One of things that we are trying to find between this blog and the website that accompanies it, We are trying to find among other things is how high can the score go in a professional basketball game. Today we going to take a look at the anniversaries of some of the higher scoring games in professional basketball history.
Today we are going to start on February 5, 1971 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. On that very day the Carolina Cougars welcomed the Louisville Colonels to one of their three home venues. The first half of the contest did nothing to betray what would happen in a very wild second half. After the first quarter, the Colonels held a modest 34-30 lead. In the second quater the Cougars tried to make their move, outscoring their visitors by a score of 37-25 to take a 67-59 lead into the locker room. A 67 point half in not kind of half that typically lands a team in the record books. Fans of the offense got a nice 42-41 third quarter with the Colonels shaving a point off the Cougars lead. The Cougars seemed to control the even numbered quarters. The reeled off a 48 point final quarter to claim a 156-139 win over the Colonels. A 89 point second half is much more likely to lead a team into the recordbooks. The Cougars were lead by Joe Caldwell who had 56 points.
Sometimes it takes a strong start to win a game was never better illustrated then by the Boston Celtics on February 5, 1982 in their game at the famed Boston Garden against the Denver Nuggets. The Celtics quickly jumped out in front with a 50 point first quarter to take a 50-27 lead. The Nuggets took the second quarter will a strong 44-35 preformance. The Celtics still had a strong 85 point first half. The Nuggets shaved even more points off the Celtics lead in the third quarter. The Celtics held off a 34-28 charge by the Nuggets to win the game by a narrow margin of 145-144. Wow!!
On February 5, 2006 at the Whatcom Pavilion in Bellingham, Washington the latest version of the American Basketball Association got into the act. The hometown Bellingham Slam slammed a 39 point fourth quarter against the Tijuana Dragons to gain a 157-113 win. A quartet of Slam players scored 20 or more points.
Games like these do not happen everyday but when they do look out!! Tomorrow we will look at a true American legend. Have a great Super Bowl weekend.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Who Really Did Invent the Forward Pass
Many innovations in sports history have been made over the years. Proper credit for these innovations especially those of many decades ago are very difficult for even the best of historians. All one has to do is read the book "Baseballs Game of Inches" by Peter Morris and you will clearly understand what I am saying here.
Today we are marking the anniversary of one possible innovator in the sport of football. On February 4, 1877 Eddie Cochems was born in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. His claim to fame was that while coaching at Saint Louis University, he was said to have invented the forward pass. Many will dispute this, even his quarterback Brad Robinson put in his claim to fame. Others who have claimed to have made the innovation include Amos Alonzo Stagg and Knute Rockne.
The biggest problem with these innovations is that at the time they are made no one really knows how important an innovation will become at the time that they are developed. As a result proper documentation is never done at the time. Although I have never done an oral interview of an older sports legend, those that have frequently describe problems with athletes and their memories. A player will claim that they did particularly against a given opponent. When the facts are checked later, it is frequently found to not be the case or a player may have done well, but not quite as well as claimed. We will never know the exact truth about who really did invent the forward pass, but it does make some good reading, I hope that you enjoyed it.
Tomorrow we will look at a trio of high scoring basketball games, before on Sunday we will look at a true American sports legend.
Today we are marking the anniversary of one possible innovator in the sport of football. On February 4, 1877 Eddie Cochems was born in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. His claim to fame was that while coaching at Saint Louis University, he was said to have invented the forward pass. Many will dispute this, even his quarterback Brad Robinson put in his claim to fame. Others who have claimed to have made the innovation include Amos Alonzo Stagg and Knute Rockne.
The biggest problem with these innovations is that at the time they are made no one really knows how important an innovation will become at the time that they are developed. As a result proper documentation is never done at the time. Although I have never done an oral interview of an older sports legend, those that have frequently describe problems with athletes and their memories. A player will claim that they did particularly against a given opponent. When the facts are checked later, it is frequently found to not be the case or a player may have done well, but not quite as well as claimed. We will never know the exact truth about who really did invent the forward pass, but it does make some good reading, I hope that you enjoyed it.
