Nebraska State League

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The Nebraska State League (NSL) was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959.

The first NSL is fairly well known because it was racially integrated.[citation needed] [1]

The last Nebraska State League of 1956–1959 was stable largely because its clubs were farm teams for the major leagues. Its final season has become well-known thanks to the book A False Spring by Pat Jordan.[1]

The Nebraska State League was a Class B league in 1892 and afterwords, was always ranked as a class D league.[clarification needed][2]

1892[]

The first Nebraska State League was racially integrated with African-American players on at least three teams: Bud Fowler, Kearney; John W. Patterson, Plattsmouth; and George Taylor, Beatrice. It was classified as a Class B league.[2]

(The NSL president is unknown.)

Team W L GB Pct. Manager
Beatrice, NE, Beatrice 27 20 0 .574 NA
Grand Island, NE 25 25 3.5 .500
Kearney, NE 18 21 5 .462 NA
Hastings, NE 17 20 5 .459 NA
Fremont, NE, Fremont 11 18 9 .379 NA
Plattsmouth, NE 11 24 11 .314 NA

These were the standings and statistics when the league disbanded in July.

1910-1915[]

Cities Represented[]

  • Beatrice, NE: Beatrice Milkskimmers 1913-1915
  • Columbus, NE: 1910-1913; 1914-1915
  • Fairbury, NE: 1915
  • Fremont, NE: Fremont Pathfinders 1910-1913
  • Grand Island, NE: Grand Island Collegians 1910-1913; Grand Island Islanders 1914; Grand Island Champions 1915
  • Hastings, NE: Hastings Brickmakers 1910; Hastings Third Citys 1911-1913; Hastings Reds 1914-1915
  • Kearney, NE: Kearney Kapitalists 1910; Kearney Buffaloes 1911; Kearney Kapitalists 1912-1914; Kearney Buffaloes 1915
  • Norfolk, NE: 1914-1915
  • Red Cloud, NE: Red Cloud 1910
  • Seward, NE: 1910-1913
  • Superior, NE: Superior Brickmakers 1910-1914
  • York, NE: York Prohibitionists 1911-1915

Teams and Statistics[]

1910 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Fremont Pathfinders 63 43 .594 0 16,966 Pug Bennett
59 48 .551 4.5 14,110 Joe Dolan
Kearney Kapitalists 60 51 .541 5.5 14,946 Clarence Murphy
Grand Island Collegians 60 52 .536 6 20,129 Buck Beltzer
Superior Brickmakers 56 54 .509 9 13,150
50 62 .446 16 10,251 John Fink
Red Cloud "Indians" 47 62 .431 17.5 10,126
Hastings Brickmakers 42 65 .398 21.5 14,318

Playoffs: None Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Red Cloud BA .326 Win Noyes Kearney W 24
Leo Cook Hastings Runs 88 Win Noyes Kearney SO 323
Red Cloud Hits 126 Frank Green Kearney Pct .900; 9-1
Fremont HR 10 Fremont SB 75

1911 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Superior Brickmakers 70 40 .636 0
Fremont Pathfinders 69 43 .616 2 Pug Bennett
Hastings Third Citys 54 58 .482 17 Rudy Kling
53 57 .482 17 John Fink
Grand Island Collegians 52 60 .464 19 Howard Armstrong
52 60 .464 19 Joe Dolan
Kearney Buffaloes 48 64 .429 23 Clarence Murphy
York Prohibitionists 48 64 .429 23 / Lefty Davis

Playoffs: None Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Superior BA .354 Al Orth Hastings W 23
Nick Allen[disambiguation needed] Superior Runs 95 Harry Smith Fremont SO 235
Superior Hits 153 Jim Stevens Superior Pct .750; 18-6
York HR 21

1912 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Hastings Third Citys # 67 44 .604 0
Fremont Pathfinders 66 45 .595 1 Pug Bennett
Kearney Kapitalists 63 49 .563 4.5 Harry Berte
56 54 .509 10.5 Jim Palmer /
53 59 .473 14.5
Grand Island Collegians 52 59 .468 15 Jim Cockman
York Prohibitionists 45 66 .405 22 Lefty Davis
Superior Brickmakers 43 69 .384 24.5

