Vincennes Velvets

The Vincennes Velvets were preceded in Vincennes, Indiana by other minor league teams.

In 1903, the Vincennes Alices first played minor league baseball as members of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League, also known as the KITTY League. Vincennes played in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League in the 1903–1906, 1910–1911 and 1913 seasons. The team used the Vincennes Reds moniker in 1904 and the Vincennes Hoosiers moniker in 1911. In 1908, the Vincennes Alices played one season as members of the 1908 Eastern Illinois League.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

The Vincennes Alices won Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Championships in 1905, 1906 and 1910.[8][12][13][14]

Following the 1949 season, the Belleville Stags of the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League moved to Vincennes following the 1949 season. The franchise became the Vincennes Citizens in 1950, playing as an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, before operating as an independent in 1951–1952. The team changed from the "Citizens" moniker in 1950 and became the Vincennes Velvets in 1951. The name change occurred when Champagne Velvet Beer became a sponsor of the team.[15][16][17][18]

The 1950 Vincennes Citizens finished 43–76, 7th place in the eight–team Mississippi–Ohio Valley League regular season under Managers Mel Ivy and Andy Smith. Vincennes was 38.0 games behind the 1st place Centralia Sterlings in the final regular season standings. Playing at Nehi Park, Vincennes had total home attendance of 18,977, an average of 319 per game.[19][20][1]

The Vincennes Velvets finished in 6th place in 1951, 39.5 games behind the 1st place Paris Lakers in the regular season standings. With a 43–74 record under Managers Stormy Kromer and Bob Signaigo, Vincennes was last in the six–team Mississippi–Ohio Valley League standings. Vincennes had 1951 total attendance of 25,652, an average of 438 per game, 5th in the league.[21][19][22]

The franchise moved during the 1951 season. On June 7, 1952, the Vincennes Velvets moved to Canton, Illinois on June 7, 1952, where the franchise became the Canton Citizens The Vincennes/Canton team finished the 1952 season with a 54–70 record and were 6th in the eight–team Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, 31.5 games behind the 1st place Danville Dans. The Vincennes Velvets were the last minor league team in Vincennes, Indiana.[3][23][19][24][25][26]

Beginning in 1950, Vincennes teams played at Nehi Park. Nehi Park was located at 13th Street & Willow Street, Vincennes, Indiana. The ballpark was located behind the Nehi Bottling Works.[27][16][2][28]

Velvet Beer, namesake of the Vincennes Velvets

Vincennes Velvets/Canton Citizens players

Baseball Reference Bullpen