Tomorrow we will look at a trio of high scoring basketball games, before on Sunday we will look at a true American sports legend.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
This Was Not The National Football League
As memories of Super Bowl XXXIV between the Saint Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans were still quite fresh in the minds of football fans when on February 3, 2000 a new football league was announced. The new league announced its name was to be the Xtreme Football League. The league quickly shorten its name to the "XFL". The league was the brainchild of Vince McMahon, the man who back then was in charge of the World Wrestling Federation. McMahon and NBC were the leagues backers. The teams were the Birmingham ThunderBolts, Chicago Enforcers, Las Vegas Outlaws, Los Angeles Extreme, Memphis Maniax, New York- New Jersey Hitman, Orlando Rage and the San Francisco Demons.
Exactly one year after announcing itself, the league hit the playing field with a strong opening. Unfortuneatly it did not last. Many branded the McManhon backed league as gimmick football. Some felt the game was staged, just aas McMahons wrestling is. Many in mainstream media refused to report on the league. With NBC backing the league, other networks including ESPN ignored it. In all forty league games were played. On April 21, the Big Game at the End of the Season was played with the Extreme beating the Demons for the league title by a score of 38-6. Several weeks later on May 10, the league threw in the towel and quieter folded. Today the league is merely a footnote in Football History, McMahon is still enjoying promoting his version of wrestling. Of the players 32 went on to play in the NFL and 12 went to play in the Canadian Football League. Three of the players from the Extreme went on to win a Super Bowl.
Sports history offers so much more then I am able to show in this blog. If I have inspired you pleasae look into joining any one of the organizations doing sports research and see what they have to offer. Among them are the Professional Football Researchers Association, the Hockey Researchers Association, the Association for Association for Professional Basketball Research or even the granddaddy of sports research groups, the Society for American Baseball Research. I myself have been a memeber of SABR for almost 30 years.
Tommorrow is another day.. tune then when we...
Exactly one year after announcing itself, the league hit the playing field with a strong opening. Unfortuneatly it did not last. Many branded the McManhon backed league as gimmick football. Some felt the game was staged, just aas McMahons wrestling is. Many in mainstream media refused to report on the league. With NBC backing the league, other networks including ESPN ignored it. In all forty league games were played. On April 21, the Big Game at the End of the Season was played with the Extreme beating the Demons for the league title by a score of 38-6. Several weeks later on May 10, the league threw in the towel and quieter folded. Today the league is merely a footnote in Football History, McMahon is still enjoying promoting his version of wrestling. Of the players 32 went on to play in the NFL and 12 went to play in the Canadian Football League. Three of the players from the Extreme went on to win a Super Bowl.
Sports history offers so much more then I am able to show in this blog. If I have inspired you pleasae look into joining any one of the organizations doing sports research and see what they have to offer. Among them are the Professional Football Researchers Association, the Hockey Researchers Association, the Association for Association for Professional Basketball Research or even the granddaddy of sports research groups, the Society for American Baseball Research. I myself have been a memeber of SABR for almost 30 years.
Tommorrow is another day.. tune then when we...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Beginning of the Senior Circuit
When the first professional sports league, the National Association of Professional Baseball Clubs was formed in 1871 it came with a host of growing pains. The franchise fee was only $10 for season. Many gamblers flocked to the games and a steady schedule was not a part of the league. Teams left and entered the league on a regular basis. There were two steady things in this league, one being that there was a lot of problems, the other the Boston Club would win the pennant. For many of the better and more powerful club owners, this league was not right fit for them.
They believed that if professional baseball were to become a regular business things had to be different. On February 2, 1876 they founded a new league, the National League. The eight founding clubs were the Boston Red Stockings, Chicago White Stockings, Cincinnati Reds, Hartford Dark Blues, Louisville Grays, New York Mutuals, The Philadelphia Athletics and the Saint Louis Brown Stockings. The franchise fee was $100, a far cry from what it is today.
On April 22 the new league played its first game. The first game was played at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. The Red Stockings won the historical first game by a score of 6-5. Many highlights were apart of the league season. The year however ended on a sour note for the league. The Athletic and Mutual clubs had refused to make their last road trip West. The other clubs in the league took exception to this breech of league rules. At the league meeting in December the two clubs were expelled by the league. The clubs felt that if their league were to be taken seriously drastic measures had to be taken no matter who the rule bender was. The league elected to go without two of the stronger cities in their lineup. Obvisously, the gamble paid off. The league elected to go on with only six clubs.