#A Kearney win over Hastings was reversed at the 1913 spring meeting,
giving Hastings the championship.
Playoffs: None Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pug Bennett Fremont BA .360 Joe Lotz Kearney W 26
York Runs 116 Hastings Pct .773; 17-5
Seward Hits 139

1913 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Kearney kapitalists 67 45 .598 0 Harry Berte
Hastings Third Citys 64 48 .571 3
York Prohibitionists 57 55 .509 10 Gid Gardner
Fremont Pathfinders 56 56 .500 11 Curt Welch
Superior Brickmakers 54 58 .482 13
54 58 .482 13 / /
/ Beatrice # 52 60 .464 15
Grand Island Collegians 44 68 .393 23 / Jack Forrester

#Seward (27-37) moved to Beatrice July 21.
Playoffs: None Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Kearney BA .411 Kearney W 17
Swat McCabe Hastings Hits 155 Kearney W 17
Ted Reed Columbus Pct .737; 14-5 York W 17

1914 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Grand Island Islanders 66 46 .589 0
Beatrice Milkskimmers 65 47 .580 1 Frank Coe
Hastings Reds 64 48 .571 2 Pug Bennett
York Prohibitionists 60 52 .536 6 Maury Pierce
Superior Brickmakers 54 58 .482 12 /
52 60 .464 14 Warren Cummings / Babe Towne
49 63 .437 17
Kearney Kapitalists 38 74 .339 28 Harry Berte

Playoffs: None Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jake Gettman Hastings BA .336 Beatrice W 21
Beatrice Runs 80 Dazzy Vance Hastings SO 194
Fred Payne Grand Island Hits 134 Dazzy Vance Hastings Pct .810; 17-4
Beatrice HR 19

1915 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Beatrice Milkskimmers 35 18 .660 0
Hastings Reds 30 27 .526 7 Pug Bennett
York Prohibitionists 25 31 .446 11.5 Maury Pierce
22 31 .415 13
## 24 13 .649 NA Babe Towne
Grand Island Champions ## 16 16 .500 NA
Kearney Buffaloes # 4 10 .286 NA
# 3 13 .188 NA

#Columbus and Kearney disbanded June 4.
##Grand Island and Norfolk disbanded June 28.
The league ceased operations July 18.

1922-1923[]

Cities Represented[]

Teams and Statistics[]

1922 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Norfolk Elk Horns 70 48 .593 0 Bert Adams / Runt Marr
Lincoln Links 70 49 .588 .5 O.A. Beltzer
Fairbury Jeffersons 69 49 .585 1
Beatrice Blues 53 63 .457 16 / William "Ducky" Holmes
Hastings Cubs 52 67 .437 18.5 Al Smith
Grand Island Champions 40 78 .339 30 Ed Willett

Playoff: Fairbury 4 games, Norfolk 3.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Cliff Marr Norfolk BA .364 Bill Bailey Lincoln W 23
Cliff Marr Norfolk Runs 116 Fred Wigington Hastings SO 260
Cliff Marr Norfolk Hits 167 Fairbury Pct .773; 17-5
Norfolk HR 21

1923 Nebraska State League
President: /

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Lincoln Links 71 64 .526 0 O.A. Beltzer
Norfolk Elk Horns 68 66 .507 2.5
Grand Island Champions 68 66 .507 2.5 / Boser
Hastings Cubs 65 66 .498 4 Pug Bennett
Beatrice Blues 64 68 .485 5.5 Ed Willett /
Fairbury Jeffersons 63 69 .477 6.5

Playoff: No Playoffs Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Lincoln BA .390 Art Stokes Lincoln W 23
Fresco Thompson Grand Island Runs 91 Art Stokes Lincoln SO 207
Lincoln Hits 169 Grand Island Pct .720; 18-7
Jimmy Hudgens Fairbury HR 13

1928-1938[]

Cities Represented[]

