The Columbus Pawnees were a minor league baseball team based in

Columbus, Nebraska Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Platte County, in the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. The population was 22,111 at the 2010 census. It is the 10th largest city in Nebraska, with 24,028 people as of the 2020 censu ...

. From 1910 to 1915, Columbus teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level

Nebraska State League The Nebraska State League (NSL) was an American professional minor league baseball league with five incarnations between 1892 and 1959. The Nebraska State League formed five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 a ...

for their six seasons of minor league play. The "Pawnees" played in the 1914 and 1915 seasons, after the team was called Columbus "Discovers" from 1910 to 1913. After placing second in their first season, Columbus did not finish above fourth place in their remaining seasons, before the franchise folded during the 1915 season.

History

In 1910, minor league baseball began in Columbus, Nebraska. The Columbus Discoverers became charter members of the reformed eight–team Class D level Nebraska State League. The

Fremont Pathfinders The Fremont Pathfinders were a minor league baseball team, based in Fremont, Nebraska. Preceded by a Fremont team in 1892, Fremont teams played exclusively as members of the Nebraska State League. The Pathfinders won league championships in their ...

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Hastings Brickmakers Hastings () is a large seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, ...

Kearney Kapitalists The Kearney Kapitalists were a Nebraska State League team based in Kearney, Nebraska, United States that played from 1910 to 1914. Major league baseball players that played for them include Jerry Akers, Win Noyes, Harry Berte, Rolla Mapel, Joe Lo ...

Red Cloud Red Cloud ( lkt, Maȟpíya Lúta, italic=no) (born 1822 – December 10, 1909) was a leader of the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909. He was one of the most capable Native American opponents whom the United States Army faced in the western ...

Seward Statesmen The Seward Statesmen were a minor league baseball team based in Seward, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1913, the Statesmen teams played exclusively as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Nebraska State League, hosting home games at Fairgrounds ...

and

Superior Brickmakers Superior may refer to: *Superior (hierarchy), something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind Places *Superior (proposed U.S. state), an unsuccessful proposal for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a separate state *Lake ...

joined Columbus in League play. The 1910 Nebraska State League set a salary limit of $900.00 and a roster limit of 12 players.

Sunday laws Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. In most Western countries, Sunday is a day of rest and a part of the weekend. It is often considered the first day of the week. For most observant adherents of Christianity, Sunday ...

were in place in the region in the era. A meeting at the Congregational Church in Columbus was held on April 29, 1910, to discuss the issue. With about 50 men attending the meeting, it was reported that about 15 were against Sunday baseball and the rest were in favor of playing Sunday baseball in Columbus. Rev. William Dibble of the Congregational church, D Roush of the First Methodist Church and William Hackerman of the German Methodist Church represented local clergy and Columbus Discoverers team president Dan Schram represented the team at the meeting. The franchise indicated that they located the baseball park in a less than ideal area, so crowd and noise would not impact any of the residential areas of the town. County attorney Hensley was not opposed to playing baseball on Sunday. It was concluded that Sunday ball would not face organized opposition and the Nebraska State League scheduled Sunday games for Columbus. In their first season of minor league play, the 1910 Columbus Discoverers placed second in the final Nebraska State League standings. The Discoverers ended the season with a record of 59–48, playing under manager Joe Norman. Columbus finished the season 4.5 games behind the first place Fremont Pathfinders in the final standings of the eight–team league. In the 1911 season, the Columbus Discoverers continued play in the Class D level Nebraska State League. Columbus ended the season with a record of 52–60 to place sixth in the standings, playing under returning manager Joe Norman. The local paper noted attendance of 1,000 for the opening game, as the town had a population of about 5,000. Columbus finished 19.0 games behind the first place Superior Brickmakers in the final standings of the eight–team league. The 1912 Columbus Discoverers placed fourth in the final eight–team Nebraska State League standings. With a record of 56–54, playing under managers Jack Palmer and Affie Wilson, the Discoverers finished 11.5 games behind the first place Hastings Brickmakers. In 1913 Columbus Discoverers had a final regular season record of 54–58 to finish in sixth place in the eight–team Nebraska State League. Playing under managers John Gondling,

Red Smyth James Daniel "Red" Smyth (January 30, 1893 – April 14, 1958) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1918 with the Brooklyn Robins and St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team ...

and Jack Kraninger, Columbus finished 13.0 games behind the first place

in the final Nebraska State League standings. The 1914 Columbus "Pawnees" placed seventh in the eight–team Nebraska State League final standings. With a record of 49–63 under manager Jack Kraninger, the Pawnees finished 17.0 games behind the first place

Grand Island Islanders Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and commun ...

in the Nebraska State League standings. The Columbus, Nebraska use of the "Pawnee" moniker corresponds to the

Pawnee Pawnee initially refers to a Native American people and its language: * Pawnee people * Pawnee language Pawnee is also the name of several places in the United States: * Pawnee, Illinois * Pawnee, Kansas * Pawnee, Missouri * Pawnee City, Nebraska * ...

Indian tribe that was from the region. Today, Pawnee Park is still in use as a public park in Columbus, opened in 1941. In their final season of minor league play, the 1915 Columbus Pawnees folded during the season. On June 4, 1915, the Columbus Pawnees and the Kearney Buffaoles teams both disbanded on the same day. At the time the franchise folded, Columbus had a record of 3–13 under manager Frank Justus. The Nebraska State League folded on July 18, 1915 with the

Beatrice Milkskimmers Beatrice may refer to: * Beatrice (given name) Places In the United States * Beatrice, Alabama, a town * Beatrice, Humboldt County, California, a locality * Beatrice, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Beatrice, Indiana, an unincorporated co ...

in first place after four teams of the eight–team league had folded. Columbus, Nebraska has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The name of the Columbus minor league teams' home ballpark is not directly referenced. In 1883, the "Columbus Athletic Association" was reportedly formed. The purpose of the association was said to be "to construct and maintain suitable grounds, buildings and the like for the holding and encouraging of games of baseball and all other athletics."

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Joe Dolan Joseph Francis Robert Dolan (16 October 1939 – 26 December 2007) was an Irish entertainer, recording artist, and pop singer. Chiefly known in Ireland for his association with showbands and for his innovative style and high pitched singing ...

(1910) *

Jack Ferry John Francis Ferry (April 7, 1887 – August 29, 1954) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

(1914) *

Raymond Haley Raymond Timothy Haley (January 23, 1891 – October 8, 1973) was an American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1915 through 1917 for the Boston Red Sox (1915–16) and Philadelphia Athletics (1916–17). ...

(1910) *

Moxie Meixell Merton Merrill Meixell (October 18, 1887 – August 17, 1982) was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for one season. He played for the Cleveland Naps The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleve ...

(1910–1911) *

(1913, MGR)

References

{{Reflist, 2

External links

Columbus - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Nebraska Professional baseball teams in Nebraska Baseball teams established in 1914 Baseball teams disestablished in 1915 Nebraska State League teams Platte County, Nebraska