Mitchell Kernels

The Mitchell Kernels were a Class D minor league baseball team based in Mitchell, South Dakota intermittently from 1920–1940. Mitchell teams were members of the South Dakota League (1920), Dakota League (1921–1922), South Dakota League (1923), Nebraska State League (1936–1937) and Western League (1939–1940).The Mitchell Kernels played as a member of the collegiate minor league Basin League (1953–1960).

Mitchell Kernels
1920–1960
(1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940, 1953–1960)
Mitchell, South Dakota
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940)
Collegiate summer baseball (1953–1960)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 4 1920, 1921, 1922, 1936
Team data
Previous names
  • Mitchell Kernels (1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940, 1953–1960)
Previous parks
Hitchcock Park (1920–1923)
Kernel Park (1936–1937, 1939–1940, 1953–1960)

The Kernels were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936–1937.

Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jim Bottomley played for the 1920 Mitchell Kernels.

The "Kernels" moniker was adopted by Mitchell High School sports teams in the 1930's.

History

The Mitchell Kernels first played as members of the 1920 South Dakota League, winning the first of their three consecutive championships. The Mitchell Kernels then played in the Dakota League (1921–1922), South Dakota League (1923), Nebraska State League (1936–1937) and Western League (1939–1940). The Kernels were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936–1937. The Mitchell Kernels won league championships in 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1936.[1]

The Mitchell Kernels moniker undoubtedly derived from Mitchell, South Dakota being home to the famed Corn Palace, which was built in 1892.[2]

The Mitchell Kernels resumed play in 1953 as charter members of the Basin League (1953–1973), an independent collegiate minor league. In its duartion the Basin League evolved from rosters containing some professional players to rosters being totally amateur, becoming a pioneer in what is known today as Collegiate summer baseball. Mitchell played in the Basin League from 1953–1960. Mitchell was a charter member of the 1953 Basin league along with Chamberlain, Huron, Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown, Winner and Yankton, as well as Valentine, Nebraska. Mitchell did not win a championship while playing in the Basin League. Future major league players Frank Carpin, Doug Clemens, Doc Daugherty, Eddie Fisher, Dick Green, Dave Giusti, Dean Look, Jim O'Toole and Don Schwall played for the Mitchell Kernels' Basin League teams.[3][4]

Today, the Kernels moniker has been the long time moniker of Mitchell High School, who first adopted the nickname in the 1930's.[5][6][7]

Championship seasons

In their first season of minor league play, as charter members of the Class D South Dakota League, the Mitchell Kernels won the league championship. They would win three consecutive championships. Mitchell ended the 1920 season with a record of 61–36, 1st in the league standings under Manager Henry Scharnweber. The league had no playoffs for its duration. In the eight–team league, Mitchell finished 3.0 games ahead of the Sioux Falls Soos (58–40), followed by the Huron Packers (56–40), Wessington Springs Saints (49–48), Redfield Reds/Red Sox (46–49), Madison Grays (42–50), Aberdeen Boosters (42–54) and Miller Climbers/Jugglers (28–65). In his first professional season, Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Bottomley played for Mitchell in 1920, hitting .312 with 7 home runs in 97 games.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

In 1921, the league changed names to the Dakota League and Mitchell defended their title. Continuing play under Manager Henry Scharnweber, the Kernels finished in 1st place with a 65–33 record, 3.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Sioux Falls Soos (61–35). They were followed in the standings by the Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins (55–43), Redfield Red Sox (47–46), Madison (45–50), Watertown Cubs (44–53), Aberdeen Grays (35–62) and Huron Packers (34–64).[14][15][16][17][18]

The Kernels won their third consecutive championship, becoming the 1922 Dakota League Champions. Mitchell finished 60–37, again managed by Henry Scharnweber. Mitchell finished 4.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Aberdeen Grays (56-42) and Fargo Athletics (56–42), followed by the Sioux Falls Soos (55–42), Jamestown Jimkotans (46–51), Watertown Cubs (42–54), Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins (42–55) and the Valley City Hi-Liners/Bismarck Capitals (30–64). In 1923, Mitchell was unable to defend their tiles as the South Dakota league folded during the season on July 13, 1923 with Mitchell in 3rd place.[19][20][21][22][23][15]

