Hiawatha Athletics
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1910, 1912)
LeagueEastern Kansas League (1910)
Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League (1912)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameHiawatha Indians (1910)
Hiawatha Athletics (1912)
BallparkLeague Park (1910, 1912)

The Hiawatha Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Hiawatha, Kansas. In 1912, the Athletics played as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League. The Athletics were immediately precedec in minor league play by the 1910 Hiawatha Indians, who played the season as a member of the short-lived Class D level Eastern Kansas League. Both Hiawatha teams hosted home minor league games at League Park.

History

Minor league baseball play began in Hiawatha, Kansas in 1910,[1] when the Hiawatha Indians played as charter members of the six–team Class D level Eastern Kansas League. The 1910 team was also referred to as the "Boosters."[2]

The Seneca, Sabatha, Holton, Horton Hammers and Marysville teams joined Hiawatha in league play.[3] After beginning league play on June 8, 1910, Hiawatha ended their 1910 season with a record of 44–44 to place third in the Eastern Kansas League standings, playing the season under managers Spec Willey, Swift and Pepper Williford.[4] Hiawatha finished 12.5 games behind the first place Sabetha team in the six–team league. The Eastern Kansas League permanently folded after its only season in 1910.[5][1][6][7]

Minor league baseball returned to Hiawatha in 1912, with the team finishing last in the standings in a new league.[8] The 1912 Hiawatha Athletics began play as members of the six-team, Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League, known informally as the MINK League.[9] Hiawatha replaced the Clarinda Antelopes franchise in the league. The Auburn A's, Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers, Falls City Colts, Humboldt Infants and Nebraska City Foresters teams joined Hiawatha in beginning league play on May 9, 1912.[10][5]

On July 4, 1912, Falls City Colts pitcher Ed Finch threw the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League's only no–hitter in a 7–0 Falls City victory over the Hiawatha Athletics.[1]

The Athletics ended the 1912 season with a record of 35–66, placing sixth in the six–team MINK standings. Hiawatha finished 27.0 games behind the champion Falls City Colts. The Athletics played under managers Robert Kahl and Jack Forester.[11] The Hiawatha franchise permanently folded after the 1912 season as the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League reduced to four teams for their final season in 1913, with The Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers also folding following the 1912 season.[12][5]

Hiawatha, Kansas has not hosted another minor league team.[13]

The ballpark

The 1910 and 1912 Hiawatha teams played minor league home games at League Park in Hiawatha, Kansas. The location of League Park is unknown.[14]

(1909) Hiawatha, Kansas

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
19101Hiawatha IndiansClass DEastern Kansas LeagueLeague Park
19121Hiawatha AthleticsMissouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League

Year–by–year records

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
191044–443rdSpec Willey
Swift / Pepper Williford		No playoffs held
191235–666thRobert Kahl / Jack ForesterNo playoffs held

[15][16]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Baseball in Kansas, 1867-1940 - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org.
  2. ↑ "1910 Hiawatha Boosters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ↑ "1910 Eastern Kansas League (EKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ↑ "Hiawatha Indians Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. 1 2 3 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  6. ↑ "1910 Hiawatha (KS) Eastern Kansas League roster". The Kansas Democrat. June 16, 1910. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "1910 Eastern Kansas League schedule". Hiawatha Daily World. June 17, 1910. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "1912 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ↑ "1912 Hiawatha Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. ↑ "1912 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ↑ "1910 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (November 5, 2008). "Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas (MINK) League".
  13. ↑ "Hiawatha, Kansas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ↑ "League Park in Hiawatha, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. ↑ "1912 Hiawatha Athletics minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. ↑ "1910 Hiawatha Indians minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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