FAIR and interactive data graphics from a scientific knowledge graph

Posted on June 17, 2024 By LabLynx Journal articles

Add links
Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League
ClassificationClass D (1946–1952)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1946
Ceased1952
PresidentE. L. Dale (1946–1952)
No. of teams9
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles3 : Ponca City Dodgers (1948, 1950–1951)
Related
competitions		Western Association

The Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League (or KOM League) was a name of an American minor league baseball league which was established in 1946 and played through 1952. As the name indicates, the Class D level league had franchises based in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Baseball Hall of Fame members Mickey Mantle played in the league for the 1949 Independence Yankees and Burleigh Grimes managed the 1948 Independence Yankees.

History

The Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League was founded after World War II and ran from 1946 through 1952 as a Class D level league. Like many post-war minor leagues, it did not last a complete decade of play. During the seven year run of the league there were nine cities that represented the league. Four were from Kansas, four from Oklahoma and one from Missouri.[1]

E.L. Dale served as the League president for its entire seven years of operation. The Ponca City Dodgers won three of the seven league titles, winning championships in 1948, 1950 and 1951. No other team won more than one championship. The total attendance of the KOM league, in the seven year period, reached slightly over two million fans. In 1948 the league had its best year, drawing 387,980, before the league permanently folded after the 1952 season. The Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League League had 1,588 total players, 30 made it to the majors and one made it to the Hall of Fame.[1] In his first professional season, Mickey Mantle played for the 1949 Independence Yankees, hitting .313 with 7 HR, 63 RBI.[2] Just graduated from high school in Oklahoma, Mantle received a $1,100 signing bonus from the New York Yankees and a salary of $400 for the rest of the season.[3]

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1946 to 1947

1946 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League - schedule
The League and all of its member teams were created. Teams were formed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Carthage, Missouri, Chanute, Kansas, Iola, Kansas, Miami, Oklahoma, and Pittsburg, Kansas.

Team standings Affiliate W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Chanute Owls Topeka Owls 68 53 .562 - 41,600 Goldie Howard
Miami Blues Brooklyn Dodgers 69 54 .561 0.0 49,266 Ted Vernon / Guy Froman
Iola Cubs Chicago Cubs 63 57 .525 4.5 45,231 Al Reitz
Pittsburg Browns St. Louis Browns 61 59 .508 6.5 42,932 Jimmie Crandall
Carthage Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals 54 66 .450 13.5 47,400 Buzz Arlitt
Bartlesville Oilers Pittsburgh Pirates 47 73 .392 20.5 46,822 Keith Willoughby

Playoffs: Iola 3 games, Miami 2; Chanute 3 games, Pittsburg 2.
Finals: Iola 3 games, Chanute 3. Rest of playoffs called off due to rain and lack of available playing grounds.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Newt Keithley Miami BA .346 Ross Grimsley Chanute W 18
Richard Bulkley Chanute Runs 111 Oscar Walterman Carthage W 18
Newt Keithley Miami Hits 167 Ross Grimsley Chanute SO 295
Buzz Arlitt Carthage RBI 82 Ross Grimsley Chanute ERA 1.93
Larry Singleton Iola HR 10 Ross Grimsley Chanute PCT .783 18-5
  • Brooklyn assigned a few players to Miami that season but the team was actually run by Ted Vernon of Amarillo, Texas. When it was discovered that the Miami Baseball Club Inc. had turned the reigns of the operation of the club to Mr. Vernon, W. G. Bramham, the President of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, sent a very stern letter to the Miami baseball officials that the rules had been violated in this matter. The next year the Dodgers moved their franchise to Ponca City, Oklahoma and Mr. Vernon returned to Amarillo.

Chanute beat Pittsburg by 3 games to 2 in the first round of the playoffs. Iola beat Miami by the same number. The championship series between Chanute and Iola ended tied at three games apiece, although Chanute won 4 games. A dispute arose between the Chanute and Iola club officials regarding Chanute selecting Dave Dennis from the Miami club for the playoffs. Although Iola owner Earl Sifers originally agreed to the arrangement he later changed his mind. By the time the dispute was settled it was too late in the fall, young men had to go back to school, the rodeo took over the ball park playing area and then the rains came.

1947 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League
Teams from Independence, Kansas and Ponca City, Oklahoma joined.

