Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League

Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League

Classification	D (1901) B (1902–1961)
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1901
Ceased	1961
No. of teams	31 Cities
Country	USA
Most titles	8 Evansville Braves/ Bees/ Hubs (1957, 1956, 1954, 1952, 1949, 1941, 1938, 1930)

The Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League was a Minor League Baseball organization that operated for the better part of 60 years, mostly in those three states. The league began play in 1901 and disbanded after the 1961 season. It was popularly known as the Three–I League and sometimes jokingly as the Three-Eye League.

History

The Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League was founded in 1901 with Rock Island, IL native Michael H. Sexton serving as President. Eight charter members began play in 1901: the Bloomington Blues, Cedar Rapids Rabbitts, Davenport River Rats, Decatur Commodores, Evansville River Rats, Rock Island Islanders, Rockford Red Sox and Terre Haute Hottentots. Bloomington, Illinois, Decatur, Illinois and Terre Haute, Indiana had left the Central League to join expansion teams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Davenport, Iowa, Evansville, Indiana, Rockford, Illinois, and Rock Island, Illinois and form the Class D league. Two expansion teams, Davenport and Evansville, chose "River Rats" as their team name. For the second season, 1902, the league became Class B, a classification it retained for the next 59 seasons of league operation.

The Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League was inactive during some years of World War I (1918), the Great Depression (1933–1934, 1936) and World War II (1943–1945), similar to many minor leagues that were forced to suspend operations or disband during those severe times.

As with many minor leagues, especially at the lower classifications, league membership fluctuated a great deal over its six decades. Overall, the league hosted teams in 31 cities during its existence. At various times it had teams in such medium-sized cities as Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Bloomington, Decatur, Danville, Peoria, Springfield, Evansville and Terre Haute. It was a Class B league in the old classification system that ran from Class D up to Class Triple-A.

The 1955 Keokuk Kernels are ranked #30 in the Top-100 All Time teams by MiLB.com. The Kernels finished with a 92-34 record and were led by Russ Nixon and Mudcat Grant.

Since 1956 its territory had largely been supplanted by the Midwest League, which began in 1947 as the Class D Illinois State League. After 1956 there were no Illinois or Indiana teams in the league. The final 1961 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League franchises were the Fox Cities Foxes, Burlington Bees, Topeka Reds, Lincoln Chiefs, Cedar Rapids Braves and Des Moines Demons. In 1962, Appleton (Fox Cities), Burlington, and Cedar Rapids joined the Midwest League and the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League folded operations when those franchises switched leagues.

The league's unique name made it a convenient reference point for any mention of the minor leagues. Casey Stengel made the following comment in later life, evidently still feeling stung from having been traded by the New York Giants to the Boston Braves in the 1923–1924 off-season, despite having hit 2 game-winning home runs in the World Series: "It's lucky I didn't hit 3 home runs in three games, or McGraw would have traded me to the 3-I League!"

Three-I Most Valuable Players

• 1961 Tommy Harper, Topeka Reds (Cincinnati Reds), 15-year MLB player; All-Star
• 1960 Pete Ward, Fox Cities Foxes (Baltimore Orioles), 9-year MLB career
• 1959 Cal Emery Des Moines Demons (Philadelphia Phillies), Successful Minor League Manager
• 1958 Frank Howard, Green Bay Bluejays (Los Angeles Dodgers), 16-year MLB player; 4-time All-Star
• 1957 Don Nichols Peoria Chiefs; led league in wins (20) and ERA (2.09)
• 1956 Don Nottebart, Evansville Braves (Milwaukee Braves), Threw first no-hitter in Astrodome; gave up Willie Mays' 500th home run
• 1955 Johnny Romano, Waterloo White Hawks (Chicago White Sox), 10-year MLB player; 2-time All-Star
• 1954 unknown
• 1953 unknown
• 1952 unknown

Year By Year (1901–1932)

1901 Terre Haute won the title behind the impressive pitching of Mordecai Brown, future Chicago Cubs mound star.

Team Name	Record
Terre Haute Hottentots	72–39
Bloomington Blues	68–44
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	67–45
Rockford Red Sox	57–55
Davenport River Rats	51–61
Evansville River Rats	47–65
Rock Island Islanders	45–66
Decatur Commodores	40–72

1902

Rockford Red Sox	74–52
Terre Haute Hottentots	70–53
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	64–55
Rock Island Islanders	58–61
Davenport River Rats	59–63
Evansville River Rats	57–67
Decatur Commodores	55–69
Bloomington Blues	54–71

1903 Evansville and Terre Haute joined the Central League. New teams in Dubuque, Iowa and Joliet, Illinois formed. Joliet, with a record of 14–19, moved to Springfield, Illinois on June 12, where they had a record of 28–61.

