Central Association

From BR Bullpen

In 1908 the class D Iowa State League changed its name to the Central Association. The Central Association lasted for a decade before completing its life with the 1917 campaign.

During the ten year run there were 22 cities represented in the league. Fourteen hailed from Iowa, six from Illinois, one from Wisconsin and the remaining team called Missouri home.

The Ottumwa Speedboys were the leader in league championships, winning the Crown three years in a row, 1911, 1912, and 1913.

The Burlington Pathfinders, Marshalltown Ansons and Waterloo Lulus teams, all from Iowa, each had two titles to their credit. The Quincy Vets of Illinois was the only team outside of Iowa to win a league crown. The Burlington, IA representative suited up nine out of the ten years the league was in action (1908-1916).

Another Central Association covering similar territory formed in 1947 at the class C level and lasted for three years. In this league's three year run there were eight cities represented. Six of the eight had participated in the Central Association's previous incarnation. The Clinton Cubs won two titles, back to back, in 1947 and 1948. The Burlington (IA) Indians finished out the league with a victory in 1949. This was to be the Swan song for the league as it made no effort to regroup the following year.

Contents 1 Cities Represented 1.1 1908-1917 2 Teams & Statistics 2.1 1908-1917 3 League Records 1908-1917 4 Cities Represented 4.1 1947-1949 5 Teams & Statistics 5.1 1947-1949 6 League Records 1947-1949 7 Hall of Fame Alumni 8 Source

[edit] Cities Represented

[edit] 1908-1917

• Burlington, IA: Burlington Pathfinders 1908-1916, moved from Iowa State League 1906-1907
• Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids Rabbits 1913-1917
• Charles City, IA: Charles City Tractorites 1917
• Clear Lake, IA: Clear Lake Rabbits 1917
• Clinton, IA: Clinton Pilots 1914-1917
• Dubuque, IA: Dubuque Dubs 1917
• Fort Dodge, IA: Fort Dodge Dodgers 1916-1917
• Galesburg, IL: Galesburg Pavers 1910-1912; Galesburg Pavers 1914
• Hannibal, MO: Hannibal Cannibals 1909-1912, moved from Illinois-Missouri League 1908
• Jacksonville, IL: Jacksonville Lunatics 1908-1909, moved from Iowa State League 1907
• Keokuk, IA: Keokuk Indians 1908-1915, moved from Iowa State League 1904-1907
• Kewanee, IL: Kewanee Boilermakers 1908-1913
• LaCrosse, WI: LaCrosse Infants 1917
• Marshalltown, IA: Marshalltown Ansons 1914-1917
• Mason City, IA: Mason City Claydiggers 1915-1917
• Monmouth, IL: Monmouth Browns 1910-1913, moved from Illinois-Missouri League 1908-1909
• Muscatine, IA: Muscatine Camels 1911; Muscatine Wallopers 1912-1913; Muscatine Buttonmakers 1914; Muscatine Muskies 1915-1916
• Oskaloosa, IA: Oscaloosa Quakers 1908, moved from Iowa State League 1904-1907
• Ottumwa, IA: Ottumwa Packers 1908-1910, moved from Iowa State League 1907; Ottumwa Speedboys 1911-1912; Ottumwa Packers 1913-1914; Ottumwa Packers 1916
• Quincy, IL: Quincy Gems 1908, moved from Iowa State League 1907; Quincy Vets 1909-1910
• Rock Island, IL: Rock Island Islanders 1914
• Waterloo, IA: Waterloo Lulus 1908-1909; Waterloo Jays 1913-1915; Waterloo Shamrocks 1916; Waterloo Loons 1917

[edit] Teams & Statistics

[edit] 1908-1917

1908 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Waterloo Lulus	88	37	.704	0	Frank Boyle
Burlington Pathfinders	83	41	.669	4.5	Ned Egan
Quincy Gems	73	55	.570	16.5	Harry Hofer
Keokuk Indians	57	68	.456	31	Frank Belt
Jacksonville Lunatics	56	69	.448	32	Harry Berte
Oscaloosa Quakers	51	75	.398	37.5	Snapper Kennedy / Taylor Kensel
Kewanee Boilermakers	48	79	.378	41	Harry Busse / Andy Steveson / William Conners
Ottumwa Packers	48	80	.375	41.5	Billy Earle / Chuck Fleming

