The Decatur Commodores were a professional minor league baseball team based in Decatur, Illinois that played for 64 seasons. The Commodores are the primary ancestor of today's

Kane County Cougars The Kane County Cougars are an independent professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball (MLB). They play thei ...

. They played, with sporadic interruptions, from 1900 to 1974 in a variety of minor leagues, but spent the majority of their existence in the

Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League The Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League was a Minor League Baseball organization that operated for the better part of 60 seasons, with teams based in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The league began pla ...

(the "Three-I" League), later joining the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1952–1955) and the

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

(1956–1974). While they spent most of their years as an independent without formal

major league baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

team affiliation, their primary affiliations were with the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

and later the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...

, with isolated affiliations with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies.

The ballparks

The Commodores played home games at Fans Field (1924–1974). Fans Field had a 5,200-seat grandstand which was demolished when the team moved to

Wausau, Wisconsin Wausau ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city into east and west. The city's suburbs include Schofield, Weston, Mosinee, Maine, Rib Mountain, Kronenwetter, an ...

in 1974 and became the

Wausau Timbers The Wausau Timbers were a minor league baseball team, located in Wausau, Wisconsin. The Timbers were members of the Class A Midwest League from 1975 to 1990. The franchise was sold in 1991 and moved to Geneva, Illinois, where it became the Kane Co ...

. The field is still in use as a softball field. Prior to the 1924 construction of Fans Field, the Commodores played at

Staley Field Staley Field in Decatur, Illinois, United States, was the home of the Decatur Staleys club of the American Professional Football Association in 1920, coached and managed by the young George Halas, who also played for the team. The team was own ...

(1915, 1922–1923). They shared Staley Field with the football team for which it was built, the

Decatur Staleys Decatur may refer to a number of places, streets, military establishments, schools, and others mostly named after Stephen Decatur: Places in the United States * Decatur, Alabama, county seat of Morgan County ** Decatur metropolitan area, Alaba ...

. The Staleys were the early NFL franchise started by A.E. Staley and headed by George Halas that relocated from Decatur in 1922 and became the Chicago Bears. The Commodores began play at Downing Racetrack (now called Hess Park) in 1901.

Commodores nickname

The nickname Commodores refers to Stephen Decatur, for whom the city is named. The team was often called the "Commies" for short, from a time before that became a slang term for " Communist". In their final years, they wore hand-me-down Giants uniforms, although still called the "Commodores", leading some fans to call them the "Commodore Giants".

League Championships

* 1928 –

Champions * 1952 – Mississippi-Ohio Valley League Champions * 1953 – Mississippi-Ohio Valley League Champions * 1957 –

Champions

No-hitters

The following no-hitters were pitched by Decatur pitchers in Midwest League play: * 5-31-52 Ed Garrett, Mt. Vernon 5-1 * 7-28-54 John Bumgarner, Clinton 1-0 * 8-3-58 Gerald Fields, Clinton 5-0 * 8-18-60 Bob Sprout, Waterloo 3-0 22 strikeouts * 6-20-61 Vern Orndorff, Clinton 3-0 7 Innings Perfect Game * 8-13-63 Ollie Brown, Wisconsin Rapids8-0 * 6-7-66 Jesse Huggins, Wisconsin Rapids1-0 7 Innings * 8-15-69 Gary Lavelle, Clinton 4-0 7 Innings * 5-31-72 Doug Capilla, Appleton 1-0 7 Innings * 6-12-74 Jeff Little, Dubuque 1-0 7 Innings

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni * Carl Hubbell (1927) Inducted, 1947 Notable alumni * Bob Hartsfield (1974, MGR) *

Johnnie LeMaster Johnnie Lee LeMaster (born June 19, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played for four teams over a 12 year (– and ) MLB career, including 10 seasons with the San Francisco Giants. He batted and threw right-handed. Career On ...

(1974) *

Bob Knepper Robert Wesley Knepper (born May 25, 1954) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. From 1976 to 1990, he pitched 15 seasons for the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, earning two All-Star appearances as well as the 1981 NL Comeb ...

