Kitty League
The Kitty League, formally known as the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League, was a Class D level minor league baseball circuit that went through six different periods of play between 1903 and 1955. The League hosted teams in 29 cities from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee.
History
The first Kitty League played from 1903 through 1906. The next one ran from 1910 through 1914. The third try played the 1916 season. The circuit was revived in 1922 and lasted three years. The fifth Kitty League lasted the longest, playing from 1935 through 1955 with a break from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. The league was also known briefly as the Kentucky–Indiana–Tennessee League, for during this time the league contained teams such as the Evansville Yankees from Evansville, Indiana. Unlike most leagues that were dormant for years in between playing, the Kitty was much the same from 1903 to 1955, through its inactive years. Clifton C. Gosnell was league president in 1906, after which the league stopped playing, and was president in 1910–1911 when play resumed. Then Dr. Frank H. Bassett was league president 1912–1914, 1916, 1922–1924, and 1935–1937, through the active times and the inactive. Hopkinsville, Kentucky was represented for 28 of the 31 active seasons of the Kitty League, while Paducah, Kentucky made it for 23.League name revived
In 2004, the league moniker was reincarnated, as a summer collegiate baseball league called the "KIT League" was formed. Members of the KIT League featured some of the former Kitty League cities, who formed teams and revived their previous monikers, such as the Fulton Railroaders, Owensboro Oilers and Union City Greyhounds. The KIT League is now defunct, with the teams having evolved to form the currently active ten–team Ohio Valley League in 2010.Media
The league history was the subject of a book. The Kitty League was written by Joshua Maxwell and Kevin McCann and published in 2012.Cities represented
- Bowling Green, Kentucky:
- * Bowling Green Barons
- Cairo, Illinois:
- * Cairo Egyptians
- * Cairo Champions
- * Cairo Giants
- * Cairo Dodgers
- Central City, Kentucky:
- * Central City Reds
- Clarksville, Tennessee:
- * Clarksville Villagers
- * Clarksville Grays
- * Clarksville Volunteers
- * Clarksville Billies
- * Clarksville Rebels
- * Clarksville Boosters
- * Clarksville Owls
- * Clarksville Colts
- Danville, Illinois:
- * Danville Old Soldiers
- Dawson Springs, Kentucky:
- * Dawson Springs Resorters
- Dyersburg, Tennessee:
- * Dyersburg Forked Deers
- Evansville, Indiana:
- * Evansville Yankees
- Fulton, Kentucky:
- * Fulton Colonels ;
- * Fulton Railroaders
- * Fulton Eagles
- * Fulton Tigers
- * Fulton Chicks
- * Fulton Lookouts
- Harrisburg, Illinois:
- * Harrisburg Merchants
- * Harrisburg Miners
- * Harrisburg Coal Miners
- Henderson, Kentucky:
- * Henderson Hens
- * Henderson Blue Birds
- Hopkinsville, Kentucky:
- * Hopkinsville Hoppers
- * Hopkinsville Browns
- Jackson, Tennessee:
- * Jackson Railroaders
- * Jackson Climbers
- * Jackson Blue Jays
- * Jackson Generals
- Jacksonville, Illinois:
- * Jacksonville Jacks
- Lexington, Tennessee:
- * Lexington Giants
- Madisonville, Kentucky:
- * Madisonville Miners
- Mattoon, Illinois & Charleston, Illinois:
- * Mattoon-Charleston Canaries
- Mayfield, Kentucky:
- * Mayfield Pantsmakers
- * Mayfield Clothiers
