The Gary Sand Fleas were a minor league baseball team based in Gary, Indiana. In 1910, the Gary Sand Fleas were charter members of the Class D level Indiana-Michigan League and folded during the league's only season of play. Gary hosted home minor league games at Knerfs Park.
Gary, Indiana first hosted minor league baseball play in 1910, when the Gary Sand Fleas became charter members of the shortâÂÂlived 1910 Class D level Indiana-Michigan League, which formed as a sixâÂÂteam league. The league played games only on Sunday. The Berrien Springs Grays, Dowagiac, Michigan team, Elkhart Blue Sox, Ligonier, Indiana team and Niles Blues joined the Gary Sand Fleas as charter members in league play.
The Gary use of the "Sand Fleas" moniker corresponds to local natural sand dunes in Gary's location adjacent to Lake Michigan.
The 1910 Gary Sand Fleas began league play when the league opened on May 8, 1910. The Gary franchise quickly folded as the IndianaâÂÂMichigan League played their only season in a shortened season. On June 19, 1910, the Gary Sand Fleas franchise folded, with a 2âÂÂ5 record playing under managers C.R. Woods and F.E. Copeland. The Ligonier franchise folded on June 30, 1910. After their folding, the league continued play as a fourâÂÂteam league. The league then folded on August 21, 1910, with Berrien Springs in first place in the standings.
When the IndianaâÂÂMichigan League permanently folded on August 21, 1910, Berrien Springs finished 4.5 games ahead of second place Elkhart in the standings. The final IndianaâÂÂMichigan League final overall standings were led by Berrien Springs (15âÂÂ4), followed by the Elkhart Blue Sox (10âÂÂ8), Niles Blues (8âÂÂ10) and Dowagiac (7âÂÂ10). The Gary Sand Fleas had a record of 2âÂÂ5 when the team folded. Ligonier had a 2âÂÂ6 final record in their brief period of play. The IndianaâÂÂMichigan League never reformed.
It was reported in newspaper accounts that the Gary Sand Fleas continued play on a semiâÂÂpro level following their folding from the IndianaâÂÂMichigan League. The team was noted to have scheduled and played series in June 1910 against teams from Hammond and the Whiting Grays. An away series in September 1910 at Whiting was cancelled due to "weather and rain."
Gary, Indiana was without minor league baseball until the 2002 Gary SouthShore RailCats began play as members of the Northern League.
The Gary home ballpark for 1910 home games was referred to in newspaper accounts as Knerfs Park. The ballpark was noted to be located in the Tolleston area of Gary, Indiana.
The player rosters and statistics for the 1910 IndianaâÂÂMichigan League teams, Gary included, is unknown.