Jacksonville Jacks

Organized baseball was first played in Jacksonville by the Jacksonville Hardins in 1865, a team assembled by Illinois College student Linus Chandler.[1]

The Jacksonville Lunatics became the first minor league baseball team in Jacksonville, Illinois in 1892. 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 (4th). The Jacksonville Jacks 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 with a 63–61 record.[15][16]

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 (5th) in 1908.[17][18]

Jacksonville continued play in the 1909 Central Association as the Jacksonville Braves. The Braves finished 1909 at 46-84 (7th).[17][19][20]

In 1910, the Galesburg Pavers replaced Jacksonville in the Central Association and Jacksonville played 1910 in two other leagues.[17]

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.[21][22]

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.[23]

The Jacksonville Jacks were 32–31, when the Northern Association permanently folded on July 19, 1910. Freeport, Clinton, Elgin and Kankakee had already folded.[21]

With the Northern Association folded on July 19, the Beardstown Infants of the Illinois–Missouri League moved to Jacksonville in 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.[24][25][26]

Jacksonville teams played at League Park. League Park had a capacity of 1,200 and was located on Finley Street, Jacksonville, Illinois.[27]

• Jacksonville, IL - BR Bullpen Baseball Reference