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Some of the information on this site was compiled
with the help of Greg Miller.
Check out Greg's site and see if you have any baseball cards he needs
for his collection. Shane Etter has also provided a
great deal of information for this site. He has spent years compiling
information, looking through microfilm, as well as interviewing and
corresponding with former players and fellow baseball historians. His
goal is to preserve local baseball history, and in the future compile
this information into a non-profit publication. He would like your help
by letting him look at any old photos or other memorabilia that might
help him in unlocking Keokuks baseball past. Contact Shane at
(319) 524-4479. If you have anything to add to this site (photos, stories, etc.), or have any comments or suggestions, e-mail iwebmaster@pccon1.com. Just a note - many of the images on this site are "clickable." Click on them for a closer look. |
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Late 1800's - Early 1900's - 1930's - 1940's - Early 1950's - 1955 to 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1875 - National Association of Professional Baseball Players - Keokuks first professional baseball team was in this league. They played in a field beyond Rand Park known as Perry Park. The National Association became the National League in 1876, although Keokuk did not become a part of it. Keokuk's record for that year was 1-12. One famous player to play against the Keokuk team that year was one of early baseballs greatest pitchers, Albert Goodwill Spalding. Spalding played with Boston, and was the founder of the sporting goods company that bears his name. The 1875 Keokuk Westerns entire roster included only eleven players. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1885 - Western League - This team, "The Keokuks," organized themselves in 1884 and entered the Western League on the AA level the following year. The Western League broke up June 29, 1885. The Keokuks were 29-8. Much information exists about the 1885 Western League Keokuks. Perhaps the most important figure on this team was Bud Fowler. He is the first African-American to play professional baseball. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1886-1903 saw
a gap in professional baseball for Keokuk, but not in organized baseball.
During this time Keokuk still had semi-pro teams playing great baseball.
In the 1890's, baseball was being played at Sportsman's Park on the
corner of 15th and Palean Streets. This was home of Keokuk's two main
teams, the Carson-Rands and the Keokuk Reds. Hubinger
Park opened in 1898, which included a race track, amusement park,
theatre, pond, and grandstand. Baseball was played on Olympic Field
there. Keokuk had an outstanding semi-pro team in 1901. The team won 32 games in a row and played against teams from St. Louis, Chicago, and other Midwestern cities. An interesting figure from this era was Keokuk native Jeremiah Peter "Jerry" Harrington, who played in the major leagues for the Cincinnati Redlegs. |
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1904-1906 - Iowa State
League - These three years Keokuk had a Class D team. They
placed fifth each year. 1907-1915 - Central Association - Class D baseball was played these years. The 1907-1915 Central Association teams in Keokuk produced four major leaguers. |
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On June 9, 1920 land was obtained to build Joyce Park, the field where many of Keokuk's teams would play. From 1925-1928, Keokuk was also home to a very successful team, the Midgets, a team of boys coached by Artie Whiteley. | |||
Jack Saltzgaver was from Croton, Iowa. He played in Keokuk for a team called the Cherry Blossoms, named after a soft drink. He went on to play for the New York Yankees with such greats as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He was a utility player in New York from 1932-1937, and ended his career in 1945 with Pittsburgh. | |||
Roxie Lawson, a native of Donnellson, played for a Keokuk semi-pro team, the Eagle-Legion. He went on to pitch for the Cleveland Indians in 1930. From there he went to Detroit, and eventually ended his career with the St. Louis Browns in 1940. | |||
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1929-1932 - Mississippi Valley League
- After picking up the Marshalltown, IA franchise, Keokuk joined
this league and played Class D baseball. They were known as the Keokuk
Indians. A few players from the 1929-1932 Mississippi
Valley League teams had careers in the Majors. In 1930, St. Louis affiliated baseball came to Keokuk. Thanks to the St. Louis Cardinals, lights were installed at Joyce Park. It was one of the first parks in the Midwest to be lighted. |
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1933 saw Class B baseball. This team sent Bill "Fiddler" McGee of Bachtown, IL to play for the St. Louis Cardinals from '35-'41. He finished his career with the New York Giants in 1942. |
In 1934 Keokuk had no official team. On September 10, Thomas H. Joyce Sr. bought the baseball park and deeded it to the city under the conditions it remain a baseball park. The original stands are gone, but the field remains and has been in use by Keokuk High School. Joyce Park will soon be the site of a new grocery store, and the park rebuilt at another location. |
In 1935 Keokuk took over the Topeka franchise in the Western League, playing Class A ball for one year. |
1937-1938 - Mississippi Valley League - This team was known as the Indians and was semi-pro. The league lasted only two years and included Burlington, Galesburg, Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant, Muscatine, and Keokuk. The Indians occasionally played against barnstorming professional Negro League teams, which included the Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis Clowns, and House of Davids. |
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The years 1939-1946 were a gap in pro baseball, but Keokuk still played organized baseball. |
On July 19, 1941, The Keokuk Goats of the ILMO League defeat Dizzy Dean, 2-0. Harley Miller and Whitey Wilson hit doubles, and Rudy Peterson a single. The Goats originated from Goat Hill around 14th and Carroll Streets in the early 1930's. Jim Jones was the sponsor. Baseball in Keokuk was very territorial in those days and there were many teams. | |||
1943 - The Keokuk Bulldogs, also of the ILMO League, merge with the Keokuk Goats. | |||
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1958-1961 - Midwest League - During these years the Keokuk team was affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, and played Class D baseball. | |||
For more information on the Midwest League, check out the web site at www.mwlguide.com |
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1962 - Midwest League - The Dodgers took over for the Cardinals at the beginning of the season. Then, on August 8, the Dodgers refused to provide funds, and the team moved to Dubuque. An oddity about the move was the fact that Dubuque already had a Class D team for the Cleveland Indians. This move signaled the end of professional baseball in Keokuk. |
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Check out some interesting links that relate to this site. |