Team standings Affiliate W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Miami Owls Topeka Owls 76 49 .608 - 53,119 William Davis
Iola Cubs Chicago Cubs 69 54 .561 6.0 39,862 Al Reitz
Pittsburg Browns St. Louis Browns 69 54 .561 6.0 59,435 Jimmie Crandall
Bartlesville Oilers Pittsburgh Pirates 68 56 .548 7.5 64,074 Edward Marleau
Carthage Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals 66 59 .528 10.0 42,838 Woody Fair / Alvin Kluttz
Ponca City Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers 61 62 .496 14.0 55,554 Boyd Bartley
Chanute Athletics None 44 80 .355 31.5 34,758 Dave Dennis / Charles Bates
Independence Yankees New York Yankees 41 80 .339 33.0 22,460 Goldie Howard

Playoffs: Miami 3 games, Bartlesville 1; Iola 3 games, Pittsburg 1.
Finals: Miami 4 games, Iola 1.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Loren Packard Miami BA .364 Carroll Dial Bartlesville W 22
Albert Solenberger Bartlesville Runs 131 James Morris Miami SO 240
Loren Packard Miami Hits 185 Carroll Dial Bartlesville ERA 3.32
Loren Packard Miami RBI 124 Jim Post Pittsburg PCT .813 13-3
Jim Baxes Ponca City HR 20

1948 to 1949

1948 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League

Team standings Affiliate W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Ponca City Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers 79 47 .627 - 78,305 Boyd Bartley
Independence Yankees New York Yankees 74 46 .617 2.0 46,270 Goldie Howard /
Burleigh Grimes / Bones Sanders
Bartlesville Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates 71 52 .577 6.5 64,090 Edward Marleau
Pittsburg Browns St. Louis Browns 60 60 .500 16.0 53,743 Shan Deniston / Donald Smith
Miami Owls Topeka Owls 58 66 .468 20.0 33,716 Arthur Priebe / James Hansen
Carthage Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals 51 67 .432 24.0 36,525 Alvin Kluttz
Iola Indians Cleveland Indians 51 72 .415 26.5 42,770 Al Reitz
Chanute Giants New York Giants 44 78 .361 33.0 32,561 Al Smith

Playoffs: Pittsburg 3 games, Ponca City 2; Independence 3 games, Bartlesville 2.
Finals: Independence 4 games, Pittsburg 1.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
William Fox Chanute BA .327 Harland Coffman Independence W 18
Louis Godla Bartlesville Runs 83 Lou Michels Independence W 18
Al Solenberger Bartlesville Hits 134 Joseph Tufteland Ponca City W 18
Charles Sturnborg Pittsburg RBI 78 Bill Pierro Bartlesville SO 300
Charles Sturnborg Pittsburg HR 13 Harland Coffman Independence ERA 1.94
Joseph Beran Ponca City HR 13 Joseph Tufteland Ponca City PCT .900 18-2

1949 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League
schedule

Team standings Affiliate W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Independence Yankees New York Yankees 71 53 .573 - 46,607 Harry Craft
Bartlesville Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates 71 55 .563 1.0 51,000 Tedd Gullic
Iola Indians Cleveland Indians 70 55 .560 1.5 49,491 Windy Johnson
Ponca City Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers 66 59 .528 5.5 62,082 Boyd Bartley
Chanute Athletics None 65 60 .520 6.5 39,228 James Hansen / Charles Bates
Carthage Cubs Chicago Cubs 62 64 .492 10.0 38,028 Don Anderson
Miami Owls Topeka Owls 56 69 .448 15.5 32,887 Omar Lane
Pittsburg Browns St. Louis Browns 39 85 .315 32.0 39,755 Al Barkus / Olan Smith

Playoffs: Independence 3 games, Ponca City 1; Iola 3 games, Bartlesville 1.
Finals: Independence 3 games, Iola 0.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Richard Drury Bartlesville BA .317 Jake Thies Chanute W 18
Charles Weber Independence Runs 98 Bob Weisler Independence SO 240
James Bello Independence Hits 156 Conrad Swensson Ponca City ERA 1.69
Harry Bright Miami RBI 96 Conrad Swensson Ponca City PCT .800 12-3
Bob Speake Carthage HR 14

1950 to 1952

1950 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League

Team standings Affiliate W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Ponca City Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers 80 42 .656 - 63,313 Boyd Bartley
Bartlesville Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates 73 48 .603 6.5 56,250 Tedd Gullic
Carthage Cubs Chicago Cubs 75 50 .600 6.5 29,080 Don Anderson
Pittsburg Browns St. Louis Browns 71 52 .577 9.5 43,953 Olan Smith / Jimmie Crandall
Miami Eagles None 62 60 .508 18.0 27,548 Jack Hodge / Jim Oglesby / Pug Griffin
Independence Yankees New York Yankees 60 66 .476 22.0 38,274 Bunny Mick / Bones Sanders
Iola Indians None 35 84 .294 43.5 23,872 Windy Johnson
Chanute Athletics None 35 89 .282 46.0 21,372 Charles Bates /
Thomas Imfeld / Chuck Hostetler