Today two of those clubs are thriving members of the league. The Boston Red Stocking went on to become the Braves, move to Milwaukee and later to Atlanta. The Chicago White Stockings went on to become the beloved Cubs. The Hartford Club despite the name transferred their 1877 home games to Brooklyn, after the 1877 season the team withdrew from the league. The team was one of three clubs to depart after the second season of play. The other two clubs that withdrew were the Louisville and Saint Louis Clubs. The Louisville Club was expelled after a gambling scandal. The annual game of musical clubs was underway. The Indianapolis, Indiana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Providence, Rhode Island clubs were next to enter keeping the league at six clubs. Both the Indianapolis and the Milwaukee Clubs lasted but a single season in the league. Even the Cincinnati Reds withdrew from the league after the 1880 season.
The league did not return to eight clubs until the 1883 season when the New York (Now San Francisco Giants) and the Philadelphia Clubs were allowed back in the league, this time for good. By the end of the Players League War of 1890 the league had begun to take its more permeant look. After the 1899 season, the league dropped back to eight clubs, after dropping four of its clubs. The league would not make another franchise move until March of 1953. It all began with a meeting in the dark of winter, today it is an American tradition. Happy Birthday to the National League.
Tomorrow we will look at a one year wonder football league. Thanks for reading, have a great week.
They believed that if professional baseball were to become a regular business things had to be different. On February 2, 1876 they founded a new league, the National League. The eight founding clubs were the Boston Red Stockings, Chicago White Stockings, Cincinnati Reds, Hartford Dark Blues, Louisville Grays, New York Mutuals, The Philadelphia Athletics and the Saint Louis Brown Stockings. The franchise fee was $100, a far cry from what it is today.
On April 22 the new league played its first game. The first game was played at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. The Red Stockings won the historical first game by a score of 6-5. Many highlights were apart of the league season. The year however ended on a sour note for the league. The Athletic and Mutual clubs had refused to make their last road trip West. The other clubs in the league took exception to this breech of league rules. At the league meeting in December the two clubs were expelled by the league. The clubs felt that if their league were to be taken seriously drastic measures had to be taken no matter who the rule bender was. The league elected to go without two of the stronger cities in their lineup. Obvisously, the gamble paid off. The league elected to go on with only six clubs.
Today two of those clubs are thriving members of the league. The Boston Red Stocking went on to become the Braves, move to Milwaukee and later to Atlanta. The Chicago White Stockings went on to become the beloved Cubs. The Hartford Club despite the name transferred their 1877 home games to Brooklyn, after the 1877 season the team withdrew from the league. The team was one of three clubs to depart after the second season of play. The other two clubs that withdrew were the Louisville and Saint Louis Clubs. The Louisville Club was expelled after a gambling scandal. The annual game of musical clubs was underway. The Indianapolis, Indiana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Providence, Rhode Island clubs were next to enter keeping the league at six clubs. Both the Indianapolis and the Milwaukee Clubs lasted but a single season in the league. Even the Cincinnati Reds withdrew from the league after the 1880 season.
The league did not return to eight clubs until the 1883 season when the New York (Now San Francisco Giants) and the Philadelphia Clubs were allowed back in the league, this time for good. By the end of the Players League War of 1890 the league had begun to take its more permeant look. After the 1899 season, the league dropped back to eight clubs, after dropping four of its clubs. The league would not make another franchise move until March of 1953. It all began with a meeting in the dark of winter, today it is an American tradition. Happy Birthday to the National League.
Tomorrow we will look at a one year wonder football league. Thanks for reading, have a great week.
When Did They Have Time to Play Hockey?
On February 26, 1981 the Minnesota North Stars went to the Boston Garden in an attempt to put an end to a 34 game streak without a win in Boston. A win in this game would be there first ever in Boston. The puck was dropped and for a grand total of six seconds a fine hockey game was played. Somebody dropped their gloves and fists started flying. Order was restored however briefly, at 8:58 chaos erupted again. Among the many records beaten into each were: Seven North Stars and five Bruin players were ejected, 42 penalties each club, 84 total penalties, 67 penalties in the first period alone, 34 first period penalties by the North Stars alone, 210 penalty minutes by the North Stars of a total of 406 minutes total.