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
John House	Burlington	BA	.306		Harry Gaspar	Waterloo	W	32
Charles Rose	Burlington	Hits	146		Harry Gaspar	Waterloo	SO	2.17
Al Linderbeck	Quincy	Runs	75		Harry Gaspar	Waterloo	Pct	.889; 32-4
Al Linderbeck	Quincy	HR	10

1909 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Burlington Pathfinders	83	51	.620	0	36,884	Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals	83	53	.610	1	30,130	Bert Hough /Ben Prout
Keokuk Indians	80	57	.584	4.5	42,029	Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers	73	61	.544	10	31,228	William Conners
Waterloo Lulus	64	69	.481	18.5	33,756	Frank Boyle
Quincy Vets	62	73	.459	21.5	45,527	Louis Cook / Harry Hofer
Jacksonville Braves	46	84	.354	35	26,908	Harry Berte
Ottumwa Packers	48	91	.345	37.5	35,576	Hugh Shannon / Arthur Owens

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Fred Fenney	Ottum/Burl	BA	.300		Collis Spencer	Burlington	W	27
George Manush	Burlington	Hits	149		Joe Vyskocil	Hannibal	SO	209
George Manush	Burlington	Runs	91		Burleigh Grimes	Ottum/Kew	Pct	.742; 23-8
Al Linderbeck	Quincy	HR	10		H.W. Gray	Jacksonville	HR	10

1910 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Quincy Vets	88	50	.638	0	37,213	Bade Myers
Ottumwa Packers	80	57	.584	7.5	37,000	Ned Egan
Hannibal Cannibals	77	60	.562	10.5	28,547	Bill Prout / Bill Forney
Galesburg Pavers	69	67	.507	18	35,031	Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians	67	70	.493	20.5	28,160	Frank Belt
Monmouth Browns	62	72	.459	24	25,000	Lew Drill
Burlington Pathfinders	56	81	.409	31.5	25,043	Phil Geier
Kewanee Boilermakers	49	91	.350	40	26,307	Bill Connors (minors) / Ted Price

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Dan Kerwin	Hannibal	BA	.331		Charles Fanning	Galesburg	W	30
Thomas Owens	Quincy	Hits	148		Charles Fanning	Galesburg	SO	320
Don Senno	Ottumwa	Runs	84		Charles Fanning	Galesburg	Pct	.714; 30-12
Thomas Owens	Quincy	HR	9		Bill Donahue	Quincy	HR	9

1911 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Ottumwa Speedboys	87	41	.680	0	Ned Egan
Burlington Pathfinders	81	44	.648	4.5	Richard Rohn
Galesburg Pavers	66	63	.512	21.5	Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians	64	64	.500	23	Frank Belt
Kewanee Boilermakers	59	67	.468	27	Jay Andrews
Monmouth Browns	59	69	.461	28	Claude Starke
Muscatine Camels	48	80	.375	39	Harry C. Blake
Hannibal Cannibals	45	81	.357	41	Jake Beckley

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Pearl Holycross	Muscatine	BA	.361		Ray Boyd	Ottumwa	W	30
Taylor Kensel	Ottumwa	Hits	163		Ray Boyd	Ottumwa	Pct	.811; 30-7
George Watson	Burlington	Runs	108		A. J. Ahring	Muscatine	SB	79
Don Senno	Ottumwa	HR	14

1912 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Ottumwa Speedboys	79	50	.612	0	23,000	Ned Egan
Kewanee Boilermakers	74	51	.592	3	19,000	George Pennington / Art Queisser
Burlington Pathfinders	73	53	.579	4.5	25,000	Richard Rohn
Monmouth Browns	71	55	.563	6.5	18,000	Bert Hough /Jack Corbett / R.L. Noven
Hannibal Cannibals	67	61	.523	11.5	NA	Eddie Herr /Ed Painter
Galesburg Pavers	61	67	.477	17.5	18,000	Ducky Eberts
Keokuk Indians	49	76	.392	28	17,000	Art Queisser / Bill Proutt
Muscatine Wallopers	33	94	.260	45	22,000	Coleman / Kreig / Wall / Clayton

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
George Manush	Ottumwa	BA	.375		Bert Dunn	Ottumwa	W	26
Harry Shanley	Muscatine	Hits	176		Joe Sloan	Keokuk	SO	197
Harry Ellis	Burlington	Runs	100		Tom Drohan	Kewanee	Pct	.800; 24-6
John Sullivan	Ottumwa	HR	21