Bloomington Bloomers	72–47
Decatur Commodores	67–51
Davenport River Rats	65–53
Rock Island Islanders	64–54
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	60–60
Rockford Red Sox	58–60
Dubuque Shamrocks	49–72
Joliet Standards/Springfield Foot Trackers	42–80

1904

Springfield Hustlers	72–48
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	70–52
Dubuque Shamrocks	69–54
Bloomington Bloomers	60–61
Decatur Commodores	59–62
Rock Island Islanders	57–65
Davenport River Rats	52–69
Rockford Red Sox	48–76

1905 The Rockford team folded, and a new team in Peoria, Illinois formed.

Dubuque Shamrocks	70–53
Rock Island Islanders	68–55
Springfield Senators	64–58
Decatur Commodores	63–58
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	63–61
Bloomington Bloomers	60–65
Davenport Riversides	56–67
Peoria Distillers	48–75

After the season ended, Cedar Rapids lost to the Burlington, Iowa team from the Iowa State League 4 games to 3.

1906

Cedar Rapids Rabbits	79–43
Peoria Distillers	74–48
Dubuque Dubs	64–55
Springfield Senators	64–56
Rock Island Islanders	58–66
Decatur Commodores	48–67
Bloomington Bloomers	51–74
Davenport Knickerbockers	45–74

1907

The Davenport team folded. The team from Clinton, Iowa joined after leaving the Iowa State League.

Rock Island Islanders	86–46
Decatur Commodores	80–47
Springfield Senators	81–50
Peoria Distillers	77–52
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	72–61
Clinton Infants	53–78
Bloomington Bloomers	51–79
Dubuque Dubs	22–109

1908

Springfield Senators	82–54
Decatur Commodores	77–59
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	69–63
Peoria Distillers	77–52
Dubuque Dubs	67–69
Bloomington Bloomers	64–73
Rock Island Islanders	59–76
Clinton Adults	55–78

1909 The Clinton team folded. A new team in Davenport, Iowa formed.

Rock Island Islanders	90–48
Springfield Senators	81–53
Davenport Prodigals	77–59
Burlington Bloomers	70–67
Peoria Distillers	69–67
Dubuque Dubs	64–71
Decatur Commodores	63–73
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	31–107

1910 After the previous disappointing season, Cedar Rapids folded. The Decatur team moved to the Northern Association. The team from Waterloo, Iowa left the Central Association to join here. A new team from Danville, Illinois formed and joined the league as well.

Springfield Senators	88–48
Rock Island Islanders	81–56
Peoria Distillers	75–64
Waterloo Boosters	72–67
Bloomington Bloomers	60–76
Dubuque Dubs	60–79
Davenport Prodigals	59–80
Danville Speakers	57–82

1911 The team from Bloomington folded. The Quincy, Illinois team from the Central Association joined the league. The Springfield team, with a 12–4 record, moved to Decatur, Illinois on May 31, where their record was 57–56.

Peoria Distillers	76–59
Springfield Senators/Decatur Nomads	69–60
Quincy Infants	71–63
Danville Speakers	69–62
Davenport Prodigals	69–69
Dubuque Hustlers	67–70
Waterloo Boosters	59–76
Rock Island Islanders	58–79

1912 The teams from Rock Island and Waterloo folded. New teams from Springfield, Illinois and Bloomington, Indiana joined the league.

