Hannibal Cannibals

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hannibal Cannibals
1908–1955
(1908–1912, 1916–1917, 1948–1949, 1952–1955)
Hannibal, Missouri
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1908–1912)
Class B (1916–1917)
Class C (1947–1948)
Class D (1952–1955)
LeagueIllinois–Missouri League (1908)
Central Association (1909–1912)
Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1916–1917)
Central Association (1947–1948)
Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1952–1955)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1908
Team data
NameHannibal Cannibals (1908–1912)
Hannibal Mules (1916–1917)
Hannibal Pilots (1947–1948)
Hannibal Stags (1952)
Hannibal Cardinals (1953–1954)
Hannibal Citizens (1955)
BallparkLeague Park (1908–1909)
Mainland's Park (1910–1917)
Clemens Field (1947–1955)

The Hannibal Cannibals was the initial moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Hannibal, Missouri between 1908 and 1955. Hannibal teams played as members of the Illinois–Missouri League (1908), Central Association (1909–1912), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1916–1917), Central Association (1948–1949) and Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1952–1955). The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League evolved to become the Midwest League.

Hannibal was an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns in 1947 and St. Louis Cardinals from 1953 to 1954.

Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jake Beckley played for the 1911 Hannibal Cannibals.

Hannibal, Missouri is the hometown of author Mark Twain, also known as Samuel Clemens, the namesake of the Hannibal baseball park: Clemens Field.

History[]

Hannibal teams played under a variety of monikers throughout their history. The first Hannibal minor league team was known as the Hannibal Cannibals, beginning play in the 1908 Illinois–Missouri League and continuing in the Central Association from 1909 to 1912. Baseball Hall of Fame member Jake Beckley played and managed for the 1911 Hannibal Cannibals. On August 25, 1911, Roy Brown of the Hannibal Cannibals pitched a no-hitter against the Monmouth Browns as Hannibal won the game 3–0.[1][2]

The Hannibal Mules played as members of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League in 1916 and 1917.[3]

After decades without hosting a minor league team, the Hannibal Pilots formed as members of the Central Association, playing in the league in 1947 and 1948.[4]

Hannibal was an expansion team in the 1952 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, the predecessor of the Midwest League. The 1952 Hannibal Stags, Hannibal Cardinals from 1953 to 1954 and Hannibal Citizens in 1955, were members of the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League. Hannibal pitcher Richard Lessman threw a no–hitter against the Lafayette Red Sox on August 9, 1955 in a 1–0 victory. After the 1955 season, the Hannibal franchise relocated to become the Michigan City White Caps for the first Midwest League season. Hannibal has not hosted another professional minor league team.[5][6][7]

Through 2019, the Hannibal Cavemen and Hannibal Hoots of the collegiate summer Prospect League played at a renovated Clemens Field, which is also used for youth baseball.[8]

The ballparks[]

Clemens Field, named for native Samuel Clemens, was built in 1938 as a Works Project Administration (WPA) Project and was home to the Hannibal teams thereafter. Clemens Field underwent a major renovation in 2009. today, the stadium has the original grandstand and brick wall perimeter, with a capacity of 2,500. Clemens Field is located at 403 Warren Buffett Drive, Hannibal, Missouri.[9][10]

Previous to Clemens Field, the earlier Hannibal teams played at Mainland's Park (1910–1917), located on Market Street in the Oakwood neighborhood and League Park (1908–1909), located at the corner of Lyon and Glasscock Street, Hannibal, Missouri.[11][12]

(2016) Clemens Field Hannibal, Missouri

Timeline[]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League Affiliate
1908 1 Hannibal Cannibals Class D Illinois–Missouri League None
1909–1912 4 Central Association
1916–1917 2 Hannibal Mules Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League
1947–1948 2 Hannibal Pilots Class C Central Association St. Louis Browns
1952 1 Hannibal Stags Class D Mississippi–Ohio Valley League None
1953–1954 2 Hannibal Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals
1955 1 Hannibal Citizens None

Year-by-year record[]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs/notes
1908 68–49 1st Bert Hough League champions
1909 83–52 2nd Bert Hough / Ben Prout None held
1910 77–60 3rd Bill Prout / Bill Forney None held
1911 45–81 8th Jake Beckley None held
1912 67–61 5th Eddie Herr /Ed Painter None held
1916 79–57 2nd Ted Waring None held
1917 39–27 3rd John Castle League season shortened to July 8
1947 69–56 2nd Ted Waring Lost in league Finals
1948 67–62 3rd Walter DeFreitas Lost in 1st round
1952 70–57 4th Walter DeFreitas Lost in league Finals
1953 55–62 4th Tince Leonard Lost in 1st round
1954 58–68 7th J.C. Dunn Did not qualify
1955 42–84 8th James Granneman / Allan Shinn Did not qualify

Notable alumni[]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni[]

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Hannibal Cannibals players
Hannibal Cardinals players
Hannibal Mules players
Hannibal Pilots players

References[]

  1. ^ "Minor League No-Hitters 1910-1919 - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. ^ "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. ^ "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  5. ^ "Baseball in Hannibal, Missouri". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  7. ^ "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  8. ^ Prospect League Standings Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  9. ^ Prospect League Stadiums Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  10. ^ "Baseball in Hannibal". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "Mainland's Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  12. ^ "League Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.

External links[]

Baseball Reference Bullpen

Retrieved from ""