Illinois State League Explained

Illinois State League
Sport:Minor League Baseball
President:Howard V. Millard (1947–1948)
Inaugural:1947
Teams:6
Continent:or
Continents:-->
Folded:1948
Most Champs:1
Belleville Stags (1947)
West Frankfort Cardinals (1948)
Classification:Class D (1947–1948)
Website:Midwest League Official Website

The Illinois State League (ISL) was a baseball minor league formed in 1947. The Illinois State League operated in 1947–1948 and evolved to become today's Midwest League. The Class D league was composed entirely of new franchises, each located in Southern Illinois. The charter franchises were in the Illinois cities of Belleville, Centralia, Marion, Mattoon, Mount Vernon and West Frankfort.[1]

History

The Illinois State League formed in 1947. The first league president was Howard V. Millard. The Illinois State League had the same six franchises in both of its seasons: the Belleville Stags, Centralia Cubs, Marion Indians, Mattoon Indians, Mount Vernon Braves, and West Frankfort Cardinals.[2] [3] In 1947, the league began play, with a 120–game season played in two halves. There was no championship series in 1947 as the Belleville Stags won both halves and were declared as the champion.[4]

In 1948, the West Frankfort Cardinals finished 85–35 in the regular season, for the best record overall. In the playoffs, West Frankfort swept the Mattoon Indians in three games in the Championship Series to capture the 1948 championship.[5] [6]

The Illinois State League was renamed the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League after the 1948 season. The name change occurred as the Marion Indians moved to the state of Kentucky to become the Paducah Chiefs. Subsequently, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League operated through 1955. In 1956, the league changed names again to become the Midwest League. The Midwest League has remained in operation since 1956.[7] [8]

All–Star games

The Illinois State League held an annual All–Star Game, which featured an all–star team versus the team with the best record in the standings. The first All–Star Game was held on August 12, 1947 at Memorial Stadium in West Frankfort. The Illinois State League All–Stars defeated Belleville 5–1.[6]

The 1948 Illinois State League All–Star Game was July 12, 1948 at Mattoon Baseball Park. The 1948 All–Stars defeated the Mattoon Indians 1–0.[5] [6]

Illinois State League teams: 1947–1948

Team nameCity representedBallparkYear(s) active
Belleville StagsBelleville, IllinoisBelleville Athletic Field to
Centralia CubsCentralia, IllinoisFan's Field to
Marion IndiansMarion, IllinoisMarion City Park to
Mattoon IndiansMattoon, IllinoisMattoon Baseball Park to
Mount Vernon BravesMount Vernon, IllinoisVeterans Park to
West Frankfort CardinalsWest Frankfort, IllinoisMemorial Stadium to

Standings & statistics

1947 season

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Belleville Stags7537.670 -18,539Walter DeFreitas
Centralia Cubs6052.53615.035,000
Marion Indians5556.49519.536,705Melvin Ivy
West Frankfort Cardinals5260.46423.043,004Everett Johnston
Mt. Vernon Braves4963.43826.038,330
Mattoon Indians4164.39030.525,671Frank Parenti
No 1947 Playoffs were played. Belleville won both halves.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Billy KlausCentralia BA.341Robert FreelsBellevilleW19
Billy KlausCentralia Hits147Don LiddleMt. Vernon SO190
Billy KlausCentraliaRBI84Ken WildWest FrankfortERA1.73
Rip RepulskiWest FrankfortHR10Bob CherekBellevilleRuns90

1948 season

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
West Frankfort Cardinals8535.708 -36,656Harold Contini
Mattoon Indians7544.6309.534,754
Marion Indians5366.44531.513,697Melvin Ivy
Mt. Vernon Braves5266.44132.011.364
Belleville Stags5167.43233.06,085Gerald Nemitz / Shan Deniston
Centralia Cubs4179.34244.018,211Willard Sellergren / Claude Passeau
Playoffs: West Frankfort 3 games, Marion 1; Mattoon 3 games, Mt. Vernon 2; Finals: West Frankfort 3 games, Mattoon 0.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Richard MartzMarion BA.361Floyd MelliereWest FrankfortW21
Don HazeltonMt. Vernon Hits150Mike BlyzkaBellevilleSO192
Frank PorrecaWest FrankfortRBI94Floyd MelliereWest FrankfortERA1.77
Paul DetersMarionHR8William BroukalMattoonRuns103
[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Midwest League History. July 4, 2018.
  2. Web site: Illinois State League (D) Encyclopedia and History. Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Book: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball . Lloyd . Johnson . Miles . Wolff . Third . . 2007 . 978-1932391176.
  4. Web site: Illinois State League 1947. July 4, 2018.
  5. Web site: Illinois State League 1948. July 4, 2018.
  6. Web site: Illinois State League 1948. July 4, 2018.
  7. Web site: 1949 Paducah Chiefs. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. July 4, 2018.
  8. Web site: 1955 Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. July 4, 2018.