Neosho Yankees

The Neosho Yankees was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Neosho, Missouri from 1937 to 1940. Playing as a member of the Class D Arkansas–Missouri League from 1937–1940, Neosho was an affiliate of the New York Yankees (1938–1940). Neosho teams played at High School Stadium.

History[]

Neosho, Missouri first had a minor league baseball in 1937. The Neosho Night Hawks became a member of the five–team Arkansas–Missouri League in 1937, playing at High School Stadium. The Night Hawks finished the 1937 Arkansas–Missouri League in 4th place with a 52–71 record, 25.0 games behind the 1st place Rogers Lions. Playing under Manager Dennis Burns, Neosho lost to Rogers 3 games to 1 in the Playoffs.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

In 1938, Neosho became an affiliate of the New York Yankees and captured Arkansas–Missouri League Pennant. The newly named Neosho Yankees finished the regular season with a record of 73–42 under returning manager Dennis Burns. Neosho finished 5.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Carthage Pirates, who had just joined the six–team league. In the 1938 Playoffs, Neosho swept the Rogers Reds in three games to advance to the Finals. In the Arkansas–Missouri League Finals, the Carthage Pirates defeated Neosho 4 games to 1.^{[7][2][8][9][10][11][5][12]}

The Arkansas–Missouri League played with four teams in 1939. In the regular season, the Neosho Yankees ended with a record of 65–61, finishing in 3rd place. Playing again under manager Dennis Burns, Neosho finished 16.5 games behind the 1st place Fayetteville Angels. Nesho did not qualify for the 1939 playoffs. Ralph Houk played for Neosho in 1939, his first professional season. With a salary of $70.00 a month, Houk played well enough (.286) that Neosho hosted a "Ralph Houk day" at the ballpark.^{[7][2][13][14][15][5][16]}

In 1940, the four–team Arkansas–Missouri League permanently folded during the season, as Neosho played it final minor league season. The league folding became unavoidable after the Fayetteville Angels franchise folded due to poor attendance. On July 1, 1940 the league folded after hosting an All-Star game. At the time the league folded, the Neosho Yankees were in 2nd place with a 27–29 record under manager Ed Grayston and were 10.5 games behind the 1st place Carthage Pirates.^{[7][2][17][18][10][5][19][20]}

Neosho, Missouri has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark[]

Neosho teams were noted to have played minor league home games at High School Stadium. High School Stadium had a capacity of 1,000 in 1939, with dimensions of (Left, Center, Right) 310–340–310. The ballpark location was noted as near South Neosho Boulevard & Stadium Drive. Today, the Neosho High School stadium is named Bob Anderson Stadium. The present address is 511 South Neosho Boulevard, Neosho, Missouri.^[21][22][23]

(2020) Neosho High School. Neosho, Missouri

Timeline[]

Year-by-year record[]

(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)

Notable alumni[]

References[]

External links[]

• Baseball Reference Bullpen
  Baseball Reference