Rock Island Islanders

Tracing back to 1879, Quad City professional baseball includes Minor League teams in Davenport, Iowa, Moline, Illinois and Rock Island, Illinois, as well as nearby Kewanee, Illinois. The 1879 Davenport Brown Stockings played one season in the Northwestern League. In 1901, the Islanders were charter members of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, along with the Bloomington Blues, Cedar Rapids Rabbits, Davenport River Rats, Decatur Commodores, Evansville River Rats, Rockford Red Sox and Terre Haute Hottentots. The Davenport team set the foundation of the Quad Cities River Bandits franchise that exists today.[3][4]

With the Quad Cities area supporting two teams in this era, in 1914 a third Quad City team was added when the Moline Plowboys joined the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League, claiming Championships in 1915, 1921 and 1937. A fourth area team, the nearby Kewanee Boilermakers were members of the Central Association (1908–1913, 1948–1949).[5][6]

The Rock Island Islanders first played 1883 as an Independent League team. The 1892 Rock Island-Moline Twins played in the final season of the Illinois-Iowa League, which folded after the season. In 1894, Rock Island played as a member of the Western Association as the Rock Island-Moline Islanders that season. The Islanders captured Western Association Championships in 1894 (72–50).[7][8]

The Rock Island Tri-Cities played in the only season of the Eastern Iowa League in 1895, but were expelled from the league on June 14, 1895 (along with the Clinton Bridegrooms) with a 14–18 record. In 1898, playing in the Western Association, the Islanders disbanded after two other teams had already disbanded that season, causing the Western Association to disband on June 26, 1998. In 1899, the Islanders were in 1st place (28–8), when the Western Association disbanded on June 16, 1899. All the early Rock Island teams were managed by Rock Island native Harry Sage.[9][10][11][12][8][13]

In 1901, the Rock Island Islanders were charter members of the new Class D Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (Three-I League), along with the Bloomington Blues, Cedar Rapids Rabbits, Davenport River Rats, Decatur Commodores, Evansville River Rats, Rockford Red Sox and Terre Haute Hottentots.[6]

The Rock Island Islanders won two Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League Championships in an era without playoffs, finishing 84–47 in 1907 and 90–48 in 1909. Both teams were managed by Jack Tighe.[6]

After the Islanders finished last (58–79) in the 1911 Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. Rock Island was replaced by the Springfield Senators in the 1912 Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League.[6]

The Rock Island Islanders briefly regained a franchise in 1914, when the Central Association member Ottumwa Packers moved to Rock Island on July 17, 1914. However, on July 24, 1914, after a few games in Rock Island, the franchise was forced to play the remainder of the season in Galesburg, Illinois after losing a territorial dispute with the Three-I League. They played as the Galesburg Pavers in their remaining 1914 games.The franchise did not return in 1915.[14][15]

In 1916, the Rock Island Islanders rejoined the Mississippi Valley League, playing alongside the Moline Plowboys and Davenport Blue Sox. Rock Island was in 4th place (36–25) when the Three-I League halted play on July 8, 1917. The league did not return in 1918, with the nation invested in World War I, but resumed in 1919 without Rock Island. The Islanders rejoined the league in 1920–1921, finishing last in both seasons. Overall, the Islanders played in the Mississippi Valley League in 1901–1911, 1916–1917 and 1920–1921.[16]

The Islanders left the Mississippi Valley League after the 1921 season. Rock Island joined the 1922 Mississippi Valley League as a charter member, along with the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, Dubuque Climbers, Marshalltown Ansons, Ottumwa Cardinals and Waterloo Hawks. The Mississippi Valley League was founded by Rock Island native Michael H. Sexton. Sexton was then president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, after having served as president of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. The Rock Island Islanders remained as members of the Mississippi Valley for the league's entire existence (1922–1933). The Moline Plowboys joined the Mississippi Valley League in 1923 and the Davenport Blue Sox in 1928.[17][18]

The Rock Island Islanders and Davenport Blue Sox faced each other in the Mississippi Valley League Championship series in 1932 and 1933. Rock Island won the 1932 Championship, defeating Davenport in six games. Davenport defeated the Islanders to win the 1933 Championship in the final season of the Mississippi Valley League.[3][19]

After joining the Western League in 1934, the Islanders were 19–46 in the 1935 Western League, when the franchise folded on July 17, 1935. In 1936, the Omaha Robin Hoods of the Western League moved to Rock Island on August 18, 1936 after their ballpark was destroyed by fire. The franchise was called the Rock Island Rocks for the remainder of the 1936 season.[16]

The Rock Island Islanders and Davenport Blue Sox were both members of the Western League in 1937. The Rock Island Islanders franchise folded permanently on July 7, 1937. The Western League itself then folded after the season.[3][16]

The Islanders captured league championships in 1894, 1899, 1907, 1909 and 1932.

Rock Island Islanders at Douglas Park, 1920

Rock Island Islanders teams until 1917 played at the 12th Street Grounds. The ballpark was located on the North end of 12th street, near the railroad tracks in Rock Island Illinois.[20]

Beginning in 1920, the Islanders played home games at Douglas Park. The historic park and ballfield are still in use today. Notably, Douglas Park also was the site of the first National Football League game on September 26, 1920, hosted by the Rock Island Independents. Douglas Park is located at 18th Avenue and 10th Street, Rock Island, Illinois, 61201.[2][21][22]

Rock Islanders and Douglas Field Photos: Scenectedy Science Museum Presents: Douglas Park - Rock Island Illinois - Former Rock Island Islanders