6-12-2013

Nebraska State League 1933-1938

Western League 1939-1941

Nebraska State League

The Nebraska State League had four different reincarnations – all in class “D”. From 1910 to July 18, 1915, the league fielded eight teams each season from Nebraska cities which included Beatrice, Columbus, Fairbury, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Norfolk, Red Cloud, Seward, Superior and York. The most famous alumni from that period was Dazzy Vance.

The second attempt lasted only two years (1922-23) and involved six Nebraska towns of Beatrice, Fairbury, Grand Island, Hastings, Lincoln and Norfolk.

This site will consider the league's third try which lasted from 1928 to 1938 and included the South Dakota cities of Mitchell and Sioux Falls. Even though the organization had a class “D” designation, it was actually a "rookie" league (at least into the early 1930s). Each team's manager was the only person allowed to have any experience in a higher classification. Thus, the league's players were high school graduates, college players and former semi-pro stars with little or no professional experience. However, after it's first season, players were allowed to return to the league if they did not succeed in at a higher level.

Clubs had a roster limit of 20 players on opening day but had to cut down to 14 within ten days. Each team had a $1,400 per month salary limit.

In the beginning, the league clubs pooled their income through the league president. Each team contributed $2,000 to join the league and each city had to provide a ballpark lease-free with the league providing a groundskeeper. With the team's funds, President James E. Beltzer purchased 18 automobiles which provided the transportation for the teams. All revenues from ticket sales, park advertising, player sales, etc. were pooled and divided equally between the teams. Beltzer got a salary of $1,800 that would only be paid if the league was profitable. The Sporting News reported that Beltzer did not earn a salary during the league's first two seasons.

Before the second season, the team owners voted to continue that revenue sharing plan for 1929. But, by February 1930, it was discovered that the league had nearly $5,000 in unpaid bills from the 1929 season. Each team was solicited $1,500 in order to pay the existing bills and make the first payment on eight autobuses as it was assumed that the teams would travel by league-owned buses during the 1930 season.

In the spring of 1930, president Beltzer was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. During the short term, league Vice President Charles Moon became acting president and then J. Roy Carter, a prominent Norfolk druggist, became league president pending the return of Beltzer. Carter found the league finances in worse condition than was originally reported. Against the odds, the league decided to play the season. They finished the season on a high note with Landis Field in Lincoln adding lights which allowed the first reported night game for a class "D" league.

After the 1931 season, the league abandoned it's socialistic-type financial agreements as the home teams were able to keep more of its own gate receipts. This properly put pressure on each individual team to maximize their own attendance. Also, Robert C. Russell became the new league president.

In 1932, the league still set a 14-player limit and had a maximum monthly salary limit of $1,225 per team. Each player received $75.00 per month and the managers $250.00. During the '32 season, The Los Angeles Times published an article siting the NSL as an example of a baseball minor league that was surviving the depression. They stated that the league was maintaining fiscal responsibility by rigorously enforcing the salary cap.

1933

In 1933 the league was reduced to a four-team league with Grand Island, McCook and North Platte dropping out and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, joining the league. The league attempted to add a franchise in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but returning President Beltzer was unsuccessful in that venture. Before the start of the season, salaries were reduced to $50.00 per player and $200 a month for a manager. Admission prices were reduced to 35 cents and all Sunday doubleheaders were eliminated. The season started the third week of May and ended the final week of August. Spring training for each club was completed in their home parks.

During the season, the league got into such financial difficulty that it looked like they would not finish the season. The St. Louis Cardinals then came to the rescue by offering $2,000 to each team in exchange receiving the rights to two players from each team or eight players in total.

The Sioux Falls Canaries manager was Rex Stucker who had played class “A” ball in 1920 for Sioux City in the Western League and in 1922 for Watertown, SD, and Sioux Falls in the Dakota League. After that league ended play, he finished the year with Norfolk in the Nebr. State League. In 1924 he became employed by the Sioux City Stockyards to establish the company's semi-pro team which became a very successful Midwest team. Later in the 1920s, he coached semi-pro teams in Merrill, Iowa, and Sioux City.

In 1930, Stucker moved to Sioux Falls and started a salaried team, the “Canaries”, which was still classified as “semi-pro”. The club became one of the Midwest's best teams winning prestigious tournaments in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Denver. After the 1932 tournaments, the team entered into the NSL.

Stucker

Stucker had all rookies except pitcher Virgil David who had played two years in class “B” but was not a factor during the season as he was released in early August, three-year pro third baseman Howard Goetschel also a non-factor, Eugene Strother who was a second baseman with two years experience and Oris Hockett who also had two pro seasons under his belt. Five other players had one year of professional play.

The Canaries were competitive and finished only 3 ½ games out of first place in the complete season standings. In the first half, they were 17-17 in mid-June and 21-20 at the end of June. They were still in the race in July 1 with a 23-21 record, but then lost eight of their next nine to end in third place (24-29) at the completion of the first half.

During the second half, Sioux Falls was in first place (10-8) in early August and in second by mid-August (16-13), 2 games back. At the end of the second half, they had a 33-20 record but it was second-best to Beatrice.

