| Davenport River Rats | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1901) Class B (1902–1906, 1909–1912) |
| League | Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1906, 1909–1912) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles(0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Davenport River Rats (1901–1904) Davenport Riversides (1905) Davenport Knickerbockers (1906) Davenport Prodigals (1909–1912) |
| Ballpark | Davenport Ball Park (1901–1906) Blue Sox Park (1909–1912) |
TheDavenport River Rats were aminor league baseball team based inDavenport, Iowa. In 1901, the "River Rats" became charter members of theClass D levelIllinois–Indiana–Iowa League, beginning a long tenure of Davenport teams in the league. The Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League became aClass B level league in 1902 and the River Rats continued league play through 1904. The Davenport "Riversides," Davenport "Knickerbockers" and Davenport "Prodigals" teams continued Davenport's membership in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League through 1912. TheDavenport Blue Sox team continuedIllinois–Indiana–Iowa League play beginning in 1913.
The Davenport teams hosted minor league home games at the Davenport Base Ball Park through 1906 and at the Blue Sox Park ballpark site beginning in 1909.
Minor league baseball began in Davenport, Iowa in 1879, when theDavenport Brown Stockings played the season as charter members of the four-team independentNorthwestern League.[1][2] The Davenport River Rats were immediately preceded in minor league play by the 1891Davenport Pilgrims, who played the season played as members of theIllinois-Iowa League.
On January 30, 1901, a meeting was held inPeoria, Illinois to form a new minor league. Local businessman Max Ochs represented Davenport at the meeting, where a new league was formed with a Davenport franchise included.[3]
In 1901, the newly formed Davenport "River Rats" became charter members of theIllinois–Indiana–Iowa League, which also included a team in neighboringRock Island, Illinois. The league was founded as aClass D level league, with Rock Island, nativeMichael H. Sexton serving as the league president.[4] TheBloomington Blues,Cedar Rapids Rabbitts,Decatur Commodores,Evansville River Rats,Rock Island Islanders,Rockford Red Sox andTerre Haute Hottentots teams joined Davenport as the league's charter teams.[5] The Bloomington, Decatur and Terre Haute teams joined the new league from theCentral League and merged with new franchises in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Evansville, Rockford and Rock Island to form the league, nicknamed the "Three I League."[6][7]
The new River Rats baseball franchise was organized and run by J.T Hayes.[3]
Davenport's "River Rats" nickname corresponds with the city location along theMississippi River, where it lies directly across fromRock Island, Illinois.[8]
In their first season of play in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Davenport placed fifth in the final standings, as the league held no playoffs. The River Rats ended the season with a record of 51–61 and were managed by Billy Smith. Davenport finished 9.5 games behind the first place Terre Haute Hottentots.[9][10] Davenport manager Billy Smith had a long career as a minor league manager and compiled a career record of 1772–1692 in managing numerous teams between 1895 and 1922.[11]
In its second season, the 1902 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League became classified as aClass B level league, a classification it retained for the next 59 seasons of league operation.[12] League president Michael Sexton led efforts to form theNational Association among minor league owners, which was created at meetings inChicago, Illinois. The National Association would grow from 15 member leagues in 1902 to 52 leagues in 1910 and a created common roster, salary, classification and development practices among baseball's minor leagues.[10]
In their second season of Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League play, the Davenport River Rats finished in fifth place in the eight-team league. The River Rats ended the season with a 59–63 record, playing the season under manager Jim Hayes, who began a multi-year tenure as manager. The River Rats finished 13.0 games behind the first place Rockford Red Sox in the final standings.[13][10] River Rat pitcher John McCord led the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League with 239 strikeouts.[10]
The 1903 River Rats ended the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League season in third place.[14] Davenport ended the season with a record of 65–53, finishing 6.5 games behind the first placeBloomington Bloomers, as Jim Hayes returned as manager.[10] Davenport's Dutch Hines won the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League batting championship, batting .339 for the season.[10]
In 1904, Jim Hayes managed his third season with Davenport. In the Class B level Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League final standings, the River Rats ended the season with a record of 52–69 and placed seventh. In the eight-team league, Davenport ended the season 20.5 games behind the first placeSpringfield Hustlers in the final standings.[15][10]
Davenport continued Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League play in 1905 under a new nickname. The Davenport "Riversides" ended the season in seventh place. Managed during the season by Jim Hayes, Dal Williams and Edward Webster, the Riversides ended the season with a record of 56–67. Davenport finished 14.0 games behind the championDubuque Shamrocks in the final standings.[16][10]
