Streator Boosters

The Streator Boosters were a minor league baseball team based in Streator, Illinois. Beginning play as the Streator "Speedboys" in 1912, Streator teams played as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League from 1912 to 1914 and the Bi-State League in 1915, winning the 1915 league championship. Streator hosted minor league home games at Streator City Park.

Streator Boosters
Minor league affiliations
Class
League
Major league affiliations
Team
None
Minor league titles
League titles (1)
  • 1915
Team data
Name
  • Streator Speedboys (1912)
  • Streator Boosters (1913–1915)
BallparkStreator City Park (1912–1915)

History

The Streator Speedboys began minor league baseball play, joining the 1912 Class D level Illinois-Missouri League.[1] In their first season of play, Streator finished the regular season with a 46–65 record, placing last in the six–team Illinois–Missouri League standings and finishing the season 21.0 games behind the first place Lincoln Abes. The Speedboys played the season under Manager Jake Leuter.[2] Streator finished behind the Lincoln Abes 70–47, Pekin Celestials 61–55, Canton Highlanders 57–56, Clinton Champs/Kankakee Kanks 56–56 and the Champaign-Urbana Velvets 53–64 in the standings.[3][4] Streator played their home games at Streator City Park.[5]

In their second season, the renamed Streator Boosters continued play in the 1913 Illinois–Missouri League.[6] Streator placed fourth in the league with a record of 30–57, as two league teams folded during the season. Bob Coyle and Bob Kahl were the 1913 Streator managers.[4][7] Streator ended the season 29.0 games behind the first place Lincoln Abes after both Pekin and Canton folded on July 19, 1913. Streator's Roy Phillips led the league with 13 home runs and teammate E.H. Kennedy had led league hitters with 92 total hits.[4]

The 1914 Streator Boosters ended the Illinois–Missouri League regular season with a record of 40–48. Streator placed third in the Illinois–Missouri League standings, playing under managers John Ray and Henry Seebach.[8] The Illinois–Missouri League saw the Lincoln Abes and Kankakee Kanks fold on July 3, 1914, ending the season with four teams as Streator finished 21.0 games behind the first place Champaign-Urbana Velvets.[9] The Illinois–Missouri League permanently folded after the 1914 season.[4]

After the demise of the Illinois–Missouri League, the 1915 Streator Boosters became charter members of the short–lived Class D level Bi-State League and won a championship in a shortened season.[10] The Aurora Foxes, Elgin Watch Makers, Freeport Pretzels, Ottawa Indians and Racine Belles joined Streator in the six-team league.[11] On July 7, 1915, Streator was in first place with a 30–18 record when the Bi–State League permanently folded.[12] Jack Herbert was the manager as Streator finished 1.5 games ahead of second place Racine. Booster player Eddie Wise led the league with 5 home runs.[4]

The Bi-State League did not return to play in 1915.[4] Streator has not hosted another minor league team following the 1915 Streator Boosters.[13][4]

The ballpark

Streator minor league teams played home games at Streator City Park. The Streator City Park is still in use today as a public park, located in the 200 block of North Park Street in Streator, Illinois.[5][14]

(2008) Streator City Park. Streator, Illinois.

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
19121Streator SpeedboysClass DNorthern AssociationStreator City Park
1913–19142Streator Boosters
19151Bi-State League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
191246–656thJack LeuteNo playoffs held
191330–574thBob Coyle / Nick KahlNo playoffs held
191440–483rdJohn Ray / Heine SeebachNo playoffs held
191530–181stJack HerbertLeague folded July 7
League champions

Notable alumni

See also

Streator Boosters players
Streator Speedboys players

References
  1. "1912 Streator Speedboys Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1912 Streator Speedboys Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1912 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  5. "City Park in Streator, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1913 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1914 Streator Boosters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1914 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1915 Streator Boosters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1915 Bi-State League (BSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "Streator, Illinois Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Welcome to Streator Tourism". www.streator.org.
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