  • Beatrice, NE: Beatrice Blues 1928; Beatrice Blues 1932-1938
  • Fairbury, NE: Fairbury Jeffersons 1928-1930 ; Fairbury Jeffs 1936, 1937
  • Grand Island, NE: Grand Island Champs 1928; Grand Island Islanders 1929-1932; Grand Island Red Birds 1937; Grand Island Cardinals 1938
  • Lincoln, NE: Lincoln Links 1928-1935; Lincoln Red Links 1936; Lincoln Links 1938
  • McCook, NE: McCook Generals 1928-1932
  • Mitchell, SD: Mitchell Kernels 1936-1937
  • Norfolk, NE: Norfolk Elkhorns 1928-1932; Norfolk Elks 1933; Norfolk Elkhorns 1934-1935; Norfolk Elks 1936-1937; Norfolk Elkhorns 1938
  • North Platte, NE: North Platte Buffaloes 1928-1932
  • Norton, KS: Norton Jayhawks 1929-1930
  • Sioux City, IA: Sioux City Cowboys 1938
  • Sioux Falls, SD: Sioux Falls Canaries 1933-1938
  • York, NE: York Dukes 1928-1931

Teams and Statistics[]

1928 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
McCook Generals 71 49 .592 0 Elmer "Doc" Bennett
Lincoln Links 66 54 .550 5 Bob Brown
Beatrice Blues 64 56 .533 7
North Platte Buffaloes 64 57 .529 7.5
York Dukes 58 62 .483 13
Norfolk Elkhorns 55 66 .455 16.5
Grand Island Champs 52 68 .433 19 Davey Claire / / Thomson /
Fairbury Jeffersons 51 69 .425 20

Playoff: No Playoffs Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John Stoneham McCook BA .396 Lincoln W 20
McCook Runs 116 Harlan Pyle McCook W 20
McCook Hits 172 York SO 164
North Platte HR 19 Lincoln ERA 2.57

1929 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
McCook Generals 74 42 .638 0 Elmer "Doc" Bennett
Fairbury Jeffersons 70 51 .579 6.5
Lincoln Links 68 51 .571 7.5 Bob Brown / Les Nunamaker
York Dukes 61 53 .535 12
Norton Jayhawks 54 60 .474 19
Grand Island Islanders 54 62 .466 20 / Bob Brown
Norfolk Elkhorns 43 73 .371 31
North Platte Buffaloes 42 74 .362 32

Playoff: No Playoffs Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John Stoneham McCook BA .410 Andy Bednar McCook W 21
McCook Runs 117 Fairbury W 21
McCook Hits 194 Fairbury SO 201
Joe Smith Norfolk HR 15 Norton ERA 2.15

1930 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
McCook Generals 85 34 .714 0 Elmer "Doc" Bennett
Fairbury Jeffersons 68 51 .571 17
Grand Island Islanders 62 58 .517 23.5
York Dukes 60 59 .504 25
North Platte Buffaloes 60 60 .500 25.5
Norfolk Elkhorns 56 65 .463 30
Lincoln Links 56 66 .459 30.5 Les Nunamaker
Norton Jayhawks # 33 87 .275 52.5 Earl Harrison /

#Norton suspended operations August 25; final seven games
were forfeited to scheduled opponents.
Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
North Platte BA .373 Fairbury W 23
Ed Taylor Lincoln Runs 125 Fairbury SO 243
North Platte Hits 174 McCook ERA 2.25
Mike Kreevich McCook HR 15 McCook Pct .925; 19-2

1931 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Grand Island Islanders 66 41 .617 0
McCook Generals 59 50 .541 8 Elmer "Doc" Bennett
Lincoln Links 55 51 .519 10.5 Les Nunamaker
North Platte Buffaloes 53 55 .491 13.5 / Frank Owens
Norfolk Elkhorns 47 58 .448 18
York Dukes 42 67 .385 25 / Bob Brown

Playoffs: Grand Island 4 games, North Platte 1.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
McCook BA .400 Harry Matuzak McCook W 18
Grand Is/McCook Runs 117 Lincoln SO 189
McCook Hits 193 Grand Island ERA 2.56
Norfolk HR 22