Catcher Ralph Brandon played in every game hitting .316 and he was joined by league fielding leader (.990) first baseman Shirley Bosse (.306) as the only other player to appear in all 106 games. All three outfield regulars hit over .300 – Oris Hockett [also known as Hockett Brown](.337) in 103 contests led the team in triples (14), tied in home runs (9) and was a league All Star; Lynn King (.302 – led team with 23 doubles) in 97 games and George Proost (.323) who appeared in 92 games. Proost led the team with the highest average, OBP and was tied for the home run lead.

Other regulars appeared to be infielders John Calhoun (2b/.252/70 games), Danzell Mitchell (SS/.254/95) and Ike Olk (.247/80).

Leading the pitching staff were four starters: Wilmer Schroder (242 innings/4.31 ERA), William Harrison (199/4.59), Stan Conaway (198/4.05) and Doug Gillette (183/5.05). Conaway led the team with the most wins (13) and lowest ERA (4.05). Schroder had the best WHIP with a 1.28.

Early in the year, a new lighting system was installed at Sioux Falls' home park “carrying all the latest improvements in flood lights”.

During a doubleheader on June 19, Ralph Brandon was walked six straight times.

1933 Standings

Sioux Falls 1933 Batting:

Sioux Falls 1933 Pitching:

Oris Hockett

Oris Leon “Brown” Hockett was born in Amboy, IN, on September 29, 1909, and played for the Sioux Falls clubs of 1933 and 1935.

In September 1938 he reached the majors with the Dodgers as an outfielder where he appeared in 21 games hitting .329 with a .365 OBP. His 1939 season produced only 9 major league games as he hit .231 with 13 at bats. The rest of the season was in the American Association at Milwaukee. His complete 1940 year was in the Southern Association and that is where he played nearly all of the 1941 season, however, late in the year he became the property of the Cleveland Indians with whom he was in 2 games (2-for-6).

During the war years of 1942-44 (with 3 children, he was listed 1-A) Hockett was an Indians nearly full time outfielder seeing action in 148, 141, 124 and 106 games batting .250, .276, .289 and .293. He was chosen for the '44 All Star game. On December 12, 1944, he was traded to the White Sox for Eddie Carnett.

Hockett's final pro year was 1945 with the White Sox where he batted .293 in 106 games. Throughout his MLB career, Oris hit .276 with a .329 OBP and .365 slugging in 551 games and 2,165 at bats. He fielded .974 in 520 games as an outfielder.

As a minor leaguer, he played in 859 games over 9 seasons batting .333 with one year in class AAA.

After baseball, Hockett became a machinist for 30 years and died at age 59 on March 23, 1969, at Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, CA. Burial was at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, CA.

Lynn King

Lynn Paul King ("Dig") was born in Villisca, IA, on November 28, 1907. He played for the Sioux Falls Canaries in 1933 (NSL) and 1946 (Northern -.333, 0 HR, 27 RBI) as their player/manager. He attended Drake University.

Lynn had his first major league chances in September 1935 for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was 4 for 22 in 8 games as an outfielder. The left handed batter was back for 78 games in 1936 with 25 of those appearances as a pinch hitter (5 hits) aa he hit only .190 for the season.

He had one more chance in 1939 for the Cards with 89 games (10 for 35 as a pinch hitter) and a .235 average. In 175 MLB games, he hit .208 with a .302 OBP and .237 slugging %. Lynn had 84 appearances in the outfield (.986 fielding ave.). In the minors from 1933-1943 and 1945-1946, he played with 12 teams. He was at "AAA" for eight seasons hitting over .300 in two of them.

King served in the U S Army Air Corps during World War II. and was inducted into the Iowa Hall of Fame for his football and baseball play. He died on May 11, 1972, in Atlantic, IA, after being in failing health for some time. He is buried at the Villisca Cemetery.

1934

In 1934, the Cardinals' agreement stated that they had rights to as many league players as they wanted and they agreed to offer contracts to at least four players. League maximum salaries remained at $50.00 per month for players and $200 per month for managers. Admission was reduced to 35 cents and the league president became J. Roy Carter with Rex Stucker as the Vice President. The teams were allowed one player with higher then class “A” experience and four with significant class “A” playing time.

Carter (at left)

The Washington Post reported that a number of graduates of the Ray Donn Baseball School of Hot Springs, Arkansas, joined the NSL for the 1934 season.

The season started on May 15th and closed August 27^th and a split-season structure was continued. Norfolk won the first half with a record of 34-18. Beatrice won the second half at 33-18. Beatrice defeated Norfolk in the playoffs.

Sioux Falls was 13-19 by mid-June in third place and finished the first half with a 21-34 record in last place. During the second half they finished above .500 at 29-26.

