Nebraska State League


The Nebraska State League was an American professional minor league baseball league with five incarnations between 1892 and 1959. The Nebraska State League formed five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959. League teams were based in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The 1892 league was a Class B level league, and the league was a Class D level league in all subsequent seasons.

History

Early seasons

The charter 1892 teams were the Beatrice Indians, Fremont, Grand Island Sugar Citys, Hastings, Lincoln Giants/Kearney and Plattsmouth. The league played just one season as a Class B level league before disbanding.
In 1889, a touring African-American baseball team called the "Lafayettes" was formed in Nebraska. In 1890, William Pope formed the Lincoln Giants. Pope had signed the best of the Lafayette players and the team subsequently folded. In 1892, the Lincoln Giants sought to join the Nebraska State League. Those against allowing black players in the league caused the Lincoln Giants to fold, with many of their players picked up by the other Nebraska State League teams.
The Nebraska State League in 1892 was racially integrated. Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler played for Kearney and was elected captain of the team. John W. Patterson, John Reeves, Frank Maupin, A.S. Kennedy, William Myers and F. Long played for Plattsmouth. George Taylor, played for Beatrice. The 1892 Nebraska State League was classified as a Class B level league and folded after the 1892 season.
The Nebraska State League reformed in 1910 as an eight–team Class D level league. The Columbus Discoverers, Fremont Pathfinders, Grand Island Collegians, Hastings Brickmakers, Kearney Kapitalists, Red Cloud, Seward Statesmen and Superior Brickmakers were the member franchises as the league resumed play.
In 1915, the Nebraska State League ran into financial difficulties as franchises struggled to remain solvent. Both Columbus and Kearney disbanded on June 4, 1915. After Grand Island withdrew June 28 and Norfolk disbanded June 29, the league folded on June 29, 1915. Kearney began the season 2,000 in debt and sold season tickets to eliminate the debt, but with 2,000 season tickets sold, the gameday gate money was minimal and the franchise was also affected by the city becoming "dry" and became unable to make its financial obligations to visiting teams. Kearney had logistical issuer as visiting teams were reluctant travel to Norfolk, as the train fares for the trip were expensive. Norfolk had agreed to pay extra to visiting clubs to make up the difference in train fares. Grand Island manager Harry Claire and player Crosby were given suspensions for the rest of the year due to gambling accusations and the team was also fined. The Grand Island franchise folded instead of paying the fines.
After folding following the 1915 season, the Nebraska State League reformed and played the 1922 and 1923 seasons with the Beatrice Blues, Fairbury Jeffersons, Grand Island Champions, Hastings Cubs, Lincoln Links and Norfolk Elk Horns as members of the six–team Class D level league. The league evolved into the 1924 Tri-State League.
In 1928, the Nebraska State League resumed play as an eight–team Class D level league. The Beatrice Blues, Fairbury Jeffersons, Grand Island Champs, Lincoln Links, McCook Generals, Norfolk Elks, North Platte Buffaloes and York Dukes were the 1928 league members. The league would play continually through the 1938 season.

1956 to 1959 seasons

The Nebraska State League formed for the final time in 1956. The league teams were all major league affiliates, as the Class D level eight–team league resumed play. The league members all took the monikers of their affiliate, as the Grand Island A's, Hastings Giants, Holdrege White Sox, Kearney Yankees, Lexington Red Sox, McCook Braves, North Platte Indians and Superior Senators were the 1956 franchises.
Originally 12 cities had shown interest in hosting a team in the 1956 Nebraska State League. Thie interest occurred after the eight major league teams had agreed to affiliate with the league. The Nebraska cities of Ogallala, Alma, Broken Bow and Norton, Kansas, were not granted franchises.
The 1956 league schedule was designed to start on July 1 and end on Labor Day. The league structure began when representatives of the league held a meeting in Kearney, Nebraska, at the Fort Kearney Hotel in early June. The 1956 schedule was created by Harold George, secretary of the league. George was formerly an executive in the Western League. Mike Hollinger, a former manager of the semi–pro Kearney Irishmen team was named president of the League. Hollinger operated a bowling alley in Kearney.
In structuring the 1956 league, revenue and expenses were divided between Major League Baseball, the individual Major League parent clubs and each of the league franchises. League franchises committed to selling at least $5,000 in tickets and 500 season tickets before the season started. Kearney sold 760 season ticket books, McCook followed with 741. Holdrege sold 690, North Platte 673, Lexington 665, Grand Island 656, Hastings 632 and Superior 559. The league was owned by Major League Baseball. Season tickets were sold for $10.00 each. The revenue from the first 500 tickets per franchise went to the Nebraska State League. 25% of each season ticket went to the hosting team. Concessions were split evenly between the hosting team and the league. Each team city supplied a lighted home ballpark park and a groundskeeper. The official score keeper for each game was paid $2.50. Player and manager salaries and travel costs were handled by the parent major league affiliate, with Yellow Diamond and Continental Motor lines were hired as vendors to provide bus services. Players were allotted $2.25 per day for meal money. The league selected the Rawlings baseball as the official ball for the league, with the Major League affiliates providing balls. KGFW radio in Kearney paid $500.00 for radio rights to all Kearney games.
The last Nebraska State League of 1956-1959 was stable largely because its clubs were farm teams for the major leagues. Its final season has become well known through the book A False Spring by Pat Jordan, who played in the league for McCook.
The Nebraska State League was a Class B level league in the 1892 season and afterwards was exclusively a Class D level league.

