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Central Association

{{Infobox sports league

| title =Central Association

| current_season =

| current_season2 =

| last_season =

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| formerly =Iowa State League

| sport =Minor League Baseball

| replaced =

| owner =

| ceo =

| chief operating officer =

| director =

| president =M. E. Justice (1908–1916)
John F. Ford (1917)
Frank Hern (1947–1948)
Lee A. Thomas (1949)

| commissioner =

| fame =

| motto =

| inaugural =1908

| teams =30

| singles =

| country =United States of America

| venue =

| confed =

| folded =1949

| champion =

| most_champs =3
Ottumwa Speedboys (1911–1913)

| classification =Class C (1908–1917)
Class D (1947–1949)

| qualification =

| tv =

| sponsor =

| related_comps =Iowa State League
Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League

| founder =

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}}

The Central Association was an American minor league baseball league. The Central Association began play in 1908, evolving from the 1907 Iowa State League. The Central Association played continuously through 1917 before folding. The league reformed in 1947, operating as a Class C level league from 1947 to 1949, with major league affiliates for most teams.

Baseball Hall of Fame members Grover Cleveland Alexander (Galesburg), Jake Beckley (Hannibal), Burleigh Grimes (Ottumwa) and Sam Rice (Galesburg and Muscatine) are league alumni.

History

=1908 to 1917 Central Association=

The Central Association formed in 1908 with charter members: Burlington Pathfinders (Burlington, Iowa), Jacksonville Lunatics (Jacksonville, Illinois), Keokuk Indians (Keokuk, Iowa), Oskaloosa Quakers (Oskaloosa, Iowa), Ottumwa Packers (Ottumwa, Iowa), Quincy Gems (Quincy, Illinois) and the Waterloo Lulus (Waterloo, Iowa). All had been members of the 1907 Iowa State League the previous season. A new team in Kewanee, Illinois, the Kewanee Boilermakers, joined as the eighth team.

In 1909, the Oskaloosa Quakers franchise folded and the Hannibal Cannibals (Hannibal, Missouri) moved from the Illinois–Missouri League. In 1910, Jacksonville moved to the Northern Association and Waterloo moved to the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. The Galesburg Pavers (Galesburg, Illinois) and Monmouth Browns (Monmouth, Illinois) joined after having left the Illinois–Missouri League. For the 1911 season, Quincy moved to the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League and the Muscatine Camels (Muscatine, Iowa) formed and joined the league.

For 1913, Galesburg and Hannibal folded, with the Cedar Rapids Rabbits (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), and Waterloo Jays (Waterloo, Iowa) forming to join the league. In 1914, Kewanee and Monmouth folded while the Clinton Pilots (Clinton, Iowa) and Marshalltown Ansons (Marshalltown, Iowa) formed and joined the league. Ottumwa moved to Rock Island, Illinois, as the Rock Island Islanders and then again to Galesburg, as the Galesburg Pavers.

In 1915, Galesburg folded and the Mason City Claydiggers (Mason City, Iowa) formed and joined the league. The Clinton team folded during the season. The league also threw out several wins by Keokuk (1), Marshalltown (5), Waterloo (1), and Clinton (40) after the fact.

Keokuk folded in 1916, while the Clinton Pilots rejoined and the Fort Dodge Dodgers (Fort Dodge, Iowa) formed and joined the league. Burlington moved to become the Ottumwa Packers on July 20, and Muscatine also forfeited 34 wins in 1916.

In the final season, 1917, Muscatine and Ottumwa folded. The Dubuque Dubs in Dubuque, Iowa and the La Crosse Infants (La Crosse, Wisconsin) formed and joined the league. Dubuque moved to Charles City, Iowa on July 4 to become the Charles City Tractorites. Cedar Rapids moved to Clear Lake, Iowa on July 27, finishing the season as the Clear Lake Rabbits. Clinton and La Crosse both folded before the end of the season on July 17. After the season, the league, and all teams in it, folded.

=1947 to 1949 Central Association=

In 1947, a new league of the same name was created with major league affiliations. The Clinton Cubs (Chicago Cubs) in Clinton, Iowa; Hannibal Pilots (St. Louis Browns), Hannibal, Missouri; Rockford Rox (Cincinnati Reds), Rockford, Illinois; Keokuk Pirates (Pittsburgh Pirates), Keokuk, Iowa; Burlington Indians (Cleveland Indians), Burlington, Iowa, and the Moline A's, (Philadelphia A's) Moline, Illinois were the charter members of the reformed league.

