The Independence Jewelers were a minor league baseball team that played during the 1908 season. Based in Independence, Kansas, the team played in the Oklahoma–Kansas League.[1] They were managed by Harry Truby.[2] The team was the best-drawing squad in the league, with Sporting Life calling the city of Independence "baseball mad."[3]
The most notable player on the 1908 Jewelers team was pitcher Gene Packard. While pitching for Independence against Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 26, Packard had a single hit shutout victory.[4] On August 8 Packard pitched a game against Bartlesville, Oklahoma in which no Bartlesville player reached first base. The headlines in the local newspaper described the perfect game as a world's record.[5]
| Year(s) |
| Team | Level | League | Affiliate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | 1 | Independence | Independent | None | |
| 1906 | 1 | Class D | None | ||
| 1907 | 1 | Oklahoma-Arkansas-Kansas League | None | ||
| 1908 | 1 | Independence Jewelers | Oklahoma-Kansas League | None | |
| 1911 | 1 | Independence Packers | Western Association | None | |
| 1921 | 1 | Southwestern League | None | ||
| 1922–1923 | 2 | Class C | None | ||
| 1924 | 1 | Class D | None | ||
| 1925, 1928–1932 | 6 | Class C | Western Association | None | |
| 1947–1950 | 4 | Independence Yankees | Class D | Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League | New York Yankees |
| 1952 | 1 | Independence Browns | St. Louis Browns | ||