(1973) 2 x MLB All-Star *

John Montefusco John Joseph Montefusco Jr. (born May 25, 1950), nicknamed "The Count," is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1986, most notably as a member of the Sa ...

(1973) MLB All-Star; 1975 NL Rookie of the Year *

Ed Halicki Edward Louis Halicki (born October 4, 1950) is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1974 to 1980. On August 24, 1975, Halicki threw a no-hitter for the San Francisco Giants against the New York M ...

(1972) * Butch Metzger (1972) 1976 NL Rookie of the Year *

John D'Acquisto John Francis D'Acquisto (born December 24, 1951) is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched for six teams in his ten-year career that spanned from to . He is the cousin of former major league pitcher Lou Marone. Career San Francisc ...

(1971) 1974 NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year *

Ed Figueroa Eduardo Figueroa Padilla (born October 14, 1948) is a former professional baseball player. Listed at 6' 1" , 190 lb. , Figueroa batted and threw right handed. He was born in Ciales, Puerto Rico. Figueroa is the only pitcher from Puerto Rico to w ...

(1970) *

Gary Lavelle Gary Robert Lavelle (born January 3, 1949) is a retired professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1987. Career Lavelle grew up in Pennsylvania, where he attended Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania ...

(1969) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Gary Matthews Gary Nathaniel Matthews Sr. (born July 5, 1950), nicknamed Sarge, is an American former professional baseball left fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from through for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phill ...

(1969) MLB All-Star; 1973 NL Rookie of the Year *

Elías Sosa Elías Sosa Martínez (born June 10, 1950) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB) as an amateur free agent on March 4, 1968, and played for the Giants (1972–1 ...

(1969) *

Ron Bryant Ronald Raymond Bryant (born November 12, 1947) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from to . Bryant's career record was 57 wins and 56 losses with a 4.02 earned run average (ERA), mostly with the San Francisco Giants. He had 519 strikeouts ...

(1966) 1973 NL Wins Leader *

Tito Fuentes Rigoberto Fuentes Peat (born January 4, 1944) is a retired professional baseball player. He played for 13 seasons in the major leagues between 1965 and 1978, primarily as a second baseman. Fuentes played for most of his career with the San Fra ...

(1963) * Ollie Brown (1962–63) * Don Bryant (1961) * Jim Northrup (1961) *

Johnny Groth John Thomas Groth (July 23, 1926August 7, 2021) was an American professional baseball outfielder and scout who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Washingt ...

(1961, MGR) *

Mickey Stanley Mitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley (born July 20, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Stanley signed with the Detroit Tigers organization in 1960. After four years in the Tigers' minor leagu ...

(1961) 4 x Gold Glove *

Jim Rooker James Phillip Rooker (born September 23, 1942) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and broadcaster. A left-hander, Rooker pitched for the Detroit Tigers (1968), Kansas City Royals (1969–1973) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1974–1980). Early ...

(1960) * Jack Hamilton (1957) * Jim Freeman (1952–54) First Black Decatur player *

Morrie Arnovich Morris Arnovich (November 16, 1910 – July 20, 1959) nicknamed "Snooker", was an American baseball player. Arnovich played in Major League Baseball between 1936 and 1946 and played in the World Series winning team in 1940 as a part of the Cinci ...

(1949–1950 MGR) MLB AS *

Bob Clear Elwood Robert Clear (December 14, 1927 – April 6, 2010) was an American minor league baseball infielder, pitcher and manager, and a Major League coach with the California Angels. He was born in Denver, Colorado, and moved to Los Angeles with h ...

– 1947 *

Bud Byerly Biography Eldred William "Bud" Byerly (October 26, 1919 – January 26, 2012) was an American professional baseball pitcher, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators (1901–60), Washington Senators, Boston Re ...

(1941) *

Dick Sisler Richard Alan Sisler (November 2, 1920 – November 20, 1998) was an American player, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball. The son of Hall of Fame first baseman and two-time .400 hitter George Sisler, Dick Sisler's younger brother Dave was ...

(1941) MLB All-Star *

Max Surkont Matthew Constantine Surkont (June 16, 1922 – October 8, 1986) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played from 1949 through 1957 in the Major Leagues. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Boston / Milwaukee Braves, Pittsburgh Pira ...

