Central Association
FormerlyIowa State League
ClassificationClass C (1908–1917)
Class D (1947–1949)
SportMinor League Baseball
Inaugural season1908
Ceased1949
PresidentM. E. Justice (1908–1916)
John F. Ford (1917)
Frank Hern (1947–1948)
Lee A. Thomas (1949)
No. of teams30
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles3
Ottumwa Speedboys (1911–1913)
Related
competitions
Illinois–Missouri League
Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League

The Central Association was an American minor league baseball league. It began operations in 1908, as it was essentially renamed from the 1907 Iowa State League. The Central Association ran continuously through 1917. It was reorganized thirty years later, operating as a Class-C league from 1947-1949, with major league affiliates for most teams. Baseball Hall of Fame members Grover Cleveland Alexander (Galesburg), Jake Beckley (Hannibal), Burleigh Grimes (Ottumwa) and Sam Rice (Galesburg and Muscatine) are league alumni.

1908–1917 league

In 1908, The Central Association formed with charter members: Burlington Pathfinders (Burlington, Iowa), Jacksonville Lunatics (Jacksonville, Illinois), Keokuk Indians (Keokuk, Iowa), Oskaloosa Quakers (Oskaloosa, Iowa), Ottumwa Packers (Ottumwa, Iowa), Quincy Gems (Quincy, Illinois) and the Waterloo Lulus (Waterloo, Iowa) all had been members of the 1907 Iowa State League. A new team in Kewanee, Illinois, the Kewanee Boilermakers, joined as well.

In 1909, the Oskaloosa Quakers franchise folded and the Hannibal Cannibals (Hannibal, Missouri) moved from the Illinois–Missouri League. In 1910, Jacksonville moved to the Northern Association and Waterloo moved to the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. The Galesburg Pavers (Galesburg, Illinois) and Monmouth Browns (Monmouth, Illinois) joined after having left the Illinois–Missouri League. For the 1911 season, Quincy moved to the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League and the Muscatine Camels (Muscatine, Iowa) formed and joined the league.

For 1913, Galesburg and Hannibal folded, with the Cedar Rapids Rabbits (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), and Waterloo Jays (Waterloo, Iowa) forming to join the league. In 1914, Kewanee and Monmouth folded while the Clinton Pilots (Clinton, Iowa) and Marshalltown Ansons (Marshalltown, Iowa) formed and joined the league. Ottumwa moved to Rock Island, Illinois, as the Rock Island Islanders and then again to Galesburg, as the Galesburg Pavers.

In 1915, Galesburg folded and the Mason City Claydiggers (Mason City, Iowa) formed and joined the league. The Clinton team folded during the season. The league also threw out several wins by Keokuk (1), Marshalltown (5), Waterloo (1), and Clinton (40) after the fact.

Keokuk folded in 1916, while the Clinton Pilots rejoined and the Fort Dodge Dodgers (Fort Dodge, Iowa) formed and joined the league. Burlington moved to become the Ottumwa Packers on July 20, and Muscatine also forfeited 34 wins in 1916.

In the final season, 1917, Muscatine and Ottumwa folded. The Dubuque Dubs in Dubuque, Iowa and the La Crosse Infants (La Crosse, Wisconsin) formed and joined the league. Dubuque moved to Charles City, Iowa on July 4 to become the Charles City Tractorites. Cedar Rapids moved to Clear Lake, Iowa on July 27, finishing the season as the Clear Lake Rabbits. Clinton and La Crosse both folded before the end of the season on July 17. After the season, the league, and all teams in it, folded.

1947–1949 league

In 1947, a new league of the same name was created with major league affiliations. The Clinton Cubs (Chicago Cubs) in Clinton, Iowa; Hannibal Pilots (St. Louis Browns), Hannibal, Missouri; Rockford Rox (Cincinnati Reds), Rockford, Illinois; Keokuk Pirates (Pittsburgh Pirates), Keokuk, Iowa; Burlington Indians (Cleveland Indians), Burlington, Iowa, and the Moline A's, (Philadelphia A's) Moline, Illinois were the charter members of the reformed league.