- * Mayfield Browns
- McLeansboro, Illinois:
- * McLeansboro Miners
- Milan, Tennessee & Trenton, Tennessee:
- * Milan-Trenton Twins
- Owensboro, Kentucky:
- * Owensboro Distillers
- * Owensboro Pirates
- * Owensboro Oilers
- Paducah, Kentucky:
- * Paducah Chiefs
- * Paducah Indians
- * Paducah Polecats
- * Paducah Red Birds
- Paris, Tennessee:
- * Paris Travelers ;
- * Paris Parisians
- Portageville, Missouri:
- * Portageville Pirates
- Princeton, Kentucky:
- * Princeton Infants
- Springfield, Tennessee:
- * Springfield Blanket Makers
- Trenton, Tennessee:
- * Trenton Reds
- Union City, Tennessee:
- * Union City Greyhounds
- * Union City Dodgers
- Vincennes, Indiana:
- * Vincennes Alices
- * Vincennes Hoosiers
Championship titles
- 1903 – Cairo Egyptians
- 1904 – Paducah Indians
- 1905 – Paducah Indians
- 1906 – Vincennes Alices
- 1910 – McLeansboro Miners / Vincennes Alices
- 1911 – Fulton Colonels / Hopkinsville Hoppers
- 1912 – Clarksville Rebels
- 1913 – Paducah Chiefs
- 1914 – Cairo Egyptians
- 1916 – Clarksville Volunteers
- 1922 – Mayfield Pantsmakers
- 1923 – Mayfield Pantsmakers
- 1924 – Dyersburg Forked Deers
- 1935 – None declared
- 1936 – Union City Greyhounds
- 1937 – Mayfield Clothiers
- 1938 – Jackson Generals
- 1939 – Bowling Green Barons
- 1940 – Jacksonville Generals
- 1941 – Mayfield Browns
- 1942 – Fulton Tigers
- 1946 – Owensboro Oilers
- 1947 – Hopkinsville Hoppers
- 1948 – Union City Greyhounds
- 1949 – Madisonville Miners
- 1950 – Mayfield Clothiers
- 1951 – Fulton Railroaders
- 1952 – Madisonville Miners
- 1953 – Paducah Chiefs
- 1954 – Union City Dodgers
- 1955 – Paducah Chiefs
Standings and statistics
1903 to 1906
1903 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Cairo Egyptians | 67 | 41 | .620 | - | G.P. Eichenbarger |
| Clarksville Villagers | 60 | 43 | .583 | 4½ | Claude Carlisle |
| Jackson Railroaders | 53 | 52 | .505 | 12½ | Grant Gorman |
| Henderson Hens | 48 | 60 | .444 | 19 | Peter Webber |
| Paducah Chiefs | 47 | 59 | .443 | 19 | Sam Jackson / Roy Gage Cooney Best |
| Hopkinsville Hoppers | 45 | 63 | .417 | 22 | Frank Bassett / Otho Mullen |
| Owensboro Distillers | 8 | 3 | .727 | NA | Jack Sheridan / Rolla Jackson |
| Vincennes Alices | 11 | 18 | .379 | NA | Harry Chaney / Jack Tuite |
Owensboro folded June 1; Vincennes folded June 22
1904 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Paducah Indians | 73 | 48 | .603 | - | John Ray / Red Gilliam |
| Cairo Champions | 72 | 49 | .595 | 1 | P.C. Scullin |
| Clarksville Grays | 64 | 58 | .525 | 9½ | Senter Rainey |
| Henderson Blue Birds | 54 | 68 | .443 | 19½ | Clyde McNutt |
| Hopkinsville Browns | 52 | 68 | .433 | 20½ | F.B. Armstrong / William Hancock |
| Vincennes Alices | 50 | 73 | .407 | 23½ | Bill Popp / Luke Duffy Harry Eichler / Weed |
1905 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League -
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Paducah Indians | 68 | 35 | .660 | - | Harry Lloyd |
| Vincennes Alices | 65 | 41 | .613 | 4½ | Eddie Kolb |
| Cairo Giants | 45 | 57 | .447 | 22 | Dan McCarthy |
| Princeton Infants | 46 | 61 | .430 | 24 | R. Meredith / John Ray |
| Henderson Hens | 29 | 47 | .382 | NA | Harry Kubitz |
| Hopkinsville Browns | 31 | 44 | .413 | NA | Lou Rutledge |
Henderson and Hopkinsville disbanded July 18
Season was shortened with National Association permission to August 17, due to yellow fever epidemic.