Looking at the season as a whole, Rex Stucker's club finished deep in third place 19 games back as there were only two regulars who hit .300. Catcher Ralph Brandon (.300) again played in every game for the club and led in OBP (.484), doubles (29), home runs (8) and was tied for the most home runs (8). Outfielder Eph Lobaugh also batted .300 and led the team in triples (9) and stolen bases (40). Other outfield regulars were George Rohde (.291) and Jim Horio (.264). Horio was a Japanese-American who grew up in Hawaii and was considered the Ty Cobb of the Nisei, winning high praise from Babe Ruth and other Americans who competed against him in Japan after the 1934 NSL season. Horio played in Japan full time from 1936 through 1941 when he returned to the States due to worsening tensions with the United States. He is recognized as the first American to play pro ball in Japan based on his 1934 appearances.

First base was a group effort with Vic Koslowski (.215 – 68 g)) seeing the most action, but [first name unknown] Pederson was signed out of Luther College and hit much better at .273 but played in 44 less games. [first name unknown] Kovich also was given a shot at first, but only hit .213 in 14 games. The rest of the infield was John Drost (.276) at third base, Ernie Olson (.255) at shortstop, Ormand Dingman (.220) and apparently Hugh Graham (.254) at second base.

The main pitchers' ERAs were much better then in '33 as their top five pitchers all had marks under 4.00: Norm Tarantola (3.84/194 inn.), George Governat (3.16/193) who had the team's most wins (12) and best WHIP (1.25), Doc Liepelt (2.99 – lowest on club/159) and led with 144 strikeouts, Les Wilson (3.33/135) and Casey Duda (3.51/115).

Besides catcher Brandon, pitcher Wilmer Schroeder returned to the team, but only pitched in three games before he moved up to class “A” Des Moines. Schroeder eventually made it to the highest minor league classification, but never reached the majors.

The “Hansen” who played for the club was formerly in semi-pro ball and he was involved in one of the most embarrassing plays imaginable. On June 18, playing a corner outfield position, he dropped a fly ball and kicked it into foul territory behind a light pole. His throw toward the infield hit the pole and pounded erratically far away from Hansen. The batter circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. His 13 games played for Sioux Falls was his only only pro experience. [He made only two errors during his time with the Canaries].

At the end of the season, the New York Times reported that Sioux Falls regular Eph Lobaugh was signed by the Cardinals. In all, they signed at least 12 players from the NSL and assigned them to higher classification clubs for the 1935 season.

The post-season Sioux Falls club roster listed Tom Perry as voluntarily retired, Hugh Graham as suspended and J.B. Calhoun as ineligible to play.

1934 Standings:

Sioux Falls 1934 Batting:

Sioux Falls 1934 Pitching:

1935

Baseball Commissioner Kenisaw Landis never liked the Cardinals' arrangement with the league and was basically opposed to the farm systems being set up by the Cardinals. In January, Landis decided to outlaw any future arrangements of this type because he was afraid that St. Louis would eventually own all the "rookie" leagues. The new rule was that a major league club could only have "farm" teams not leagues, but they were allowed to continue the relationship for the 1935 season and that would be the last.

Norfolk won the first half of the season as, in July they went 15-4 over two weeks and took the first half crown. The second half was all Sioux Falls. Norfolk did, however, win the playoffs and the League championship.

In July, umpire Lou Le Barge left the league before a game in Sioux Falls. He had made some “questionable” calls in a game the night before which provoked threats by some of the locals. With replacement umpires, the next day's game went 17 innings with the Canaries pulling out a 4-3 win over Norfolk. Beatrice manager Charles Stis, who replaced a sick Thomas Walsh in April, was picked as an umpire for the remainder of the year leaving Beatrice to pick a third manager for the season.

The Canaries finished 35-21 in second place after the end of the first half and was 37-19 to win the second half crown.

Sioux Falls' near-championship (they had an attendance of about 39,300 which was a 10,000 increase over '34) was led by a new manager, but a familiar face, catcher Ralph Brandon. His club had 22 more wins then in '34 and had five returnees from past teams. For the first time, Brandon did not play in all of the Canaries' games as he only saw action in 98(!) and their roster actually listed two catchers. His batting average dipped under .300 for the first time (.283) but he led the team in doubles again with 21 and with a .507 OBP.

Vic Koslowski (,266) also returned as their All Star first baseman missing only two games. Eph Lobaugh (.267) was another returning veteran performing at shortstop in every game having been moved from the outfield during spring training. He was second in organized baseball with 74 stolen bases. Three men handled third base – R. Ramsey (.295), Boyd Smith (.267) and Dex Savage (.321 for two teams). It is assumed that some or all of the fore mentioned infielders also played at second base as Robert Fuller (.221) and (first name unknown) Henschen (.257 for three teams) did not get into enough games to be regulars.

All Star Marv Pelton (.321), who led the regulars in batting average and Tony Koenig (.265), who lead the club with 15 triples, were the most used outfielders. Arny Vesely (.243) – also tied HR club lead with 8 – and Oris Hockett (.335) split time at the other outfield position. Hockett did not play pro ball in 1934 and was in only 45 games for Sioux Falls in '35.