Springfield Senators	90–44
Davenport Prodigals	75–60
Decatur Commodores	69–67
Quincy Old Soldiers	67–70
Dubuque Dubs	65–73
Danville Speakers	63–71
Bloomington Bloomers	58–78
Peoria Distillers	56–80

1913

Quincy Gems	79–60
Dubuque Dubs	74–62
Davenport Blue Sox	68–66
Danville Speakers	69–68
Decatur Commodores	67–68
Springfield Watchmakers	66–70
Bloomington Bloomers	64–71
Peoria Distillers	57–79

1914 The Danville team, with a record of 26–53, moved to Moline, Illinois on July 14, where their record was 20–33.

Davenport Blue Sox	83–52
Peoria Distillers	81–56
Springfield Watchmakers	72–60
Decatur Commodores	72–64
Dubuque Dubs	64–69
Quincy Gems	61–71
Bloomington Bloomers	56–77
Danville Speakers/Moline Plowboys	46–86

1915 The Springfield team folded. A new team in Rockford, Illinois formed. Dubuque moved to Freeport, Illinois during the season. The Decatur team folded on August 10. The league adopted a playoff system in which the team with the best record in the first half of the season would play the team with the best record in the second half of the season.

Moline Plowboys	75–51 (2nd half winner)
Davenport Blue Sox	76–52 (1st half winner)
Rockford Wakes	72–58
Quincy Gems	62–56
Peoria Distillers	68–63
Dubuque Dubs/Freeport Comeons	48–76
Bloomington Bloomers	48–76
Decatur Commodores	37–57

Moline beat Davenport 4 games to 2 for the title.

1916 The Freeport team folded. New teams in Hannibal, Missouri and Rock Island, Illinois formed and joined the league. The playoff system was apparently dropped.

Peoria Distillers	84–50
Hannibal Mules	79–57
Bloomington Bloomers	76–56
Rockford Wakes	67–66
Moline Plowboys	59–76
Rock Island Islanders	57–76
Quincy Gems	57–77
Davenport Blue Sox	56–77

1917 The Davenport team folded. A new team in Alton, Illinois formed and joined the league.

Peoria Distillers	43–23
Rockford Rox	39–21
Hannibal Mules	39–27
Rock Island Islanders	36–26
Quincy Gems	27–38
Moline Plowboys	27–38
Bloomington Bloomers	25–37
Alton Blues	18–44

1918 The league suspended operations because of World War I.

1919 The teams in Alton, Hannibal, Quincy, and Rock Island folded. New teams in Evansville, Indiana and Terre Haute, Indiana formed and joined the league.

Bloomington Bloomers	80–41
Peoria Tractors	68–54
Evansville Black Sox	63–58
Rockford Rox	63–60
Terre Haute Browns	50–70
Moline Plowboys	40–81

1920 New teams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois formed and joined the league. Evansville changed their names to the "Evas".

Bloomington Bloomers	82–57
Evansville Evas	80–56
Rockford Rox	70–70
Moline Plowboys	69–70
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	68–69
Peoria Tractors	67–71
Terre Haute Browns	58–77
Rock Island Islanders	57–81

1921

Moline Plowboys	78–55
Rockford Rox	72–64
Terre Haute Tots	70–65
Peoria Tractors	70–69
Evansville Evas	67–69
Bloomington Bloomers	65–69
Cedar Rapids Rabbits	62–72
Rock Island Islanders	57–78

1922 The teams in Cedar Rapids and Rock Island moved to the Mississippi Valley League. New teams in Danville and Decatur formed and joined the league.

Terre Haute Tots	85–51
Decatur Commodores	78–58
Peoria Tractors	76–60
Evansville Evas	76–64
Rockford Rox	74–65
Bloomington Bloomers	63–75
Danville Veterans	50–87
Moline Plowboys	49–89

1923

Decatur Commodores	81–54
Rockford Rox	76–63
Terre Haute Tots	71–60
Bloomington Bloomers	72–64
Evansville Evas	72–65
Peoria Tractors	71–65
Danville Veterans	55–81
Moline Plowboys	45–91

1924 The Rockford team folded. The Moline team moved to the Mississippi Valley League.

Terre Haute Tots	75–62
Evansville Little Evas	75–64
Bloomington Bloomers	71–64
Peoria Tractors	71–66
Danville Veterans	59–75
Decatur Commodores	58–78

