Monmouth, Illinois minor league baseball history

Semi–pro and amateur baseball was popular in Monmouth, with early baseball teams playing in various leagues. In 1888, the Monmouth Athletic Association was incorporated and designed to support local baseball efforts.[1]

Mommouth first hosted minor league baseball in 1889. Monmouth fielded a team in the 1889 Central Interstate League, consisting of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa teams. The league featured the Burlington Babies, Davenport Hawkeyes, Evansville Hoosiers, Peoria Canaries, Quincy Black Birds and Springfield Senators, who joined Monmouth in the eight–team league. The standings and statistics for 1889 are unknown,[2][3]

In 1890 the Monmouth Maple Cities joined the new Illinois-Iowa League as a charter member. Monmouth began play along with the Aurora Hoodoos, Cedar Rapids Blackbirds, Dubuque Giants, Joliet Convicts, Ottawa Pirates, Ottumwa Coal Palaces and Sterling Blue Coats. The league did not allow Sunday games. Monmouth placed 2nd with a 64–48 record in 1890, finishing 4.5 games behind 1st place Ottumwa, playing under manager John Halpin. The Monmouth franchise folded from the league after the 1890 season and were replaced in the eight–team league by the Quincy Ravens in 1891.[4][1][5][6][7]

In 1908, the Monmouth Browns were founded. The Browns joined the newly formed Class D level Illinois-Missouri League as charter members. Monmouth Mayor John S. Brown was instrumental in the forming of the Illinois–Missouri League and the Monmouth use of the "Browns" team moniker was in tribute to John Brown.[1]

The Monmouth Browns finished with a 55–62 record to place 5th in the 1908 Illinois-Missouri League. The Browns were managed by Robert Hyde and Charles Karnell. Other charter members of the 1908 six–team league were the Canton Chinks (56–61), Galesburg Hornets (50–67), Hannibal Cannibals (68–49), Havana Perfectors (58–61) and Macomb Potters (66–53). Mommouth finished 13.0 games behind Hannibal in the final standings.[8][9][10][11]

The Monmouth Browns captured the 1909 Illinois-Missouri League Championship. On September 19, 1909, Browns pitcher Notley Jones threw a no–hitter in a 2–0 victory over the Galesburg Boosters. Managed by Jack Corbett, the Monmouth Browns placed 1st in the Illinois-Missouri League with a 77–50 record in the six–team league. The Browns finished 1.0 game ahead of the 2nd place Beardstown Infants as the league had no playoffs following the regular seasons. Monmouth drew 23,000 for the season, 362 per game.[9][12][13][14][15]

In 1910, the Monmouth Browns Monmouth left the Illinois–Missouri League after winning the championship and joined the eight–team Central Association. Monmouth finished with a record of 62–72, placing 6th in 1910, playing alongside the Burlington Pathfinders (56–81), Galesburg Pavers (69–67), Hannibal Cannibals (77–60), Keokuk Indians (67–70), Kewanee Boilermakers (49–91), Ottumwa Packers (80–57) and Quincy Vets (88–50). Monmouth was managed by Lew Drill in 1910 and finished 24.0 games behind Quincy. Season attendance for the Monmouth Browns was 25,000.[16][12]

1910 Monmouth Browns

Monmouth finished with a 59–69 record to place 6th in the 1911 Central Association. The Browns were managed by Claude Stark and finished 28.0 games behind the Ottumwa Speedboys. In 1912, the Monmouth Browns finished with a 71–55 record, placing 4th under managers Bert Hough, Jack Corbett and R.L. Noven. Finishing 6.5 games behind the 1st place Ottumwa Speedboys in the Central Association standings, Monmouth drew 18,000 fans in 1912, an average of 286 per game.[17][18][19][20]

In their final season, the 1913 Monmouth Browns finished in 3rd place in the eight–team Central Association. Monmouth ended the season with a 64–62 record, playing under manager Bert Hough. The Browns finished 8.0 games behind the 1st place Ottumwa Packers. The Monmouth franchise permanently folded after the 1913 season.[21][16][22]

Minor league baseball has not returned to Monmouth, Illinois.[23]

The Monmouth Browns were noted to have played minor league home games at 11th Street Park from 1908 to 1913. The ballpark was built by the city of Monmouth in 1907, spearheaded by Mayor John S. Brown. The ballpark was located in the 700 block of 11th Street, along the rail line. Today, the site houses the Birchwoood Apartments.[1]

Monmouth Browns players
Monmouth (minor league baseball) players

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