Lincoln Abes

The Lincoln Abes was the name of the minor league baseball franchise based in Lincoln, Illinois. The Lincoln Abes played as members of the Class D level Illinois-Missouri League from 1910 to 1914.

Lincoln Abes
(1910–1914)
Lincoln, Illinois
Minor league affiliations
Class
League
Illinois-Missouri League (1910–1914)
Major league affiliations
Team
None
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1912
  • 1913
Team data
NameLincoln Abes (1910–1914)
BallparkFairgrounds Park* (1910–1914)

History

The Lincoln Abes began minor league baseball play as members of the six–team Class D 1910 Illinois–Missouri League. Lincoln ended the 1910 season with a record of 43 wins and 71 losses, last in the IIL. Jim Novacek and Harry Saillard served as manager. The 1910 league standings showed the Pekin Celestials 66–47, Clinton Champs 58–57, Canton Chinks 55–62, Macomb Potters 50–43, Beardstown/Jacksonville Jacks 44–36 and Lincoln Abes 43–71. Jacksonville and Macomb both disbanded on August 17, 1910, putting the Lincoln Abes in 4th place overall. The Lincoln Abes were unaffiliated with a major league baseball franchise and featured local players on their 1910 roster.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Tha Lincoln Abes moniker is undoubtedly a reference to President Abraham Lincoln, the namesake of the city and who lived in the region.[8]

In their second season, the 1911 Lincoln Abes finished 5th in the Illinois–Missouri League. The Abes finished the 1911 season with a record of 59–64 under Managers Harry Saillard, James Brady, Clarence Vaught and Jack Corbett.[9][10][3][4][11]

With the hiring of Manager Louis Ehrgott for the 1912 season, the Lincoln Abes won the first of their back–to–back Illinois–Missouri League Championships. The Abes finished the 1912 season with a record of 70–47 to finish 1st in the Illinois–Missouri League regular season, 8.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Pekin Celestials. The league had no playoff system.[12][13][3][4][14]

The Lincoln Abes repeated their championship run and won the 1913 Illinois–Missouri League Championship for the second consecutive season. The 1913 Lincoln Abes finished with a record of 57–26, 1st place in the Illinois–Missouri League season standings. Lincoln finished 5.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Champaign Velvets. Manager Louis Ehrgott again led the Abes to the championship.[15][16][3][4][17]

The Lincoln Abes' pursuit of a third straight Illinois–Missouri League championship under Manager Louis Ehrgott ended during the 1914 season. The Abes had a record of 32 wins and 15 losses and were in 1st place on July 3, 1914. Despite being in 1st place, Lincoln permanently disbanded on July 3, 1914 along with the Kankakee Kanks. The Champaign Velvets eventually captured the 1914 championship, as the remaining four-team Illinois-Missouri League permanently folded after the 1914 season. [18][19][3][4][20][21]

The ballpark

The exact location and name of the ballpark for the Lincoln Abes is unknown. It is possible the team played at the Fairgrounds, located at Lincoln Parkway & Woodlawn Road.[22]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1910–19145Lincoln AbesClass DIllinois-Missouri League

Year-by-year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
191043–714thJim Novacek/Harry SaillardyNone
191159–645thBill Salliard/James Brady/Charles Vaught/Jack CorbettNone
191270–471stLouis EhrgottLeague Champions
191357–261stLouis EhrgottLeague Champions
191432–151st*Louis EhrgottDisbanded July 2

Notable alumni

See also

Lincoln Abes players

References
  1. "1910 Lincoln Abes Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1910 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "Illinois-Missouri League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  4. "Lincoln Abes - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Arthur Sewell: Minor League Baseball at the Turn of the 20th Century – Illinois History & Lincoln Collections".
  6. Reichard, Kevin (November 4, 2008). "Illinois-Missouri League".
  7. "1910 Lincoln Abes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "City of Lincoln, Illinois". lincolnil.gov.
  9. "1911 Lincoln Abes Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1911 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1911 Lincoln Abes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1912 Lincoln Abes Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1912 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "1912 Lincoln Abes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "1913 Lincoln Abes Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "1913 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "1913 Lincoln Abes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "1914 Lincoln Abes Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. "1914 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  20. "1914 Illinois-Missouri League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. "1914 Lincoln Abes Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. "Unknown in Lincoln, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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