Playoff: Vincennes 7 games, Paducah 6
1906 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League -
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Vincennes Alices | 79 | 49 | .608 | - | Eddie Kolb |
| Jacksonville Jacks | 67 | 58 | .536 | 9 | Frank Belt |
| Cairo Giants | 68 | 61 | .527 | 10 | Dan McCarthy |
| Danville Old Soldiers | 58 | 69 | .457 | 19 | Jake Wortham / Ed Bauer |
| Paducah Indians | 57 | 69 | .452 | 19½ | Harry Lloyd |
| Mattoon-Charleston Canaries | 54 | 74 | .422 | 23½ | Bob Berryhill / Jack McCarthy |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| Bill Dithridge | Cairo | BA | .329 | Hub Perdue | Vincennes | W | 25 | |
| Andy Lotshaw | Jacksonville | Runs | 70 | Hub Perdue | Vincennes | SO | 260 | |
| Frank Long | Cairo | Hits | 162 | Phil Chenault | Vincennes | PCT | .700 14–6 | |
| Andy Lotshaw | Jacksonville | HR | 11 |
1910 to 1916
1910 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League - -| Team overall standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Vincennes Alices | 64 | 54 | .542 | - | John Nairn |
| Clarksville Volunteers | 55 | 60 | .478 | 7½ | M.O. Bridges / William McAndrews |
| Paducah Indians | 55 | 64 | .462 | 9½ | Louis Angermeier / Eddie Gilligan |
| Hopkinsville Hoppers | 50 | 68 | .424 | 14 | Dave Anderson / John Ray |
| McLeansboro Miners | 40 | 18 | .690 | NA | Ollie Gfoerer |
| Harrisburg Merchants | 29 | 29 | .500 | NA | Ira Hastings |
McLeansboro and Harrisburg were added for the second half July 24
Playoff: Cancelled; Vincennes and McLeansboro were declared co-champions
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| John Nairn | Vincennes | BA | .285 | Lyman Johnson | Vincennes | W | 20 | |
| Arista DeHaven | Vincennes | Runs | 54 | Lyman Johnson | Vincennes | SO | 182 | |
| Stewart Brown Walter Jantzen | Hopkinsville Vincennes | Hits | 99 | Clarence Kraft | McLeansboro | PCT | .867 13–2 | |
| Brown Keene Clarence Kraft | Clarksville McLeansboro | HR | 4 |
1911 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League -
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Hopkinsville Hoppers | 78 | 46 | .629 | - | John Nairn |
| Fulton Colonels | 67 | 58 | .536 | 11½ | Nig Langdon / John Blakemore |
| McLeansboro Miners / Henderson Hens | 65 | 58 | .528 | 12½ | Miles Bradshaw / John Stelle |
| Vincennes Hoosiers | 62 | 59 | .512 | 14½ | Charlie Gosnell |
| Paducah Polecats | 58 | 64 | .475 | 19 | Ollie Pickering |
| Cairo Egyptians | 58 | 67 | .464 | 20½ | Morris Michaels |
| Harrisburg Miners / Jackson Climbers | 53 | 68 | .438 | 23½ | Ira Hastings / Nathan Reiser Eugene Fulghum |
| Clarksville Billies | 51 | 71 | .418 | 26 | Johnny Siegle / Gene Curtis |
McLeansboro moved to Henderson June 20; Harrisburg moved to Jackson
Playoff: Cancelled due to inclement weather; Fulton and Hopkinsville declared co-champions
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Ernie Gust | Harrisburg/Jackson | BA | .354 |
| Harry Heckert | Fulton | Runs | 86 |
| Ernie Gust | Harrisburg/Jackson | Hits | 148 |
| Ernie Calbert | Harrisburg/Jackson | HR | 10 |
1912 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League -
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Clarksville Rebels | 68 | 29 | .701 | - | Senter Rainey |
| Henderson Hens | 52 | 48 | .520 | 17½ | Offa Neal / Ward Snyder |