Oh Ya, as a sideline to all the fighting a hockey game was played. The Bruins ended up winning where it counted 5-1, the North Stars would have to wait another day to record their first ever win at the Boston Garden. The next time the two teams met in Boston was in the playoffs. On April 8, 1981, the teams went into overtime before the North Stars took the game. The made it two in a row the following day. The following November, they made it three straight with their first ever regular season win. Alls well thats ends well!!!
The answer to yesterdays trivia question was two regular season September games have been played in the history of the National Hockey League. The two games were played in 2007 when the Los Angeles Kings opened play with the Anaheim Ducks in Toyko, Japan. each team won their "Home" game. Todays trivia question is what is the worlds record for most penalty minutes in a professional hockey game. Todays hint, it was not in the NHL. Opps did I give a hint, my bad. The answer in tomorrows daily blog about an early Lakers-Celtics game.
Oh Ya, as a sideline to all the fighting a hockey game was played. The Bruins ended up winning where it counted 5-1, the North Stars would have to wait another day to record their first ever win at the Boston Garden. The next time the two teams met in Boston was in the playoffs. On April 8, 1981, the teams went into overtime before the North Stars took the game. The made it two in a row the following day. The following November, they made it three straight with their first ever regular season win. Alls well thats ends well!!!
The answer to yesterdays trivia question was two regular season September games have been played in the history of the National Hockey League. The two games were played in 2007 when the Los Angeles Kings opened play with the Anaheim Ducks in Toyko, Japan. each team won their "Home" game. Todays trivia question is what is the worlds record for most penalty minutes in a professional hockey game. Todays hint, it was not in the NHL. Opps did I give a hint, my bad. The answer in tomorrows daily blog about an early Lakers-Celtics game.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
When the Stars Came to Town
The Indiana Pacers were one of the original members of the American Basketball Association, when that league began play in 1967. On February 1, 1969 the Pacers were scheduled to host the Los Angeles Stars at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The Pacers were fresh off a game with the Oakland Oaks where a league recod was set for most points in a game. After the first quarter where the Pacers outscored the Stars 45-26. Many in the arena knew that record was already in jeopardy. The game did seem to settle down a bit as the two teams scored 37 points each to give the Pacers an 82-63 lead at the half. The third quarter was similar in that the Pacers outscored the visitors by a score of 39-34 to widen their lead. It all broke loose in the fourth quarter when the locals poured in 51 points to take a 172-141 win over the Oaks. The Pacers had broken their own record. Roger Brown lead the Pacers with 34 points, after going 17 of 18 at the foul line. The Pacers went 60 of 70 as a team at the foul line.
Amazingly, both clubs won their respective divisions and it was the Oaks with a regular season record of 60-18 that went on to win the league title by taking 4 out of 5 games from the Pacers including a 144-117 win at Indianapolis.
Tommorow we will look at the oldest professional sports league still standing, the National League.
Amazingly, both clubs won their respective divisions and it was the Oaks with a regular season record of 60-18 that went on to win the league title by taking 4 out of 5 games from the Pacers including a 144-117 win at Indianapolis.
Tommorow we will look at the oldest professional sports league still standing, the National League.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Hank and his High Scoring Friends
On January 31, 1989 the Loyola-Marymount University Lions and United States International University San Diego Gulls gather at Gersten Pavilion on the Loyola-Marymount campus. In their previous meeting, which occured at San Diego just three and a hlf weeks earlier, the Lions won by a score of 162-144. Many fans were wondering if yet an another new record would set between the 2 teams.
It did not take the teams long to put the entire recordbook in danger of needing a serious rewriite. In the first half the Lions raced off to a 94-76 lead at the half. Many games at the college level cant reach scores like that in a whole 40 minute game, let alone one 20 minute half. The Lions coached by Paul Westhead were very much a high offense machine. By the time the smoke cleared the Lions had a 181-150 win for a record that still stands.
