Monett Red Birds

The Monett Red Birds was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Monett, Missouri in 1901 and from 1936 to 1939. The Monett Railroadmen played as members of the Independent Missouri Valley League in 1901 and the Red Birds played in the Class D level Arkansas–Missouri League from 1936 to 1939. Their home ballpark was J.C.C. Park.

Monett Red Birds
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (1901)
Class D (1936–1939)
LeagueMissouri Valley League (1901)
Arkansas–Missouri League (1936–1939)
Major league affiliations
TeamSt. Louis Cardinals (1936–1939)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameMonett Railroadmen (1901)
Monett Red Birds (1936–1939)
BallparkJ.C.C. Park (1936–1939)

The Monett Red Birds were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1936 to 1939.

History

Minor League baseball began in Monett in 1901, when the Monett Railroadmen played as members of the Independent level Missouri Valley League. League rosters, records and standings from the 1901 season are not referenced.[1]

In 1936, minor league baseball returned when the Monett Red Birds became charter members of the six–team Arkansas–Missouri League, a Class D level league that evolved from the 1935 Arkansas State League. The Arkansas State League became the Arkansas-Missouri League after the Huntsville Red Birds relocated to Missouri to become the Monett Red Birds.[2][3]

In 1936, playing in the Arkansas–Missouri League, as an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Monett Red Birds finished the season with a record of 56–63. Monett placed 4th in the Arkansas–Missouri League standings. The Bentonville Mustangs (69–49), Cassville Blues (61-59), Fayetteville Bears (53–67), Rogers Lions (44–75) and Siloam Springs Travelers (74–44) joined Monnett in the league standings. Monett finished 18.5 games behind the champion Siloam Springs Travelers, playing under managers Buzz Arlitt and Ken Blackman.[4][5][6]

On May 1, 1936, the Monett Red Birds hosted an exhibition game against the famed Negro leagues team, the Kansas City Monarchs. Baseball Hall of Fame member Willard Brown of the Monarchs hit a home run in the game, as the Monarchs won the contest 7–1.[7]

Continuing play in 1937, Monett placed 5th in the Arkansas–Missouri League. With a record of 45–76, the Red Birds finished 36.0 games behind the 1st place Rogers Lions in the final standings of the six–team league. The Monett managers were Ken Blackman and Joseph Davis.[8][9][10]

For the 1938 season, Monett adopted the one word moniker Monett Redbirds. Resuming play in the Arkansas–Missouri League, Monett ended the season with a record of 44–74, playing under managers Heinie Mueller and Frank Sigafoos. The Redbirds placed 5th in the six–team league, finishing 30.5 games behind the 1st place Neosho Yankees.[11][12][13]

Monett played their final season in 1939 and finished last as the Arkansas–Missouri League reduced to four teams. The Monett Red Birds ended their final season with a record of 35–89 to place 4th in the four–team league, finishing 45.5 games behind the champion Fayetteville Angels under manager Fred Hawn. The Monett franchise folded after the 1939 season, replaced by the Siloam Springs Cardinals in the 1940 Arkansas–Missouri League, which permanently folded after the 1940 season.[14][15][16]

Monett, Missouri has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The Monett Red Birds reportedly played minor league home games at J.C.C. Park. The "Junior Chamber of Commerce Park" had a reported capacity of 1,000 in 1936 and dimensions of (Left, Center, Right): 320–365–330 in 1939. J.C.C Park was located at South Lincoln Avenue (State Road 37), off U.S. 60, Monett, Missouri. [17][18]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliate
19051Monnet RailroadersIndependentMissouri Valley LeagueNone
1936–19394Monett Red BirdsClass DArkansas–Missouri LeagueSt. Louis Cardinals

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
190100–00NANA1901 league records unknown
193656–634thAdolph Arlitt / Ken BlackmanDid not qualify
193745–766thKen Blackman / Joe DavisDid not qualify
193844–745thHeine MuellerDid not qualify
193935–894thFred HawnDid not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

Monett Red Birds players

References
  1. "1901 Monett Railroadmen Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. Reichard, Kevin (November 4, 2008). "Arkansas State League / Arkansas-Missouri League".
  3. "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  4. "1936 Monett Red Birds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "1936 Monett Red Birds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1936 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "Speaker recalls KC Monarchs visits". Monett Times. January 24, 2015.
  8. "1937 Monett Red Birds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1937 Monett Red Birds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1937 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1938 Monett Red Birds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1938 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1938 Monett Redbirds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "1939 Monett Red Birds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "1939 Monett Red Birds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "1939 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "J.C.C. Park in Monett, MO history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. "St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Stadium History - Major & Minor League Baseball Parks for the St. Louis Cardinals and their Minor League teams and franchises". digitalballparks.com.
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