Kewanee Boilermakers

The Kewanee Boilermakers were founding members of the Central Association in 1908, fielding a professional team for the first time in Kewanee, Illinois. Kewanee joined the Burlington Pathfinders, Keokuk Indians, Jacksonville Lunatics, Oskaloosa Quakers, Ottumwa Packers, Quincy Gems and the Waterloo Lulus in the new 8-team league for the 1908 season.[1][2]

The use of the "Boilermakers" moniker likely tied to the local Kewanee Boiler Company, at the time a large manufacturing factory in Kewanee.[3]

Playing in the 1908 Central Association, Kewanee finished 48–79 in their first season, placing 7th in the Central Association standings. The 1909 Boilermakers finished with a 73–61 record, placing 4th. The 1910 Kewanee team finished 8th and last with a 43–91 record. The 1911 Boilermakers finished in 5th place with a record of 59–67. The Central Association did not have playoffs during those seasons.[4][1][5][6][7][8][9]

On May 20, 1911, Kewanee's John Beltz pitched a no–hitter vs. the Muscatine Camels. Kewanee won the game 6–0. Kewanee had a second no–hitter on August 29, 1912 when Tom Drohan threw a no–hitter against the Hannibal Cannibals in a 4–0 Kewanee victory.[10]

The 1912 Kewanee Boilermakers finished 2nd in the eight–team Central Association with a 74–51 record, 3.5 games behind the 1st place Streator Speedboys. Kewanee had 1912 season attendance of 19,000.[11][9][8]

In 1913, Kewanee finished 7th in the Central Association standings, 6.5 games behind the 1st place Ottumwa Packers with a 59–65 record. The Kewanee Boilermakers folded following the 1913 season, along with the Monmouth Browns. The two new teams to replace them in the 1914 Central Association were the Clinton Pilots and Marshalltown Ansons. The Central Association eventually folded after the 1917 season, before being reformed in 1947.[1][12][13][14][15]

Kewanee High School first started using the Boilermakers moniker in 1927 and continue as the Kewanee Boilermakers today.[3][16]

After folding in 1913, Kewanee was without minor league baseball for 35 years. On June 18, 1948, the Moline A's of the Central Association moved from Moline, Illinois to Kewanee and became the Kewanee A's. The team was an affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics. Moline/Kewanee finished 53–74 (36–49 in Kewanee) for 6th place in the 1948 Central Association standings. Moline had been a founding member when the Central Association reformed as a six–team league in 1947, along with the Burlington Indians, Clinton Cubs, Hannibal Pilots, Keokuk Pirates and Rockford Rox.[17][1]

In their final season, Kewanee captured the 1949 Central Association championship. The 1949 Kewanee A's finished with a regular season record of 68–60, placing 3rd in the Central Association standings, 12.5 games behind the 1st place Burlington Indians, to qualify for the playoffs. Kewanee had season attendance of 29,482, playing home games at Northeast Park. In the 1949 playoffs, Kewanee defeated the Keokuk Pirates 3 games to 0 to advance. In the Central Association Finals, Kewanee defeated the Cedar Rapids Rockets 4 games to 2 and captured the 1949 Central Association Championship. It was the last game played in the league.[1][17][18][19][20][21][22]

The Central League folded permanently after the 1949 season. Of the six Central League teams, only Cedar Rapids fielded a team in 1950. Kewanee has not fielded another minor league team.[1][23]

The Kewanee Boilermakers played at Terminal Park (1908-1913), which was also home to the Kewanee Regulars football club. Terminal Park was on Lake Street, Kewanee, Illinois.[24][25][26][27]

In 1948–1949, the Kewanee A's played at Northeast Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 2,500 (1948) and 4,000 (1949). Northeast Park is still in use today. The address is 1200 North Main Street, Kewanee, Illinois.[28][29][30]

Kewanee Boilermakers players

• Baseball Reference