1913 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Ottumwa Packers	72	54	.571	0	Ned Egan
Muscatine Wallopers	68	54	.557	2	Frank Boyle
Monmouth Browns	64	62	.508	8	Bert Hough
Keokuk Indians	62	63	.496	9.5	George Manush
Burlington Pathfinders	63	66	.488	10.5	Richard Rohn
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	59	65	.476	12	Belden Hill
Kewanee Boilermakers	59	65	.476	12	George Pennington / Frank Richardson
Waterloo Jays	53	71	.427	18	Jay Andrews

No full team or League attendance figures available. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Dave Milligan	Cedar Rapids	BA	.320		George Zackert	Muscatine	W	22
Harry Ellis	Burlington	Hits	156		George Zackert	Muscatine	SO	230
Harry Ellis	Burlington	Runs	100		George Zackert	Muscatine	Pct	.759; 22-7
William Jacobs	Burlington	SO	230

1914 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Waterloo Jays	78	51	.605	0	Jay Andrews
Burlington Pathfinders	75	53	.586	2.5	Tom Hayden /George Manush
Muscatine Buttonmakers	72	53	.576	4	Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots	67	61	.523	10.5	Bert Hough
Cedar Rapids Bunnies	64	60	.516	11.5	Belden Hill
Keokuk Indians	52	76	.406	25.5	Spencer Abbott / Harry Sweet
Marshalltown Ansons	52	76	.406	25.5	Frank Richardson
Ottumwa #/ Rock Island / Galesburg	49	79	.373	28.5	Ned Egan

#Ottumwa moved to Rock Island July 17. However, the National Association would not let the Central Association invade the territory of the three-I league, so Rock Island moved to Galesburg July 24. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Paddy Siglin	Waterloo	BA	.322		Fred Miller	Burlington	W	23
John Singleton	Burlington	Hits	158		George Zackert	Muscatine	SO	305
Walt Meinert	Burlington	Runs	94		W. Halper	Cedar Rapids	Pct	.722; 13-5

1915 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Burlington Pathfinders	81	38	.681	0	Richard Rohn
Muscatine Muskies	63	57	.525	18.5	Ned Egan /Jess Runser
Keokuk Indians	51	52	.495	22	Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers	58	63	.479	24	Harry Bay
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	54	62	.466	25.5	James Hamilton /Jack Herbert
Marshalltown Ansons	46	67	.407	32	Frank Richardson / Bob Lynch
Waterloo Jays	52	74	.413	32.5	Jay Andrews / Eddie Brennan
Clinton Pilots #	13	69	.159	NA	George Manush

#Clinton disbanded in mid-season.
Wins thrown out: Clinton 40, Keokuk 18, Marshalltown 5, Waterloo 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bill Collins	Cedar Rapids	BA	.337		Grover Baichley	Burlington	W	23
Walt Meinert	Burlington	Hits	137		Dick Blunk	Burlington	W	23
Walt Meinert	Burlington	Runs	97		Grover Baichley	Burlington	Pct	.697; 23-10
Harmon Hagmon	Burlington	Hits	137		Grover Baichley	Burlington	SO	310
Cliff Lee	Muscatine	HR	9		Lyle Sours	Muscatine	HR	9

1916 Central Association
President: M. E. Justice

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Marshalltown Ansons	77	50	.606	0	Frank Boyle
Clinton Pilots	73	51	.589	2.5	Jim Drohan /Larry Brown
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	62	64	.492	14.5	Jack Herbert /Billy Collins
Burlington# / Ottumwa	62	64	.492	14.5	Richard Rohn / George Boelzle
Waterloo Shamrocks	58	67	.464	18	Eddie Brennan
Mason City Claydiggers	50	76	.397	26.5	Harry Bay
Ft. Dodge Dodgers	41	86	.323	36	Paul Turgeon / Babe Towne
Muscatine Muskies ##	45	44	.506	NA	Ned Egan

#Burlington moved to Ottumwa July 20.
##Muscatine forfeited 34 wins. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Babe Ellison	Muscatine	BA	.361		Dick Blunk	Ottumwa	W	24
Babe Ellison	Muscatine	Hits	178		H. W. Flanagan	Muscatine	SO	266
Charles Reinhart	Muscatine	Runs	104		Ken Penner	Marshalltown	ERA	1.41
Albert "Bull" Durham	Musca/Marsh	HR	18