In 1948, the Moline A's moved to Kewanee, Illinois to become the Kewanee A's in mid-season. In 1949, the Hannibal Pilots folded and the Cedar Rapids Rockets of Cedar Rapids, Iowa formed to join the league. Kewanee captured the 1949 championship. After the 1949 season, Cedar Rapids joined the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, and the rest of the teams, and the league itself, folded.

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1908 to 1917

1908 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Waterloo Lulus8837.704Frank Boyle
Burlington Pathfinders8341.6694.5Ned Egan
Quincy Gems7355.57016.5Harry Hofer
Keokuk Indians5768.45631.0Frank Belt
Jacksonville Lunatics5669.44832.0Harry Berte
Oskaloosa Quakers5175.39837.5Snapper Kennedy / Taylor Kensel
Kewanee Boilermakers4879.37841.0Harry Busse /
Andy Steveson / William Connors
Ottumwa Packers4880.37541.5Billy Earle / Chuck Fleming
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
John HouseBurlingtonBA.306Harry GasparWaterlooW32
Charles RoseBurlingtonHits146Harry GasparWaterlooSO2.17
Al LinderbeckQuincyRuns75Harry GasparWaterlooPct.889; 32–4
Al LinderbeckQuincyHR10

1909 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Burlington Pathfinders8351.62036,884Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals8353.6101.030,130Bert Hough / Ben Prout
Keokuk Indians8057.5844.542,029Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers7361.54410.031,228William Connors
Waterloo Lulus6469.48118.533,756Frank Boyle
Quincy Vets6273.45921.545,527Louis Cook /
Harry Hofer / Fred Bennett
Jacksonville Braves4684.35435.026,908Harry Berte
Ottumwa Packers4891.34537.535,576Hugh Shannon / Arthur Owens
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Fred FenneyOttum/BurlBA.300Collis SpencerBurlingtonW27
George ManushBurlingtonHits149Joe VyskocilHannibalSO209
George ManushBurlingtonRuns91Burleigh GrimesOttum/KewPct.742; 23–8
Al LinderbeckQuincyHR10
H.W. GrayJacksonvilleHR10

1910 Central Association
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Quincy Vets8850.63837,213Bade Myers
Ottumwa Packers8057.5847.537,000Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals7760.56210.528,547Bill Prout / Bill Forney
Galesburg Pavers6967.50718.035,031Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians6770.49320.528,160Frank Belt
Monmouth Browns6272.45924.025,000Lew Drill
Burlington Pathfinders5681.40931.525,043Phil Geier
Kewanee Boilermakers4991.35040.026,307William Connors / Ted Price
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Dan KerwinHannibalBA.331Charles FanningGalesburgW30
Thomas OwensQuincyHits148Charles FanningGalesburgSO320
Don SennoOttumwaRuns84Charles FanningGalesburgPct.714; 30–12
Thomas OwensQuincyHR9Bill DonahueQuincyHR9

1911 Central Association
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Ottumwa Speedboys8741.680Ned Egan
Burlington Pathfinders8144.6484.5Richard Rohn
Galesburg Pavers6663.51221.5Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians6464.50023.0Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers5967.46827.0Jay Andrews
Monmouth Browns5969.46128.0Claude Starke
Muscatine Camels4880.37539.0Harry C. Blake /
Lou Walters / Pearl Holycross
Hannibal Cannibals4581.35741.0Jake Beckley
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pearl HolycrossMuscatineBA.361Ray BoydOttumwaW30
Taylor KenselOttumwaHits163Ray BoydOttumwaPct.811; 30–7
George WatsonBurlingtonRuns108A.J. AhringMuscatineSB79
Don SennoOttumwaHR14

1912 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Ottumwa Speedboys7950.61223,000Ned Egan
Kewanee Boilermakers7451.5923.019,000George Pennington / Art Queisser
Burlington Pathfinders7353.5794.525,000Richard Rohn
Monmouth Browns7155.5636.518,000Bert Hough /
Jack Corbett / R.L. Noven
Hannibal Cannibals6761.52311.5NAEddie Herr / Ed Painter
Galesburg Pavers6167.47717.518,000Ducky Eberts
Keokuk Indians4976.39228.017,000Art Queisser / Bill Proutt
Muscatine Wallopers3394.26045.022,000Ed Coleman / Bill Kreig /
Joe Wall / Bill Clayton
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
George ManushOttumwaBA.375Bert DunnOttumwaW26
Harry ShanleyMuscatineHits176Joe SloanKeokukSO197
Harry EllisBurlingtonRuns100Tom DrohanKewaneePct.800; 24–6
John SullivanOttumwaHR21