The Lions were led by Junior Hank Gathers, a very promising center, who had 41 points and 29 rebounds. Gathers unfortunately never lived to see the NBA. During his senior year he had an episode where he collapsed at the foul line, he was diagosed with a heart problem. It was believed that the problem was under control and gathers was allowed to return to the court. On March 4, 1990 he collapsed again. He was rushed to the hospital and pronouced dead on arrival. He was 23 years old.
Tomorrow we will check in with the Indiana Pacers during their ABA days. have a great week!!
It did not take the teams long to put the entire recordbook in danger of needing a serious rewriite. In the first half the Lions raced off to a 94-76 lead at the half. Many games at the college level cant reach scores like that in a whole 40 minute game, let alone one 20 minute half. The Lions coached by Paul Westhead were very much a high offense machine. By the time the smoke cleared the Lions had a 181-150 win for a record that still stands.
The Lions were led by Junior Hank Gathers, a very promising center, who had 41 points and 29 rebounds. Gathers unfortunately never lived to see the NBA. During his senior year he had an episode where he collapsed at the foul line, he was diagosed with a heart problem. It was believed that the problem was under control and gathers was allowed to return to the court. On March 4, 1990 he collapsed again. He was rushed to the hospital and pronouced dead on arrival. He was 23 years old.
Tomorrow we will check in with the Indiana Pacers during their ABA days. have a great week!!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Bonus Blog IV The Many Faces of Football
The Sport of Football today has many faces. In many areas of the USA, high schooll football is quite popular on an autumn Friday evening. In many of those same places College Football becomes the King on Saturdays. Across much of the country, the world seems to stop on Sundays when the National Football League takes center stage. Most fans of the game can seem to find a game to watch on TV or attend between Thursday night and Monday night. Football even more faces than just that.
Last weekend, we took a look at semi-pro football, those teams and their players operating outside of the mainstream, many vying for attention to find their way to center stage. That is just one of many other faces of the game. Many of these league operate in the spring away from having to compete with those on center stage. Another face goes indoors with arena or indoor football. These leagues play in the spring time in the hopes that one of their players can make like Kurt Warner and make the giant leap to the NFL and in Warners case, the Super Bowl. Indoor Football can make for a very interesting and high scoring afternoon or evening. In many of its games the winning team will frequently score into the 70s, sometimes even the 80s or on occansion the 90s.
The indoor game has its counterpart on the ladies side in the Lingerie Football League. The league was born out of a Super Bowl half time show called the Lingerire Bowl. The game was first played in 2006. The league itself has just completed its second season. The 2010 season had 10 teams. Some critics will argue that the league is more entertainment then sport. I will not answer that question today as I am looking closer at the league in an attempt to find an unbaised answer. For those ladies who want to play the outdoor game there are several leagues offering a chance for women to play a full contact game outside on a 100 yard field. These leagues seldom find the attention they deserve.
The game also has its counterpart north of the Canadian border in the Canadian Football League. There are just enough differences to make the game interesting. The Canadians have been playing their version just as long as we Americans have had our version. The version of the Super Bowl is called the Grey Cup. It is usually played at the end of November. One of biggest differences is the 110 yard field. An attempt in the 1990s to bring the game south lasted but 2-3 years before the league withdrew its American clubs.
The game also has it touch and flag football versions however, those forms usually are not played at the professional levels. Studying the History of Football should never be restricted to the game in the mainstream but a good solid look at the many faces should be made. I hope you enjoyed this brief look. Have a great week!! The Super bowl is just a week away.
Last weekend, we took a look at semi-pro football, those teams and their players operating outside of the mainstream, many vying for attention to find their way to center stage. That is just one of many other faces of the game. Many of these league operate in the spring away from having to compete with those on center stage. Another face goes indoors with arena or indoor football. These leagues play in the spring time in the hopes that one of their players can make like Kurt Warner and make the giant leap to the NFL and in Warners case, the Super Bowl. Indoor Football can make for a very interesting and high scoring afternoon or evening. In many of its games the winning team will frequently score into the 70s, sometimes even the 80s or on occansion the 90s.
