Mitchell Kernels

Mitchell Kernels
Mitchell Kernels
1920–1940; (1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940); Mitchell, South Dakota ;
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Class D (1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940)
Previous leagues	South Dakota League (1920); Dakota League (1921-1922); South Dakota League (1923); Nebraska State League (1936–1937); Western League (1939–1940); Basin League (1953-1960);
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	St. Louis Cardinals (1936–1937);
Minor league titles
League titles	4 1920, 1921, 1922, 1936
Team data
Previous names	Mitchell Kernels;
Previous parks	Kernel Park (1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940)

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). The Mitchell Kernels were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals (1936–1937).

History

The Mitchell Kernels first played as members of the 1920 South Dakota League. 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. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jim Bottomly played for the Kernels in 1920.^[1]

The Mitchell Kernels resumed play in 1953 as charter members of the Basin League (1953–1973), an independent collegiate minor league. Mitchell played in the Basin League from 1953–1960. The Basin League was established in 1953 with South Dakota teams in Chamberlain, Huron, Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown, Winner and Yankton, as well as Valentine, Nebraska. The league name reflected the number of teams situated along the Missouri River Basin. 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 team.^[2]^[3]

The ballpark

The minor league Kernels played at Kernel Park. Kernel Park stood on a site adjacent to Joe Quintal Field, which is still in use today by Mitchell High School and Dakota Wesleyan University sports teams. Built in 1941, Joe Quintal Field is located at 501 East 11th Avenue, Mitchell, South Dakota, 57301.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Notable Alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Jim Bottomley (1920) Inducted, 1974

Notable Alumni

Frank Carpin (1956)
Doug Clemens (1959)
Doc Daugherty (1954)
Eddie Fisher (1957) MLB All-Star
Red Fisher (1920)
Dick Green (1959) MLB All-Star
Dave Giusti (1959) MLB All-Star
Lou Kahn (1936)
Cliff Knox (MGR, 1936-1937)
Doyle Lade (1939)
Louis Leroy (1920)
Jimmie Long (1920)
Dean Look (1959) NFL Official
Dave Odom (1936)
Jim O'Toole (1957) MLB All-Star; Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
Del Paddock (1920)
Don Schwall (1957) MLB All-Star; 1961 AL Rookie of the Year
Biggs Wehde (1940)
Jimmy Zinn (MGR, 1940)

Year-by-year record

(from Mitchell Kernels Baseball Reference)

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs/Notes
1920	61–36	1st	Hank Scharnweber	League Champions
1921	65–33	1st	Hank Scharnweber	League Champions
1922	60–37	1st	Hank Scharnweber	League Champions
1923	28–27	3rd	Hank Scharnweber	League disbanded July 17
1936	68–50	2nd	Cliff Knox	League Champions
1937	75–41	2nd	Cliff Knox	none
1939	49–69	5th	Red Davis	none
1940	44–70	4th	Ed Grayston/Jimmy Zinn	Sioux City Soos moved to Mitchell July 24

References

^ "Mitchell Kernels - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
^ "Basin League". www.attheplate.com.
^ Writer, Darrell Shoemaker, Journal Sports. "Basin League had memorable run in S.D." Rapid City Journal Media Group.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Basin League History (1953-1973)". usfamily.net.
^ Jul 9th 2018 - 2pm, Marcus Traxler |. "Joe Quintal Field project slightly behind schedule". The Daily Republic.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "Facilities". Dakota Wesleyan University.

[1] "Mitchell Kernels - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[2] "Basin League". www.attheplate.com.

[3] Writer, Darrell Shoemaker, Journal Sports. "Basin League had memorable run in S.D." Rapid City Journal Media Group.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[4] "Basin League History (1953-1973)". usfamily.net.

[5] Jul 9th 2018 - 2pm, Marcus Traxler |. "Joe Quintal Field project slightly behind schedule". The Daily Republic.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[6] "Facilities". Dakota Wesleyan University.

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