Central Association
FormerlyIowa State League
ClassificationClass C (1908–1917)
Class D (1947–1949)
SportMinor League Baseball
First 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 standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waterloo Lulus 88 37 .704 – Frank Boyle
Burlington Pathfinders 83 41 .669 4.5 Ned Egan
Quincy Gems 73 55 .570 16.5 Harry Hofer
Keokuk Indians 57 68 .456 31.0 Frank Belt
Jacksonville Lunatics 56 69 .448 32.0 Harry Berte
Oskaloosa Quakers 51 75 .398 37.5 Snapper Kennedy / Taylor Kensel
Kewanee Boilermakers 48 79 .378 41.0 Harry Busse /
Andy Steveson / William Connors
Ottumwa Packers 48 80 .375 41.5 Billy Earle / Chuck Fleming
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John House Burlington BA .306 Harry Gaspar Waterloo W 32
Charles Rose Burlington Hits 146 Harry Gaspar Waterloo SO 2.17
Al Linderbeck Quincy Runs 75 Harry Gaspar Waterloo Pct .889; 32–4
Al Linderbeck Quincy HR 10

1909 Central Association

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Burlington Pathfinders 83 51 .620 – 36,884 Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals 83 53 .610 1.0 30,130 Bert Hough / Ben Prout
Keokuk Indians 80 57 .584 4.5 42,029 Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers 73 61 .544 10.0 31,228 William Connors
Waterloo Lulus 64 69 .481 18.5 33,756 Frank Boyle
Quincy Vets 62 73 .459 21.5 45,527 Louis Cook /
Harry Hofer / Fred Bennett
Jacksonville Braves 46 84 .354 35.0 26,908 Harry Berte
Ottumwa Packers 48 91 .345 37.5 35,576 Hugh Shannon / Arthur Owens
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Fred Fenney Ottum/Burl BA .300 Collis Spencer Burlington W 27
George Manush Burlington Hits 149 Joe Vyskocil Hannibal SO 209
George Manush Burlington Runs 91 Burleigh Grimes Ottum/Kew Pct .742; 23–8
Al Linderbeck Quincy HR 10
H.W. Gray Jacksonville HR 10

1910 Central Association
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Quincy Vets 88 50 .638 – 37,213 Bade Myers
Ottumwa Packers 80 57 .584 7.5 37,000 Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals 77 60 .562 10.5 28,547 Bill Prout / Bill Forney
Galesburg Pavers 69 67 .507 18.0 35,031 Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians 67 70 .493 20.5 28,160 Frank Belt
Monmouth Browns 62 72 .459 24.0 25,000 Lew Drill
Burlington Pathfinders 56 81 .409 31.5 25,043 Phil Geier
Kewanee Boilermakers 49 91 .350 40.0 26,307 William Connors / Ted Price
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dan Kerwin Hannibal BA .331 Charles Fanning Galesburg W 30
Thomas Owens Quincy Hits 148 Charles Fanning Galesburg SO 320
Don Senno Ottumwa Runs 84 Charles Fanning Galesburg Pct .714; 30–12
Thomas Owens Quincy HR 9 Bill Donahue Quincy HR 9

1911 Central Association
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Ottumwa Speedboys 87 41 .680 – Ned Egan
Burlington Pathfinders 81 44 .648 4.5 Richard Rohn
Galesburg Pavers 66 63 .512 21.5 Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians 64 64 .500 23.0 Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers 59 67 .468 27.0 Jay Andrews
Monmouth Browns 59 69 .461 28.0 Claude Starke
Muscatine Camels 48 80 .375 39.0 Harry C. Blake /
Lou Walters / Pearl Holycross
Hannibal Cannibals 45 81 .357 41.0 Jake Beckley
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pearl Holycross Muscatine BA .361 Ray Boyd Ottumwa W 30
Taylor Kensel Ottumwa Hits 163 Ray Boyd Ottumwa Pct .811; 30–7
George Watson Burlington Runs 108 A.J. Ahring Muscatine SB 79
Don Senno Ottumwa HR 14