The indoor game has its counterpart on the ladies side in the Lingerie Football League. The league was born out of a Super Bowl half time show called the Lingerire Bowl. The game was first played in 2006. The league itself has just completed its second season. The 2010 season had 10 teams. Some critics will argue that the league is more entertainment then sport. I will not answer that question today as I am looking closer at the league in an attempt to find an unbaised answer. For those ladies who want to play the outdoor game there are several leagues offering a chance for women to play a full contact game outside on a 100 yard field. These leagues seldom find the attention they deserve.
The game also has its counterpart north of the Canadian border in the Canadian Football League. There are just enough differences to make the game interesting. The Canadians have been playing their version just as long as we Americans have had our version. The version of the Super Bowl is called the Grey Cup. It is usually played at the end of November. One of biggest differences is the 110 yard field. An attempt in the 1990s to bring the game south lasted but 2-3 years before the league withdrew its American clubs.
The game also has it touch and flag football versions however, those forms usually are not played at the professional levels. Studying the History of Football should never be restricted to the game in the mainstream but a good solid look at the many faces should be made. I hope you enjoyed this brief look. Have a great week!! The Super bowl is just a week away.
The Famous Three I League
Thoughout the first 60 years of the 20th Century, the American Association was the most important minor league playing Baseball in the US Midwest. The second most important league in the area in that time period was the Class A Western League. The third most important league was the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League, as known as the 3-I League. All three leagues got started firmly in time for the 1901 seasons. The three leagues worked very hard on keeping professional baseball alive in the Midwest thoughout this time period. Today we are going to focus on the 3-I League.
As we look at the leagues history, we start at the beginning. On January 30, 1901 the league was founded and the first eight clubs were set when the following cities got franchises: Bloomington, Illinois, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Davenport, IA; Decatur, Illinois; Peoria, Illinois, Rockford, Illinois; Rock Island, Illinois and Terre Haute, Indiana. A month later the Peoria club was forced to move to Evansville, IL
The Bloomington Blues missed only 1 season before World War I and stayed in the league for most seasons before leaving the league for good after the 1939 season. For most of their time in the league they were however known as the Bloomers. The Cedar Rapids Rabbits remained in the league until 1909. They were in and out of the league before returning for good in 1950. The Davenport River Rats were in the league until 1906. The were in the league for most of the years before World War I and in and out of the league until leaving for good after the 1958 season. The Decatur Commodores or Commies for short were a standard league club for most seasons until leaving the league after the 1950 season.
The Evansville River Rats spent two seasons in the league before transferring to the Central League. The team returned to the league in 1919, with various nicknames off and on until leaving for good after the 1957 season. The Rockford Red Sox remained in the league for 4 seasons before moving to Peoria. The Rcokford club never returned to the league. The Peoria Distillers remained in the league until 1935 and returned a couple of times until the end of the 1957 season. The Rock Island Islanders remained in the league until 1911 and then off and on until 1921. The Terre Haute Hottentots played two seasons and like the Evansville Club moved to the Central League. They also returned to the league in 1919 and went off and on until after the 1957 season.
The league itself played its first league games on May 2, 1901. Except for a one season break for World War I, the league played through until crashing into the Great Depression in mid season of 1932. The league was revived on the 34th anniversary of its original founding, January 30, 1935. Its great comeback was two years too early. After being forced to sit out the 1936, the comeback resumed in 1937. The league took a three season break for World War II, before returning for the 1946 season.
The league like most others felt extra pressure to survive in the mid 1950s. With TV and home air conditioning entering into the picture it set off a strange series of events. At the end of the 1958 season, the league found itself down to 4 clubs. The Class A Western League was having problems of its own and called it quits. Four of the Western League clubs asked for admitance into the Three-I League even though two of the 4 clubs were outside of the leagues area. The four clubs, Des Moines, IA; Lincoln, Nebraska; Sioux City, Iowa and Topeka, Kansas were admitted into the league. The league had already added a team from Appleton, Wisconsin the season before. The league struggled on for the next three seasons before doing the same same thing that the Western League had done. Three surviving clubs dropped down to the Class D Midwest League, when the Three I league closed down for good in January of 1962. The Appleton,WI; Burlington, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA Clubs made the move. The three clubs quickly found themselves in familiar territory. Several of the clubs had been previous members of the Three-I League. All three clubs remain in the Midwest League today.