1932 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Norfolk Elkhorns 75 35 .682 0
Beatrice Blues 59 46 .562 13.5 Dick Reichle /
Grand Island Islanders 59 52 .532 16.5 / Gus Getz
North Platte Buffaloes 49 61 .454 26 Frank Owens
Lincoln Links 45 60 .429 27.5 William Rumler /
McCook Gererals 37 70 .346 36.5 Gene Bailey / Jack Hruska

Playoffs: Beatrice 2 games, Lincoln 1. Finals: Beatrice 4 games, Norfolk 3.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Norfolk BA .355 Norfolk W 24
Beatrice Runs 100 McCook SO 261
Norfolk Hits 150 Norfolk ERA 1.89
Beatrice HR 16

1933 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Norfolk Elks 60 45 .571 0
Beatrice Blues 60 46 .566 .5
Sioux Falls Canaries 57 49 .538 3.5
Lincoln Links 34 71 .324 26 Elmer "Doc" Bennett /

Playoffs: Beatrice 5 games, Norfolk 4.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Don Gutteridge Lincoln BA .360 Sioux Falls W 20
Beatrice Runs 100 Beatrice SO 195
Norfolk Hits 152 Sioux Falls ERA 2.43
Howard Moore Beatrice HR 19

1934 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Lincoln Links 69 41 .627 0 / Pug Griffin
Norfolk Elkhorns 60 49 .550 8.5
Sioux Falls Canaries 50 60 .455 19
Beatrice Blues 38 67 .362 28.5

Playoffs: None Scheduled

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Norfolk BA .360 Jack Farmer Norfolk W 19
Lincoln Runs 99 Tom Seats Lincoln SO 221
George Silvey Norfolk Hits 143 Nels Potter Lincoln ERA 1.71
Beatrice HR 14

1935 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Sioux Falls Canaries 72 40 .643 0
Norfolk Elkhorns 58 49 .542 11.5
Lincoln Links 50 64 .439 23
Beatrice Blues 42 69 .378 29.5 Charley Stis / Bennie Warren

Attendance: Sioux Falls, 39,300
Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Sioux Falls 3.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Beatrice BA .331 Sioux Falls W 17
Beatrice Runs 100 Orie Arntzen Norfolk SO 184
Beatrice Hits 153 Sioux Falls ERA 2.14
Beatrice HR 22 Norfolk RBI 102

1936 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Sioux Falls Canaries 71 49 .592 0
Mitchell Kernels 68 50 .576 2 Cliff Knox
Norfolk Elks 63 57 .525 8
Beatrice Blues 56 65 .463 15.5
Lincoln Red Links # 26 38 .406 NA Pid Purdy
Fairbury Jeffs # 19 44 .302 NA Eddie Brown

#Lincoln and Fairbury disbanded July 16.
Attendance: Sioux Falls, 74,306
Playoffs: Sioux Falls 3 games, Beatrice 2: Mitchell 3 games, Norfolk 1.
Finals: Mitchell 4 games, Sioux Falls 2.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Mitchell BA .373 Charlie Wagner Sioux Falls W 21
Norfolk Runs 137 Sioux Falls SO 267
Bert Haas Beatrice Hits 178 Charlie Wagner Sioux Falls ERA 3.08
Norfolk HR 29 Norfolk RBI 128

1937 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Sioux Falls Canaries 83 36 .697 0
Mitchell Kernels 75 41 .647 6.5 Cliff Knox
Beatrice Blues 54 61 .470 27 Lee Riley
Norfolk Elks 50 65 .435 31 Elmer "Doc" Bennett
Fairbury Jeffs 48 70 .407 34.5
Grand Island Red Birds 40 77 .342 42

Attendance: Sioux Falls, 50,000
Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Lee Riley Beatrice BA .372 Charlie Wagner Sioux Falls W 25
Sioux Falls Runs 129 Murry Dickson Grand Island SO 209
Mitchell Hits 175 Sioux Falls ERA 2.35
Mitchell HR 22 Sioux Falls RBI 140

1938 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Sioux City Cowboys 70 47 .598 0
Norfolk Elkhorns 67 49 .578 2.5 Elmer "Doc" Bennett
Beatrice Blues 62 54 .534 7.5 Lee Riley
Lincoln Links 52 64 .448 17.5 Pug Griffin
Grand Island Cardinals 49 67 .422 20.5 Joe Hassler
Sioux Falls Canaries 49 68 .419 21

Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Sioux City 2.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Lee Riley Beatrice BA .365 Don Fisher Sioux Falls W 21
Sioux City Runs 124 Don Fisher Sioux Falls SO 242
Lincoln Runs 124 Sioux Falls ERA 2.33
Norfolk Hits 161 Lee Riley Beatrice RBI 122
Sioux City HR 19

1956-1959[]

Cities Represented[]

Teams and Statistics 1956-1959[]

1956 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Lexington Red Sox 41 22 .651 0 28,393 Danny Doyle
Grand Island Athletics 35 28 .556 6 30,915 Art Mazmanian
Kearney Yankees 35 28 .556 6 30,943 Randy Gumpert
McCook Braves 35 28 .556 6 32,224 Bill Steinecke
Superior Senators 34 29 .540 7 22,860
Holdrege White Sox 33 30 .524 8 24,326 Skeeter Scalzi
North Platte Indians 24 39 .381 17 28,578 Spencer Harris
Hastings Giants 15 48 .238 26 28,713 Gene Thompson

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bill Fries Kearney BA .394 Lexington W 11
Deron Johnson Kearney Runs 70 Richard Allen McCook W 11
Jimmie Hall Superior Runs 87 Gary Peters Holdrege SO 142
Deron Johnson Kearney RBI 78 Lexington ERA 1.76
Deron Johnson Kearney HR 24

1957 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Grand Island Athletics 33 22 .600 0 26,982 Art Mazmanian
Holdrege White Sox 33 23 .589 .5 21,581
Lexington Red Sox 33 23 .589 .5 24,218 Jack Kaiser
Kearney Yankees 30 26 .536 3.5 23,349 Randy Gumpert
Hastings Giants 29 26 .527 4 21,863 Leo Schrall
McCook Braves 27 29 .482 6.5 25,844 Bill Steinecke
Superior Senators 27 29 .482 6.5 19,796
North Platte Indians 11 45 .196 22.5 21,207 Rudy York

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Holdrege BA .366 Lexington W 11
Holdrege Runs 58 Kearney SO 149
Lexington Hits 71 Kearney ERA 1.68
Kearney RBI 59 Kearney HR 17

1958 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
North Platte Indians 41 22 .651 0 18,766
McCook Braves 40 23 .635 1 17,372 Bill Steinecke
Grand Island Athletics 33 30 .524 8 18,762 Art Mazmanian
Kearney Yankees 33 30 .524 8 14,147 Randy Gumpert
Lexington Red Sox 30 33 .476 11 12,838 Jack Kaiser
Holdrege White Sox 29 34 .460 12 11,565 George Noga
Hastings Giants 24 39 .381 17 11,522 Leo Schrall
Superior Senators 22 41 .349 19 8,953 Hal Keller

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Grand Island BA .393 McCook W 10
North Platte Runs 68 North Platte W 10
Jerry McNertney Holdrege Hits 84 Bill Spanswick Lexington SO 1.42
North Platte RBI 72 Kearney ERA 2.25
North Platte HR 12

1959 Nebraska State League
President:

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
McCook Braves 43 19 .694 0 19,788 Bill Steinecke
Holdrege White Sox 39 23 .629 4 11,963
Grand Island Athletics 32 30 .516 11 16,716 Art Mazmanian
Kearney Yankees 27 35 .435 16 13,141 Jim Gleeson
Hastings Giants 23 39 .371 20 10,235 Leo Schrall
North Platte Indians 22 40 .355 21 14,275

Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Player Statistics

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Kearney BA .319 Grand Island W 11
McCook Runs 63 McCook SO 136
Woody Huyke Hastings Hits 71 McCook ERA 2.13
Boyd Coffie Kearney RBI 63 Woody Huyke Hastings HR 12

Related Sites[]

Nebraska Minor League Baseball History

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nebraska State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nebraska State League (B) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.

Sources[]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition.

This article is based on the "Nebraska State League" article at Baseball-Reference.com Bullpen. The Bullpen is a wiki, and its content is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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