Redfield Reds

{{Infobox Minor League Baseball

| name =Redfield Reds

| firstseason =1920

| lastseason =1921

| allyears =

| city =Redfield, South Dakota

| logo =

| uniformlogo =

| class level =Class D (1920–1921)

| league =South Dakota League (1920)
Dakota League (1921)

| majorleague =None

| nickname =Redfield Reds (1920–1921)

| ballpark =College Park (1920–1921)
Armandale Park (1920–1921)

| classnum =

| classchamps =

| leaguenum =0

| leaguechamps =None

| confnum =

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| wildcardnum =

| wildcardberths =

}}

The Redfield Reds were a minor league baseball team based in Redfield, South Dakota. In 1920 and 1921, the Reds played as members of the South Dakota League in 1920 and Dakota League in 1921. Redfield hosted home minor league games at College Park, also playing select Sunday games at Armandale Park.

History

In 1920, Redfield "Reds" began minor league play as members of the South Dakota League, which formed as an eight–team Class D level league, with all franchises based in South Dakota. The league was the first professional baseball in South Dakota since a Sioux Falls team had played in the 1902–1903 Iowa-South Dakota League. Joining Redfield in the 1920 South Dakota League as charter franchises were the Aberdeen Boosters, Huron Packers, Madison Greys, Miller Climbers, Mitchell Kernels, Sioux Falls Soos and Wessington Springs Saints teams.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SDAK&class=D|title=South Dakota League (D) Encyclopedia and History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/20081105997/minor-league-baseball/news/south-dakota-league-dakota-league|title=South Dakota League / Dakota League|first=Kevin|last=Reichard|date=November 5, 2008}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.capjournal.com/news/dakota-life-america-s-pastime-goes-way-back-way-back-in-south-dakota/article_34a262b8-1e3f-11e6-a4d9-57538b0b8f9a.html|title=Dakota Life: America's pastime goes way back, way back in South Dakota|first=Lee Zion|last=Lee.zion@capjournal.com|website=Capital Journal}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.historynet.com/baseball-in-the-west-2.htm|title=Baseball in the West|first=Gregory|last=Lalire|date=March 31, 2011|website=HistoryNet}}

In their first season of play, the 1920 Redfield Reds finished in fifth place in the South Dakota League. Playing under managers Ollie Pickering and Harry Halstead, Redfield finished 14.0 games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels, who won their first of three consecutive championships. Redfield had a 46–49 record.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-DAKL/y-1920|title=1920 South Dakota League (SDL) Standings on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=3e1db749|title=1923 North Dakota League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1920 Redfield Reds Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

In 1921, the Redfield Reds continued play as the league changed names to the Dakota League, renaming after adding the Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins, based in North Dakota and Minnesota. Baseball play on Sunday had been illegal in North Dakota until the law was repealed in 1920, a positive for early professional teams, who needed the revenue from large Sunday crowds to remain financially viable. The Dakota league remained an eight–team Class D level league, with 13–player rosters. The 1921 league members joining Redfield in Dakota League play were the Aberdeen Grays, Huron Packers, Madison Greys, Mitchell Kernels, Sioux Falls Soos, Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins and Watertown Cubs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-DAKL/y-1921|title=1921 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://ndbaseball.weebly.com/|title=North Dakota Baseball History|website=North Dakota Baseball History}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-DAKL/y-1921|title=1921 Dakota League (DL) on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-DAKL/y-1922|title=1922 Dakota League (DL) on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1921 Redfield Reds Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

In their final season of play, the Redfield Reds placed fourth in the 1921 Dakota League final standings. Redfield ended the season with a 47–46 record, playing under managers Henry Wingfield and Harry Halstead and finished 15.5 games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels in the league standings.

Redfield folded following the 1921 season and did not return to the 1922 Dakota League. Redfield, South Dakota has not hosted another minor league team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Redfield, South Dakota Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

The ballparks

The Redfield Reds were noted to have played home games at College Park. The ballpark was located at 502 East 2nd Street in Redfield, South Dakota, at the site of the former Redfield College, which also offered high school courses and closed in 1932.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2233|title=College Park in Redfield, SD minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{cite book|last=Nolan|first=Leta Anne|title=History of the Spink County Area|year=1989|location=Dallas|publisher=Curtis Media Corp.|pages=43–44|isbn=0-88107-152-8}}

Redfield was referenced to have played select Sunday minor league home games at Armandale Park. Still in use today as a public park, the ballpark was located at 391st Avenue & 151st Street in Mellette, South Dakota.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2234|title=Armadale Park in Redfield, SD minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://southdakota.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,1253683,n,armadale%20park.cfm|title=Armadale Park (in Spink County, SD)}}