1913 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Ottumwa Packers7254.571Ned Egan
Muscatine Wallopers6854.5572.0Frank Boyle
Monmouth Browns6462.5088.0Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians6263.4969.5George Manush
Burlington Pathfinders6366.48810.5Richard Rohn
Cedar Rapids Rabbits5965.47612.0Belden Hill
Kewanee Boilermakers5965.47612.0George Pennington / Frank Richardson
Waterloo Jays5371.42718.0Jay Andrews
Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Dave MilliganCedar RapidsBA.320George ZackertMuscatineW22
Harry EllisBurlingtonHits156George ZackertMuscatineSO230
Harry EllisBurlingtonRuns100George ZackertMuscatinePct.759; 22–7
Elmer JacobsBurlingtonSO230

1914 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Waterloo Jays7851.605Jay Andrews
Burlington Pathfinders7553.5862.5Tom Hayden / George Manush
Muscatine Buttonmakers7253.5764.0Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots6761.52310.5Bert Hough
Cedar Rapids Bunnies6460.51611.5Belden Hill
Keokuk Indians5276.40625.5Spencer Abbott / Harry Sweet
Marshalltown Ansons5276.40625.5Frank Richardson
Ottumwa Packers /
Rock Island Islanders /
Galesburg Pavers
4979.37328.5Ned Egan

Ottumwa moved to Rock Island July 17. However, the National Association would not let the Central Association invade the territory of the Three-I League, so Rock Island moved to Galesburg July 24.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Paddy SiglinWaterlooBA.322Fred MillerBurlingtonW23
John SingletonBurlingtonHits158George ZackertMuscatineSO305
Walt MeinertBurlingtonRuns94W. HalperCedar RapidsPct.722; 13–5

1915 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Burlington Pathfinders8138.681Richard Rohn
Muscatine Muskies6357.52518.5Ned Egan / Jess Runser
Keokuk Indians5152.49522.0Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers5863.47924.0Harry Bay
Cedar Rapids Rabbits5462.46625.5James Hamilton / Jack Herbert
Marshalltown Ansons4667.40732.0Frank Richardson / Bob Lynch
Waterloo Jays5274.41332.5Jay Andrews / Eddie Brennan
Clinton Pilots1369.159NAGeorge Manush

Clinton disbanded in mid-season.
Wins taken away: Clinton 40, Keokuk 18, Marshalltown 5, Waterloo 1.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bill CollinsCedar RapidsBA.337Grover BaichleyBurlingtonW23
Walt MeinertBurlingtonHits137Dick BlunkBurlingtonW23
Walt MeinertBurlingtonRuns97Grover BaichleyBurlingtonPct.697; 23-–0
Harmon HagmonBurlingtonHits137Grover BaichleyBurlingtonSO310
Cliff LeeMuscatineHR9
Lyle SoursMuscatineHR9

1916 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Marshalltown Ansons7750.606Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots7351.5892.5Jim Drohan / Larry Brown
Cedar Rapids Rabbits6264.49214.5Jack Herbert / Billy Collins
Burlington Pathfinders /
Ottumwa Packers
6264.49214.5Richard Rohn / George Boelzle
Waterloo Shamrocks5867.46418.0Eddie Brennan
Mason City Claydiggers5076.39726.5Harry Bay
Fort Dodge Dodgers4186.32336.0Paul Turgeon / Babe Towne
Muscatine Muskies4544.506NANed Egan

Burlington moved to Ottumwa July 20.
Muscatine forfeited 34 wins.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Babe EllisonMuscatineBA.361Dick BlunkOttumwaW24
Babe EllisonMuscatineHits178H. W. FlanaganMuscatineSO266
Charles ReinhartMuscatineRuns104Ken PennerMarshalltownERA1.41
Albert DurhamMusca/MarshHR18

