Minor league baseball teams were based in McLeansboro, Illinois . In 1910 and 1911, McLeansboro teams played under three nicknames as members of the 1910 Southern Illinois League and the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League from 1910 to 1911, winning two league championships in 1910. McLeansboro hosted home minor league games at Fairgrounds Park.
14-732: The McLeansboro Merchants began minor league play in 1910, a season that saw the team win championships in two different leagues under two different nicknames. The McLeansboro franchise was a charter member when the Southern Illinois League was formed for the 1910 season as a five–team Class D level league. The Southern Illinois League began play on May 30, 1910, with the charter franchises Eldorado, Illinois team, Harrisburg Merchants, Herrin, Illinois team and Mount Vernon Merchants joining McLeansboro in league play. The Southern Illinois League permanently folded on July 11, 1910. The McLeansboro Merchants were in first place when
28-594: A second league and won a second championship under manager Ollie Gfroerer. The franchise became members of the Class D level Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League (KITTY League) at the half–way point of the season. They were joined by the Harrisburg Merchants in moving to the Kitty League. The newly named McLeansboro Billikens had a record of 40–18 in the second half of the split–season schedule and won
42-629: The Eldorado, Illinois team, Harrisburg Merchants , Herrin, Illinois team, McLeansboro Merchants and Mount Vernon Merchants as charter members. After beginning play, the Southern Illinois League lost a team when the Mount Vernon Merchants disbanded on June 30, 1910. After continuing play, the Southern Illinois League permanently folded on July 11, 1910. The McLeansboro Merchants were in first place when
56-644: The Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (KITTY League) in the middle of the 1910 season. Mt. Vernon disbanded June 30. The league folded June 30. Harrisburg and McLeansboro joined the Kitty League July 24. Kentucky%E2%80%93Illinois%E2%80%93Tennessee League The Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (or KITTY League ) was a Class D level minor league baseball circuit that went through six different periods of play between 1903 and 1955. The League hosted teams in 29 cities from
70-534: The "KIT League" was formed. Members of the KIT League featured some of the former KITTY League cities, who formed teams and revived their previous monikers, such as the Fulton Railroaders , Owensboro Oilers and Union City Greyhounds . The KIT League is now defunct, with the teams having evolved to form the currently active ten–team Ohio Valley League in 2010. The league history was the subject of
84-536: The 1910 season, with the McLeansboro Merchants in first place. An Independent minor league named the "Southern Illinois League" played in the 1895 and 1896 seasons. The teams and statistics from the 1895 and 1896 seasons are unknown. The Southern Illinois League was formed for the 1910 season as a five–team Class D level minor league under the direction of league president C.C. Wright. The Southern Illinois League began play on May 30, 1910, with
98-750: The Kentucky-Illinois–Tennessee–League. On June 20, 1911, after compiling a 19–15 record, McLeansboro moved to Henderson, Kentucky . The move was made in part because McLeansboro did not permit Sunday baseball. The team became the Henderson Hens after the move. The McLeansboro/Henderson team ended the 1911 season with a 65–58 overall record, placing third in the Kentucky-Illinois–Tennessee–League. The managers were Miles Bradshaw and John Stelle. McLeansboro, Illinois has not hosted another minor league team. The McLeansboro teams played minor league home games at Fairgrounds Park . The ballpark
112-502: The league folded. In the final 1910 standings, the McLeansboro Merchants were in first place with a 20–5 record when the Southern Illinois League folded. Playing under manager Ollie Gfroerer, McLeansboro finished 6.5 games ahead of Eldorado (14–12). They were followed by Herrin (8–11), the Mount Vernon Merchants (8–11) and Harrisburg Merchants (6–17) in the final standings. McLeansboro immediately continued play in 1910 in
126-404: The league shut down. In the final 1910 standings, the McLeansboro Merchants had a record of 20–5 when the league folded to finish in first place. McLeansboro finished 6.5 games ahead of Eldorado (14–12), followed by Herrin (8–11), the Mount Vernon Merchants (8–11) and Harrisburg Merchants (6–17). After the Southern Illinois League folded, two of its members, McLeansboro and Harrisburg, joined
140-555: The second half title. There were no playoffs held, with McLeansboro and the Vincennes Alices , who won the first half title, being declared Co–Champions. McLeansboro's Clarence Kraft led the team with a .292 average and his 4 homers tied for the league lead. He also led the league with a 13–2 record as a pitcher. In 1911, the team was renamed the McLeansboro Miners as the franchise continued play as members of
154-404: The states of Illinois , Indiana , Kentucky , Missouri and Tennessee . The first KITTY League played from 1903 through 1906. The next one ran from 1910 through 1914. The third try played the 1916 season. The circuit was revived in 1922 and lasted three years. The fifth KITTY League lasted the longest, playing from 1935 through 1955 with a break from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. The league
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#1732802140766168-606: Was also known briefly as the Kentucky–Indiana–Tennessee League , for during this time the league contained teams such as the Evansville Yankees from Evansville, Indiana . Unlike most leagues that were dormant for years in between playing, the KITTY was much the same from 1903 to 1955, through its inactive years. Clifton C. Gosnell was league president in 1906, after which the league stopped playing, and
182-745: Was located at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. Today, the fairgrounds are still in use as home to the Hamilton County Fair. The address is 808 West Randolph Street. McLeansboro Merchants players McLeansboro Billikens players Southern Illinois League The Southern Illinois League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played in the 1910 season. The five–team Southern Illinois League consisted of franchises based exclusively in Illinois . The Southern Illinois League permanently folded during
196-471: Was president in 1910–1911 when play resumed. Then Dr. Frank H. Bassett was league president 1912–1914, 1916, 1922–1924, and 1935–1937, through the active times and the inactive. Hopkinsville, Kentucky was represented for 28 of the 31 active seasons of the KITTY League, while Paducah, Kentucky made it for 23. In 2004, the league moniker was reincarnated, as a summer collegiate baseball league called
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