Hannibal Cannibals

Hannibal Cannibals
19081955
(1908–1912, 1916–1917, 1948–1949, 1952–1955)
Hannibal, Missouri
Class-level
Previous Class D (1952–1955, 1908–1911)
Class C (1947–1948)
Class B (1916–1917)
Minor league affiliations
League Midwest League
Previous leagues
Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1952–1955)
Central Association (1948–1949, 1909–1912)
Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1916–1917)
Illinois–Missouri League (1908)
Major league affiliations
Previous
Team data
Previous names

Cannibals (1908–1912)

Previous parks
Clemens Field

The Hannibal Cannibals was the original nickname of the minor league baseball team that played in Hannibal, Missouri. Hannibal minor league teams played in various leagues under numerous names between 1908-1955. Hannibal is the hometown of author Mark Twain, also known as Samuel Clemens, the namesake of the Hannibal baseball park: Clemens Field.

History

Hannibal teams played in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1952–1955), Central Association (1948–1949, 1909–1912), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1916–1917) and began in the Illinois–Missouri League (1908).[1] The team was known as the Cannibals (1908–1912), Hannibal Citizens (1955), Hannibal Cardinals (1953–1954), Hannibal Stags (1952), Hannibal Pilots, (1947–48) and Hannibal Mules (1916–1917). Hall of Famer Jake Beckley played for Hannibal in 1911.

Hannibal was an expansion team in the 1952 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, the predecessor of today's Midwest League. I 1956, the franchise relocated to become the Michigan City White Caps for the first Midwest League season [2] and professional baseball left Hannibal for the last time.

Hannibal's Richard Lessman threw a no-hitter against the Lafayette Red Sox on August 9, 1955 in a 1-0 victory.[3]

Through 2018, the Hannibal Cavemen and Hannibal Hoots of the collegiate summer Prospect League played at a renovated Clemens Field, which is also used for youth baseball.[4]

Clemens Field

Clemens Field, named for native Samuel Clemens, was built in 1938 as a Works Project Administration (WPA) Project and was home to the Hannibal teams thereafter. After little usage, Clemens Field underwent a major renovation in 2009. Now, the stadium has the original grandstand and brick wall perimeter, holding 2,500. Clemens Field is located at 403 Warren Buffett Drive.[5][6]

Previous to Clemens Field, the earlier Hannibal teams played at Mainland's Park (1910–1917), located at Market Street in Oakwood.[7] and League Park (1908–1909), located at Lyon and Glasscock Street.[8]

Jake Beckley Hall of Fame plaque

Notable alumni

Hall of Fame Alumni

Notable alumni

References

  1. "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  2. "Baseball in Hannibal, Missouri". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  3. "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. Prospect League Standings Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  5. Prospect League Stadiums Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. "Baseball in Hannibal". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  7. "Mainland's Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  8. "League Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.