Claude Bradford (2.40 ERA) led the league in wins (12) in his team-leading 202 innings, strikeouts (122) and WHIP (1.13). Paul Spencer (3.54) was next in innings at 175 and Robert Swan (4.76) was third with 168. Tony Johnson led the league with the best ERA of 2.14 in 151 innings and (first name unknown) Locke (2.47) was number five on the most-used-pitcher list (147 innings) and he led the hurlers in strikeouts with 127. Tom Perry (.256) and Les Wilson (4.39) were the other returning players, but they only pitched 63 and 45 innings respectively.

Two sources list “Hoskett Brown” or “Jim Brown” as the third Canary All Star for 1935. However, records can not be found for a player of either name. It is believed that Oris Hockett played under both names.

During the season Dale Howe became the Sioux Falls business manager. He was a former local register of deeds. The club also had new floodlights installed, covered the grandstand area and re-packed the infield.

1935 Standings:

Sioux Falls 1935 Batting:

Sioux Falls 1935 Pitching:

At the end of the year, the Cardinals decimated the NSL teams. Ten players were given tryouts with Cedar Rapids, a St. Louis farm club in the Western League. Twelve players were optioned by the Cardinals through their Columbus AAA farm club and placed with higher classification clubs. In all, 23 players were signed by the Cardinals and, since the four teams only carried 14 players each, 23 of 52 players were promoted during the off-season.

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In 1988, SABR member David Kemp wrote:

Reagan And The Attempt at Class A Ball

The 1935 Sioux Falls Canaries were a popular team. Rex Stucker, working under an informal agreement with Branch Rickey's St. Louis Cardinals, had attracted 43,269 fans for 60 home dates. At the end of the 1935 season, St. Louis had first option to obtain several of the Sioux Fall Players . They also had the same control over the player moavement of the Norfolk Elks, the Beatrice Bees and quite possible the Lincoln Links. These teams made up the four-team Nebraska State League.

...Rex Stucker...disliking the option on his player's contracts, decided to operate as an independent...for the 1936 season. Stucker's Canaries played good baseball throughout the 1936 season. They drew 59,306 for 60 home dates. This is quite remarkable considering Sioux Falls' population was 35, 161 people. Stucker was financially successful in the height of the depression while operation independently. Stucker wondered if he would not be more secure if he was a higher classification in 1937. Didn't Sioux Falls fans seserve better caliber baseball? After the 1936 season Rex Stucker and a group of Chamber of Commerce supporters decided to try and improve the situation.

The Omaha franchise in the Class A Western League was faltering. They wee not going to field a team in the league for the 1937 season. The Western League teams wee in the Iowa towns of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Davenport, Sioux City and Des Moines. With the exception of Des Moines all of the towns were comparable in size to Sioux Falls.

The President of the Western League was Tom Fairweather, a Sioux City native whose business interests included the Des Moines team, the Des Moines Register and WHO radio. In order to formally apply for admission to the Western League the Sioux Falls group had to meet with Mr. Fairweather. They were to present a proposal and convince the league president that Sioux Falls would be a good addition to the league.

The Sioux Falls contingent traveled to Des Moines. Their presentation pointed out the fine attendance at the Canaries games, Rex Stucker's astute ownership and the fine community support and involvement of the Sioux Falls business community. Fairweather was quite impressed with the Sioux Falls presentation. Although he was president of the league, his knowledge of the game was limited. His ownership of the Des Moines team allowed him to become league president.

In order to be sure that he made the right decision on the Sioux Falls application he decided that someone with a better grasp of Midwestern sports and baseball should be consulted. He had the Sioux Falls group present their proposal to one of his employees, Ronald Reagan, the sportscaster for WHO radio in Des Moines.

The Sioux Falls group gave it their best as they described Sioux Falls' fine baseball tradition. It is said that the young broadcaster listened attentively. After the presentation he turned to Fairweather and said, “This sounds interesting but where the hell is Sioux Falls, anyway”. With this comment in mind and upon further consideration, Sioux Falls application was rejected.

During this time Sioux Falls, although a smaller town with a Class D team, drew better than Des Moines, a larger city with a Class team. Sioux Falls continued in the Nebraska State League for the 1937 season. Their strongest rival that year was the Norfolk Elks, now a New York Yankees farm club. After the 1937 season the Western League folded, a victim of the depression era economy. It had existed in some form since 1902.

For the 1938 season, Sioux City and Des Moines requested admission to the Nebraska State League. The Sioux Falls group, headed by league vice president Stucker recalled the snub they received the year before. They refused to even consider Des Moines' request...

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1936

Before the season began, the Beatrice Blues secured a working agreement with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Norfolk and the new franchise – the Mitchell Kernels – signed on with the Cardinals and Lincoln was aligned with the Cincinnati Reds. Yankton, SD, was considered as an additional club, but failed to find a suitable place to play. The city never was never able to secure a professional baseball franchise.

The league rules at that time permitted each club to have six veterans including the manager and eight rookies (players who had played professionally less then 30 games or pitched less then 45 innings). The clubs played a 120-game schedule from May 12 to Sept. 7.

Umpires listed in TSN for the season were: Buster Winkler, Bob Crouch, Doc Bennett, Art Dempsey, George Worley and Ira Gordon.

Fairbury also started the season giving the league six teams. Sioux Falls and Fairbury had no major league sponsorship and Fairbury left the league at the same time (July 16) as Lincoln who accumulated debts of $3,800 because of poor attendance. Fairbury felt a five-team league would not be feasible and were probably having financial problems of their own. The left the circuit with four teams.

After the exit of those two cities, the league abandoned the split-season concept and, at the end of the year, had the first place team play the second place club in a one-series playoff. Sioux Falls or Mitchell led the standings nearly all year long and Mitchell never got more then a few games behind. After the first week of July, Sioux Falls was 25-20 and Mitchell was at 50-21. Mitchell (35-25) led two weeks later, but the Canaries (35-26) were only ½ game behind and one-month later Mitchell was at 57-40 and Sioux Falls at 55-40. By the end of August, Sioux Falls (67-44) was in first place place to stay. They finished two games ahead of the Kernals, but lost the playoff championship to them four games to two.

The Canaries continued under the helm of Ralph Brandon and had one less win then in 1935 and drew a vastly improved 74,306 fans. Tony Koenig (.293) moved from the outfield to catcher under the tutelage of Brandon and became a league All Star and team leader in home runs (11) and OBP (.580). The manager (.319) continued to play first base and newcomers played the other infield positions. Frank Mahacek (.319) manned second, Ed Hennessey (.259) was the third base starter and Will Padgett (.272) was the shortstop who had 89 RBI to lead the team.

Outfield regulars were Arny Vesely (.345) a returnee who led the club in doubles (30), triples (19), stolen bases (50) and average, Will Nordmeyer (.272), Henry Streich (.333) and Harry Schmiel (.280). Vesely was the only one to play all Canary games and no one else played more then 83.

Two pitchers had twenty-win seasons: the returning Robert Swan (4.42) who finished 260 innings, struck out 267 and was named to the All Star team and Frank Wagner (3.08/234 innings). Wagner also led the team with the best ERA (3.08) and WHIP (1.28). Don Bollman (4.27) completed 176 frames and future major leaguer, Red Anderson (5.27), finished 121.

Even though he no longer managed the Sioux Falls team, Rex Stucker was in charge of a baseball school in Batesville, AR, at Arkansas State where he signed players for the Canaries.

TSN reported that, at the end of the season, 23 of the league's 56 players had been purchased by higher-classification teams.

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In 1988, SABR member Don Allan wrote about watching the 1936 Sioux Falls Canaries:

Canary Country 1936

Because it was unforgiving hot – and there were no air conditioners – attending the professional Nebraska League baseball contests was a socially popular activity, as well as an opportunity to catch whatever cool breezes might be available in the grandstand of the East Side Athletic Field, a new Sioux Falls landmark which had been erected by WPA labor...

---On Saturday July 18, 1936, the temperature was 98 degrees by mid-afternoon. The previous day an all-time record of 110 degrees had scorched the countryside. My friend Billy and I had been granted permission by our parents to walk over to the East Sice and see the Canaries play Beatrice.

What an odyssey this developed into. We met at Longfellow grade school on 20^th Street, meandered down 4^th Avenue until we reached 12^th Street and the Northwestern railroad tracks. Crossing the trestle was always exciting because you couldn't see whether a train was coming or not. On this particular occasion, as a train chugged it's way toward us and we were halfway across, we simply slipped down below onto the under girding and held on until the steam monster passed. Such juvenile disdain for danger!

Then we scampered the rest of the way and into the Marguiles metal scrap yards, where junk was piled for several blocks under the 10^th Street viaduct. Later this scrap metal was sold and melted down for WWII purposes, making a handsome profit for the owners.

Remember in was 1936! An army of hobos rode the trains back and forth across America – and under the viaduct these “gentlemen of the road” found refuge. I guess we must have been too young to have fear. Billy and I stopped by one fire, where brewing coffee and stew were being prepared, and chatted with a couple of bearded, bedraggled hobos before finally arriving at the ball park to see our Canaries warm up for the 8:15 PM contest.

The 1936 Canaries had “Tex Mahacek at second, Ed Hennessey at third, “Rabbit” Padgett at short and Tony “Push-”Em-Up” Koenig catching. Arne Vesely, Willard Nordmeyer and Harry “Crazyhorse” Schmiel patrolled the outfield. Ralph Brandon was the popular playing manager.

And what a pitching staff: Bobby Swan, Frank Wagner, “Red” Anderson, Don Bollman. There also was Jerry Otter Robe, the Lakota from Bull Head, SD, who was 5-2 and showed great promise... No wonder we idolized them! They wee regular season league champions in 1936. Vesley, Mahacek and Brandon batted over .300' Koenig, Padgett, Schmiel and Nordmeyer wee just under the magic mark. They have marvelous, magical names.

Swarthy, tough Tony Koenig was so feared at the plate in the clutch that he was walked five times in one game. “Crazyhorse” Schmiel was friendly to the youngsters and loved to play tricks (like making a catch in the outfield, pretending to have missed it and racing around as if unable to find it). “Tex” Mahacek was a “vacuum cleaner” at second base and gobbled up everything that was hit his way. Frank Wagner had a unique “submarine” delivery and great control.

Wagner

The evening before this July 18^th adventure, “Red” Anderson had a three-hitter against Beatrice. And his night our favorite, Bobby Swan, would pitch. What a nifty left-hander he was. Great pick-off move to first base. A curve that broke off like a jug handle. He was cocky as a bantam rooster, weighing only 140 pounds and 5'4” tall. In 1936 he was a league pitching sensation, setting a league record with 167 strikeouts.

From our Knot-Hole Gang spot in the stands, our eyes were glued to every move that Bobby made. And did we get a summer treat! Bobby was near perfect. Inning after inning flew by. By the seventh, we knew that Bobby had so far allowed no hits. Bad luck to even talk about it. There were only six infield balls. Arne Vesely made a brilliant catch in center field I think we held our breaths during the three outs of the ninth inning. Bobby ended with a no-hitter. He struck out 13 and the final score was 7-0 for our Canaries. Imagine that. A no-hitter! We fans wee absolutely ecstatic.

The game took one hour and 57 minutes. The 10:30 PM freight, that every evening went west out of Sioux Falls, was warming up in the vicinity of Drake Springs Swimming Pool. Why not catch it and ride part-way home? As we scampered to the tracks by Drake Springs, we were reminded of the 18-year-old boy who had drowned in the pool the day before. We reflected on that only momentarily, as catching the already moving freight was our next objective.

We nailed a flat car as the train gained momentum. With feet dangling off our precarious perch, we chatted amiable with a hobo whose facial features wee obscured by the darkness, telling him all about the great pitching feat we had just witnessed. Billy and I jumped off at Second Avenue and 16^th Street, bid farewell to our unknown hobo, and trotted the remaining blocks to our homes.

I believe I was asleep before my head hit the pillow – by what dreams! The railroad trestle caper – the trek through Margulies junkyard – Bobby Swan's no-hitter – coming part-way home by a freight train. I don't believe Mother ever knew about anything but the no-hitter.

[The Sporting News mentions Swan's no-hitter in it's September 10, 1936, edition.]

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1936 Standings:

• = dropped from league on July 16

Sioux Falls 1936 Batting:

Sioux Falls 1936 Pitching:

The inaugural Mitchell Kernals team was managed by former major leaguer Cliff “Buddy” Knox who had played in eleven previous professional seasons including 1924 for the Pirates as a catcher. He was the league's choice as it's All Star manager. The club's general manager was Heinie Scharnweber.

Their club included league batting champ and All Star Marv Pelton (.373) in the outfield. He also led the team in doubles (37) and home runs (13). The other outfielder regular was Bernie Mock (.307) and the other fly chaser spot was handled by Charlie Gerlach (.288), Jim Blalock (.307), Len Bosse (.273) and two players whose given names did not survive time – Fontana and Mock (probable relation of Bernie). Pelton set a league record in August by getting hits in 27 straight games.

The catching was handled by manager Knox (.347) who led the team with 92 RBI and All Star utility man Lou Kahn (.366). Kahn went on to have a 17-year minor league carrier.

The infield included first baseman Frank Green (.260), second basemen Frank Oberlin (.270 for two teams) and Ed Schluetter (.304 for two teams), third baseman Marv Rumsey (.298) who led team in triples with 11, OPB (.525) and stolen bases (53 with support from Jim Guyman (.331) and at short was All Star Justin Keenoy (.271). Keenoy missed ten games in August because of an eye injury sustained when a ground ball struck him. On August 23, Rumsey was 5-for-6 with two walks and he reached base on an error.

Pitching was led by 20-game winner Wayne Rossbach (4.11) for 228 innings, who also led the club in ERA (4.11), strikeouts and WHIP (1.59), Ken Cabble (4.91) who arrived in mid-June and finished 143 innings, Joe Master (4.67/140 inn.), George Calder (6.07/135 inn.) and Harold Tackleson (6.02/121 inn.). Future major league Dave Odom ( 6.12) completed 85 frames.

TSN reported that the Kernals had turned a profit during the season.

Mitchell 1936 Batting:

Mitchell 1936 Pitching:

Red Anderson

Arnold Rivola Anderson was born in Lawton, IA on June 19, 1912. He played for the Sioux Falls Canaries (NSL) in 1936-37.

Red made appearances during 3 seasons with the Washington Senators. In 1937, he was in 2 games (11 inn, 11 h, 11 w, 3 so, 6.75 ERA), in 1940 he was in 2 more games as a starter (14 inn, 12 h, 5 w, 3 so, 3.86 ERA) and in 1941 for 32 games (112 inn, 127 h, 53 w, 34 so, 4.18 ERA).

He also pitched for 7 minor league teams over 7 years (1936-1940, 1942 and 1946). He had two years with ERAs under 3.00 and one 20-game wins season.

Red served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. After baseball, he was a foreman for the Concrete Pipe Machinery Company in Sioux City, IA. He died on Aug 7, 1972, after a six month illness. He is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City.

Cliff Knox

Clifford Hiram "Bud" Knox was born on January 7, 1902, in Coalville, IA. He attended Drake University and caught for the Mitchell Kernels in 1922 (.288).

Also in 1922 he played 17 games for Des Moines (Western) where he hit .73. It is not known where he played in 1923.

In 1924, he appeared in his only major league games for Pittsburgh as in 6 appearances and 18 at bats, the switch hitter got 4 singles for a .222 average. He also walked twice to compile a .300 OBP. Cliff caught in all of those games and had a .917 fielding average. Records do not indicate any other pro games that year as he broke his finger and an ankle while with the Pirates. .

Knox played 92 games at Birmingham (Southern) in 1925 (.265) and 65 games for Hartford (Eastern) in 1926 (.268). In 1927, he was with the Class "B" Portland team in the New England where he hit .255 in 45 games.

Spartanburg (So Alt) and Nashville (So. Assoc) were his stops in 1928 as he hit .308 and .257 in 23 and 68 games. In 1929, he appeared in 140 games for the Southern Atlantic Spartanburg-Macon team (.286). He had more appearances in the same league for Augusta in 1930 (.326).

In 1931-1932, he played for Peoria in the Three-I League batting .293 and .297. Knox moved to the Western League in 1933 playing for Omaha (.320) and Rock Island in 1934 (.295).

It was back to the Three-I in 1935 with Decatur (.320) and then to Mitchell (SD) of the Nebraska League for 1936-1937 (.347 and .293). He finished his pro career at Fayetteville of the Ark-Mo League in 1938 (.326). All told, Knox played at least 16 years in professional baseball.

After baseball, he became a football official working games in the Big Eight and Missouri Valley conferences. He also officiated several Sugar Bowl games and basketball games. Knox died on September 24, 1965, in his long-time home of Oskaloosa, IA, at the Mahaska Hospital after a lingering illness. Knox was buried at the Oskaloosa cemetery.

Dave Odom

David Everett Odom ("Blimp") was born in Dinuba, CA, on June 5, 1918. He pitched for Mitchell in 1936.

Dave played one season in the majors for the Boston Braves in 1943. In 23 games including 3 starts, he finished 55 innings giving up 54 hits and 30 walks while striking out 17 for a 5.27 ERA and .269 OAV.

In the minors, he played for 17 teams from 1936-1941 and 1944-1946. He had two seasons at class "AAA".

Dave served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during WW II and also played professional football (he was 6'1'', 220 lbs). He worked for 30 years for A.T.& T. in Greensboro, NC, and, for 25 years, was their plant manager. He retired to Myrtle Beach, SC, where he was active in real estate. It was there, at this home, on November 19, 1987, that he died from a heart attack.

Lou Kahn

Louis Kahn was born on Dec. 4, 1915, in St Louis, MO, and played for the Mitchell Kernals in 1936 and continued in baseball into the 1980s. He never reached the majors as a player.

Prior to WWII, Kahn spent his years in minor league baseball as a catcher mostly in the lower classifications. The exception was in 1937 when he appeared in 11 games for Columbus in the American Association. Toward the end of the war his baseball prospects increased and he played at the AAA level from 1944 through 1946 and again in 1948. He performed in class AA in 1949.

In 1950 he managed at class D and also caught 34 games and then returned to class A to play the rest of the year and in 1951. His final playing years were as a back-up catcher in 1952-53 for Rochester in the class AAA International League. He returned to managing in 1955 at Rochester and was promoted to major league coach that season – a job which lasted only into the next year.

As a minor league player, Kahn played in 1,507 games and had 4,980 at bats for a .304 career average. His fielding average as a catcher, outfielder and third baseman in 842 games was .966.

By 1959 he had left the Cardinals organization without a great appreciation for their executive Branch Rickey: "He knocked down everyone's salaries, and he put the difference between what they got, and what they should have got, in his own pocket," Kahn once said. "I was just a number to Branch Rickey. He ran baseball factories and screwed his players every way but right side up.” That season he managed the independent Toronto AAA franchise in the International Leaue.

During the 1960-61 seasons Kahn managed at the class C level for the Phillies. He was then managing a class A Reds farm team in 1966 before moving back to the Phillies organization to manage in 1969-70 in the Florida Instructional League and the Pacific Coast League. His minor league managing record was 531-520.

The seasons that he was not manageing were spent as a minor league instructioner and scout. He was still employed by the Phillies into the 1980s. He died at age 86 on March 13, 2002.

1937

The league went through the complete season with six teams - barely. Fairbury returned in 1937 with an association with the Browns and other agreements with major league teams included Norfolk with the Yankees, Beatrice with the Dodgers, Mitchell and Grand Island with the Cardinals. They played a 120-game schedule from May 11 to September 6.

The league nearly lost Fairbury on August 23 when they announced that they were disbanding. Within hours, League President Carter brokered a deal that shifted their final six home games to Sioux Falls and Mitchell thus allowing the schedule to be played out.

Umpires listed by TSN were: Norm Larson, Ray Gordon, Ira Gordon, S.E. McLaughlin, Pete Knudsen, Lynn Kelley, John Purcell, Ben Tuerro, George Schreck and E.M. Rust.