Thoughout its years, the Three-I league provided its fans many exciting games. At least 8 league games went to 18 innings or more with one game in 1909 reaching a then record 26 innings!! At least two league games have been found where one team scored 25 or more runs. The league had a 1926 game where the Springfield Senators beat the Peoria Tractors by a score of 33-23. Yes that was baseball, not football. There were two games where a player had four home runs, at least once in a losing cause. The league had at least one player who pulled an unassisted triple play. The league had five pitchers had 9 inning perfect games, three of them were in a period of slightly more then three years. The league had at least two games where a pitcher had 18 or more strikeouts. The league had a 1930 game the pitcher had a no-hitter with 15 walks, at least he got the victory that day. During the 1953 playoffs, the league had a series where a team was outscored 36-2.
As we look at the leagues history, we start at the beginning. On January 30, 1901 the league was founded and the first eight clubs were set when the following cities got franchises: Bloomington, Illinois, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Davenport, IA; Decatur, Illinois; Peoria, Illinois, Rockford, Illinois; Rock Island, Illinois and Terre Haute, Indiana. A month later the Peoria club was forced to move to Evansville, IL
The Bloomington Blues missed only 1 season before World War I and stayed in the league for most seasons before leaving the league for good after the 1939 season. For most of their time in the league they were however known as the Bloomers. The Cedar Rapids Rabbits remained in the league until 1909. They were in and out of the league before returning for good in 1950. The Davenport River Rats were in the league until 1906. The were in the league for most of the years before World War I and in and out of the league until leaving for good after the 1958 season. The Decatur Commodores or Commies for short were a standard league club for most seasons until leaving the league after the 1950 season.
The Evansville River Rats spent two seasons in the league before transferring to the Central League. The team returned to the league in 1919, with various nicknames off and on until leaving for good after the 1957 season. The Rockford Red Sox remained in the league for 4 seasons before moving to Peoria. The Rcokford club never returned to the league. The Peoria Distillers remained in the league until 1935 and returned a couple of times until the end of the 1957 season. The Rock Island Islanders remained in the league until 1911 and then off and on until 1921. The Terre Haute Hottentots played two seasons and like the Evansville Club moved to the Central League. They also returned to the league in 1919 and went off and on until after the 1957 season.
The league itself played its first league games on May 2, 1901. Except for a one season break for World War I, the league played through until crashing into the Great Depression in mid season of 1932. The league was revived on the 34th anniversary of its original founding, January 30, 1935. Its great comeback was two years too early. After being forced to sit out the 1936, the comeback resumed in 1937. The league took a three season break for World War II, before returning for the 1946 season.
The league like most others felt extra pressure to survive in the mid 1950s. With TV and home air conditioning entering into the picture it set off a strange series of events. At the end of the 1958 season, the league found itself down to 4 clubs. The Class A Western League was having problems of its own and called it quits. Four of the Western League clubs asked for admitance into the Three-I League even though two of the 4 clubs were outside of the leagues area. The four clubs, Des Moines, IA; Lincoln, Nebraska; Sioux City, Iowa and Topeka, Kansas were admitted into the league. The league had already added a team from Appleton, Wisconsin the season before. The league struggled on for the next three seasons before doing the same same thing that the Western League had done. Three surviving clubs dropped down to the Class D Midwest League, when the Three I league closed down for good in January of 1962. The Appleton,WI; Burlington, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA Clubs made the move. The three clubs quickly found themselves in familiar territory. Several of the clubs had been previous members of the Three-I League. All three clubs remain in the Midwest League today.
Thoughout its years, the Three-I league provided its fans many exciting games. At least 8 league games went to 18 innings or more with one game in 1909 reaching a then record 26 innings!! At least two league games have been found where one team scored 25 or more runs. The league had a 1926 game where the Springfield Senators beat the Peoria Tractors by a score of 33-23. Yes that was baseball, not football. There were two games where a player had four home runs, at least once in a losing cause. The league had at least one player who pulled an unassisted triple play. The league had five pitchers had 9 inning perfect games, three of them were in a period of slightly more then three years. The league had at least two games where a pitcher had 18 or more strikeouts. The league had a 1930 game the pitcher had a no-hitter with 15 walks, at least he got the victory that day. During the 1953 playoffs, the league had a series where a team was outscored 36-2.
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