Le Mars Blackbirds

The Le Mars Blackbirds became charter members of the six–team Iowa-South Dakota League in 1902. The Iowa-South Dakota League was a Class D League. The President of the Iowa-South Dakota League was J.U. Sammis, an attorney who practiced and resided in Le Mars. In their first season, the Blackbirds finished with a record of 43–48. They were 4th in the Iowa-South Dakota League standings under Managers Bobby Alberts and Bob Black. Black was a resident of Le Mars and owned a local bowling alley. A retired major league player, Black was appointed manager after being spotted watching an early game from the stands. Grandstand seats were .25 cents for Le Mars games in 1902.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

In their first season of play, Le Mars placed 4th in the 1902 Iowa-South Dakota League standings, which featured the Flandreau Indians (51–19), Le Mars Blackbirds (43–48), Rock Rapids Browns 39–52, Sheldon (14–71), Sioux City Cornhuskers (56–40) and the champion Sioux Falls Canaries (65–24).[2][8][1]

The 1903 Blackbirds won the Iowa-South Dakota League Championship. In what proved to be the final season for the Iowa-South Dakota League, the Le Mars Blackbirds finished the season with a 48–34 record. Their record was 1st in the Iowa-South Dakota League under Manager Bob Black, with Le Mars finishing 2.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Sheldon-Primghar Hyphens. No playoffs were held. The Iowa-South Dakota League permanently folded after the 1903 season.[9][10][2][3][6][11]

In a July, 1903 game, an umpire named "Lally" ejected Le Mars manager Bobby Black from a game and also fined him $5.00. After the 1903 season, each member of the 1903 Le Mars Championship team received a gold medal inscribed with "ISD Pennant Winners," the player's name and the date.[4][5]

Baseball Hall of Fame member Branch Rickey played for the Le Mars Blackbirds in 1903. A noted manager and baseball executive after his playing career, Rickey was best known for famously signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers while serving as Brooklyn's General Manager. In 1903, Manager Bob Black, signed Rickey, an Ohio native, to a contract in June, 1903 for $150 per month. A Methodist, Rickey reportedly didn't play in games on Sunday. Rickey hit .265 in 41 games for Le Mars as a catcher.[4][12][13][5]

The Le Mars Blackbirds exact ballpark is unknown. The Blackbirds ballpark is noted as possibly being Riverview or West Floyd Park, both of which still host baseball today in Le Mars, Iowa.[14][15][16]

Le Mars Blackbirds players

• Baseball Reference