Nevada Lunatics

Nevada first had minor league baseball in 1901, when the Nevada Reds became founding members of the Independent Missouri Valley League.[1][2]

The Nevada team became the Nevada Lunatics in 1902. The team moniker of "Lunatics" reflected local industry, as Nevada was then home to the Missouri State Hospital for the Insane. The building was the largest building in Missouri when constructed in 1885. The Nevada State Hospital closed in 1991 and the majority of the complex was demolished in 1999.[3][4][5][6]

The Missouri Valley League was designated as a Class D league in 1902 and the newly re-named Nevada Lunatics were the Missouri Valley League Champions. with a record of 86–38, the Lunatics finished 1st in the 1902 Missouri Valley League standings under Manager James Driscoll. The league had no playoffs. Nevada finished 2.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Springfield Reds (83–40), followed by the Fort Scott Giants (80–44), Sedalia Goldbugs (72–48), Joplin Miners (56–66), Coffeyville Indians/ Chanute Oilers (41–81), Jefferson City Convicts (40–85) and Iola Gasbags (34–90).[7][8][9][10][11][12]

On August 10, 1902, the Nevada Lunatics and Jefferson City Convicts had a game that featured a double no-hitter. Both Jefferson City's Jim Courtwright and Eli Cates of Nevada pitched hit–less games in a 1–0 Nevada victory. The rare occurrence has never happened at the Major League level and has happened just 10 times at the minor league level.[13][14]

The 1903 season was the final season for minor league baseball in Nevada. The Nevada Lunatics moved from Nevada, Missouri to Webb City, Missouri on July 16, 1903. The franchise briefly continued play members of the Missouri Valley League, becoming the Webb City Goldbugs. However, the Webb City Goldbugs disbanded on July 19, 1903 after playing four games for Webb City. Nevada/Webb City had an overall record of 21–43 under Manager A. B. Cockerell when the team folded.[15][7][16][17]

Nevada teams played at Centennial Park. Centennial Park was located at North Centennial Boulevard & East Ashland Street, Nevada, Missouri. Today the site is still in use, referred to as Centennial Park Fairgrounds.[18][19][20]

• Baseball Reference Bullpen

Nevada Lunatics players