Maryville Comets

Minor league baseball began in to Maryville, when the 1910 Maryville Comets began play as charter members of the six–team Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League. The league became known informally as the MINK League. Maryville played with the Auburn Athletics, Clarinda Antelopes, Falls City Colts, Nebraska City Foresters and Shenandoah Pin Rollers as charter members in the new league.[1][2][3]

The "Comets" moniker for Maryville likely derived from the 1910 appearance of Halley's Comet as well as the meaning of a team starting a season on a winning streak. Local newspapers used the term "Joe Wentz' Comets" in describing the Maryville team in 1910 and the team continued the name in 1911.[4]

Maryville finished the 1910 season with a record of 45–54, placing 5th in the MINK standings, 13.0 games behind the champion Falls City Colts. The Comets were led by player/manager Joe Wentz, who also led the league in hitting with a .304 average. Playing home games at the their home ballpark, Maryville's total season attendance was 8,349, an average of 169 fans per game.[5][3][1][6][7][8][9][10][11]

In their final season, the Maryville Comets won the 1911 Missouri-Illinois-Nebraska-Kansas League championship. However, the franchise relocated during the season. On July 10, 1911, the Maryville Colts had a 24–21 record when franchise relocated to Humboldt, Nebraska, finishing the 1911 season as the Humboldt Infants (the team in Humboldt has also been referred to as the "Indians" and "Orphans"). Maryville/Humboldt finished the 1911 season with a 59–41 overall record under Managers Harry Sievers and A.F. Bridges, finishing 2.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Falls City Colts in the six-team league. Maryville has not hosted another minor league franchise.[12][6][13][14][15][9][16][17][18]

The exact name and location of the Maryville Comets home ballpark is unknown. It was possibly called Kiffe's Ballpark.[19][20]

No Maryville alumni reached the major leagues.

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