Watertown Cubs

The Watertown Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, South Dakota. The unaffiliated Cubs played as members of the Class D level Dakota League in 1921 and 1922 and South Dakota League in 1923. Watertown hosted minor league home games at Riverside Park.

Watertown Cubs
Minor league affiliations
Class
League
Major league affiliations
Team
  • None
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
Name
  • Watertown Cubs (1921–1923)
BallparkRiverside Park (1921–1923)

History

Minor league baseball began in Watertown, South Dakota when the 1921 Watertown "Cubs" became members of the eight–team Class D level Dakota League. In their first season of play, the Cubs finished the 1921 season with a 44–53 record, placing sixth, playing the season under manager Mattie McGrath. Watertown finished 20.5 games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels. The team played home games at Riverside Park.[1][2][3][4][5]

In 1922, the Watertown Cubs played in the final season of the Dakota League, which continued as an eight–team, Class D level league. Watertown finished in sixth place with a 42–54 regular season record. Playing under manager John Mokate, the Cubs finished 17.5 games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels.[1][6][7][8]

To minimize travel, the Dakota League was divided into two Class D level leagues in 1923. The two new leagues, each with four teams, were the South Dakota League and the North Dakota League in 1923. The Watertown Cubs played in the 1923 South Dakota League and finished last as the league folded during the season. When the South Dakota League folded on July 17, 1923, the Cubs ended the season with a record of 15–41 record under manager Wib Smith, placing fourth, finishing 19.5.0 games behind the first place Sioux Falls Soos.[1][9][10][11][12]

The Watertown Cubs were followed in organized baseball by the Watertown "Lake Sox," a Basin League collegiate summer team, that played from 1954 to 1962. The Watertown Expos resumed minor league play in 1971 as an affiliate of the Montreal Expos, playing in the Northern League.[13][14]

The ballpark

The Watertown Cubs played home minor league games at Riverside Park. Today, Riverside Park is still in use as a public park.[15][16][17]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1921–19222Watertown CubsClass DDakota LeagueRiverisde Park
19231South Dakota League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
192144–536thMattie McGrathNo playoffs held
192242–546thJohn MokateNo playoffs held
192315–414thWib SmithLeague disbanded July 17

Notable alumni

See also

Watertown Cubs players

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. "1921 Watertown Cubs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1921 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1921 Watertown Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "1921 Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1922 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1922 Watertown Cubs Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1922 Watertown Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1923 Watertown Cubs Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1923 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1923 Watertown Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1923 South Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Basin League". www.attheplate.com.
  14. "1970 Watertown Expos Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "Riverside Park in Watertown, SD history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "Watertown Stadium - Watertown South Dakota - Former Home of the Watertown Expos". www.digitalballparks.com.
  17. "Riverside Park | Watertown, SD - Official Website". www.watertownsd.us.
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