The Nebraska City Forresters were a minor league baseball franchise based in Nebraska City, Nebraska . From 1910 to 1913, "Forresters" played exclusively as members of the Class D level Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League , winning the 1912 league championship.
37-583: Nebraska City hosted minor league home games at the 15th Street Ballpark, with some Sunday games played at the Driving Park in 1913. Minor league baseball began in Nebraska City in 1910, when the city first hosted a team. The Nebraska City "Forresters" team began play as charter members of the six–team Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League , which was known informally as the MINK League. Nebraska City played with
74-710: A collegiate summer baseball league has adopted the moniker as a tribute to the earlier professional league. The league began play in 2009. Maryville moved to Humboldt July 10. Falls City & Humboldt withdrew June 17, 1913 causing the league to disband. Nebraska State League The Nebraska State League ( NSL ) was an American professional minor league baseball league with five incarnations between 1892 and 1959. The Nebraska State League formed five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959. League teams were based in Iowa , Kansas , Nebraska and South Dakota . The 1892 league
111-413: A 57–40 (.588) record under manager Bill Annis to finish 1.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Clarinda Antelopes. Falls City led the league in season attendance, drawing 14,205. The Falls City Colts also moved some Sunday home games into the state of Kansas to avoid Nebraska Sunday laws. The Maryville Comets /Humboldt Infants were the 1911 Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League champions after moving during
148-569: A game and were arrested on a complaint from Reverend J.A. Koser after playing in a "pick up game" at Driving Park in Beatrice, Nebraska . The 1911 Nebraska City Forresters finished last in the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League for the second consecutive season. The Forresters ended the 1911 season with a record of 40–60, placing sixth and finishing 19.0 games behind the first place Maryville Comets / Humboldt Infants in
185-589: A record of 15–17 and were in second place when the league folded. Namesake Jack Forrester again served as manager, as the Forresters stopped play while 9.0 games behind the first place Auburn Athletics. Jack Forrester was immediately hired to be an umpire in the Nebraska State League after the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League folded. Nebraska City has not hosted another minor league franchise. The Nebraska City Foresters hosted home minor league games at
222-427: A record of 61–38, finishing 1.5 games ahead of the second place Falls City Colts. Ducky Holmes managed the Forresters to the championship. During the season, Falls City was in first place for most of June and July. Nebraska City was in third place at the end of July before starting a winning streak that led them to first place and the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League championship. Forrester Milt Drumm tied for
259-562: A six–team league in 1911, with the Shenandoah Pin Rollers (49–51), Clarinda Antelopes (43–57) and Nebraska City Foresters (40–60) rounding out the 1911 standings. In the last full season of league play, the 1912 Nebraska City Forresters were the Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League champions. Nebraska City finished with a 61–38 (.616) record to lead the 1912 standings, playing under manager Ducky Holmes in
296-522: The Auburn Athletics , Clarinda Antelopes , Falls City Colts , Maryville Comets and Shenandoah Pin Rollers teams as charter members in the new league. On Opening day their first season in 1910, with the business district closing for the game, the Forresters drew over 1,000 fans the opening day game against Clarinda. The mayor of Nebraska City threw out the first pitch and the ball was auctioned off for
333-415: The "MINK" League, was a Class D level minor league baseball league that played from 1910 to 1913. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League consisted of teams based in the four states, but not always at the same time. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League permanently folded midway through the 1913 season. Today, the M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League , a collegiate summer baseball league has adopted
370-567: The 15th Street Ballpark in Nebraska City. Bleachers were added to the ballpark before the Foresters began play in 1910 and a nearby business installed showers for the players. Nebraska City also played some Sunday games at the Driving Park in Beatrice, Nebraska due to local Sunday Laws and as a compromise with the local ministerial alliance. Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League , known informally as
407-571: The 1913 Nebraska City Forresters folded, along with the rest of the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League during the season. In 1913, Nebraska City began playing their Sunday games at the Driving Park in Beatrice Nebraska as a compromise with the local ministerial alliance. The Falls City Colts and Humboldt Infants franchises both disbanded on June 17, 1913, causing the four–team MINK league to collapse. The Nebraska City Forresters ended their final Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League season with
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#1732904903766444-524: The 1938 season. The Nebraska State League formed for the final time in 1956. The league teams were all major league affiliates, as the Class D level eight–team league resumed play. The league members all took the monikers of their affiliate, as the Grand Island A's , Hastings Giants , Holdrege White Sox , Kearney Yankees , Lexington Red Sox , McCook Braves , North Platte Indians and Superior Senators were
