The Central Kansas League was a Class D level baseball league established in 1908, playing through 1912. Member teams were based exclusively in Kansas. The Central Kansas League evolved from and into the Kansas State League.
History The original Kansas State League ceased independent operations in 1911, combined with the Central Kansas League. After five seasons of play, the Central Kansas League subsequently changed its name to back to the Kansas State League for the 1913 and 1914 seasons before disestablishing. The league champions in 1909 and 1910 were the Ellsworth Blues.
There is an ongoing debate about whether former US President Dwight Eisenhower played professional baseball in 1911 for the Junction City Soldiers prior to attending West Point.
Cities represented This is a complete list of the teams which played under the Central Kansas League. Abilene, KS: Abilene Red Sox (1909); Abilene Reds (1910) Beloit, KS: Beloit (1909–1910) Chapman, KS: Chapman (1910) Clay Center, KS: Clay Center Cubs (1909–1911) Concordia, KS: Concordia Travelers (1910–1911) Ellsworth, KS: Ellsworth Worthies (1908–1910) Great Bend, KS: Great Bend Millers (1912) Junction City, KS: Junction City Soldiers (1909–1912) Little River, KS: Little River (1908) Lyons, KS: Lyons Lions (1912) Manhattan, KS: Manhattan Maroons (1909–1911); Manhattan Giants (1912) McPherson, KS: McPherson Merry Macks (1908) Minneapolis, KS: Minneapolis Minnies (1908–1909, 1912) Newton, KS: Newton Browns (1908); Newton Railroaders (1912) Salina, KS: Salina Trade Winners (1908–1910); Salina Insurgents (1912)
Standings & statistics 1908 Central Kansas League - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Minneapolis Minnies3119.620- Ben Young Newton Browns2522.5324½ Carl Becker Ellsworth Blues 2522.5324½F.S. Foster Salina Trade Winners2423.5115½ Frank Everhart McPherson Merry Macks2027.4269½Davis Little River 1830.37512 G.W. Hamilton / I.C. Meyer
1909 Central Kansas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Ellsworth Blues4423.657- George SeigleSalina Trade Winners4028.5884½ Ernie Quigley Abilene Red Sox 3730.5527 F.D. Parent / Affie Wilson Minneapolis Minnies3632.529½ Roy Gafford / Harry Short Junction City Soldiers3432.5159½Lewis Armstrong / Tom Campbell Beloit 3336.47812Hi Ebright Clay Center Cubs 3237.46413Lee Gramley Manhattan Maroons1654.22929½ Earle Bryant / Murphy No Playoffs held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Tom Campbell Junction CityBA.335 Ora Williams AbileneW19 James Whalen Junction CityRuns49 Ora Williams AbileneSO178 Claude Jennings MinneapolisHits72 Ora Williams AbilenePct.826; 19-4
1910 Central Kansas League - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersEllsworth Blues5328.654- Dick Ford Clay Center Cubs4833.5935 Lee Gramley Abilene Reds 4433.5717 Affie Wilson Salina Trade Winners4434.5647½ Elmer Meredith Concordia Travelers4338.53110 Harry Short Manhattan Maroons 3543.44916½ Jim Gardiner Junction City Soldiers 3448.41519½Ernie Quigley / Thomas Dugan / Cecil Bankhead Beloit /Chapman1862.22534½ Ben Dimond / Jim Green Beloit moved to Chapman July 20.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot A.B. Conley AbileneBA.348Paul Stokesberry Clay CenterW19 Walter Wentz Clay CenterRuns53 Otis PeeblesEllsworthPct.769; 10-3 Mugsy Monroe AbileneHits110
1911 Central Kansas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Concordia Travelers4427.620-Harry Short / Roy Gafford Junction City Soldiers4031.5634 Cecil Bankhead Clay Center Cubs 3338.46511 Lee Gramley Manhattan Maroons2546.35219 Dee Poindexter :eague disbanded July 21. Playoff: Concordia 4 games, Junction City 3.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Gilbert Britton Clay CenterBA.347 G.H. Jepson Junction CityW21 Claude Jennings Clay CenterRuns53 G.H. Jepson Junction CityPct.724; 21-8 Gilbert Britton Clay CenterHits90 Claude Jennings Clay CenterSB30
1912 Central Kansas League - schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Great Bend Millers5436.600-Affie Wilson Manhattan Giants5238.5782 Robert Kahl / Fred Moore / Nick Kohl Newton Railroaders/Minneapolis Minnies5040.5554 A. StillwellJunction City Soldiers4743.5227 Cecil Bankhead Lyons Lions3654.40018 Fred Wilson Salina Insurgents3159.34423 Bert LambNewton moved to Minneapolis July 12. No Playoffs held
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Muggsy Monroe Newt/MinnBA.352 Fred Hagg ManhattanW18 Burnham Smith ManhattanRuns88Elmer BrownGreat BendW18 Muggsy Monroe Newt/MinnHits118 Fred Hagg ManhattanPct.750; 18-6
Notable players Fred Blanding (played under a pseudonym) Harry Chapman John Misse Ross Reynolds Harry Short Chick Smith
References