the various Peoria clubs for the next couple of decades, including their first stretch with the Three-I League from 1905 to 1917. After the resumption of following the peak of American involvement in World War I , the Peoria Tractors name gained favor in 1919, with the growth of the nearby branch of
558-415: The company later called Caterpillar Inc. In 1923, the team opened a new ballpark called Woodruff Field in honor of a long-time mayor of Peoria. The new park was just across Grant Street from Lake View Park. The Tractors continued to play in several leagues before folding after the 1937 season. The city was then without professional baseball for the next 15 years. The name Peoria Chiefs first appeared with
589-515: The first known African-American to play professional baseball, becoming a pioneer for baseball players. Early Keokuk Indians teams played as members of the Iowa State League (1904–1907), Central Association (1908–1915), Mississippi Valley League (1929–1933) and the Western League (1935). The Indians were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals (1931–1932). The Keokuk Indians won the 1931 Mississippi Valley League Championship after
620-411: The following day, and in the first inning, Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo hit Dragons batter Zack Cozart in the head. Two batters later, Castillo hit Angel Cabrera in the arm, and nearly hit another Dragon player in the head after that. Cabrera then spiked the Chiefs shortstop at second base on a slide. At that point, Chiefs fill-in manager Carmelo Martinez began arguing with the umpire. This brought out
651-539: The franchise becoming members of the Midwest League . The franchise became the Keokuk Cardinals , playing as a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate (1958–1961). Keokuk became a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate in 1962. The Keokuk Dodgers were moved by the Midwest League to Dubuque, Iowa , on August 2, 1962, and were renamed the Midwest Dodgers for the duration of the 1962 season. After the 1962 season,
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#1732787809739682-655: The franchise moved from Dubuque to become the Wisconsin Rapids Twins . Today, the franchise has evolved into the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League . The Keokuk minor league teams between 1929 and 1962 played home games at Joyce Park . The ballpark dimensions were (LF-CF-RF): 320-381-265 (1961) and 306-385-345 (1962). Joyce Park had a capacity of 3,500 (1962). On September 9, 1931, the Indians played an exhibition game at Joyce Park against
713-417: The late 19th century. The Peoria Reds , Peoria Canaries , and Peoria Blackbirds played in several early leagues during parts of 1878 to 1895. The first ballpark used by these teams was reportedly called Sylvan Park and was located at the corner of Northeast Glendale Avenue and Spring Street on the location of the present-day St. Augustine Manor. In 1883, the club moved a few blocks toward Peoria Lake , to
744-402: The new park's first year, the team set a franchise attendance record of 254,407 and won the Midwest League championship. Former Cubs catcher Jody Davis managed the 2006 team. Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg was hired to manage the 2007 Chiefs, which went 71–68 and finished the second half 40–30 in a tie for the division title, but missed the playoff on a tiebreaker. The team set
775-420: The roster, the 1955 Keokuk Kernels finished with a record of 92–34 in the Three-I League. Their Manager was former Indiana University Manager Pinky May and the team had several players who made Major League teams, notably Mudcat Grant and Russ Nixon . Finishing 22 games ahead of runner up Waterloo White Hawks , Keokuk's .730 winning percentage was the highest in the last 50 years. Despite their great record,
806-771: Was a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals (1931–1932), Pittsburgh Pirates (1947–1949), Cleveland Indians (1954–1957), St. Louis Cardinals (1958–1961) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1962). The 1955 Keokuk Kernels were ranked 30th in The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams . Notable alumni include baseball pioneer Bud Fowler , Roger Maris and Tim McCarver . The Midwest League Keokuk franchise of 1958 to 1962, has continuously played to evolve into today's Fort Wayne TinCaps . Minor league baseball in Keokuk started in 1875. The 1875 Keokuk Westerns played as members of
837-454: Was changed to the Chiefs in 1984. The 1984 team was managed by future Major League Baseball manager Joe Maddon . The 1988 team, managed by future major league manager Jim Tracy , was the subject of Joseph Bosco's book The Boys Who Would Be Cubs . Meinen Field was renovated before the 1992 season and renamed Vonachen Stadium in honor of Chiefs owner Pete Vonachen . The team moved to Dozer Park in downtown Peoria on May 24, 2002. During
868-449: Was first an umpire and worked behind the plate for McCarver's first professional game. Keokuk Westerns The Western baseball club of Keokuk, Iowa , or Keokuk Westerns in modern nomenclature, was a professional baseball team in the National Association in 1875, the last season of that first professional league. It is considered a major league team by those who count the NA as
899-523: Was named. In 2005, the team replaced the indigenous imagery associated with the Chiefs name and moved to a logo of a dalmatian depicted as a fire chief . The Chiefs play their home games at Dozer Park , which opened in 2002. They previously played at Vonachen Stadium near Bradley University from 1983 through 2001. The Chiefs have made the playoffs a total of 13 times, through eight wild-card berths, three first-half titles, and two second-half titles. The history of professional baseball in Peoria dates to
930-693: Was noted to have been located in a field adjoining Rand Park. Rand Park is still in existence today and is located at North 17th Street & Park Land, Keokuk, Iowa. Notable Keokuk franchise alumni included: Roger Maris , who hit 61 Home runs in 1961 and was 2-time AL Most Valuable Player; Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler , the earliest known African-American player in organized professional baseball; All-Star player and Hall of Fame announcer Tim McCarver ; World Series hero Jesse Barnes ; Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame inductee Ray Caldwell ; All-Star Mudcat Grant ; Five time MLB All-Star Gus Bell and future MLB Manager Russ Nixon . Announcer Brent Musburger
961-399: Was on May 16, 1958. However, foul language led to discontinuing the use of the microphone after the 1958 season. Magazines Grit (June 1, 1958) and Popular Science (August 1958) had mentions of the microphone usage in Keokuk. Keokuk teams of 1904 to 1915 played at home games at Hubinger Park . It was located at North 15th Street & Grand Avenue. The name derived from its location behind