In 1948, the Moline A's moved to Kewanee, Illinois to become the Kewanee A's in mid-season. In 1949, the Hannibal Pilots folded and the Cedar Rapids Rockets of Cedar Rapids, Iowa formed to join the league. Kewanee captured the 1949 championship. After the 1949 season, Cedar Rapids joined the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, and the rest of the teams, and the league itself, folded.

Cities represented

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Standings & statistics

===1908 to 1917===

1908 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers

Waterloo Lulus8837.704–Frank Boyle
Burlington Pathfinders8341.6694½Ned Egan
Quincy Gems7355.57016½Harry Hofer
Keokuk Indians5768.45631Frank Belt
Jacksonville Lunatics5669.44832Harry Berte
Oskaloosa Quakers5175.39837½Snapper Kennedy / Taylor Kensel
Kewanee Boilermakers4879.37841Harry Busse /
Andy Steveson / William Connors
Ottumwa Packers4880.37541½Billy Earle / Chuck Fleming

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

John HouseBurlingtonBA.306Harry GasparWaterlooW32
Charles RoseBurlingtonHits146Harry GasparWaterlooSO2.17
Al LinderbeckQuincy|Runs75Harry GasparWaterlooPct.889; 32–4
Al LinderbeckQuincyHR10

1909 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Burlington Pathfinders8351.620–36,884Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals8353.610130,130Bert Hough / Ben Prout
Keokuk Indians8057.5844½42,029Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers7361.5441031,228William Connors
Waterloo Lulus6469.48118½33,756Frank Boyle
Quincy Vets6273.45921½45,527Louis Cook /
Harry Hofer / Fred Bennett
Jacksonville Braves4684.3543526,908Harry Berte
Ottumwa Packers4891.34537½35,576Hugh Shannon / Arthur Owens

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Fred FenneyOttum/BurlBA.300Collis SpencerBurlingtonW27
George ManushBurlingtonHits149Joe VyskocilHannibalSO209
George ManushBurlington|Runs91Burleigh GrimesOttum/KewPct.742; 23–8
Al LinderbeckQuincyHR10
H.W. GrayJacksonvilleHR10

1910 Central Association
[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33531785/1910_central_association_schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Quincy Vets8850.638–37,213Bade Myers
Ottumwa Packers8057.5847½37,000Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals7760.56210½28,547Bill Prout / Bill Forney
Galesburg Pavers6967.5071835,031Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians6770.49320½28,160Frank Belt
Monmouth Browns6272.4592425,000Lew Drill
Burlington Pathfinders5681.40931½25,043Phil Geier
Kewanee Boilermakers4991.3504026,307William Connors / Ted Price

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Dan KerwinHannibalBA.331Charles FanningGalesburgW30
Thomas OwensQuincyHits148Charles FanningGalesburgSO320
Don SennoOttumwa|Runs84Charles FanningGalesburgPct.714; 30–12
Thomas OwensQuincyHR9Bill DonahueQuincyHR9

1911 Central Association
[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59993060/1911-central-association-schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers

Ottumwa Speedboys8741.680–Ned Egan
Burlington Pathfinders8144.6484½Richard Rohn
Galesburg Pavers6663.51221½Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians6464.50023Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers5967.46827Jay Andrews
Monmouth Browns5969.46128Claude Starke
Muscatine Camels4880.37539Harry C. Blake / Lou Walters
Pearl Holycross
Hannibal Cannibals4581.35741Jake Beckley

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Pearl HolycrossMuscatineBA.361Ray BoydOttumwaW30
Taylor KenselOttumwaHits163Ray BoydOttumwaPct.811; 30–7
George WatsonBurlington|Runs108A.J. AhringMuscatineSB79
Don SennoOttumwaHR14

1912 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Ottumwa Speedboys7950.612–23,000Ned Egan
Kewanee Boilermakers7451.592319,000George Pennington / Art Queisser
Burlington Pathfinders7353.5794½25,000Richard Rohn
Monmouth Browns7155.5636½18,000Bert Hough / Jack Corbett
R.L. Noven
Hannibal Cannibals6761.52311½NAEddie Herr / Ed Painter
Galesburg Pavers6167.47717½18,000Ducky Eberts
Keokuk Indians4976.3922817,000Art Queisser / Bill Proutt
Muscatine Wallopers3394.2604522,000Ed Coleman / Bill Kreig /
Joe Wall / Bill Clayton