1912 Central Association

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Ottumwa Speedboys 79 50 .612 – 23,000 Ned Egan
Kewanee Boilermakers 74 51 .592 3.0 19,000 George Pennington / Art Queisser
Burlington Pathfinders 73 53 .579 4.5 25,000 Richard Rohn
Monmouth Browns 71 55 .563 6.5 18,000 Bert Hough /
Jack Corbett / R.L. Noven
Hannibal Cannibals 67 61 .523 11.5 NA Eddie Herr / Ed Painter
Galesburg Pavers 61 67 .477 17.5 18,000 Ducky Eberts
Keokuk Indians 49 76 .392 28.0 17,000 Art Queisser / Bill Proutt
Muscatine Wallopers 33 94 .260 45.0 22,000 Ed Coleman / Bill Kreig /
Joe Wall / Bill Clayton
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
George Manush Ottumwa BA .375 Bert Dunn Ottumwa W 26
Harry Shanley Muscatine Hits 176 Joe Sloan Keokuk SO 197
Harry Ellis Burlington Runs 100 Tom Drohan Kewanee Pct .800; 24–6
John Sullivan Ottumwa HR 21

1913 Central Association

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Ottumwa Packers 72 54 .571 – Ned Egan
Muscatine Wallopers 68 54 .557 2.0 Frank Boyle
Monmouth Browns 64 62 .508 8.0 Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians 62 63 .496 9.5 George Manush
Burlington Pathfinders 63 66 .488 10.5 Richard Rohn
Cedar Rapids Rabbits 59 65 .476 12.0 Belden Hill
Kewanee Boilermakers 59 65 .476 12.0 George Pennington / Frank Richardson
Waterloo Jays 53 71 .427 18.0 Jay Andrews
Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dave Milligan Cedar Rapids BA .320 George Zackert Muscatine W 22
Harry Ellis Burlington Hits 156 George Zackert Muscatine SO 230
Harry Ellis Burlington Runs 100 George Zackert Muscatine Pct .759; 22–7
Elmer Jacobs Burlington SO 230

1914 Central Association

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waterloo Jays 78 51 .605 – Jay Andrews
Burlington Pathfinders 75 53 .586 2.5 Tom Hayden / George Manush
Muscatine Buttonmakers 72 53 .576 4.0 Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots 67 61 .523 10.5 Bert Hough
Cedar Rapids Bunnies 64 60 .516 11.5 Belden Hill
Keokuk Indians 52 76 .406 25.5 Spencer Abbott / Harry Sweet
Marshalltown Ansons 52 76 .406 25.5 Frank Richardson
Ottumwa Packers /
Rock Island Islanders /
Galesburg Pavers		 49 79 .373 28.5 Ned 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
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Paddy Siglin Waterloo BA .322 Fred Miller Burlington W 23
John Singleton Burlington Hits 158 George Zackert Muscatine SO 305
Walt Meinert Burlington Runs 94 W. Halper Cedar Rapids Pct .722; 13–5

1915 Central Association

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Burlington Pathfinders 81 38 .681 – Richard Rohn
Muscatine Muskies 63 57 .525 18.5 Ned Egan / Jess Runser
Keokuk Indians 51 52 .495 22.0 Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers 58 63 .479 24.0 Harry Bay
Cedar Rapids Rabbits 54 62 .466 25.5 James Hamilton / Jack Herbert
Marshalltown Ansons 46 67 .407 32.0 Frank Richardson / Bob Lynch
Waterloo Jays 52 74 .413 32.5 Jay Andrews / Eddie Brennan
Clinton Pilots 13 69 .159 NA George Manush

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

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bill Collins Cedar Rapids BA .337 Grover Baichley Burlington W 23
Walt Meinert Burlington Hits 137 Dick Blunk Burlington W 23
Walt Meinert Burlington Runs 97 Grover Baichley Burlington Pct .697; 23-–0
Harmon Hagmon Burlington Hits 137 Grover Baichley Burlington SO 310
Cliff Lee Muscatine HR 9
Lyle Sours Muscatine HR 9

1916 Central Association

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Marshalltown Ansons 77 50 .606 – Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots 73 51 .589 2.5 Jim Drohan / Larry Brown
Cedar Rapids Rabbits 62 64 .492 14.5 Jack Herbert / Billy Collins
Burlington Pathfinders /
Ottumwa Packers		 62 64 .492 14.5 Richard Rohn / George Boelzle
Waterloo Shamrocks 58 67 .464 18.0 Eddie Brennan
Mason City Claydiggers 50 76 .397 26.5 Harry Bay
Fort Dodge Dodgers 41 86 .323 36.0 Paul Turgeon / Babe Towne
Muscatine Muskies 45 44 .506 NA Ned Egan

