Madison Greys

The Madison Greys were a minor league baseball team based in Madison, South Dakota. In 1920 and 1921, the Greys played as members of the 1920 Class D level South Dakota League in 1920 and its successor, the 1921 Dakota League, while hosting home games at Baughman Park.

Madison Greys
Minor league affiliations
Class
League
Major league affiliations
Team
None
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
Name
  • Madison Greys (1920–1921)
BallparkBaughman Park (1920–1921)

History

In 1920, Madison, South Dakota first hosted minor league baseball when the "Madison Greys" began play as charter members of the Class D level South Dakota League.[1] In the eight–team league, the charter franchises joining Madison were the Aberdeen Boosters, Huron Packers, Miller Climbers, Mitchell Kernels, Redfield Reds, Sioux Falls Soos and Wessington Springs Saints.[2][3][4][5]

In their first season of play, the Madison Greys finished in sixth place in the South Dakota League as the league folded during the season.[6] Madison ended the 1920 season with a record of 42–50, playing under managers Ralph Works and Dave Altizer. The South Dakota league disbanded on July 17, 1920. The Saints finished 16.5 games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels in the final standings.[1][7][8]

In 1921, Madison continued play as the league changed names to the Dakota League, reforming after adding the Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins, based in North Dakota and Minnesota. Madison finished in fifth place in the standings. The Dakota league remained an eight–team Class D level league, with 13–player rosters. Joining the Madison Greys as 1921 league members were the Aberdeen Grays, Huron Packers, Mitchell Kernels, Redfield Red Sox, Sioux Falls Soos, Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins and Watertown Cubs. The Mitchell Kernels won their second consecutive league championship, with Madison finishing 18.5 games behind. The Greys finished with a 45–50 record under returning manager Dave Altizer.[9][10][11][1][12]

The Madison franchise did not return to play in the 1922 Dakota League.[13] Madison has not hosted another minor league team.[14]

The ballpark

The Madison Greys teams hosted their 1920 and 1921 minor league home games at Baughman Park.[15] Today, Baughman Park is still in use as a public park, located at 1010 Northeast 1st Street in Madison, South Dakota.[16]

(1930) Egan Avenue. Madison, South Dakota.

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
19201Madison GreysClass DSouth Dakota LeagueBaughman Park
19211Dakota League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
192042–506thRalph Works / Dave AltizerLeague disbanded July 17
192145–505thDave AltizerNo playoffs held

Notable alumni

See also

Madison Greys players

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. "South Dakota League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Reichard, Kevin (November 5, 2008). "South Dakota League / Dakota League".
  4. Lee.zion@capjournal.com, Lee Zion. "Dakota Life: America's pastime goes way back, way back in South Dakota". Capital Journal.
  5. Lalire, Gregory (March 31, 2011). "Baseball in the West". HistoryNet.
  6. "1920 Madison Grays minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1920 South Dakota League (SDL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1920 Madison Greys Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1921 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "North Dakota Baseball History". North Dakota Baseball History.
  11. "1921 Dakota League (DL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1921 Madison Greys Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "1922 Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Madison, South Dakota Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "Baughman Park in Madison, SD minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. Madison, City of. "City Parks | City of Madison, SD". City of Madison.
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