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Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League

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"MINK League" redirects here. For the current summer collegiate baseball league, see M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League.
Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League
ClassificationClass D (1910–1913)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1910
CeasedJune 17, 1913
PresidentT.A. Wilson (1910–1911)
Frederick Carey (1911)
Warren Cummings (1912–1913)
No. of teams9
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1
Falls City Colts (1910)
Maryville Comets/Humboldt Infants (1911)
Nebraska City Forresters (1912)
Auburn Athletics (1913)

The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League, known informally as the "MINK" League, was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played from 1910 to 1913. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League consisted of teams based in the four states, but not always at the same time. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League permanently folded midway through the 1913 season.

Today, the M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate summer baseball league has adopted the M.I.N.K. moniker.

History

[edit]

In 1910, the Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League began play as a six–team Class D level league. The league would play four seasons. The Auburn Athletics, Falls City Colts, and Nebraska City Forresters franchises all played for the duration of the league. Although the league was named the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League, the four states were never represented in the league at the same time. Missouri and Iowa were represented in 1910–1911 and Kansas was represented in 1912.[1][2]

The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League presidents were T.A. Wilson (1910–1911), Frederick Carey (1911) and Warren Cummings (1912–1913).[3]

In the first season for the league, the Falls City Colts won the 1910 MINK League Championship. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League began play with six teams, based in Auburn, Nebraska (Auburn Athletics), Clarinda, Iowa (Clarinda Antelopes), Falls City, Nebraska (Falls City Colts), Maryville, Missouri (Maryville Comets), Nebraska City, Nebraska (Nebraska City Forresters) and Shenandoah, Iowa (Shenandoah Pin Rollers). Falls City had a 57–40 (.588) record under manager Bill Annis to finish 1.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Clarinda Antelopes. Falls City led the league in season attendance, drawing 14,205. The Falls City Colts also moved some Sunday home games into the state of Kansas to avoid Nebraska Sunday laws.[4][5][6][2]

The Maryville Comets/Humboldt Infants were the 1911 Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League champions after moving during the season. The Maryville, Missouri franchise, with a 24–21 record, moved to Humboldt, Nebraska on July 10, 1911. Maryville/Humboldt finished with a 59–41 (.590) record under managers Harry Sievers and A.F. Bridges, finishing in 1st place in the standings, finishing 2.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Falls City Colts and 7.0 games ahead of the 3rd place Auburn Athletics. The MINK League did not have playoffs during its existence. The league maintained itself as a six–team league in 1911, with the Shenandoah Pin Rollers (49–51), Clarinda Antelopes (43–57) and Nebraska City Foresters (40–60) rounding out the 1911 standings.[7][8][9][10]

In the last full season of league play, the 1912 Nebraska City Forresters were the Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League champions. Nebraska City finished with a 61–38 (.616) record to lead the 1912 standings, playing under manager Ducky Holmes in the six–team league. Nebraska City finished 1.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Falls City Colts (61–41) and 2.5 games ahead of the 3rd place Auburn A's (59–41) in the final standings. The 1912 Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers (42–59) replaced the Clarinda Antelopes, who folded after the 1911 season. Beatrice–Fairbury then folded after the 1912 season, as did the Hiawatha, Kansas based Hiawatha Athletics.[11][12][2][13]

On July 4, 1912, Falls City pitcher Ed Finch threw the leagues' only no–hitter in a 7–0 Falls City victory over the Hiawatha Indians.[14][15][16]

1913 was the final season for the MINK League, as the league played only a partial season, permanently folding in June, 1913. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League began the 1913 season with four teams after the Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers and Hiawatha Indians franchises did not return to play and were not replaced. The 1913 Auburn Athletics, under manager Jake Kraninger, were in 1st place with 24–8 record, 9.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Nebraska City Forresters (15–17) when the Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League permanently folded. On June 17, 1913, the 3rd place Falls City Colts (13–19) and 4th place Humboldt Infants (12–20) both folded, causing the entire league to disband.[17][18][19][20]

Sunday laws in Nebraska were noted as a factor that impacted the success of the league. Falls City had moved Sunday home games to Kansas in order to avoid the restrictions in Nebraska. Nebraska City played their week day games at their home park and their Sunday games at the Driving Park in Beatrice, Nebraska. This was a compromise with the ministerial alliance which had protested a game on Sunday during the 1910 season. Many fans traveled by train to catch a game, as the Missouri Pacific serviced league towns.[20][6]

Today, the M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate summer baseball league has adopted the moniker as a tribute to the earlier professional league. The league began play in 2009.[21]

Cities represented 1910–1913

[edit]
Team name Town represented Stadium Year(s) active
Auburn Athletics Auburn, Nebraska Legion Park[22][23] 1910 to 1913
Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers Beatrice, Nebraska & Fairbury, Nebraska Driving Park[24] 1912
Clarinda Antelopes Clarinda, Iowa Clarinda Ballpark[25] 1910 to 1911
Falls City Colts Falls City, Nebraska Athletic Field[26] 1910 to 1913
Hiawatha Athletics Hiawatha, Kansas League Park[27] 1912
Humboldt Infants Humboldt, Nebraska Humboldt Lake Park[28] 1911 to 1913
Maryville Comets Maryville, Missouri Unknown[29] 1910 to 1911
Nebraska City Forresters Nebraska City, Nebraska 15th Street Ballpark[30] 1910 to 1913
Shenandoah Pin Rollers Shenandoah, Iowa Sportsman's Park[31] 1910 to 1911

