| Classification | Independent (1901) Class D (1902–1903) Class C (1904–1905) |
|---|---|
| Sport | Minor League Baseball |
| First season | 1901 |
| Ceased | 1905 |
| Replaced by | South Central League |
| President | Dr. D.M. Shiveley (1902–1904) Richard Robertson, Jr. (1905) |
| No. of teams | 23 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Most titles | 1 Nevada Lunatics (1902) Sedalia Gold Bugs (1903) Iola Gasbags (1904) Pittsburg Miners (1905) |
| Related competitions | Western Association |
The Missouri Valley League was an American minor league baseball league which operated from 1901 through 1905.
The Missouri Valley league formed in 1901 as an Independent league. The league consisted of teams in Kansas and Missouri: Columbus, Kansas, Fort Scott Memphis Route, Galena, Kansas, Joplin Colts, Monett Railroadmen, Nevada Reds, Oswego, Kansas and Pittsburg Coal Barons. 1901 league records and standings are unknown.[1]
In 1902, The teams in Nevada, Missouri, Fort Scott, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri remained. Sedalia, Missouri; Coffeyville, Kansas; Jefferson City, Missouri; Iola, Kansas and Springfield, Missouri joined as the Missouri Valley League became designated as a Class D level league. On June 23, the Coffeyville Indians, with a 9-30 record, relocated to Chanute, Kansas, where they compiled a 32–51 record.[2]
In the 1903 season, the teams in Chanute and Jefferson City folded. New teams in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Pittsburg, Kansas, formed and joined the league. The Nevada team, with a record of 21–39, relocated to Webb City, Missouri, on July 13, where their record was 0–4. The teams from Leavenworth and Webb City folded mid–season on July 16.[2]
In 1904, new teams in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Topeka, Kansas, formed and joined the league. After the 1904 season, the Missouri Valley League essentially reformed under a different name as five member teams formed under a new league. Joplin, Leavenworth, Sedalia, Springfield, and Topeka all joined the new 1905 Western Association. The Iola franchise folded. The Fort Scott and Pittsburg franchises remained in the 1905 Class C level Missouri Valley League. In 1905, South McAlester moved to Ft. Smith on July 6. Muskogee disbanded on August 31, causing the Missouri Valley League to end on September 5.[2][3]
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada Lunatics | 86 | 38 | .694 | -- | James Driscoll |
| Springfield Reds | 83 | 40 | .678 | 2.5 | Frank Hurlburt |
| Fort Scott Giants | 80 | 44 | .645 | 6.0 | Fred Hornaday |
| Sedalia Gold Bugs | 72 | 48 | .600 | 12.0 | Joseph Roe / Fultz |
| Joplin Miners | 56 | 66 | .459 | 29.0 | Claude Marcum / Wickhizer |
| Coffeyville Indians / Chanute Oilers |
41 | 81 | .336 | 44.0 | Fred Porter / Larry Powers / Galbreath / Jack Jamieson |
| Jefferson City Convicts | 40 | 85 | .320 | 46.5 | A.B. Carey / E.J. Miller |
| Iola Gasbags | 34 | 90 | .274 | 52.0 | Dan Jenkins |
Coffeyville (9–30) moved to Chanute June 23.
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedalia Gold Bugs | 86 | 47 | .647 | -- | W.J. Ferguson / R.N. Harrison |
| Springfield Midgets | 82 | 48 | .631 | 2.5 | Frank Hurlburt |
| Iola Gaslighters | 79 | 52 | .603 | 6.0 | A.H.Harris |
| Joplin Miners | 69 | 62 | .527 | 16.0 | Dave Joseph |
| Fort Scott Giants | 71 | 64 | .526 | 16.0 | Fred Hornaday |
| Pittsburg Coal Diggers | 39 | 95 | .291 | 47.5 | Claude East |
| Nevada Lunatics / Webb City Goldbugs |
21 | 43 | .328 | NA | A.B. Cockerell |
| Leavenworth White Sox | 15 | 50 | .231 | NA | Clyde Hughes |
Nevada (21–39) moved to Webb City July 13, then disbanded July 16; Leavenworth disbanded July 16.
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iola Gasbags | 83 | 41 | .669 | -- | Dad Risley |
| Springfield Midgets | 77 | 46 | .626 | 5.5 | F. Smith / John Perrine / Frank Hulburt |
| Joplin Miners | 77 | 49 | .611 | 7.0 | John Fillman |
| Sedalia Gold Bugs | 71 | 53 | .573 | 12.0 | E.E. Codding |
| Pittsburg Coal Diggers | 57 | 64 | .471 | 24.5 | O.H. Baldwin / John Kane |
| Leavenworth Orioles | 48 | 74 | .393 | 34.0 | Eli Cates / Elmer Smith |
| Topeka Saints | 45 | 78 | .366 | 37.5 | Gus Alberts / C. Cole / John Shrant / Spencer Abbott |
| Fort Scott Giants | 36 | 89 | .288 | 47.5 | Jack Bene / Louis Armstrong |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Bauer | Sedalia | BA | .346 | Amos Morgan | Iola | W | 32 | |
| Jacob Bauer | Sedalia | Hits | 178 | Ed Craig | Springfield | Pct | .826; 19–4 | |
| John Root | Iola | SO | 224[2] |
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburg Miners | 75 | 26 | .743 | -- | H.O. Baldwin |
| Parsons Preachers | 61 | 40 | .604 | 14.0 | John Hamilton |
| Muskogee Reds | 52 | 46 | .531 | 21.5 | G.A. Sabin / Mel Cooley / Dillard / Alex Sandheimer |
| Ft. Scott Giants | 49 | 52 | .485 | 26.0 | Harry Chapman |
| Webb City Gold Bugs | 47 | 54 | .465 | 28.0 | Elmer Meredith |
| Tulsa Oilers | 44 | 58 | .431 | 31.5 | Charlie Schafft |
| Vinita Cherokees | 41 | 63 | .394 | 35.5 | Ed Finney |
| South McAlester Giants / Ft. Smith Giants |
33 | 63 | .344 | 39.5 | Joe B. Roe |
Muskogee disbanded Aug 31, causing the season to be shortened to September 5.
South McAlester moved to Ft. Smith July 6.
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cy Stinson | Pittsburg | W | 22 | Cy Stinson | Pittsburg | CG | 30 | |
| Cy Stinson | Pittsburg | IP | 279 | William Burns | Pittsburg | Pct | .875; 21–3 |