Jacksonville Jacks

The Jacksonville Jacks was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Jacksonville, Illinois. Between 1892 and 1910, Jacksonville teams played in eight leagues under differing names.

Jacksonville Jacks
1892–1910
(1892, 1894–1895, 1900, 1906–1910)
Jacksonville, Illinois
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass A (1894)
Class B (1895)
Class D (1906–1910)
Class F (1892)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
  • None
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
  • Jacksonville Lunatics (1892)
  • Jacksonville Jacks (1894–1985)
  • Jacksonville Reds (1900)
  • Jacksonville Jacks (1906)
  • Jacksonville Lunatics (1907–1908)
  • Jacksonville Braves (1909)
  • Jacksonville Jacks (1910)
Previous parks
League Park (1892, 1894–1895, 1900, 1906–1910)

History

Organized baseball was first played in Jacksonville by the Jacksonville Hardins in 1865. The Hardins were a semi–pro team assembled by Illinois College student Linus Chandler.[1]

In 1892, the Jacksonville Lunatics became the first minor league baseball team in Jacksonville, Illinois. The Jacksonville Lunatics joined the eight–team 1892 Illinois–Iowa League. The Lunatics finished 30–57 (4th) as four of the league members folded during the season. Only Jacksonville, Joliet Convicts, Rockford Hustlers and Rock Island-Moline Twins competed the season. The Illinois–Iowa League folded after the season.[2][3][4]

In 1894, the Jacksonville Jacks joined the reformed Western Association, along with fellow members Des Moines Prohibitionists, Lincoln Treeplanters, Omaha Omahogs, Peoria Distillers, Quincy Ravens, Rock Island-Moline Islanders and St. Joseph Saints.[5][6][7][1]

Jacksonville finished 67–57 in 1894, placing 4th in the standings. The Jacksonville Jacks continued play in 1895 and were 33–36 on August 8, 1895 when the franchise moved to nearby Springfield, Illinois. The franchise then moved to Burlington, Iowa and finished the 1895 season as the Burlington Spiders.[8][5][6][9]

In 1900, Jacksonville briefly played as the Jacksonville Reds in the Central League. The Springfield Reds were 4–14 when they moved to Jacksonville on May 21, 1900. The Jacksonville Reds were 15–43 overall when the team folded on July 8, 1900.[10][11][12]

The Jacksonville Jacks began play in the six–team 1906 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League, finishing 2nd with a 67–58 record. The Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League folded after the 1906 season.[13][14]

With the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League folded, the Jacksonville Lunatics joined the eight–team 1907 Iowa State League. The Lunatics finished 4th in the standings with a 63–61 record. On September 11, 1907,Jacksonville pitcher John Roach threw a 7–inning no–hitter against the Ottumwa Packers in a 2–0 Jacksonville victory.[15][16][17]

After the Iowa State League changed names, the Jackson Lunatics played 1908 as charter members of the newly named Central Association, joining the Burlington Pathfinders, Keokuk Indians, Kewanee Boilermakers, Oskaloosa Quakers, Ottumwa Packers, Quincy Gems and Waterloo Lulus. The Lunatics finished 59–69 and ended in 5th place in the 1908 Central Association standings. On June 27, 1908, Jacksonville pitcher A.J. Patrick pitched a no–hitter against the Ottumwa Packers in a 4–1 victory,[18][19][17]

Jacksonville continued play in the 1909 Central Association as the Jacksonville Braves. The Braves finished 1909 at 46–84, 7th in the Central Association standings.[18][20][21]

In 1910, the Galesburg Pavers replaced Jacksonville in the Central Association and Jacksonville played 1910 in two other leagues.[18]

The 1910 Jacksonville Jacks were founding members of the Class D Northern Association, along with the Clinton Teddies, Decatur Commodores, Elgin Kittens, Freeport Pretzels, Joliet Jolly-ites, Kankakee Kays and Muscatine Pearl Finders.[22][23]

On May 10, 1910, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Casey Stengel made his professional debut playing for the Kankakee Kays against the Jacksonville Jacks. The Jacks won 3–2, while Stengel had a hit and stolen base.[24]

The Jacksonville Jacks were 32–31, when the Northern Association permanently folded on July 19, 1910. Freeport, Clinton, Elgin and Kankakee had already folded.[22]

With the Northern Association folded on July 19, the Beardstown Infants of the Illinois–Missouri League moved to Jacksonville on July 21, 1910 with a 38–26 record. The Jacksonville Jacks resumed play and were 44–36 in the Illinois–Missouri League when the franchise folded on August 17, 1910. Minor league baseball has not returned to Jacksonville.[25][26][27]

Ballpark

Jacksonville teams played at League Park. League Park had a capacity of 1,200 and was located on Finley Street, Jacksonville, Illinois.[28]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
18921Jacksonville LunaticsClass FIllinois–Iowa League
18941Jacksonville JacksClass AWestern Association
18951Class BWestern Association
19001Jacksonville RedsIndependentCentral League
19061Jacksonville JacksClass DKentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League
19071Jacksonville LunaticsIowa State League
19081Central Association
19091Jacksonville BravesCentral Association
1910 (1)1Jacksonville JacksNorthern Association
1910 (2)1Illinois-Missouri League

Notable alumni

See also

Jacksonville Jacks players, Jacksonville Lunatics players, Jacksonville Braves players

References
  1. Olson, Greg (April 3, 2017). "The way we were: Baseball has a storied past in Jacksonville". Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
  2. "Two-I League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  3. "1892 Jacksonville Lunatics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "Some Great-Named Real Baseball Teams". May 5, 2011.
  5. "1894 Jacksonville Jacks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "Western Association - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  7. "1894 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1895 Jacksonville Jacks/Springfield Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "Springfield, IL - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  10. "Springfield/Jacksonville Reds Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "Central League (US) - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  12. "1900 Springfield/Jacksonville Reds Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  14. "Jacksonville Jacks - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  15. "1907 Jacksonville Lunatics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "Iowa State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  17. "Minor League No-Hitters 1900-1909 - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  18. "Central Association - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  19. "1908 Central Association (CA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  20. "Jacksonville (IL) Braves - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  21. "1909 Central Association (CA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "Northern Association - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  23. "1910 Northern Association (NA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. "This Day in History | MiLB.com History | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  25. "Illinois-Missouri League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  26. "Jacksonville, IL - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  27. "1910 Beardstown/Jacksonville Jacks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. "League Park in Jacksonville, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

External references
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