Playoffs: Ponca City 3 games, Pittsburg 2; Bartlesville 3 games, Carthage 1.
Finals: Ponca City 3 games, Bartlesville 1.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Stan Gwinn Ponca City BA .320 Tom Vines Carthage W 17
Jim Pisoni Pittsburg Runs 115 Donald McKeon Miami W 17
Don Hunter Ponca City Hits 152 Tom Vines Carthage SO 234
Loren Doll Ponca City Hits 152 David Elliot Bartlesville ERA 2.04
Harold Neighbors Bartlesville RBI 107 Joe Stanek Ponca City PCT .846 11-2
Willard Davis Ponca City HR 21

1951 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League
The teams in Chanute and Independence folded.

Team standings Affiliate W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Ponca City Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers 85 39 .686 - 44,960 George Scherger
Bartlesville Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates 77 45 .631 7.0 34,296 Tedd Gullic
Miami Eagles None 67 55 .549 17.0 23,500 Pug Griffin / Tom Warren
Carthage Cubs Chicago Cubs 60 65 .480 25.5 20,022 Don Anderson / Al Reitz
Pittsburg Browns St. Louis Browns 41 80 .339 42.5 22,534 Bill Enos
Iola Indians None 38 84 .311 46.0 16,981 Forrest L. Crawford / Al Reitz/
Mason Pool / Floyd Temple

Playoffs: Carthage 3 games, Ponca City 2; Miami 3 games, Bartletsville 1.
Finals: Carthage 3 games, Miami 0.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Denison Ponca City BA .365 Ron Kline Bartlesville W 18
Jack Denison Ponca City Runs 133 Donald Cochran Bartlesville W 18
Jack Denison Ponca City Hits 167 Ron Kline Barletsville SO 208
Robert Ottesen Pittsburg RBI 89 John Mudd Carthage ERA 2.12
Brandy Davis Bartlesville HR 13 Ron Kline Bartlesville PCT .818 18-4
Bill Phillips Bartlesville HR 13

1952 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League
The Carthage Cubs moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma. The Pittsburg Brownies moved to Independence, Kansas. The Bartlesville Pirates moved to the now-vacant Pittsburg on July 7.

Team standings Affiliate W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Iola Indians None 79 47 .627 - 42,327 Floyd Temple / Woody Fair
Miami Eagles Philadelphia Phillies 67 57 .540 11.0 43,008 John Davenport
Ponca City Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers 68 58 .540 11.0 55,726 Boyd Bartley
Bartlesville Pirates /
Pittsburg Pirates		 Pittsburgh Pirates 59 65 .476 19.0 34,267 Hersh Martin / Ed Hayes
Blackwell Broncos Chicago Cubs 57 69 .452 22.0 51,000 Al Reitz
Independence Browns St. Louis Browns 46 80 .365 33.0 39,487 Fred Collins

Bartlesville moved to Pittsburg July 7.
Playoffs: Ponca City 1 game, Iola 0; Miami 1 game, Pittsburg 0;
Finals: Miami 2 games, Ponca City 0.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
John Vossen Miami BA .335 Joe Vilk Iola W 26
Paul Weeks Iola Runs 128 [Jim Owens Miami S0 300
Gaspar del Toro Iola Hits 155 Jim Owens Miami ERA 1.76
John Davenport Miami RBI 116 Joe Vilk Iola PCT .813 26-6
Don Ervin Miami HR 24

[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ "Mickey Mantle Minor Leagues Statistics". Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  3. ^ "Mickey Mantle – Society for American Baseball Research".
  • Sumner, Benjamin Barrett. Minor League Baseball Standings:All North American Leagues, Through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.:McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0781-6
  • Hall, John G. "Majoring in the Minors--a glimpse of baseball in a small town. 1996 Oklahoma Bylines. ISBN 1-882336-09-7. Reprinted 2000 by Inter-State Printing. Sedalia, Missouri.
  • Hall, John G. "The KOM League Remembered." Arcadia Publishing. Charleston SC, Chicago IL, Portsmouth NH, San Francisco. ISBN 0-7385-3340-8.
  • Hall, John G. "Mickey Mantle Before the Glory." Leathers Publishing, Leawood, Kansas 2006. ISBN 1-58597-317-3.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas%E2%80%93Oklahoma%E2%80%93Missouri_League

    by LabLynx

    Website

    Related Posts