Creston Cyclones

The Creston Cyclones were a minor league baseball team based in Creston, Iowa. Creston played as members of the Class D level Southwest Iowa League in 1903, joining the league in mid–season. The "Cyclones" moniker was likely a reference to a 1903 tornado that hit Creston, Iowa.

Creston Cyclones
(1903)
Creston, Iowa
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1903)
Previous leagues
Southwest Iowa League (1903)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Creston Cyclones (1903)
Previous parks
Unknown ballpark (1903)

History

The 1903 Creston Cyclones were the only minor league baseball team based in Creston, Iowa. The Creston Cyclones played as members of the six–team 1903 Southwest Iowa League, along with Atlantic, Iowa, Clarinda, Osceola, Iowa the Red Oak Blue Indians and Shenandoah, Iowa. The league started 1903 play with four teams, with Creston and Osceola, Iowa joining the league on June 29, 1903.[1][2]

On March 25, 1903, the Southwest Iowa League was formed at a meeting and E.H. Whiteside, of Atlantic, Iowa elected league president, but Creston, Iowa was concerned about the league's $400 monthly salary limit and declined to field a team initially. The league began play with four Iowa teams in Atlantic, Clarinda, Shenandoah and Red Oak were chosen as the charter member franchises and the league disallowed playing games on Sundays.[3]

After the Southwest Iowa League opened league play on May 19, 1903, a Creston independent team had formed and played numerous exhibition games against league member teams. Because of their positive play, Creston had renewed interest in joining the Southwest Iowa League. At a June 25, 1903 league meeting, Creston was awarded an immediate membership in the Southwest Iowa League. Osceola also was awarded a team, expanding the league to six teams. It is likely that the "Cyclones" moniker was a reference to a tornado that hit Creston, Iowa on May 26, 1903. One person was killed and many injured in the tornado, that also badly damaged several homes, businesses and a church.[3][4]

After beginning play in the Southwest Iowa League on June 29, 1903, Creston was competitive, but the league was unable to complete the season. The Creston Cyclones had a 24–19 record when the league folded on August 29, 1903. The Creston manager was Jack Corbett. During the season Atlantic protested an August 15 game against Creston due to umpiring.[2][5][6][7][8]

The ballpark

The name and location of the Creston ballpark is unknown. It is known that Creston played games against Osceola in the neutral town of Afton, Iowa.[3]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
19031Creston CyclonesClass DSouthwest Iowa League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
190324–193rdJack CorbettDisbanded August 29

Notable alumni
  • No Creston alumni made the major leagues

References
  1. "Southwest Iowa League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "Southwest Iowa League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  3. "The 1903 Southwest Iowa League". chapters.sabr.org.
  4. "Creston, IA Tornado, May 1903 | GenDisasters ... Genealogy in Tragedy, Disasters, Fires, Floods". www.gendisasters.com.
  5. "Creston Cyclones - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. "1903 Creston Cyclones Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1903 Southwest Iowa League (SIL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1903 Creston Cyclones Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
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