Neosho Yankees

Neosho, Missouri first had a minor league baseball in 1937. The Neosho Night Hawks became a member of the five–team Arkansas–Missouri League in 1937, playing at High School Stadium.[1] The Night Hawks finished the 1937 Arkansas–Missouri League in fourth place with a 52–71 record, 25.0 games behind the first place Rogers Lions. Playing under Manager Dennis Burns, Neosho lost to Rogers 3 games to 1 in the Playoffs.[2][3][4][5]

In 1938, Neosho became an affiliate of the New York Yankees and captured Arkansas–Missouri League Pennant.[6] The newly named Neosho Yankees finished the regular season with a record of 73–42 under returning manager Dennis Burns. Neosho finished 5.5 games ahead of the second place Carthage Pirates, who had just joined the six–team league. In the 1938 Playoffs, Neosho swept the Rogers Reds in three games to advance to the Finals. In the Arkansas–Missouri League Finals, the Carthage Pirates defeated Neosho 4 games to 1.[7][8][9][10][4][5]

The Arkansas–Missouri League played with four teams in 1939. In the regular season, the Neosho Yankees ended with a record of 65–61, finishing in third place. Playing again under manager Dennis Burns, Neosho finished 16.5 games behind the 1st place Fayetteville Angels. Nesho did not qualify for the 1939 playoffs.[5][11][12][4][13] Ralph Houk played for Neosho in 1939, his first professional season. With a salary of $70.00 a month, Houk played well enough (.286) that Neosho hosted a "Ralph Houk Day" at the ballpark.[14]

In 1940, the four–team Arkansas–Missouri League permanently folded during the season, as Neosho played it final minor league season.[15] The league folding became unavoidable after the Fayetteville Angels franchise folded due to poor attendance. On July 1, 1940, the league folded after hosting an All-Star game. At the time the league folded, the Neosho Yankees were in second place with a 27–29 record under manager Ed Grayston and were 10.5 games behind the first place Carthage Pirates.[5][16][17][9][4][18]

The Arkansas–Missouri League did not return to play in 1941.[5] Neosho, Missouri has not hosted another minor league team.[19]

Neosho teams were noted to have played minor league home games at High School Stadium. High School Stadium had a capacity of 1,000 in 1939, with dimensions of (Left, Center, Right) 310–340–310. The ballpark location was noted as near South Neosho Boulevard & Stadium Drive. Today, the Neosho High School stadium is named Bob Anderson Stadium. The location is 511 South Neosho Boulevard, Neosho, Missouri.[20][21][22]

(2020) Neosho High School. Neosho, Missouri

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• Neosho - Baseball Reference