Missouri Valley League

The Missouri Valley League was an American minor league baseball league which operated from 1901 through 1905.

History

The Missouri Valley league formed in 1901 as an Independent league. The league consisted of teams in Kansas and Missouri: Columbus, Kansas, Fort Scott Memphis Route, Galena, Kansas, Joplin Colts, Monett Railroadmen, Nevada Reds, Oswego, Kansas and Pittsburg Coal Barons. 1901 league records and standings are unknown.

In 1902, The teams in Nevada, Missouri, Fort Scott, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri remained. Sedalia, Missouri; Coffeyville, Kansas; Jefferson City, Missouri; Iola, Kansas and Springfield, Missouri joined as the Missouri Valley League became designated as a Class D level league. On June 23, the Coffeyville Indians, with a 9–30 record, relocated to Chanute, Kansas, where they compiled a 32–51 record.

In the 1903 season, the teams in Chanute and Jefferson City folded. New teams in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Pittsburg, Kansas, formed and joined the league. The Nevada team, with a record of 21–39, relocated to Webb City, Missouri, on July 13, where their record was 0–4. The teams from Leavenworth and Webb City folded mid–season on July 16.

In 1904, new teams in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Topeka, Kansas, formed and joined the league. After the 1904 season, the Missouri Valley League essentially reformed under a different name as five member teams formed under a new league. Joplin, Leavenworth, Sedalia, Springfield, and Topeka all joined the new 1905 Western Association. The Iola franchise folded. The Fort Scott and Pittsburg franchises remained in the 1905 Class C level Missouri Valley League. In 1905, South McAlester moved to Ft. Smith on July 6. Muskogee disbanded on August 31, causing the Missouri Valley League to end on September 5.

Cities represented

• Chanute, KS: Chanute Oilers (1902)
• Columbus, KS: Columbus (1901)
• Coffeyville, KS: Coffeyville Indians (1902)
• Fort Scott, KS: Fort Scott Memphis Route (1901); Fort Scott Giants (1902–1905)
• Fort Smith, AR: Fort Smith Giants (1905)
• Galena, KS: Galena (1901)
• Iola, KS: Iola Gasbags (1902); Iola Gaslighters (1903); Iola Gasbags (1904)
• Jefferson City, MO: Jefferson City Convicts (1902)
• Joplin, MO: Joplin Colts (1901); Joplin Miners (1902–1904)
• Leavenworth, KS: Leavenworth White Sox (1903); Leavenworth Orioles (1904)
• McAlester, OK: South McAlester Giants (1905)
• Monett, MO: Monett Railroadmen (1901)
• Muskogee, OK: Muskogee Reds (1905)
• Nevada, MO: Nevada Reds (1901); Nevada Lunatics (1902–1903)
• Oswego, KS: Oswego (1901)
• Parsons, KS: Parsons Preachers (1905)
• Pittsburg, KS: Pittsburg Coal Barons (1901); Pittsburg Coal Diggers (1903–1904); Pittsburg Miners (1905)
• Sedalia, MO: Sedalia Gold Bugs (1902–1904)
• Springfield, MO: Springfield Reds (1902); Springfield Midgets (1903–1904)
• Topeka, KS: Topeka Saints (1904)
• Tulsa, OK: Tulsa Oilers (1905)
• Vinita, OK: Vinita Cherokees (1905)
• Webb City, MO: Webb City Goldbugs (1903, 1905)

Standings & statistics

1902 Missouri Valley League

schedule Coffeyville (9–30) moved to Chanute June 23.

1903 Missouri Valley League

schedule Nevada (21–39) moved to Webb City July 13, then disbanded July 16; Leavenworth disbanded July 16.

1904 Missouri Valley League

schedule

1905 Missouri Valley League

schedule South McAlester moved to Ft. Smith July 6.; Muskogee disbanded Aug 31; season to be shortened to September 5.<br />

References

Further reading

• Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. Minor League Baseball Standings: All North American Leagues, Through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland.