Danville minor league baseball team (Illinois)
Danville Baseball Team 1888–1982 (1888–1889, 1900, 1906, 1908, 1910–1914, 1922–1932, 1946–1954, 1970–1976, 1982) Danville, Illinois | |
Class-level | |
---|---|
Previous |
|
Minor league affiliations | |
League | Midwest League (1970–1976, 1982) |
Previous leagues |
|
Major league affiliations | |
Previous |
|
Minor league titles | |
League titles | 6 (1927, 1930, 1951, 1954, 1972, 1974) |
Team data | |
Previous names |
|
Previous parks | Danville Stadium |
Several different minor league ballclubs have been based in the town of Danville, Illinois, fielding teams in 38 seasons between 1888 and 1982.
Early Danville teams
The Danville Browns were the first, playing in the Central Interstate League in 1888 and the Illinois–Indiana League in 1889. The Danville Champions played in the Central League in 1900 and the Danville Old Soldiers in the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League in 1906.
The Danville Speakers played in the Eastern Illinois League in 1908 and in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (Three_I League) from 1910 to 1914. Major leaguers Medric Boucher, Cecil Coombs, Bob Fisher, Buck Hopkins, Pete Hildebrand, Hosea Siner, Bert Graham, Rube Sellers, Connie Walsh, Otto Vogel, Walt Devoy and Hod Eller played for the Speakers in its short time in existence under that moniker. They moved to Moline, Illinois and became the Moline Plowboys during the 1914 season.
The Danville Veterans joined the Three-I League in 1922 and remained through 1932, winning the league championship in 1927 and 1930. The team was an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1927–1932.
After World War II, the Brooklyn Dodgers came to town with their Danville Dodgers affiliate in the Three-I League.
After the Dodgers left, the team remained as the Danville Dans, now in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League. They were affiliated with the Boston Braves (1952), Chicago White Sox (1953) and New York Giants (1954).
Danville Warriors
The Danville Warriors were a minor league baseball team located in Danville, Illinois. The team played in the Midwest League. Their home stadium was Danville Stadium, also known at times in the past as Danville Stadium Park. The Warriors entered the Midwest League as a co-op club in 1970 and became an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971. They remained a Brewers farm club through 1974. The team changed its name back to the Danville Dodgers when it became a Los Angeles Dodgers farm club in 1975. It operated through 1976, after which it folded.[1]
Championships
The Warriors experienced their share of success in their five years in the league under that nickname. They were Southern Division first half champions in 1971 (losing to Quad Cities in the playoffs); won the Southern Division in both halves in 1972 and going on to win the league championship; again won the division first half championship in 1973, beating Decatur in the first round of the playoffs but losing in the championship round to Wisconsin Rapids; and winning the second half division championship in 1974, going on to win the league title by defeating Quad Cities and Appleton in succession.[2]
The Ballparks
In the seasons they played between 1946-1982, Danville teams played at Danville Stadium, located at 610 Highland Boulevard.[3][4] Previously, Danvillle played at Soldiers Home Park from 1922-1932.[5]
Later Danville teams
The Danville Suns operated as an affiliate of the California Angels in 1982, before moving to Peoria, Illinois and becoming the Peoria Chiefs.
Team Today
In 1989, a new version of the Danville Dans began operation as a collegiate summer league baseball team playing in the Prospect League. The team plays at Danville Stadium.
Danville Alumni
Numerous Danville franchise alumni went on to major league baseball. Alumni of note include:[6]
- Dick Schofield (1982)
- Devon White (1982) 7 x GG; 3 x MLB AS
- Dave Stewart (1976) MLB AS; 1989 World Series MVP; 2 × ALCS MVP (1990, 1993); 1990 Roberto Clemente Award; 1987 AL Wins Leader
- Pedro Guerrero (1975) 5 x MLB AS; 1981 World Series MVP
- Jerry Augustine (1974) MLB Player; Milwaukee Brewers Announcer
- Dick Davis (1974)
- Bill Castro (1972-1973) MLB Player; MLB Pitching coach
- Sam Mejias (1972-1973)
- Tom Hausman (1972)
- Sixto Lezcano (1972) GG
- Charlie Moore (1972)
- Eduardo Rodriguez (1972)
- Pedro Garcia (1971) 1973 AL Doubles Leader
- Darrell Porter (1971) 4 x MLB AS; 1982 NLCS MVP; 1982 World Series MVP
- Gorman Thomas (1971) MLB AS; 2 × AL Home Run Leader (1979, 1982)
- Bill Travers (1971) MLB AS
- Cecil Cooper (1970) 2 x GG; 5 x MLB AS; MLB MGR; 1983 Roberto Clemente Award; 2 × AL RBI Leader (1980, 1983)
- Leon Wagner (1954) MLB AS; 1962 All-Star Game MVP
- Walt Moryn (1949) MLB AS; 1955 WS champion
- Carl Erskine (1947) MLB AS; 2 x MLB No-hitter
- Morrie Martin (1947)
- Cal Abrams (1946)
- Toby Atwell (1946) MLB AS
- Preston Ward (1946)
- Bill Beckmann (1932)
- Bob Klinger (1930-1932)
- Ed Heusser (1931) 1944 NL ERA Leader
- Bill DeLancey (1931)
- Billy Myers (1929-1930)
- Ray Starr (1926, 1930) MLB AS
- Roger Wolff (1930)
- Hal Smith (1929)
- Ripper Collins (1928) 3 x MLB AS; 2 x WS Champion; 1934 NL Home Run Leader
- Tony Cuccinello (1928) 3 x MLB AS
- Paul Derringer (1927-1928) 223 Wins; 2 x WS Champion; 6 x MLB AS
- Allyn Stout (1928)
- Hack Miller (1927)
- Heinie Schuble (1927)
- Roy Johnson (1925)
- Hick Cady (1924, MGR)
- Harry Rice (1923)
- Red Ruffing (1923) 273 Wins; 6 x MLB AS; 6 x WS Champion; 1938 AL Wins Leader; 1932 AL strikeout leader; Baseball Hall of Fame (1967)
- Joe McGinnity (1922, MGR/Player, age 51) 5 × NL Wins Leader (1899, 1900, 1903, 1904, 1906); 1904 NL ERA Leader; Baseball Hall of Fame (1946)
- Hod Eller (1914) 1919 Ws Champion
- Frank Huelsman (1900)
- Harry McIntire (1900)
- George Rohe (1900)
- John Grim (1888)
- Jerry Harrington (1888)
References
- ↑ MWLGuide.com, "Baseball in Danville, Illinois". Updated February 20, 2000; downloaded April 7, 2013.
- ↑ MWLGuide.com, "Midwest League 1970" http://www.mwlguide.com/years/1970/ ; MWLGuide.com, "Midwest League 1971" http://www.mwlguide.com/years/1971/ ; MWLGuide.com, "Midwest League 1972" http://www.mwlguide.com/years/1972/ ; MWLGuide.com, "Midwest League 1973" http://www.mwlguide.com/years/1973/ ; MWLGuide.com, "Midwest League Guide 1974"http://www.mwlguide.com/years/1974/ ; MWLGuide.com, "Midwest League 1975" http://www.mwlguide.com/years/1975/ ; MWLGuide.com, "Midwest League Guide 1976" http://www.mwlguide.com/years/1976/ . All updated November 2000; downloaded April 7, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.danvilledans.org/stadium.php
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/park.cgi?id=IL014
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/park.cgi?id=IL013
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Danville&state=IL&country=US&empty=0