In 1936, the Mitchell Kernels the won league championship as the franchise resumed play in the Class D Nebraska State League. Playing as an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Kernels ended the six–team Nebraska State League regular season with a record of 68–50, 2nd in the standings, 2.0 games behind the Sioux Falls Canaries. Cliff Knox was the Mitchell manager. In the Playoffs, the Mitchell Kernels beat the Norfolk Elks 3 games to 1. In the Finals, the Mitchell Kernels defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries 4 games to 2.[24][25][26][27][28]

The ballparks

From 1920 to 1923, Mitchell teams played at Hitchcock Park. The ballpark was located on East Hanson Street between South Gamble Street & South Foster Street in Mitchell South Dakota. Today, Hitchcock Park is still in use as a public park area with a baseball field. The address is 1201 E Hanson Avenue, Mitchell, South Dakota, 57301.[29][30]

Beginning in 1936 minor league Kernels played at Kernel Park. Kernel Park stood on a site directly adjacent to Joe Quintal Field, which was built in 1941. Joe Quintal Field is still in use as home to Mitchell High School and Dakota Wesleyan University sports teams. Joe Quintal Field is located at 501 East 11th Avenue, Mitchell, South Dakota, 57301.[31][32][33][34][35] [36]

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

Year-by-year record

(from Mitchell Kernels Baseball Reference)

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
192061–361stHank ScharnweberLeague Champions
192165–331stHank ScharnweberLeague Champions
192260–371stHank ScharnweberLeague Champions
192328–273rdHank ScharnweberLeague disbanded July 17
193668–502ndCliff KnoxLeague Champions
193775–412ndCliff Knoxnone
193949–695thRed Davisnone
194044–704thEd Grayston/Jimmy ZinnSioux City Soos moved to Mitchell July 24

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
19201Mitchell KernelsClass DSouth Dakota League
1921–19222Dakota League
19231South Dakota League
1936–19372Nebraska State League
1939–19402Western League
1953–19608Collegiate SummerBasin League

See also

Mitchell Kernels players

References
  1. "Mitchell Kernels - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Mitchell Corn Palace, SD | Official Website". cornpalace.com.
  3. "Basin League". www.attheplate.com.
  4. Writer, Darrell Shoemaker, Journal Sports. "Basin League had memorable run in S.D." Rapid City Journal Media Group.
  5. "Home". mitchellkernels.
  6. "Cornelius' roots go back 50 years". The Mitchell Republic.
  7. "Fast Facts - Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, SD". www.visitmitchell.com.
  8. "1920 Mitchell Kernels Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1920 South Dakota League (SDL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1920 South Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1920 Mitchell Kernels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jim-bottomley/
  13. "South Dakota League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  14. "1921 Dakota League (DL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "Dakota League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  16. "1921 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "1921 Mitchell Kernels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "1921 Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. "1922 Dakota League (DL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  20. "1922 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. "1923 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "1922 Mitchell Kernels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "1922 Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  24. "1936 Mitchell Kernels Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. "1936 Nebraska State League | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. "1936 Mitchell Kernels Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. "Nebraska State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  28. "1936 Mitchell Kernels Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  29. "Hitchcock Park in Mitchell, SD history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  30. "Hitchcock Park". Mitchell, SD.
  31. "Basin League History (1953-1973)". usfamily.net.
  32. Jul 9th 2018 - 2pm, Marcus Traxler. "Joe Quintal Field project slightly behind schedule". The Daily Republic.
  33. "Facilities". Dakota Wesleyan University.
  34. "Mitchell Baseball Park in Mitchell, SD history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  35. "1936 Nebraska State League (NSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  36. "1936 Nebraska State League (NSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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