1917 Central Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Marshalltown Ansons6434.653Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers5438.5877.0Dan O'Leary
Waterloo Loons5042.54311.0Ned Egan
Cedar Rapids Rabbits /
Clear Lake Rabbits
3952.42921.5W. Collins /
Jay Andrews / Harry Shanley
Dubuque Dubs /
Charles City Tractorites
4054.42622.0George Hughes
Fort Dodge Dodgers3757.39425.0Charley Stis
Clinton Pilots4033.548NALarry Brown
La Crosse Infants2943.403NAMike Malloy / Jay Andrews

Dubuque moved to Charles City July 4; Clinton & La Crosse disbanded July 17; Cedar Rapids moved to Clear Lake July 27.
The season was shortened to August 7 with National Association permission.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bing MillerClintonBA.337Red TorkelsonMarshalltownW20
Bing MillerClintonHits106Frank UlchLa Cros/CedarERA1.25
Joe WilkesClin/CharlRuns69
John MokanFt. DodgeHR9

[1]

1947 to 1949

1947 Central Association
schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Clinton Cubs7351.58959,553Robert Peterson
Hannibal Pilots6956.5524.540,490Herb Nordquist
Rockford Rox6857.5445.567,938Cyril Pfeifer
Keokuk Pirates6164.48812.544,332Frank Oceak
Burlington Indians5272.41921.037,138Paul O'Dea
Moline A's5174.40822.527,479Elwood Wheaton

Playoffs: Clinton 3 games, Rockford 2; Hannibal 3 games, Keokuk 1.
Finals: Clinton 4 games, Hannibal 1.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Edward WiltseeClintonBA.387Charles FunkHannibalW19
Roy SieversHannibalHits159Charles FunkHannibalSO145
Roy SieversHannibalRuns121Stan WnetrzakClintonERA1.72
Roy SieversHannibalRBI141Roy SieversHannibalHR34

1948 Central Association
schedule

Team StandingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Clinton Cubs7947.62753,133Nelson Burbrink / Lee Eilbracht
Burlington Indians6862.52313.070,359Paul O'Dea /
Ski Melillo / Bruno Haas
Hannibal Pilots6762.51913.541,124Walter DeFreitas
Keokuk Pirates6167.47719.054,694Phil Seghi
Rockford Rox5672.43824.043,133Cyril Pfeifer / Paul O'Dea
Moline A's /
Kewanee A's
5374.41726.538,088Joe Glenn

Moline (17–25) moved to Kewanee June 18.
Playoffs: Clinton 4 games, Burlington 2; Keokuk 4 games, Hannibal 1.
Finals: Clinton 4 games, Keokuk 0.

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Gus BellKeokukBA.319Ronald McLelandHannibalW18
Billy KlausClintonlHits167Calvin HoweClintonW18
Elzer MarxClintonRuns108Wesley CarrClintonSO163
Dwight MaxhimerClintonRBI105Merrill MerkleHannibalSO163
John TannerKeokukHR23Ronald McLelandHannibalERA2.39

1949 Central Association
schedule

Team StandingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Burlington Indians8148.62857,915Lloyd Brown
Keokuk Pirates7454.5786.538,931Charlie Hargreaves
Kewanee A's6860.53112.529,482Harold Hoffman
Cedar Rapids Rockets6367.48518.584,185Packy Rogers
Clinton Steers6165.48418.535,764Adolph Matulis / Joe Blake
Rockford Rox3891.29543.019,304Robert Dill / Fred Lietz

Playoffs: Cedar Rapids 3 games, Burlington 0; Kewanee 3 games, Keokuk 0.
Finals: Kewanee 4 games, Cedar Rapids 2.

Player Statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Harry MinorKeokukBA.350Walter RushBurlingtonW16
John MillerKewaneeHits158John GraneyClintonSO164
George SopkoKeokukRuns120Harry PritzKeokukERA1.32
John TannerCedar RapidsRBI121
John TannerCedar RapidsHR37

Cedar Rapids beat Burlington 3 games to none, and Kewanee beat Keokuk 3 games to none, in the first round of the playoffs. Kewanee defeated Cedar Rapids 4 games to 2 for the title. [1]

References

  • Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. Minor League Baseball Standings:All North American Leagues, Through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0781-6
  1. 1 2 The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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