1925 New teams in Quincy and Springfield formed and joined the league.

Peoria Tractors	89–8
Terre Haute Tots	81–54
Evansville Pocketeers	72–63
Danville Veterans	69–66
Decatur Commodores	62–73
Bloomington Bloomers	56–74
Springfield Senators	56–79
Quincy Red Birds	54–82

1926

Springfield Senators	77–59
Peoria Tractors	75–62
Terre Haute Tots	73–61
Danville Veterans	72–65
Evansville Hubs	72–66
Decatur Commodores	69–67
Quincy Red Birds	62–75
Bloomington Bloomers	43–88

Springfield played Bay City of the Michigan State League and won 4 games to none. They were leading against Des Moines of the Western League 3 games to 1 when the series was canceled due to cold weather.

1927

Danville Veterans	86–50
Peoria Tractors	87–51
Springfield Senators	72–66
Terre Haute Tots	70–66
Decatur Commodores	62–70
Quincy Red Birds	63–75
Bloomington Bloomers	55–83
Evansville Hubs	50–84

1928 The league returned to the playoff format in which the team with the best record in the first half of the season played the team with the best records in the second half of the season for the title.

Decatur Commodores	81–49 (2nd half winner)
Terre Haute Tots	75–59 (1st half winner)
Danville Veterans	69–57
Peoria Tractors	69–66
Evansville Hubs	62–68
Bloomington Bloomers	61–69
Springfield Senators	60–79
Quincy Indians	50–85

Decatur beat Terre Haute for the title 4 games to 1, with 1 tie.

1929 Two teams with the nickname "Tractors" played in the league this season.

Quincy Indians	82–56
Decatur Commodores	81–57
Evansville Hubs	79–57
Terre Haute Tots	72–66
Bloomington Bloomers	70–70
Peoria Tractors	61–76
Springfield Tractors	59–77
Danville Veterans	46–91

Quincy played Canton of the Central League after the season ended and lost 4 games to 2.

1930 The league returned to the best record in the 1st half vs. best record in the 2nd half playoff system.

Evansville Hubs	79–55 (2nd half winner)
Quincy Indians	78–58
Decatur Commodores	77–59
Danville Veterans	71–67 (1st half winner)
Springfield Senators	62–70
Peoria Tractors	57–77
Bloomington Cubs	57–78
Terre Haute Tots	53–76

Danville defeated Evansville 4 games to 2 for the title. Danville went on to play Springfield of the Central League and lead 3 games to 2 when the series was cancelled because of poor attendance.

1931

Springfield Senators	72–45 (1st half winner)
Quincy Indians	67–49 (2nd half winner)
Evansville Hubs	67–58
Decatur Commodores	64–57
Bloomington Cubs	58–61
Terre Haute Tots	55–68
Peoria Tractors	51–68
Danville Veterans	44–72

Quincy beat Springfield 4 games to 2 for the championship.

1932 The teams in Bloomington and Evansville folded before the season, and the Springfield and Decatur teams folded on July 12.

Team Name	Affiliation	Record
Terre Haute Tots		42–27 (1st half winner)
Peoria Tractors		20–38 (2nd half winner)
Quincy Indians	Cleveland Indians	38–31
Danville Veterans	St. Louis Cardinals	29–39
Springfield Senators		32–37
Decatur Commodores		24–43

The Terre Haute, Peoria, Quincy, and Danville teams all folded on July 15, as did the league itself. The league was restarted in 1935, 1937–1942, and 1946–1961.

All former teams (1901–1961)