Sioux Falls and Mitchell battled nearly the complete season for first place: In early June, Mitchell (12-8) was in second and Sioux Falls (13-11) was in third. The Canaries then went on a 9-3 run to take over first place by mid-June one game ahead of the Kernals. Sioux Falls went on to win the first half with a 41-18 record having won 20 of their final 25 contests. Mitchell was second at 36-20.

The second half began with Mitchell in first with a great start of 16-5 and the Canaries (13-7) in second. Sioux Falls then went on a 10-4 streak to take over the lead by mid-August. Mitchell was second at 24-12. One week later, the Canaries (27-14) still held a lead over Mitchell (27-16) and it continued to the next week with Sioux Falls (34-15) having a two-game lead over the Kernals (33-18).

At the end of the season, the Canaries had won 12 of the 23 games against the Kernals and the second half top spot. Sioux Falls had a 42-18 mark and Mitchell was at 39-21. The Kernals' demise was mostly caused by late-seasons injures to position players Knox, Schlueter, Rumsey and Lepelt. Pitchers were used to supplement the remaining position players.

Since Sioux Falls, with Rex Stucker as it's President, won both halves of the season, no playoffs were held. By the end of the season, the Canaries were able to sell seven of their players' contracts to higher league clubs, but their attendance dropped about one-third to 50,000. The league required that each team have eight rookies on their roster, however, Sioux Falls, who did not have a major league affiliation, show only three unless the term “rookie” did not mean players who had not played professionally prior to the season.

Ralph Brandon (.294) returned as the Canaries All Star player-manager as he performed in 96 of the team's 119 games and led the team with the best OBP (.496). Also returning were nine other players led by outfielders Harry Schmiel (.321 – an All Star) and Tony Koenig (.287). Newcomer Gordy West (.284) also a mainstay in the outfield. Schmiel led the team in nearly all offensive departments – average, doubles (33), triples (20), homers (10) and RBI (140). His RBI total was a league record.

The returnees in the infield were second baseman Frank Mahacek (.299) who led the club in stolen bases with 51, shortstop Ed Hennessey (.278) and utility/shortstop Will Padgett (.299) who was purchased by Dayton in mid-July. They were joined by newbie first baseman Ralph Cardner (.242) and third baseman Mac Sandrin (.270).

All Star Robert Swan (2.35), another returnee, was 18-3 in 189 innings and led the team with the best ERA and most strikeouts (199), but two pitchers eclipsed him in innings pitched: Frank Wagner (2.72), in a league-record 277 frames and 25 wins with a 1.19 WHIP and Red Anderson (2.97) performed in 240 frames. Both were also returning hurlers and had 20-win seasons. Completing the staff were the returnee Don Bollman (2.25) and two newcomers: Don Brodahl (4.87) and Roger Wolff (2.92). Wolff was in his eighth pro year and only saw action in 71 innings before moving up to the Western and Texas Leagues later in the season. During the war years, he saw major league action.

Anderson had back-to-back brilliant performances on June 8 and 14 when he struck out 19 and 15 and was sold to the Washington Senators in late July with a reporting date in early September. Wagner won both games of a double header on July 6 although game two was only five innings.

1937 Standings:

Sioux Falls 1937 Batting:

Sioux Falls 1937 Pitching:

In Mitchell's second season in the NSL, Buddy Knox returned with six players from his 1938 championship squad. He again was named the league's All Star manager (.293) as also he was their starting catcher with pitcher/catcher Frank Bolsenga handing back-up duties. Bolsenga was injured in late July when Knox went home to aid his ill wife. Doug White managed the club in Knox's absence.

Two of the regular outfielders were selected to the All Star team: league home run champ Jim Guyman (.365) who also led the team in RBI with 122 and had the highest average and Marv Rumsey (.299). They were also returning to the club from last year's team. The other outfield regular was Ralph Fellin (.283) who led the team with the best OBP (.505). Gottlieb Lepelt was their main replacement and also pitched in 11 games. Pitcher Joe Masters saw action at other positions in 24 contests as well. To return the favor to the hurling corps, Guyman toed the rubber in 9 games.

The regular infielders were: Frank Green (.331) at first who tied as the team leader in triples with 15, Ed Schuetter (.296) – a team leader in doubles with 34 – at second (toward the end of the season, he was injured for a long stretch), All Star Doug White (.314) at third base (also tied with team lead in triples) and Ira McGlothin (.285) played shortstop and had the club lead in stolen bases with 64. Schlueter and Green also played for the club in 1936. White set a league record with 516 at bats.

Bob Olson (3.86) led the club in innings pitched with 231, was a 21-game winner and a league All Star. Glenn McQuiston (3.34) followed with 221 innings and led the club with the best ERA (3.34), strikeouts (193) and WHIP (1.30); and Joe Masters (4.50) returned for 158 frames. Rounding the top four was John Gazdziasksi (4.71) who finished 151 innings.

The chief operating officer of the club was T. Shaw. In 1936-37, Mitchell was a farm team of Cedar Rapids in the Western League, but did not have a professional team in 1938.

Mitchell 1937 Batting: