The Mississippi Valley League (MVL) was a baseball Class D level minor league that operated from 1922 through 1933. Playing its last year as a Class B level league, the league franchises were based in Iowa and Illinois. Like many leagues at the time, the Great Depression led to its demise. The Mississippi Valley League was founded by Michael H. Sexton, of Rock Island, Illinois, who was then president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.
History The league began play in 1922 with six teams: the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, Marshalltown Ansons, Rock Island Islanders, Waterloo Hawks, Ottumwa Cardinals and the Dubuque Climbers. There were no formal playoffs, and the Bunnies finished in first place. All teams from 1922 returned for 1923 with the Climbers finishing first in the league. Again, there were no formal playoffs.
In 1924, the league expanded to eight teams, adding the Moline Plowboys and Burlington Bees. The Dubuque Climbers became the Dubuque Dubs, though the other teams remained the same. The Hawks finished first in the league.
All teams from 1924 returned for 1925, with the Dubs becoming the Dubuque Ironmen. The Bunnies finished first in the league for the second time four years. In 1926, the Ottumwa Cardinals became the Ottumwa Packers and the Dubuque Dubs became the Dubuque Speasmen, named after their manager Bill Speas. The Packers finished in first place.
In 1927, the Speasmen returned to their former name the Dubuque Dubs. All other teams returned intact from the year before. Dubuque finished first in the league. The same teams played in 1928, with the Hawks finishing in first place. 1929 saw multiple league changes. The Dubs became the Dubuque Tigers. The Marshalltown Ansons and Ottumwa Packers left the league and were replaced by the Keokuk Indians and Davenport Blue Sox. The Tigers finished first in the league.
All teams from 1929 returned for 1930, with the Bunnies finishing in first place for the third time in league history. The teams remained intact for 1931 as well, with the Keokuk Indians finishing in first place. 1932 featured no new teams, though it did have a new feature - a playoff system. All teams returned from 1931, and the Blue Sox finishing in first place. They however lost in the league playoffs four games to two to the Islanders, so the Islanders were the league champions.
In 1933, the league featured only six teams for the first time since 1923. It also moved up in rank from Class-D to Class-B, and saw three new arrivals (Peoria Tractors, Quincy Indians, Springfield Senators) as well as multiple departures (Burlington Bees, Cedar Rapids Bunnies, Moline Plowboys, Waterloo Hawks, Dubuque Tigers). The Blue Sox finished in first place and defeated the Islanders four games to one in the playoffs to become league champions.
The 1933 Davenport Blue Sox are ranked #58 in the All-time Top 100 teams by MiLB.com. The Blue Sox finished the season 82-32, as Como Cotelle hit .407 and Ed Hall drove in 151 runs.
The Rock Island Islanders were the only team to play in the league through its entire 12-year existence.
Cities represented: 1922–1933
Burlington, IA: Burlington Bees (1924–1932) Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids Bunnies (1922–1932) Davenport, IA: Davenport Blue Sox (1929–1933) Dubuque, IA: Dubuque Climbers (1922–1923); Dubuque Dubs (1924); Dubuque Ironmen (1925); Dubuque Speasmen (1926); Dubuque Dubs (1927–1928); Dubuque Tigers (1929–1932) Keokuk, IA: Keokuk Indians (1929–1933) Marshalltown, IA: Marshalltown Ansons (1922–1928) Moline, IL: Moline Plowboys (1924–1932) Ottumwa, IA: Ottumwa Cardinals (1922–1925); Ottumwa Packers (1926–1928) Peoria, IL: Peoria Tractors (1933) Quincy, IL: Quincy Indians (1933) Rock Island, IL: Rock Island Islanders (1922–1933) Springfield, IL: Springfield Senators (1933) Waterloo, IA: Waterloo Hawks (1922–1932)
Mississippi Valley League standings and statistics 1922 to 1927 1922 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Cedar Rapids Bunnies9237.713--Bill Speas Marshalltown Ansons7355.57018½Frank Boyle Rock Island Islanders 6663.51226 Jimmy Conzelman Waterloo Hawks 5968.46532 Pat Ragan Ottumwa Cardinals4976.39241 Jim Drohan / Carl Bond Dubuque Climbers4484.34447½Larry Mullen /Harry Henge / Joe McGinnity
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Fred Leach WaterlooBA.383Frank Johnson Cedar RapW24 Bill SpeasCedar RapidsRuns128 Charles Schwiete MarshallSO180 Bill SpeasCedar RapidsHits182Frank JohnsonCedar RapPct.828; 24-5 Fred Leach WaterlooHR13
1923 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Dubuque Climbers7850.609--Joe McGinnity Ottumwa Cardinals7353.5794 Wally Mattick Cedar Rapids Bunnies 6956.5527½Bill Speas Waterloo Hawks 5869.45719½Bert Weeden Rock Island Islanders5373.42124 Tommy Thompson Marshalltown Ansons4878.38129 Frank Boyle Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Bill Speas Cedar RapidsBA.363 John Dill OttumwaW22 John Armstrong DubuqueRuns93George BrownWaterlooSO175 Bill SpeasCedar RapidsHits182 Emil Levson Cedar RapidsPct.826; 19-4 Andrew McEwan WaterlooHR8J. JohnsonCedar RapidsIP317
1924 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Waterloo Hawks8440.678--Cletus Dixon Dubuque Dubs7051.57912½John Armstrong Rock Island Islanders 6457.52918½Preston GrayOttumwa Cardinals 5861.48723½ Wally Mattick Moline Plowboys5965.47825 Jim Shollenberger Burlington Bees5467.44628½Henry Wingfield Cedar Rapids Bunnies5467.44628½Bill Speas Marshalltown Ansons4378.35539½Jack Lacey / Frank Boyle Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Fred SchulteWaterlooBA.368 Ovid McCracken WaterlooW23 Hal AndersonOttumwaRuns126 Richard Didier OttumwaSO145 Fred SchulteWaterlooHits167Claude WilloughbyWaterlooPct.750; 21-7 Fred SchulteWaterloo3B25 Stan KeyesRock IslandHR20
1925 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Cedar Rapids Bunnies7451.592--43,429Bill Speas Moline Plowboys7352.5841 39,738Jim Schollenberger Rock Island Islanders 6560.5209 43,157Preston Gray Ottumwa Cardinals 6164.48813 30,572Wally Mattick Dubuque Ironmen6065.48014 46,175Joe McGinnity / John ArmstrongWaterloo Hawks5966.47215 54,702Cletus Dixon Marshalltown Ansons5570.44019 30,442Frank BoyleBurlington Bees5372.42422 42,179Dick Speer /Whitey Mann / Ed Reichle Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Al Groski OttumwaBA.360 George Valentine Cedar RapidsW26 John Armstrong DubuqueRuns104 Archie Kelsey WaterlooSO174Ed Farber Rock IslandHits174 George Valentine Cedar RapidsPct.765; 26-8 Chester Guppy MolineHR17 Ed Farber Rock Island2B52
1926 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Ottumwa Packers7545.625--Pat Harkins Moline Plowboys7150.5874½Jim Shollenberger Waterloo Hawks 6752.5637½Cletus Dixon Burlington Bees 6853.5627½Ed Reichle Rock Island Islanders6555.54210 Preston GrayDubuque Speasmen5663.47118½Bill Speas Marshalltown Ansons4179.34234 Elmer Lane / Casey Coffin / Dick Brannigan / Dan O'Leary Cedar Rapids Bunnies3884.31138 Fred Beck /Jack Lacy / Dutch White Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Red WorthingtonWaterlooBA.389 Alvin Bauer OttumwaW25 Les SmithOttumwaRuns99 Robert Shanklin Rock IslandSO188 Red WorthingtonWaterlooHits185 Alvin Bauer OttumwaPct.862; 25-4 Les SmithOttumwaHR20 Nick Conrad MarshalltownSAC36
1927 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Dubuque Dubs6641.617--Bill Speas Waterloo Hawks7547.615 ½ Cletus Dixon Burlington Bees 7152.5774½Ed Reichle Marshalltown Ansons 6554.5468½Jim ShollenbergerMoline Plowboys6355.53410 Fritz Mollwitz Cedar Rapids Bunnies5070.41724 Pete Hughes/ Spoke Emery Rock Island Islanders4075.34831½Joe KernanOttumwa Packers4177.34732Pat Harkins Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Jim StronerRock IslandBA.380 Duncan Grant WaterlooW22 James Worth DubuqueRuns127 Harold McKain WaterlooSO147 James Worth DubuqueHits171 Duncan Grant WaterlooSO147 Len KoeneckeMolineHR20 Elbert Fisch DubuquePct.800; 20-5
1928 to 1933 1928 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Waterloo Hawks8141.664--Cletus Dixon Moline Plowboys6954.56112½Richard Manchester Rock Island Islanders 6759.53216 Lester Patterson Dubuque Dubs 6360.51218½Bill Speas / John ArmstrongBurlington Bees5961.49221 Ed ReichleMarshalltown Ansons5865.47222½Jim Shollenberger /George Tomer / Ben Diamond Ottumwa Packers4872.40032 Preston Gray / Bill Speas Cedar Rapids Bunnies4578.36636½Spoke Emery / Bob HasbrookPlayoffs: None held
+Player Statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Len KoeneckeMolineBA.389 Duncan Grant WaterlooW21 Walter Genin Rock IslandRuns115Ray WolfMolineW21 Len KoeneckeMolineHits182Bob WeilandMolineSO209 Len KoeneckeMolineHR22 Duncan Grant WaterlooPct.808; 21-5 1929 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Dubuque Tigers7551.595--Lester PattersonWaterloo Hawks7254.5713 Cletus Dixon Davenport Blue Sox 6957.5486 Ed ReichleMoline Plowboys 6363.50012 Richard ManchesterBurlington Bees6264.49213 George YoungKeokuk Indians6065.48014½Ben DiamondCedar Rapids Bunnies5867.46416½Bill Speas / Tibb SerreRock Island Islanders4482.34931 Walt Genin / Buck Wheat Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Spot Grant Cedar RapidsBA.368 Albert Eckert DubuqueW19 Paul SperawDubuqueRuns112 H.H. Miller Cedar RapidsW19 Ed Hendee DavenportHits183 Fred Witte DavenportW19 Ken Storm WaterlooHR23 Lester Neisslie MolineSO141 Jack Frost WaterlooAB547Johnny NiggelingWaterlooPct.789;15-4
1930 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Cedar Rapids Bunnies7155.564--Paul SperawRock Island Islanders7056.5561 Clarence RoperDavenport Blue Sox 6461.5126½Ed ReichleMoline Plowboys 6362.5047½Riley ParkerWaterloo Hawks6363.5008 Cletus Dixon Burlington Bees6165.48410 George YoungKeokuk Indians5670.44515 Sam Schwartz / Lester Patterson / Henry Wingfield / John SchinskiDubuque Tigers5571.43716 Richard Manchester / Ed Woerber Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Riley Parker MolineBA.376 Delano Wetherell Rock IslandW21 Dick Esrey MolineRuns114 Delano Wetherell Rock IslandSo217 Dick Esrey MolineHits183Walter MurphyRock IslandPct.667; 10-5 Joe Prerost WaterlooHR15 John KerrCedar RapidsSB84
1931 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Keokuk Indians7351.589--Bob Rice Cedar Rapids Bunnies7452.587 ½ Paul SperawMoline Plowboys 6858.5406 Riley Parker Burlington Bees 6460.5169 Art Mueller Rock Island Islanders6165.48413 Clarence Roper Waterloo Hawks5768.456 16½ Dick Manchester / Babe ThomasDavenport Blue Sox5373.42121 Ed Reichle / Cletus Dixon Dubuque Tigers5174.408 22½ Preston Gray /Ed Hendee / Elmer Peters Playoffs: None held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Riley Parker MolineBA.374Gil PaulsenBurlingtonW19 Pep YoungKeokukRuns125 John Ziegler Cedar RapidsW19 Dick Esrey MolineHits176 Al Gizelbach BurlingtonSO185 Malcolm Pickett MolineHR13Gil PaulsenBurlingtonERA2.21 Fred Newton Rock IslandPCT.750 12-4
1932 Mississippi Valley League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Davenport Blue Sox7847.624--Cletus Dixon Rock Island Islanders7056.556 8½ George Young / Riley Parker Burlington Bees 6960.53511 Art Mueller / Jack TesarKeokuk Indians 6761.523 12½ Bob RiceCedar Rapids Bunnies6560.52013 Paul SperawMoline Plowboys5566.45521 Ernie LorbeerWaterloo Hawks5273.41626 Doc BennettDubuque Tigers4780.37032 Clarence Roper / Dave Lamb Playoffs: Rock Island 4 games, Davenport 2.