Standings & statistics 1910–1913

[edit]

1910 M.I.N.K. League

[edit]
Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Falls City Colts 57 40 .588 – Bill Annis
Clarinda Antelopes 56 42 .571 1.5 Rudy Kling
Shenandoah Pin Rollers 47 52 .475 11.0 E.C. Fishbaugh
Auburn Athletics 46 51 .474 11.0 Warren Cummings
Maryville Comets 45 54 .455 13.0 Joe Wentz
Nebraska City Foresters 43 55 .439 14.5 Bonwell
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Joe Wentz Maryville BA .304 Verne Hirsch Auburn W 25
Frank Hutchinson Clarinda Runs 69 Lawrence Casey Clarinda Pct .750; 12–4
Ed Bright Auburn Hits 111

1911 M.I.N.K. League

[edit]
Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Maryville Comets / Humboldt Infants 59 41 .590 – Harry Sievers / A.F. Bridges
Falls City Colts 57 43 .570 2.0 Jack Forrester
Auburn Athletics 52 48 .520 7.0 L. Higgins
Shenandoah Pin Rollers 49 51 .490 10.0 Fred Wells
Clarinda Antelopes 43 57 .430 16.0 Frank Hutchinson
Nebraska City Foresters 40 60 .400 19.0 Daniel Nee /
E.C. Pinkerton / T.A. Wilson

Maryville moved to Humboldt July 10.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Joe Stricker Clarinda BA .349 Walter Hirsch Auburn W 22
Les Mann Nebraska City Runs 78 Jay Errett Mary/Humb Pct .800; 8–2
Joe Stricker Clarinda Hits 128

1912 M.I.N.K. League

[edit]
Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Nebraska City Foresters 61 38 .616 – Ducky Holmes
Falls City Colts 61 41 .598 1.5 Tony Vanderhill
Auburn Athletics 59 41 .590 2.5 Jake Kraninger
Humboldt Infants 44 57 .435 18.0 Ira Plank
Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers 42 59 .415 20.0 George Shriver
Hiawatha Athletics 35 66 .346 27.0 Robert Kahl / Jack Forester
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Milt Drumm Nebraska City BA .341 Vern Willey Auburn W 22
Milt Drumm Nebraska City Runs 65 Patrick Conway Nebraska City Pct .714; 15–6
Ledger Free Auburn Runs 65 George Zonderman Auburn SO 195
Steve Brewer Auburn Hits 121
Howard Marshall Nebraska City HR 7

1913 M.I.N.K. League

[edit]
Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Auburn Athletics 24 8 .750 – Jake Kraninger
Nebraska City Foresters 15 17 .469 9.0 Jack Forrester
Falls City Colts 13 19 .406 11.0 Ira Bidwell
Humboldt Infants 12 20 .375 12.0 Warren Cummings

Falls City & Humboldt withdrew June 17, 1913 causing the league to disband.[32]

Notable alumni

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[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Minor League History: MINK League". December 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  4. ^ "1910 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "1910 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ^ a b "MINK league results 1910". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  7. ^ "1911 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "1911 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ^ "MINK league results 1911". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  10. ^ Forum, TOM EMERY Special to the Daily. "Maryville Comets streaked to minor league glory". The Maryville Forum.
  11. ^ "1912 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1912 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. ^ "MINK league results 1912". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  14. ^ "Baseball in Kansas, 1867-1940 - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org.
  15. ^ "Searching for missing Minors no-hitters". MiLB.com.
  16. ^ "Minor League No Hitters". Google Docs.
  17. ^ "1913 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. ^ "1913 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. ^ "MINK League Auburn Nebraska Athletics". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  20. ^ a b "MINK league results 1913". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
  21. ^ "MINK Summer College Baseball League". www.minkleaguebaseball.com.
  22. ^ "1913 Auburn Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  23. ^ "Unknown in Auburn, NE history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. ^ "1912 Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. ^ "1911 Clarinda Antelopes Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. ^ "1913 Falls City Colts Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  27. ^ "1912 Hiawatha Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. ^ "1913 Humboldt Infants Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  29. ^ "Unknown in Maryville, MO history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  30. ^ "1913 Nebraska City Foresters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  31. ^ "1911 Shenandoah Pin Rollers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  32. ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  33. ^ "1910 Falls City Colts Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  34. ^ "Ducky Holmes Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  35. ^ a b "1910 Falls City Colts Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  36. ^ "1910 Nebraska City Forresters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  37. ^ "1911 Nebraska City Forresters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  38. ^ "1912 Falls City Colts Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  39. ^ "1911 Auburn Athletics Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
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