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

George ManushOttumwaBA.375Bert DunnOttumwaW26
Harry ShanleyMuscatineHits176Joe SloanKeokukSO197
Harry EllisBurlington|Runs100Tom DrohanKewaneePct.800; 24–6
John SullivanOttumwaHR21

1913 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers

Ottumwa Packers7254.571–Ned Egan
Muscatine Wallopers6854.5572Frank Boyle
Monmouth Browns6462.5088Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians6263.4969½George Manush
Burlington Pathfinders6366.48810½Richard Rohn
Cedar Rapids Rabbits5965.47612Belden Hill
Kewanee Boilermakers5965.47612George Pennington / Frank Richardson
Waterloo Jays5371.42718Jay Andrews

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Dave MilliganCedar RapidsBA.320George ZackertMuscatineW22
Harry EllisBurlingtonHits156George ZackertMuscatineSO230
Harry EllisBurlington|Runs100George ZackertMuscatinePct.759; 22–7
Elmer JacobsBurlingtonSO230

1914 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers

Waterloo Jays7851.605–Jay Andrews
Burlington Pathfinders7553.5862½Tom Hayden / George Manush
Muscatine Buttonmakers7253.5764Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots6761.52310½Bert Hough
Cedar Rapids Bunnies6460.51611½Belden Hill
Keokuk Indians5276.40625½Spencer Abbott / Harry Sweet
Marshalltown Ansons5276.40625½Frank Richardson
Ottumwa Packers /
Rock Island Islanders /
Galesburg Pavers		4979.37328½Ned Egan
Ottumwa moved to Rock Island July 17. The National Association did not allow the Central Association to place a franchise in the territory of the Three-I League, so Rock Island was moved to Galesburg July 24.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Paddy SiglinWaterlooBA.322Fred MillerBurlingtonW23
John SingletonBurlingtonHits158George ZackertMuscatineSO305
Walt MeinertBurlington|Runs94W. HalperCedar RapidsPct.722; 13–5

1915 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers

Burlington Pathfinders8138.681–Richard Rohn
Muscatine Muskies6357.52518½Ned Egan / Jess Runser
Keokuk Indians5152.49522Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers5863.47924Harry Bay
Cedar Rapids Rabbits5462.46625½James Hamilton / Jack Herbert
Marshalltown Ansons4667.40732Frank Richardson / Bob Lynch
Waterloo Jays5274.41332½Jay Andrews / Eddie Brennan
Clinton Pilots1369.159NAGeorge Manush
Clinton disbanded in mid-season.
Wins taken away: Clinton 40, Keokuk 18, Marshalltown 5, Waterloo 1.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Bill CollinsCedar RapidsBA.337Grover BaichleyBurlingtonW23
Walt MeinertBurlingtonHits137Dick BlunkBurlingtonW23
Walt MeinertBurlington|Runs97Grover BaichleyBurlingtonPct.697; 23–10
Harmon HagmonBurlingtonHits137Grover BaichleyBurlingtonSO310
Cliff LeeMuscatineHR9
Lyle SoursMuscatineHR9

1916 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers

Marshalltown Ansons7750.606–Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots7351.5892½Jim Drohan / Larry Brown
Cedar Rapids Rabbits6264.49214½Jack Herbert / Billy Collins
Burlington Pathfinders /
Ottumwa Packers		6264.49214½Richard Rohn / George Boelzle
Waterloo Shamrocks5867.46418Eddie Brennan
Mason City Claydiggers5076.39726½Harry Bay
Fort Dodge Dodgers4186.32336Paul Turgeon / Babe Towne
Muscatine Muskies4544.506NANed Egan
Burlington moved to Ottumwa July 20.
Muscatine forfeited 34 wins.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Babe EllisonMuscatineBA.361Dick BlunkOttumwaW24
Babe EllisonMuscatineHits178H. W. FlanaganMuscatineSO266
Charles ReinhartMuscatine|Runs104Ken PennerMarshalltownERA1.41
Albert DurhamMusca/MarshHR18