| Evansville Yankees | 47 | 52 | .475 | 22 | Charles Barton |
| Paducah Chiefs | 45 | 55 | .450 | 24½ | John Nairn / Dave Anderson |
| Hopkinsville Hoppers | 44 | 54 | .449 | 24½ | Dudley Lewis / Nig Langdon Tommy Atkins |
| Cairo Egyptians | 41 | 59 | .410 | 28½ | Carl Page / Bill Everett Tim Flood |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| Patrick Bohannon | Paducah | BA | .326 | Ira Nicks | Clarksville | W | 22 | |
| A.G. Weber | Hopkinsville | Runs | 72 | Charles Humphrey | Clarksville | SO | 157 | |
| Henry Hughe | Cairo | Hits | 110 | Jim Coleman | Clarksville | PCT | .760 19–6 | |
| Al Basham | Clarksville | HR | 12 |
1913 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Paducah Chiefs | 80 | 47 | .630 | - | Arthur Brouthers |
| Clarksville Volunteers | 78 | 47 | .624 | 1 | Senter Rainey / William McAndrews |
| Hopkinsville Hoppers | 73 | 53 | .579 | 6½ | Dave Anderson / George Kalkoff |
| Henderson Hens | 70 | 55 | .560 | 9 | Ward Snyder |
| Owensboro Distillers | 69 | 56 | .552 | 10 | William Long / Senter Rainey |
| Cairo Egyptians | 57 | 68 | .456 | 22 | John Nairn / Clyde Kessling |
| Harrisburg Coal Miners | 42 | 85 | .331 | 38 | Lewis Brooks / John Stelle |
| Vincennes Alices | 34 | 92 | .270 | 45½ | Ollie Pickering / Bob Anderson William McAndrews / John Nairn |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| Harry Heckert | Clarksville | BA | .345 | Leslie Johnson | Hopkinsville | W | 23 | |
| Lee Hart | Clarksville | Runs | 102 | Charles Humphrey | Clarksville | SO | 240 | |
| Grady Burgess | Paducah | Hits | 172 | Clifford Snyder | Henderson | PCT | .917 11–1 | |
| P. Vogt | Hopkinsville | HR | 13 |
1914 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Cairo Egyptians | 77 | 46 | .626 | - | John Herbert |
| Owensboro Distillers | 66 | 55 | .545 | 10 | William Long / Ollie Pickering |
| Henderson Hens | 64 | 58 | .525 | 12½ | Ward Snyder |
| Paducah Indians | 59 | 65 | .476 | 18½ | Dow Vandyne / Arthur Brouthers |
| Clarksville Boosters | 22 | 39 | .361 | NA | James Coleman |
| Hopkinsville Hoppers | 20 | 45 | .308 | NA | George Kalkoff |
Clarksville and Hopkinsville disbanded July 10
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| James Allen | Henderson | BA | .307 | John Grogan | Cairo | W | 22 | |
| Ed Wise | Cairo | Runs | 70 | John Grogan | Cairo | SO | 143 | |
| Charlie Gosnell | Paducah | Hits | 135 | Win Frewen | Cairo | PCT | .792 19–5 |
1915 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League
The Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League did not play in 1915 during World War I
1916 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League -
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Clarksville Volunteers | 50 | 24 | .676 | - | Lemarr Boykin |
| Henderson Hens | 44 | 30 | .595 | 6 | Connie Walsh |
| Owensboro Distillers | 43 | 31 | .581 | 7 | Sandy Murray / Buzz Wetzel |
| Dawson Springs Resorters | 33 | 41 | .446 | 17 | Arthur Goodwin / Louis Eith Senter Rainey |
| Madisonville Miners | 31 | 41 | .431 | 18 | Doc Cummings / Leo Angiemeier |
| Hopkinsville Hoppers | 22 | 56 | .282 | 25 | Bill Schwartz |
Madisonville folded August 2; League folded August 4
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Ben Shaw | Clarksville | BA | .361 |
| William Pike | Henderson | Hits | 98 |