1917 Central Association
President: John F. Ford

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Marshalltown Ansons	64	34	.653	0	Frank Boyle
Mason City Claydiggers	54	38	.587	7	Dan O'Leary
Waterloo Loons	50	42	.543	11	Ned Egan
Cedar Rapids ### / Clear Lake	39	52	.429	21.5	W. Collins /Jay Andrews / Harry Shanley
Dubuque Dubs #/ Charles City	40	54	.426	22	George Hughes
Ft. Dodge Dodgers	37	57	.394	25	Charley Stis
Clinton Pilots ##	40	33	.548	NA	Larry Brown
La Crosse Infants ##	29	43	.403	NA	Mike Malloy /Jay Andrews

#Dubuque moved to Charles City July 4. ##Clinton & La Crosse disbanded July 17.
###Cedar Rapids moved to Clear Lake July 27.

The season was shortened to August 7 with National Association permission.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bing Miller	Clinton	BA	.337		Red Torkelson	Marshalltown	W	20
Bing Miller	Clinton	Hits	106		Frank Ulch	La Cros/Cedar	ERA	1.25
Joe Wilkes	Clin/Charl	Runs	69		John Mokan	Ft. Dodge	HR	9

[edit] League Records 1908-1917

Batting
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
John Corriden	Keokuk	GA	143	09		George Manush	Ottumwa	BA	.375	12
Ed Reichle	Keokuk	GA	143	09		George Watson	Burlington	RUNS	108	11
Babe Ellison	Muscatine	HITS	178	16		Charles Hartman	Quincy	AB	567	10
Babe Ellison	Muscatine	2B	46	16		C.B. Lewis	Kewanee	3B	17	09
John Sullivan	Ottumwa	HR	21	12		Babe Ellison	Muscatine	EBH	76	16
Babe Ellison	Muscatine	TB	268	16		Jim McAuley	Waterloo	SAC	56	14
A.J. Ahring	Muscatine	SB	79	11		Joseph Wilkes	Clinton	BB	87	16
Ernie Menne	Clinton	SO	90	15

Pitching
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Charles Fanning	Galesburg	GA	51	10		C.R. Garrett	Mason City	CG	43	15
Harry Gaspar	Waterloo	W	32	08		R.E. McCullough	Keokuk	L	25	14
Harry Gaspar	Waterloo	PCT	.889	08		Frank Ulch	La Cro/Ced Ra	ERA	1.25	17
Charles Fanning	Galesburg	IP	387	10		Charles Fanning	Galesburg	SO	320	10
Dan Adams	Galesb/Musca	BB	155	12		Phil Slattery	Marshalltown	HB	36	16
Guy Beard	Marshalltown	WP	15	15

[edit] Cities Represented

[edit] 1947-1949

• Burlington, IA: Burlington Indians 1947-1949
• Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids Rockets 1949
• Clinton, IA: Clinton Cubs 1947-1948; Clinton Steers 1949
• Hannibal, MO: Hannibal Pilots 1947-1948
• Keokuk, IA: Keokuk Pirates 1947-1949
• Kewanee, IL: Kewanee A's 1948-1949
• Moline, IL: Moline A's 1947-1948
• Rockford, IL: Rockford Rox 1947-1949

[edit] Teams & Statistics

[edit] 1947-1949

1947 Central Association
President: Frank Hern

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Clinton Cubs	73	51	.589	0	59,553	Robert Peterson
Hannibal Pilots	69	56	.552	4.5	40,490	Herb Nordquist
Rockford Rox	68	57	.544	5.5	67,938	Cyril Pfeifer
Keokuk Pirates	61	64	.488	12.5	44,332	Frank Oceak
Burlington (IA) Indians	52	72	.419	21	37,138	Paul O'Dea
Moline A's	51	74	.408	22.5	27,479	Elwood Wheaton

Playoffs: Clinton 3 games, Rockford 2; Hannibal 3 games, Keokuk 1.
Finals: Clinton 4 games, Hannibal 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Edward Wiltsee	Clinton	BA	.387		Charles Funk	Hannibal	W	19
Roy Sievers	Hannibal	Hits	159		Charles Funk	Hannibal	SO	145
Roy Sievers	Hannibal	Runs	121		Stan Wnetrzak	Clinton	ERA	1.72
Roy Sievers	Hannibal	RBI	141		Roy Sievers	Hannibal	HR	34