Alton, Illinois * Alton Blues, 1917 Bloomington, Illinois * Bloomington Blues, 1901–1902 * Bloomington Bloomers, 1903–1910, 1912–1917, 1919–1929, 1935, 1938–1939 * Bloomington Cubs, 1930–1931 * Bloomington Bengals, 1937 Burlington, Iowa * Burlington Flints, 1952–1953 * Burlington Bees, 1954–1961 Cedar Rapids, Iowa * Cedar Rapids Rabbits, 1901–1909, 1920–1921 * Cedar Rapids Raiders, 1938–1942, 1957 * Cedar Rapids Indians, 1950–1954 * Cedar Rapids Braves, 1958–1961 Clinton, Iowa * Clinton Infants, 1907–1908 * Clinton Owls, 1937–1938 * Clinton Giants, 1939–1941 Danville, Illinois Danville Speakers, 1910–1914 Danville Veterans, 1922–1932 Danville Dodgers, 1946–1950 Davenport, Iowa * Davenport River Rats, 1901–1904 * Davenport Riversides, 1905 * Davenport Knickerbockers, 1906 * Davenport Prodigals, 1909–1912 * Davenport Blue Sox, 1913–1916 * Davenport Cubs, 1946–1947 * Davenport Pirates, 1948–1949 * Davenport Quads, 1950 * Davenport Tigers, 1951–1952 * Davenport DavSox, 1957–1958 Decatur, Illinois * Decatur Commodores, 1901–1909, 1912–1915, 1922–1932, 1935, 1937–1942, 1946–1947, 1950 * Decatur Nomads, 1911 * Decatur Commies, 1948 * Decatur Cubs, 1949

Des Moines, Iowa * Des Moines Demons, 1959–1961 Dubuque, Iowa * Dubuque Shamrocks, 1903–1905 * Dubuque Dubs, 1906–1910, 1912–1915 * Dubuque Hustlers, 1911 Evansville, Indiana * Evansville River Rats, 1901–1902 * Evansville Evas, 1919–1923 * Evansville Little Evas, 1924 * Evansville Pocketeers, 1925 * Evansville Hubs, 1926–1931 * Evansville Bees, 1938–1942 * Evansville Braves, 1946–1957 Fort Wayne, Indiana * Fort Wayne Chiefs, 1935 Appleton, Wisconsin * Fox Cities Foxes, 1959–1961 Freeport, Illinois * Freeport Comeons, 1915 Green Bay, Wisconsin * Green Bay Bluejays, 1958–1959 * Green Bay Dodgers, 1960 Hannibal, Missouri * Hannibal Mules, 1916–1917 Joliet, Illinois * Joliet Standards, 1903 Keokuk, Iowa * Keokuk Kernels, 1952–1957 Lincoln, Nebraska * Lincoln Chiefs, 1959–1961 Madison, Wisconsin * Madison Blues, 1940–1942 Moline, Illinois * Moline Plowboys, 1914–1917, 1919–1923, 1937–1941 Peoria, Illinois * Peoria Distillers, 1905–1917 * Peoria Tractors, 1919–1932, 1935 * Peoria Reds, 1937 * Peoria Chiefs, 1953–1957

Quincy, Illinois * Quincy Infants, 1911 * Quincy Old Soldiers, 1912 *Quincy Gems, 1913–1917, 1946–1956 * Quincy Red Birds, 1925–1927 * Quincy Indians, 1928–1932 Rochester, Minnesota * Rochester A's, 1958 Rock Island, Illinois * Rock Island Islanders, 1901–1911, 1916–1917, 1921 Rockford, Illinois * Rockford Red Sox, 1901–1904 * Rockford Wakes, 1915–1916 * Rockford Rox, 1917, 1919–1923 Sioux City, Iowa * Sioux City Soos, 1959–1960 Springfield, Illinois * Springfield Foot Trackers, 1903 * Springfield Hustlers, 1904 * Springfield Senators, 1905–1912, 1925–1932, 1935 * Springfield Watchmakers, 1913–1914 * Springfield Browns, 1938–1942, 1946–1949 Terre Haute, Indiana * Terre Haute Hottentots, 1901–1902 * Terre Haute Browns, 1919–1920 * Terre Haute Tots, 1921–1932, 1935, 1937 * Terre Haute Phillies, 1946–1954 * Terre Haute Tigers, 1955–1956 Topeka, Kansas * Topeka Hawks, 1959 * Topeka Reds, 1960–1961 Waterloo, Iowa * Waterloo Boosters, 1910–1911 * Waterloo Red Hawks, 1938–193 * Waterloo Hawks, 1940–1942, 1947 * Waterloo White Hawks, 1946, 1948–1956 Winona, Minnesota * Winona A's, 1958

External links

• Three-I League ballpark photos