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

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Babe Ellison Muscatine BA .361 Dick Blunk Ottumwa W 24
Babe Ellison Muscatine Hits 178 H. W. Flanagan Muscatine SO 266
Charles Reinhart Muscatine Runs 104 Ken Penner Marshalltown ERA 1.41
Albert Durham Musca/Marsh HR 18

1917 Central Association

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Marshalltown Ansons 64 34 .653 – Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers 54 38 .587 7.0 Dan O'Leary
Waterloo Loons 50 42 .543 11.0 Ned Egan
Cedar Rapids Rabbits /
Clear Lake Rabbits		 39 52 .429 21.5 W. Collins /
Jay Andrews / Harry Shanley
Dubuque Dubs /
Charles City Tractorites		 40 54 .426 22.0 George Hughes
Fort Dodge Dodgers 37 57 .394 25.0 Charley Stis
Clinton Pilots 40 33 .548 NA Larry Brown
La Crosse Infants 29 43 .403 NA Mike 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
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bing Miller Clinton BA .337 Red Torkelson Marshalltown W 20
Bing Miller Clinton Hits 106 Frank Ulch La Cros/Cedar ERA 1.25
Joe Wilkes Clin/Charl Runs 69
John Mokan Ft. Dodge HR 9

[citation needed][1]

1947 to 1949

1947 Central Association
schedule

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Clinton Cubs 73 51 .589 – 59,553 Robert Peterson
Hannibal Pilots 69 56 .552 4.5 40,490 Herb Nordquist
Rockford Rox 68 57 .544 5.5 67,938 Cyril Pfeifer
Keokuk Pirates 61 64 .488 12.5 44,332 Frank Oceak
Burlington Indians 52 72 .419 21.0 37,138 Paul O'Dea
Moline A's 51 74 .408 22.5 27,479 Elwood Wheaton

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

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Edward Wiltsee Clinton BA .387 Charles Funk Hannibal W 19
Roy Sievers Hannibal Hits 159 Charles Funk Hannibal SO 145
Roy Sievers Hannibal Runs 121 Stan Wnetrzak Clinton ERA 1.72
Roy Sievers Hannibal RBI 141 Roy Sievers Hannibal HR 34

1948 Central Association
schedule

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Clinton Cubs 79 47 .627 – 53,133 Nelson Burbrink / Lee Eilbracht
Burlington Indians 68 62 .523 13.0 70,359 Paul O'Dea /
Ski Melillo / Bruno Haas
Hannibal Pilots 67 62 .519 13.5 41,124 Walter DeFreitas
Keokuk Pirates 61 67 .477 19.0 54,694 Phil Seghi
Rockford Rox 56 72 .438 24.0 43,133 Cyril Pfeifer / Paul O'Dea
Moline A's /
Kewanee A's		 53 74 .417 26.5 38,088 Joe 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
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Gus Bell Keokuk BA .319 Ronald McLeland Hannibal W 18
Billy Klaus Clintonl Hits 167 Calvin Howe Clinton W 18
Elzer Marx Clinton Runs 108 Wesley Carr Clinton SO 163
Dwight Maxhimer Clinton RBI 105 Merrill Merkle Hannibal SO 163
John Tanner Keokuk HR 23 Ronald McLeland Hannibal ERA 2.39

1949 Central Association
schedule

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Burlington Indians 81 48 .628 – 57,915 Lloyd Brown
Keokuk Pirates 74 54 .578 6.5 38,931 Charlie Hargreaves
Kewanee A's 68 60 .531 12.5 29,482 Harold Hoffman
Cedar Rapids Rockets 63 67 .485 18.5 84,185 Packy Rogers
Clinton Steers 61 65 .484 18.5 35,764 Adolph Matulis / Joe Blake
Rockford Rox 38 91 .295 43.0 19,304 Robert Dill / Fred Lietz

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

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Harry Minor Keokuk BA .350 Walter Rush Burlington W 16
John Miller Kewanee Hits 158 John Graney Clinton SO 164
George Sopko Keokuk Runs 120 Harry Pritz Keokuk ERA 1.32
John Tanner Cedar Rapids RBI 121
John Tanner Cedar Rapids HR 37

[citation needed]

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

  1. ^ a b 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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