Missouri Valley League

The Missouri Valley league formed in 1901 as an Independent league. The league consisted of teams in Kansas and Missouri: Columbus, Kansas, Fort Scott Memphis Route, Galena, Kansas, Joplin Colts, Monett Railroadmen, Nevada Reds, Oswego, Kansas and Pittsburg Coal Barons. 1901 league records and standings are unknown.[1]

In 1902, The teams in Nevada, Missouri, Fort Scott, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri remained. Sedalia, Missouri; Coffeyville, Kansas; Jefferson City, Missouri; Iola, Kansas and Springfield, Missouri joined as the Missouri Valley League became designated as a Class D level league. On June 23, the Coffeyville Indians, with a 9-30 record, relocated to Chanute, Kansas, where they compiled a 32–51 record.[2]

In the 1903 season, the teams in Chanute and Jefferson City folded. New teams in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Pittsburg, Kansas, formed and joined the league. The Nevada team, with a record of 21–39, relocated to Webb City, Missouri, on July 13, where their record was 0–4. The teams from Leavenworth and Webb City folded mid–season on July 16.[2]

In 1904, new teams in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Topeka, Kansas, formed and joined the league. After the 1904 season, the Missouri Valley League essentially reformed under a different name as five member teams formed under a new league. Joplin, Leavenworth, Sedalia, Springfield, and Topeka all joined the new 1905 Western Association. The Iola franchise folded. The Fort Scott and Pittsburg franchises remained in the 1905 Class C level Missouri Valley League. In 1905, South McAlester moved to Ft. Smith on July 6. Muskogee disbanded on August 31, causing the Missouri Valley League to end on September 5.[2][3]

• Chanute, KS:Chanute Oilers 1902
• Columbus, KS: Columbus 1901
• Coffeyville, KS: Coffeyville Indians 1902
• Fort Scott, KS: Fort Scott Memphis Route (1901); Fort Scott Giants 1902–1905
• Fort Smith, AR: Fort Smith Giants 1905
• Galena, KS: Galena 1901
• Iola, KS: Iola Gasbags 1902; Iola Gaslighters 1903; Iola Gasbags 1904
• Jefferson City, MO: Jefferson City Convicts 1902
• Joplin, MO: Joplin Colts 1901; Joplin Miners 1902–1904
• Leavenworth, KS: Leavenworth White Sox 1903; Leavenworth Orioles 1904
• McAlester, OK: South McAlester Giants 1905
• Monett, MO: Monett Railroadmen 1901
• Muskogee, OK: Muskogee Reds 1905
• Nevada, MO: Nevada Reds 1901; Nevada Lunatics 1902–1903
• Oswego, KS: Oswego 1901
• Parsons, KS: Parsons Preachers 1905
• Pittsburg, KS: Pittsburg Coal Barons 1901; Pittsburg Coal Diggers 1903–1904; Pittsburg Miners 1905
• Sedalia, MO: Sedalia Gold Bugs 1902–1904
• Springfield, MO: Springfield Reds 1902; Springfield Midgets 1903–1904
• Topeka, KS: Topeka Saints 1904
• Tulsa, OK: Tulsa Oilers 1905
• Vinita, OK: Vinita Cherokees 1905
• Webb City, MO: Webb City Goldbugs 1903, 1905

• Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. Minor League Baseball Standings: All North American Leagues, Through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0781-6