481-452: The 1956 franchises. Originally 12 cities had showed interest in hosting a team in the 1956 Nebraska State League. Thie interest occurred after the eight major league teams had agreed to affiliate with the league. The Nebraska cities of Ogallala, Alma, Broken Bow and Norton, Kansas , were not granted franchises. The 1956 league schedule was designed to start on July 1 and end on Labor Day . The league structure began when representatives of
518-473: The 2nd place Nebraska City Forresters (15–17) when the Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League permanently folded. On June 17, 1913, the 3rd place Falls City Colts (13–19) and 4th place Humboldt Infants (12–20) both folded, causing the entire league to disband. Sunday laws in Nebraska were noted as a factor that impacted the success of the league. Falls City had moved Sunday home games to Kansas in order to avoid
555-480: The M.I.N.K. moniker. In 1910, the Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League began play as a six–team Class D level league. The league would play four seasons. The Auburn Athletics , Falls City Colts , and Nebraska City Forresters franchises all played for the duration of the league. Although the league was named the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League, the four states were never represented in
592-411: The Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League final standings. Daniel Nee, Clyde Pinkerton and T.A. Wilson were the 1911 Forresters managers and 35 players were used during the season. A local business near the ballpark granted the team use of newly installed "shower baths." Nebraska City manager T.A. Wilson also served as the MINK League president in 1911. Playing at age 18, Nebraska city's Les Mann led
629-467: The first 500 tickets per franchise went to the Nebraska State League ($ 5,000 per team). 25% of each season ticket went to the hosting team. Concessions were split evenly between the hosting team and the league. Each team city supplied a lighted home ballpark park and a groundskeeper. The official score keeper for each game was paid $ 2.50. Player and manager salaries and travel costs were handled by
666-469: The gameday gate money was minimal and the franchise was also affected by the city becoming "dry" and became unable to make its financial obligations to visiting teams. Kearney had logistical issuer as visiting teams were reluctant travel to Norfolk, as the train fares for the trip were expensive. Norfolk had agreed to pay extra to visiting clubs to make up the difference in train fares. Grand Island manager Harry Claire and player Crosby were given suspensions for
703-463: The individual Major League parent clubs and each of the league franchises. League franchises committed to selling at least $ 5,000 in tickets and 500 season tickets before the season started. Kearney sold 760 season ticket books, McCook followed with 741. Holdrege sold 690, North Platte 673, Lexington 665, Grand Island 656, Hastings 632 and Superior 559. The league was owned by Major League Baseball. Season tickets were sold for $ 10.00 each. The revenue from
740-827: The league at the same time. Missouri and Iowa were represented in 1910–1911 and Kansas was represented in 1912. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League presidents were T.A. Wilson (1910–1911), Frederick Carey (1911) and Warren Cummings (1912–1913). In the first season for the league, the Falls City Colts won the 1910 MINK League Championship. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League began play with six teams, based in Auburn, Nebraska (Auburn Athletics), Clarinda, Iowa ( Clarinda Antelopes ), Falls City, Nebraska ( Falls City Colts ), Maryville, Missouri ( Maryville Comets ), Nebraska City, Nebraska ( Nebraska City Forresters ) and Shenandoah, Iowa ( Shenandoah Pin Rollers ). Falls City had
777-739: The league held a meeting in Kearney, Nebraska , at the Fort Kearney Hotel in early June. The 1956 schedule was created by Harold George, secretary of the league. George was formerly an executive in the Western League . Mike Hollinger, a former manager of the semi–pro Kearney Irishmen team was named president of the League. Hollinger operated a bowling alley in Kearney. In structuring the 1956 league, revenue and expenses were divided between Major League Baseball,
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#1732904903766814-410: The league in runs scored with 78. Mann had won two and placed in five events in the Nebraska state high school track meet as a junior, before missing the event in his senior year to report to Nebraska City to play baseball. In 1912, after finishing in last place the previous two seasons, Nebraska City won the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League championship. The Forresters ended the 1912 season with
851-514: The league lead in runs scored with 65 and pitcher Conway had a 15–6 record to lead the league in win percentage. After winning the Championship, the town of Nebraska city held a "Beefstake" dinner to honor the Forresters. Three players, Marshall, Pat Conway and Cummings missed the event after being immediately signed by the Sioux City Packers of the Western League . In their final season,
888-702: The leagues' only no–hitter in a 7–0 Falls City victory over the Hiawatha Indians. 1913 was the final season for the MINK League, as the league played only a partial season, permanently folding in June, 1913. The Missouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas League began the 1913 season with four teams after the Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers and Hiawatha Indians franchises did not return to play and were not replaced. The 1913 Auburn Athletics, under manager Jake Kraninger, were in 1st place with 24–8 record, 9.0 games ahead of
925-440: The member franchises as the league resumed play. In 1915, the Nebraska State League ran into financial difficulties as franchises struggled to remain solvent. Both Columbus and Kearney disbanded on June 4, 1915. After Grand Island withdrew June 28 and Norfolk disbanded June 29, the league folded on June 29, 1915. Kearney began the season 2,000 in debt and sold season tickets to eliminate the debt, but with 2,000 season tickets sold,
962-545: The parent major league affiliate, with Yellow Diamond and Continental Motor lines were hired as vendors to provide bus services. Players were allotted $ 2.25 per day for meal money. The league selected the Rawlings baseball as the official ball for the league, with the Major League affiliates providing balls. KGFW radio in Kearney paid $ 500.00 for radio rights to all Kearney games. The last Nebraska State League of 1956–1959
999-459: The rest of the year due to gambling accusations and the team was also fined. The Grand Island franchise folded instead of paying the fines. After folding following the 1915 season, the Nebraska State League reformed and played the 1922 and 1923 seasons with the Beatrice Blues , Fairbury Jeffersons , Grand Island Champions , Hastings Cubs , Lincoln Links and Norfolk Elk Horns as members of
1036-477: The restrictions in Nebraska. Nebraska City played their week day games at their home park and their Sunday games at the Driving Park in Beatrice, Nebraska . This was a compromise with the ministerial alliance which had protested a game on Sunday during the 1910 season. Many fans traveled by train to catch a game, as the Missouri Pacific serviced league towns. Today, the M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League ,
1073-525: The season, team treasurer H.O Rice reported the franchise had a deficit of $ 637.00 for the season. Player salaries were published in the local newspaper along with team receipts. Turk Richter was the highest paid Nebraska City player, earning $ 271.95 for the season Nebraska had Sunday laws in many jurisdictions in the era and the Nebraska City franchise had reached agreement with the local ministerial alliance that games would not be played on Sunday. On Sunday, June 26, 1910 several Nebraska City players played in
1110-467: The season. The Maryville, Missouri franchise, with a 24–21 record, moved to Humboldt, Nebraska on July 10, 1911. Maryville/Humboldt finished with a 59–41 (.590) record under managers Harry Sievers and A.F. Bridges, finishing in 1st place in the standings, finishing 2.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Falls City Colts and 7.0 games ahead of the 3rd place Auburn Athletics. The MINK League did not have playoffs during its existence. The league maintained itself as
1147-403: The six–team Class D level league. The league evolved into the 1924 Tri-State League . In 1928, the Nebraska State League resumed play as an eight–team Class D level league. The Beatrice Blues, Fairbury Jeffersons, Grand Island Champs, Lincoln Links, McCook Generals , Norfolk Elks, North Platte Buffaloes and York Dukes were the 1928 league members. The league would play continually through
Nebraska City Forresters - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-578: The six–team league. Nebraska City finished 1.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Falls City Colts (61–41) and 2.5 games ahead of the 3rd place Auburn A's (59–41) in the final standings. The 1912 Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers (42–59) replaced the Clarinda Antelopes , who folded after the 1911 season. Beatrice–Fairbury then folded after the 1912 season, as did the Hiawatha, Kansas based Hiawatha Athletics . On July 4, 1912, Falls City pitcher Ed Finch threw
1221-436: The winning bid of $ 2.50. The 1910 Nebraska City Forresters finished with a record of 43–55, placing sixth in the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League standings, 14.5 games behind the champion Falls City Colts. The 1910 Foresters were managed by Bonwell.. Playing home games at the 15th Street ballpark, Nebraska City had total season attendance of 13,111 an average of 268 fans per game and season gate receipts of $ 3,922.24. After
1258-664: Was racially integrated . Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler played for Kearney and was elected captain of the team. John W. Patterson , John Reeves , Frank Maupin, A.S. Kennedy, William Myers and F. Long played for Plattsmouth. George Taylor , played for Beatrice. The 1892 Nebraska State League was classified as a Class B level league and folded after the 1892 season. The Nebraska State League reformed in 1910 as an eight–team Class D level league. The Columbus Discoverers , Fremont Pathfinders , Grand Island Collegians , Hastings Brickmakers , Kearney Kapitalists , Red Cloud, Seward Statesmen and Superior Brickmakers were
1295-459: Was a Class B level league, and the league was a Class D level league in all subsequent seasons. The charter 1892 teams were the Beatrice Indians , Fremont, Grand Island Sugar Citys , Hastings, Lincoln Giants /Kearney and Plattsmouth. The league played just one season as a Class B level league before disbanding. In 1889, a touring African-American baseball team called the "Lafayettes"
1332-596: Was formed in Nebraska. In 1890, William Pope formed the Lincoln Giants . Pope had signed the best of the Lafayette players and the team subsequently folded. In 1892, the Lincoln Giants sought to join the Nebraska State League. Those against allowing black players in the league caused the Lincoln Giants to fold, with many of their players picked up by the other Nebraska State League teams. The Nebraska State League in 1892
1369-627: Was stable largely because its clubs were farm teams for the major leagues . Its final season has become well known through the book A False Spring by Pat Jordan , who played in the league for McCook. The Nebraska State League was a Class B level league in the 1892 season and afterwards was exclusively a Class D level league. 1892 Nebraska State League League disbanded in July. 1910 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled 1911 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled 1912 Nebraska State League A Kearney win over Hastings
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