1917 Central Association

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers

Marshalltown Ansons6434.653–Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers5438.5877Dan O'Leary
Waterloo Loons5042.54311Ned Egan
Cedar Rapids Rabbits /
Clear Lake Rabbits		3952.42921½W. Collins /
Jay Andrews / Harry Shanley
Dubuque Dubs /
Charles City Tractorites		4054.42622George Hughes
Fort Dodge Dodgers3757.39425Charley Stis
Clinton Pilots4033.548NALarry Brown
La Crosse Infants2943.403NAMike Malloy / Jay Andrews
Dubuque moved to Charles City July 4; Clinton & La Crosse disbanded July 17; Cedar Rapids moved to Clear Lake July 27.
Season ended August 7 with National Association permission.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Bing MillerClintonBA.337Red TorkelsonMarshalltownW20
Bing MillerClintonHits106Frank UlchLa Cros/CedarERA1.25
Joe WilkesClin/Charl|Runs69
John MokanFt. DodgeHR9

{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1=Lloyd Johnson |editor2=Miles Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}

===1947 to 1949===

1947 Central Association
[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59993279/1947-central-association-schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Clinton Cubs7351.589–59,553Robert Peterson
Hannibal Pilots6956.5524½40,490Herb Nordquist
Rockford Rox6857.5445½67,938Cyril Pfeifer
Keokuk Pirates6164.48812½44,332Frank Oceak
Burlington Indians5272.4192137,138Paul O'Dea
Moline A's5174.40822.527,479Elwood Wheaton
Playoffs: Clinton 3 games, Rockford 2; Hannibal 3 games, Keokuk 1.
Finals: Clinton 4 games, Hannibal 1.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Edward WiltseeClintonBA.387Charles FunkHannibalW19
Roy SieversHannibalHits159Charles FunkHannibalSO145
Roy SieversHannibal|Runs121Stan WnetrzakClintonERA1.72
Roy SieversHannibalRBI141Roy SieversHannibalHR34

1948 Central Association
[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59993365/1948-central-association-schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team Standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Clinton Cubs7947.627–53,133Nelson Burbrink / Lee Eilbracht
Burlington Indians6862.5231370,359Paul O'Dea /
Ski Melillo / Bruno Haas
Hannibal Pilots6762.51913½41,124Walter DeFreitas
Keokuk Pirates6167.4771954,694Phil Seghi
Rockford Rox5672.4382443,133Cyril Pfeifer / Paul O'Dea
Moline A's /
Kewanee A's		5374.41726½38,088Joe Glenn
Moline (17–25) moved to Kewanee June 18.
Playoffs: Clinton 4 games, Burlington 2; Keokuk 4 games, Hannibal 1.
Finals: Clinton 4 games, Keokuk 0.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player Statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Gus BellKeokukBA.319Ronald McLelandHannibalW18
Billy KlausClintonlHits167Calvin HoweClintonW18
Elzer MarxClinton|Runs108Wesley CarrClintonSO163
Dwight MaxhimerClintonRBI105Merrill MerkleHannibalSO163
John TannerKeokukHR23Ronald McLelandHannibalERA2.39

1949 Central Association
[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59993494/1949-central-association-schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Team Standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Burlington Indians8148.628–57,915Lloyd Brown
Keokuk Pirates7454.5786½38,931Charlie Hargreaves
Kewanee A's6860.53112½29,482Harold Hoffman
Cedar Rapids Rockets6367.48518½84,185Packy Rogers
Clinton Steers6165.48418½35,764Adolph Matulis / Joe Blake
Rockford Rox3891.2954319,304Robert Dill / Fred Lietz
Playoffs: Cedar Rapids 3 games, Burlington 0; Kewanee 3 games, Keokuk 0.
Finals: Kewanee 4 games, Cedar Rapids 2.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Player Statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Harry MinorKeokukBA.350Walter RushBurlingtonW16
John MillerKewaneeHits158John GraneyClintonSO164
George SopkoKeokuk|Runs120Harry PritzKeokukERA1.32
John TannerCedar RapidsRBI121
John TannerCedar RapidsHR37

Playoffs: Cedar Rapids beat Burlington 3 games to 0; Kewanee beat Keokuk 3 games to 0.
Finals: Kewanee defeated Cedar Rapids 4 games to 2.

References

  • Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. Minor League Baseball Standings:All North American Leagues, Through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland. {{ISBN|0-7864-0781-6}}

{{reflist}}

{{Professional Baseball}}

Category:1908 establishments in the United States

Category:Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States

Category:Baseball leagues in Illinois

Category:Baseball leagues in Missouri

Category:Baseball leagues in Iowa

Category:Sports leagues established in 1908

Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 1917

Category:Sports leagues established in 1947

Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 1949

Category:Baseball leagues in Wisconsin