In the 1906 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Davenport continued play as members of the Class B league and were again known by another nickname. The Davenport "Knickerbockers" finished in last place in the final standings. The Knickerbockers ended the season with a 45–74 record to finish in eighth place. Albert Kennedy and Peter Burg served as managers, as Davenport ended the season 32.5 gamed behind the first place Cedar Rapids Rabbitts.[17][10]
After their last place finish, the Davenport franchise did not return to the 1907 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, replaced in league play by theClinton Infants franchise. Davenport also did not field a minor league team in 1908.[10]
After losing their minor league team, Davenport baseball supporters, led by J.T. Hayes led efforts to regain the Davenport franchise that was lost to Clinton. A new ballpark was built on a site in West Davenport on donated land to improve the ballpark situation. The new ballpark was at the end of the trolly line at Second Street and Telegraph Road. Davenport was successful in regaining a league franchise from Clinton, rejoining the 1909 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League.[3]
Minor league play returned to Davenport in 1909, as the Davenport "Prodigals" resumed play in the Class B level Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. After having been replaced by Clinton two years earlier, Davenport replaced theClinton Adults team in the eight-team league.[10][18] The Prodigals ended the season in third place in their return to the league. With a final record of 77–59, Davenport was managed by Charlie Shaffer, finishing 12.0 games behind the first place Rock Island Islanders, who finished with a 90–48 record.[18][10]
The Prodigals continued play and finished in seventh place in the 1910 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League.[19] With Charlie Shaffer returning as manager, Davenport ended the season with a 59–80 record, finishing 31.0 games behind the first placeSpringfield Senators team.[20][10]
In 1911, Dan O'Leary began a tenure as the Davenport manager, as the Prodigals continued play as members of the Class B level Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League.[21] With a record of 69–69, Davenport ended the season in fifth place, finishing 9.5 games behind the first placePeoria Distillers.[22][10] Davenport's Alfred Bromwith led the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League with 159 total hits.[10]
In their final season, the Davenport Prodigals ended the 1912 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League season in second place in the eight-team league.[23] The Prodigals ended the season with a 75–60 record, as Dan O'Leary continued as manager. Davenport finished 15.5 games behind the first place Springfield Senators, who compiled a 90–45 record in winning the championship ahead of runner up Davenport.[10] John Middleton of Davenport led the league with a 1.24 ERA.[10]
For the 1913 season, Davenport continued Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League play under a new nickname. The Davenport "Prodigals" were renamed to become theDavenport Blue Sox, who continued play in the league under manager Dan O'Leary.[10] Between 1901 and 1958, Davenport teams played 23 seasons as members of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League.[24][25] Today, Davenport continues to host minor league play as home to theQuad Cities River Bandits of theClass A levelMidwest League.[26]
The Davenport Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League teams hosted home minor league games at the Davenport Ball Park through 1906.[27] The ballpark was built in time for the 1901 season, as community leaders sought to upgrade baseball facilities in order to support a minor league team.[3][28] The ballpark site was located at Bowditch Street & Second Street in Davenport, Iowa.[3][29]
After losing their Davenport franchise following the 1906 season, local leaders built a new ballpark to support a return to minor league playin the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League and reclaim their lost franchise from Clinton. The new ballpark was built on a lot donated by W.P. McManus in West Davenport and opened when the Davenport Prodigals returned to Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League play in 1909. The ballpark was located at the end of the Third Street trolly line at Telegraph Road in Davenport. The ballpark became known as "Blue Sox Park" and hosted the Davenport minor league teams through 1916.[3]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 1 | Davenport River Rats | Class D | Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League | Davenport Ball Park |
| 1902–1904 | 3 | Class B | |||
| 1905 | 1 | Davenport Riversides | |||
| 1906 | 1 | Davenport Knickerbockers | |||
| 1909–1912 | 4 | Davenport Prodigals | Blue Sox Park |
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 51–61 | 5th | Billy Smith | No playoffs held |
| 1902 | 59–63 | 5th | Jim Hayes | No playoffs held |
| 1903 | 65–53 | 3rd | Jim Hayes | No playoffs held |
| 1904 | 52–69 | 7th | Jim Hayes | No playoffs held |
| 1905 | 56–67 | 7th | Jim Hayes / Dal Williams Edward Webster | No playoffs held |
| 1906 | 45–74 | 8th | Albert Kennedy / Peter Burg | No playoffs held |
| 1909 | 77–59 | 3rd | Charlie Shaffer | No playoffs held |
| 1910 | 59–80 | 7th | Charlie Shaffer | No playoffs held |
| 1911 | 69–69 | 5th | Dan O'Leary | No playoffs held |
| 1912 | 75–60 | 2nd | Dan O'Leary | No playoffs held |
List of Professional baseball teams based in Davenport, Iowa