Hannibal, Missouri minor league baseball history

Minor league baseball teams were based in Hannibal, Missouri in various seasons between 1908 and 1955. Hannibal teams played as members of the Illinois–Missouri League in 1908, Central Association from 1909 to 1912, Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League from 1916 to 1917, Central Association from 1948 to 1949 and the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League from 1952 to 1955. The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League evolved to become the Midwest League.

Hannibal, Missouri
minor league baseball teams
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
TeamSt. Louis Browns (1947–1948)
St. Louis Cardinals (1953–1954)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1908
Wild card berths (4)
  • 1947
  • 1948
  • 1952
  • 1953
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)

Hannibal was a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns in 1947 and 1948 and St. Louis Cardinals from 1953 to 1954.

Baseball Hall of Fame member and Hannibal native Jake Beckley was player/manager of 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]

The Hannibal Mules played as members of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League in 1916 and 1917.[1][2]

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.[1][2]

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.[2][3][1][4]

Between 2014 and 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.[5]

(2016) Clemens Field Hannibal, Missouri

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 Barrett Drive, Hannibal, Missouri.[6][7]

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.[8][9]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateBallpark
19081Hannibal CannibalsClass DIllinois–Missouri LeagueNoneLeague Park
19091
1910–19123Central AssociationMainland's Park
1916–19172Hannibal MulesClass BIllinois–Indiana–Iowa League
1947–19482Hannibal PilotsClass CCentral AssociationSt. Louis BrownsClemens Field
19521Hannibal StagsClass DMississippi–Ohio Valley LeagueNone
1953–19542Hannibal CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
19551Hannibal CitizensNone

[2]

Year-by-year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
190868–491stBert HoughLeague champions
190983–522ndBert Hough / Ben ProutNo playoffs held
191077–603rdBill Prout / Bill ForneyNo playoffs held
191145–818thJake BeckleyNo playoffs held
191267–615thEddie Herr /Ed PainterNo playoffs held
191679–572ndTed WaringNo playoffs held
191739–273rdJohn CastleLeague season shortened to July 8
194769–562ndTed WaringLost in league Finals
194867–623rdWalter DeFreitasLost in 1st round
195270–574thWalter DeFreitasLost in league Finals
195355–624thTince LeonardLost in 1st round
195458–687thJ.C. DunnDid not qualify
195542–848thJames Granneman / Allan ShinnDid not qualify

[2]

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. "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  2. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  3. "Baseball in Hannibal, Missouri". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  5. Prospect League Standings Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. Prospect League Stadiums Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  7. "Baseball in Hannibal". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  8. "Mainland's Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  9. "League Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
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