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.
8-688: Minor league baseball began in Rock Rapids, Iowa in 1902, when 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
16-508: A home game in Rock Rapids, it was reported that fans rushed 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
24-545: The 1902 Iowa–South Dakota League final standings. The Browns ended 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
32-399: The 1902 season. A meeting 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
40-477: 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
48-483: The era as a public park. Still in use as a public park today, the location of the 21-acre park is 1400 South 3rd Avenue in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Rock Rapids Browns 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
56-486: 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
64-451: The team for "drunkenness." Rock Rapids teammate Joe Snooks 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
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