Eastern Illinois League
The Eastern Illinois League was a Class-D league in Minor League Baseball that existed during the 1907 and 1908 baseball seasons. The league president as of 1907 was L. A. G. Shoaff.{{cite book|title=1908 Spalding Guide|author=Price, G.L.|chapter=Eastern Illinois League|page=227|publisher=A.G. Spalding & Bros.|
year=1908|url=https://archive.org/stream/spaldingsbasebal09chic/spaldingsbasebal09chic_djvu.txt|accessdate=2012-06-29}} According to the 1908 Spalding Guide, the league got its start in Pana, IL and the league's "godfather" was Joe Adams, also known as "Old Wagon Tongue." In 1907, teams had a salary limit of $600.
Cities represented
- Centralia, Illinois: Centralia White Stockings (1907)
- Charleston, Illinois: Charleston Broom Corn Cutters (1907); Charleston Evangelists (1908)
- Danville, Illinois: Danville Speakers (1908)
- Linton, Indiana: Linton (1908)
- Mattoon, Illinois: Mattoon Giants (1907-1908)
- Pana, Illinois: Pana Coal Miners (1907-1908)
- Paris, Illinois: Paris Colts (1907); Paris Parisians (1908)
- Shelbyville, Illinois: Shelbyville Queen Citys (1907-1908)
- Staunton, Illinois: Staunton Speakers (1908)
- Taylorville, Illinois: Taylorville Tailors (1907-1908)
- Vincennes, Indiana: Vincennes Alices (1908)
Standings & statistics
=1907 Eastern Illinois League=
President: Charles Welvert / L.A.G. Schoaff
| class="wikitable"
!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers | |||||
| Mattoon Giants | 74 | 24 | .627| | ||
| - | Hank O'Day | ||||
| Charleston Broom Corn Cutters | 71 | 49 | .592 | 4.0 | Nig Langdon |
| Taylorville Tailors | 60 | 58 | .508 | 14.0 | Phil Ketter / Mike Ryan |
| Centralia White Stockings / Paris Colts | 51 | 67 | .432 | 23.0 | Red Kelly / Bob Shaw |
| Pana Coal Miners | 51 | 70 | .421 | 24½ | Joe Adams |
| Shelbyville Queen Citys | 50 | 69 | .420 | 24½ | J.B. Young |
| class="wikitable"
!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot | |||
| Phil Ketter | Taylorville | BA | .284 |
| Bill Bartley | Charleston | Runs | 51 |
| Phil Ketter | Taylorville | Hits | 111 |
| Andy Lotshaw | Charleston | HR | 10 |
| Grover Lowdermilk
|Mattoon |W |33 | |||
| Grover Lowdermilk
|Mattoon |SO |458 | |||
| Grover Lowdermilk
|Mattoon |ERA |0.93 |
=1908 Eastern Illinois League=
President: L.A.G. Schoaff
| class="wikitable"
!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!! Managers | |||||
| Danville Speakers / Staunton | 65 | 27 | .707| | ||
| - | W.C. Dithridge | ||||
| Taylorville Tailors | 56 | 39 | .589 | 10½ | Mike Ryan |
| Shelbyville Queen Citys | 52 | 43 | .547 | 14½ | Joe Adams |
| Vincennes Alices | 47 | 48 | .495 | 19½ | Pop Lloyd |
| Paris Parisians | 43 | 48 | .473 | 21½ | Erickstone / Eckson / Dan Jenkins / Skipper Roberts |
| Pana Coal Miners / Linton | 25 | 70 | .263 | 41½ | Sunday Hawker / Nig Langdon / Butts |
| Mattoon Giants | 32 | 45 | .416 | NA | Lefty Russell / George Kizer |
| Charleston Evangelists | 37 | 37 | .500 | NA | Kid Madden |
Danville (42-18) moved to Staunton July 17, for the second half.
Charleston and Mattoon disbanded July 30.
Shelbyville disbanded August 20, causing the league to disband.
| class="wikitable"
!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot | |||
| Art Ahring | Charleston | BA | .355 |
| Tom Fleming | Dan/Sta | Runs | 57 |
| Buck Stanley | Paris | Hits | 93 |
| Andy Biltz | Shelbyville | HR | 6 |
| Ralph Grimes
|Dan/Sta |W |19 | |||
| Joe Jenkins
|Par/Pan/Sta |SO |139 | |||
| Chet Carmichael
|Vincennes |Pct |.800; 16-4 |
Sources
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball:Second Edition.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?code=EILL&class=D Baseball Reference]
Category:Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States
Category:Baseball leagues in Illinois
Category:1907 establishments in Illinois
Category:1908 disestablishments in Illinois
Category:Sports leagues established in 1907