Hiawatha Athletics

The Hiawatha Athletics was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Hiawatha, Kansas. Hiawatha played as members of the Class D level Eastern Kansas League in 1910 and the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League in 1912.

Hiawatha Athletics
1910–1912
(1910, 1912)
Hiawatha, Kansas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1910, 1912)
Previous leagues
Eastern Kansas League (1910)
Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League (1912)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Hiawatha Indians/Boosters (1910)
Hiawatha Athletics (1912)
Previous parks
League Park (1910, 1912)

History

The Hiawatha Indians first brought minor league baseball to Hiawatha, Kansas in 1910. The Indians played as charter members of the 1910 Class D level Eastern Kansas League. Other league members beginning the season were Seneca, Kansas, Sabetha, Kansas, Holton, Kansas, Horton, Kansas and Marysville, Kansas. After beginning league play on June 8, 1910, Hiawatha finished their 1910 season with a record of 44–44 to place 3rd in the Eastern Kansas League standings under managers Spec Willey, Swift and Pepper Williford. Hiawatha finished 12.5 games behind the 1st place Sabetha team in the six–team league. The Eastern Kansas League permanently folded after their only season in 1910. The 1910 Hiawatha team was also referred to as the "Boosters."[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Minor league baseball returned to Hiawatha in 1912. The 1912 Hiawatha Athletics began play as members of the Class D level Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League, known informally as the MINK League. On July 4, 1912, Falls City Colts pitcher Ed Finch threw the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League's only no–hitter in a 7–0 Falls City victory over the Hiawatha Athletics.The Athletics finished the 1910 season with a record of 35–66, placing 6th in the six–team MINK standings. Hiawatha finished 27.0 games behind the champion Falls City Colts. The Athletics played under managers Robert Kahl and Jack Forester. The Hiawatha franchise permanently folded after the 1912 season as the Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League reduced to four teams for their final season in 1913. The Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers also folded following the 1912 season. Hiawatha has not hosted another minor league team.[10][11][12][13][14][15][5][16]

The ballpark

The Hiawatha teams played home games at League Park in Hiawatha, Kansas. The address and location of League Park are unknown[17]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
19101Hiawatha IndiansClass DEastern Kansas League
19121Hiawatha AthleticsMissouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
191044–443rdSpec Willey / Swift / Pepper WillifordNone
191035–666thRobert Kahl / Jack ForesterNone

Notable alumni

No Hiawatha alumni reached the major leagues

References
  1. "Hiawatha Indians Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "Eastern Kansas League (EKL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1910 Eastern Kansas League (EKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "Eastern Kansas League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "1913 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1910 Hiawatha Boosters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "Baseball in Kansas, 1867-1940 - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org.
  8. "1910 Hiawatha (KS) Eastern Kansas League roster". June 16, 1910. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  9. "1910 Eastern Kansas League schedule". June 17, 1910. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  10. "1910 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska- Kansas League (MINKL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "MINK League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  12. Reichard, Kevin (November 5, 2008). "Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas (MINK) League".
  13. "1912 Hiawatha Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "Hiawatha Athletics - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  15. "1912 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. "Minor League No-Hitters 1910-1919 - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  17. "League Park in Hiawatha, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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