Beardstown Infants

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beardstown Infants
1909–1910
Beardstown, Illinois
Minor league affiliations
Class Class D (1909–1910)
LeagueIllinois-Missouri League (1909–1910
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameBeardstown Infants (1909–1910)
BallparkSchmodt Park (1909–1910)

The Beardstown Infants were a minor league baseball team based in Beardstown, Illinois in 1909 and 1910. The Beardstown Infants played as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League.

History[]

In 1909, the Beardstown Infants then became members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League. Joining Beardstown in the six–team league were the Canton Chinks, Galesburg Boosters, Macomb Potters, Monmouth Browns and Pekin Celestials. Pekin and Beardstown were new franchises for the league, replacing the Hannibal Cannibals and Havana Perfectos.[1][2][3]

The "Infants" nickname was likely in reference to the team being a new, youthful team.[4]

In their first season of play, the 1909 Beardstown Infants finished as the runner-up in the Illinois–Missouri League. With a regular season record of 77–52, Beardstown placed 2nd in the six–team Illinois–Missouri League standings, playing under manager Harry Riggons. Beardstown finished 1.0 game behind the 1st place Monmouth Browns in the final league standings.[5][2][4]

Beardstown's Andy Lotshaw, led the 1909 Illinois–Missouri League with a .329 average, 146 hits, 14 triples and 72 runs scored. Beardstown had 20–game winners in Merle Spaide (23–9), Cecil Weisenberger (21–14) and C.E. Pettit (20–11).[6][7][2]

The 1910 Beardstown Infants relocated before the end of the Illinois–Missouri League season. When the Class D level Northern Association folded on July 19, 1910, Jacksonville was left without a team. The Beardstown Infants filled the vacancy and moved to Jacksonville, Illinois on July 21, 1910 with a 38–26 record. The Jacksonville Jacks resumed play and the team had an overall record of 44–36 in the Illinois–Missouri League when the franchise folded on August 17, 1910. The Macomb Potters disbanded from the Illinois–Missouri League on the same day. The 1910 Beardstown/Jacksonville managers were Jack Corbett and Pants Rowland.[8][2][9][10][11][12]

Manager Jack Corbett is credited with inventing the modern bases with base stems that are now used in baseball. Corbett's name is still incorporated into the logo on major league bases. Pants Rowland later managed the Chicago White Sox to the 1917 World Series Championship. Rowland may have managed the 1910 team only upon relocating to Jacksonville.[13][14]

The 1910 Beardstown Infants were the last minor league team hosted in Beardstown, Illinois.[15]

The ballpark[]

The Beardstown Infants played home games at Schmodt Park. The park is still in use today as a public park with baseball fields. The ballpark was located at North Bay & Wall Streets, Beardstown, Illinois.[16][17]

(2014) Beardstown, Illinois Carnegie Library built 1903

Timeline[]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League
1909–1910 2 Beardstown Infants Class D Illinois-Missouri League

Year-by-year records[]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs/Notes
1909 77–52 2nd Harry Riggons None held
1910 44–36 5th Jack Corbett/Pants Rowland Beardstown (38–26) moved to Jacksonville July 21
Team folded August 17

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Beardstown Infants players

References[]

  1. ^ "1909 Illinois-Missouri League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ a b c d "Illinois-Missouri League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  3. ^ Wilson, Tom. "WILSON: Life in Galesburg's minor league baseball". The Register-Mail.
  4. ^ a b Emery, Tom (September 20, 2015). "Beardstown once had pro baseball team". Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
  5. ^ "1909 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ^ "1909 Beardstown Infants minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "1909 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) minor league baseball Leaders on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "1910 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ^ "Jacksonville, IL - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  10. ^ "1910 Beardstown/Jacksonville Jacks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ Emery, Tom (July 22, 2016). "Baseball's past had obscure ties to Jacksonville, Beardstown". Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
  12. ^ "Beardstown Infants - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  13. ^ "All about that base: The minor leaguer who invented modern MLB bases". www.sportingnews.com.
  14. ^ "Wulf: The Jack Corbett story". ESPN.com. May 9, 2014.
  15. ^ "Beardstown, Illinois Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Schmidt Park in Beardstown, IL minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. ^ "Schmoldt Park – Beardstown, Illinois". www.beardstownil.org.

External link[]

Baseball Reference
1909 Team Phtoto

Retrieved from ""