1948 Central Association
President: Frank Hern

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Clinton Cubs	79	47	.627	0	53,133	Nelson Burbrink / Lee Eilbracht
Burlington (IA) Indians	68	62	.523	13	70,359	Paul O'Dea /Melillo / Bruno Haas
Hannibal Pilots	67	62	.519	13.5	41,124	Walter DeFreitas
Keokuk Pirates	61	67	.477	19	54,694	Phil Seghi
Rockford Rox	56	72	.438	24	43,133	Cyril Pfeifer /Paul O'Dea
Moline A's / Kewanee A's #	53	74	.417	26.5	38,088	Joe Glenn

#Moline moved to Kewanee June 18, first home game June29.

Playoffs: Clinton 4 games, Burlington 2; Keokuk 4 games, Hannibal 1.
Finals: Clinton 4 games, Keokuk 0.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Gus Bell	Keokuk	BA	.319		Ronald McLeland	Hannibal	W	18
Billy Klaus	Clintonl	Hits	167		Calvin Howe	Clinton	W	18
Elzer Marx	Clinton	Runs	108		Wesley Carr	Clinton	SO	163
Dwight Maxhimer	Clinton	RBI	105		Merrill Merkle	Hannibal	SO	163
John Tanner	Keokuk	HR	23		Ronald McLeland	Hannibal	ERA	2.39

1949 Central Association
President: Lee A. Thomas

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Burlington (IA) Indians	81	48	.628	0	57,915	Lloyd Brown
Keokuk Pirates	74	54	.578	6.5	38,931	Charlie Hargreaves
Kewanee A's	68	60	.531	12.5	29,482	Harold Hoffman
Cedar Rapids Rockets	63	67	.485	18.5	84,185	Packy Rogers
Clinton Steers	61	65	.484	18.5	35,764	Adolph Matulis / Joe Blake
Rockford Rox	38	91	.295	43	19,304	Robert Dill / Fred Lietz

Playoffs: Cedar Rapids 3 games, Burlington 0; Kewanee 3 games, Keokuk 0.
Finals: Kewanee 4 games, Cedar Rapids 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Harry Minor	Keokuk	BA	.350		Walter Rush	Burlington	W	16
John Miller	Kewanee	Hits	158		John Graney	Clinton	SO	164
George Sopko	Keokuk	Runs	120		Harry Pritz	Keokuk	ERA	1.32
John Tanner	Cedar Rapids	RBI	121		John Tanner	Cedar Rapids	HR	37

[edit] League Records 1947-1949

Batting
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Held by many	Various	GA	130	48		Ed Wiltsee	Clinton	BA	.387	47
George Sopko	Keokuk	AB	544	49		Roy Sievers	Hannibal	RUNS	121	47
Billy Klaus	Clinton	HITS	167	48		Roy Sievers	Hannibal	RBI	147	47
Billy Klaus	Clinton	2B	35	48		Gus Bell	Keokuk	3B	20	48
Jack Tanner	Cedar Rapids	HR	37	49		Frank Pawlik	Rockford	EBH	61	47
Roy Sievers	Hannibal	TB	293	47		Bruno Poveromo	Clinton	SB	41	49
Jim King	Keokuk	BB	180	49		John Addison	Kewanee	SO	106	49

Pitching
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Deryle Harris	Rockford	GA	38	47		Bob Howe	Rockford	GA	38	47
Deryle Harris	Rockford	CG	25	48		Charles Funk	Hannibal	W	19	47
Held by many	Various	L	15	47		Calvin Howe	Clinton	PCT	.818	48
Harry Pitts	Keokuk	ERA	1.32	49		Deryle Harris	Rockford	IP	230	48
Ron McLeland	Hannibal	ShO	5	48		Calvin Howe	Clinton	ShO	5	48
John Graney	Clinton	SO	164	49		Charles Funk	Hannibal	BB	150	47

[edit] Hall of Fame Alumni

• Jake Beckley, 1911 Hannibal Cannibals
• Burleigh Grimes, 1913 Ottumwa Packers

[edit] Source

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition
Image is user created not original