Cities represented

1892

1892 Nebraska State League
TeamWLGBPct.Manager
Beatrice Indians2720–.574NA
Grand Island Sugar Citys25253½.500Pa Rourke
Lincoln Giants /
Kearney, NE		18215.462NA
Hastings, NE17205.459NA
Fremont Pathfinders11189.379NA
Plattsmouth, NE112411.314NA
League disbanded in July.

1910 to 1915

1910 Nebraska State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Fremont Pathfinders6343.594–16,966Pug Bennett
Columbus Discoverers5948.5514½14,110Joe Dolan
Kearney Kapitalists6051.5415½14,946Clarence Murphy
Grand Island Collegians6052.536620,129Buck Beltzer
Superior Brickmakers5654.509913,150Dennis Bockewitz
Seward Statesmen5062.4461610,251John Fink
Red Cloud "Indians"4762.43117½10,126B.F. Grant
Hastings Brickmakers4265.39821½14,318George Harms
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Fred JarrottRed CloudBA.326Win NoyesKearneyW24
Leo CookHastingsRuns88Win NoyesKearneySO323
Fred JarrottRed CloudHits126Frank GreenKearneyPct.900; 9–1
Fresco ThompsonFremontHR10Archie TurpinFremontSB75

1911 Nebraska State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Superior Brickmakers7040.636–Dennis Bockewitz
Fremont Pathfinders6943.6162Pug Bennett
Hastings Third Citys5458.48217Rudy Kling
Seward Statesmen5357.48217John Fink
Grand Island Collegians5260.46419 0Howard Armstrong
Columbus Discoverers5260.46419Joe Dolan
Kearney Buffaloes4864.42923Clarence Murphy
York Prohibitionists4864.42923George Harms / Lefty Davis
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Norm CoyleSuperiorBA.354Al OrthHastingsW23
Nick AllenSuperiorRuns95Harry SmithFremontSO235
Norm CoyleSuperiorHits153Jim StevensSuperiorPct.750; 18–6
George HarmsYorkHR21----

1912 Nebraska State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Hastings Third Citys6744.604–Bert Shaner
Fremont Pathfinders6645.5951Pug Bennett
Kearney Kapitalists6349.5634½Harry Berte
Columbus Discoverers5654.50910½Jim Palmer / Willie Wilson
Seward Statesmen5359.47314½Bill Zink
Grand Island Collegians5259.46815Jim Cockman
York Prohibitionists4566.40522Lefty Davis
Superior Brickmakers4369.38424½Dennis Bockewitz
A Kearney win over Hastings was reversed at the 1913 spring meeting, giving Hastings the championship.
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pug BennettFremontBA.360Joe LotzKearneyW26
Charles BlockYorkRuns116Bert ShanerHastingsPct.773; 17–5
Bill ZinkSewardHits139----

1913 Nebraska State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Kearney Kapitalists6745.598–Harry Berte
Hastings Third Citys6448.5713Bert Shaner
York Prohibitionists5755.50910Gid Gardner
Fremont Pathfinders5656.50011Curt Welch
Superior Brickmakers5458.48213Dennis Bockewitz
Columbus Discoverers5458.48213John Gondling /
Red Smith / Jack Kraninger
Seward Statesmen /
Beatrice Milkskimmers		5260.46415Bill Zink
Grand Island Collegians4468.39323O.J. Firestine / Jack Forrester
Seward moved to Beatrice July 21.
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Homer W. "Dolly" GrayKearneyBA.411R.N. MaplesKearneyW17
Swat McCabeHastingsHits155L.R. PlymptonKearneyW17
Ted ReedColumbusPct.737; 14–5Berney EvertonYorkW17

1914 Nebraska State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Grand Island Islanders6646.589–Harry Claire
Beatrice Milkskimmers6547.5801Frank Coe
Hastings Reds6448.5712Pug Bennett
York Prohibitionists6052.5366Maury Pierce
Superior Brickmakers5458.48212James Feeney / F.H. Bigby
Norfolk Drummers5260.46414Warren Cummings / Babe Towne
Columbus Pawnees4963.43717Jake Kraninger
Kearney Kapitalists3874.33928Harry Berte
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jake GettmanHastingsBA.336John McDonnellBeatriceW21
Clint NeffBeatriceRuns80Dazzy VanceHastingsSO194
Fred PayneGrand IslandHits134Dazzy VanceHastingsPct.810; 17–4
Clint NeffBeatriceHR19----

1915 Nebraska State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Beatrice Milkskimmers3518.660–John Fillman
Hastings Reds3027.5267Pug Bennett
York Prohibitionists2531.44611½Maury Pierce
Fairbury Shaners2231.41513Bert Shaner
Norfolk Drummers2413.649NABabe Towne
Grand Island Champions1616.500NAHarry Claire
Kearney Buffaloes410.286NAGrover Matney
Columbus Pawnees313.188NAFrank Justus
Columbus and Kearney folded June 4; Grand Island and Norfolk folded June 28.
League folded July 18.