(1940) *

Buddy Blattner Robert Garnett "Buddy" Blattner (February 8, 1920 – September 4, 2009), was an American table tennis and professional baseball player. He played five seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily for the New York Giants. After his reti ...

(1939) Inducted

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is located in Springfield, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1994 by Springfield businessman John Q. Hammons, the Hall of Fame is housed in a two-story, 32,000-square-foot building. On display are more than 4, ...

(1980) *

Oscar Judd Thomas William Oscar Judd (February 14, 1908 – December 27, 1995) was a Canadian-born professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. Listed at and , he threw and batte ...

(1939) MLB All-Star *

Emil Verban Emil Matthew Verban (his original Serbian name is Vrban; August 27, 1915 – June 8, 1989) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1944–1946), Philadelphia Phillies (1946–1948), Chicago Cubs (1948 ...

(1939) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Murry Dickson Murry Monroe Dickson (August 21, 1916 – September 21, 1989) was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his vast array of pitches and del ...

(1936–38) MLB All-Star *

Eddie Lake Edward Erving Lake (March 18, 1916 – June 7, 1995), nicknamed "Sparky," was an American professional baseball player from 1937 through 1956. A shortstop, he appeared in 835 games in the Major Leagues over 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardina ...

(1938) *

Bob Scheffing Robert Boden Scheffing (August 11, 1913 – October 26, 1985) was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager and front-office executive. Nicknamed "Grumpy", the native of Overland, Missouri, is most often identified with the Chicago ...

(1938) *

Jimmy Outlaw James Paulus Outlaw (January 20, 1913 – April 9, 2006) was an American professional baseball player. He played all or part of 10 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder and third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Bees, and ...

(1935) *

Frank McCormick Frank Andrew McCormick (June 9, 1911 – November 21, 1982) was an American baseball first baseman who played fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Buck" in honor of Frank Buck, he played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelph ...

(1935) 8 x MLB All-Star; 1939 NL Runs Batted In Leader; 1940 NL Most Valuable Player * Dutch Leonard (1932) 4 x MLB All-Star *

Skeeter Newsome Lamar Ashby "Skeeter" Newsome (October 18, 1910 — August 31, 1989) was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics (1935–39), Boston Red Sox (1941–45) and Philadelphia Phillies (1946–47). Bo ...

(1932) *

Claude Passeau Claude William Passeau (April 9, 1909 – August 30, 2003) was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1935 through 1947, Passeau played with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1935), Philadelphia Phillies (1936–39) and Chicago Cubs ( ...

(1932) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1939 AL Strikeouts Leader * Odell Hale (1930) * Rube Dessau (1928–1931 MGR) * Hal McKain (1928) * Ray Benge (1926) *

Pinky Whitney Arthur Carter Whitney (January 2, 1905 – September 1, 1987), born in San Antonio, Texas, was a third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies (1928–1933 and 1936–1939) and Boston Braves/ Bees (1933–1936). Whitney made his debut on April 11 ...

(1925–26) MLB All-Star *

Tom Oliver Tom Oliver (born 12 June 1938) is a British-born Australian retired actor who started his career in theatre in his native country, before emigrating to Australia. Oliver, a staple of the small screen since the early 1960s, is best known for h ...

(1925) *

Denny Sothern Dennis Elwood Sothern (January 20, 1904 – December 7, 1977) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Robins. While his birth name was ...

(1925) * Ben Dyer (1912–13) *

Heinie Groh Henry Knight "Heinie" Groh (September 18, 1889 – August 22, 1968) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1912 to 1927, spending nearly his entire career with the Cinc ...

(1911) *

Grover Hartley Grover Allen Hartley (July 2, 1888 – October 19, 1964) was a backup catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1911 through 1934, he played for the New York Giants (1911–13, 1924–26), St. Louis Terriers (1914–15), St. Louis Browns (1916–17, ...

(1910) *

Grover Lowdermilk Grover Cleveland "Slim" Lowdermilk (January 15, 1885 – March 31, 1968) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox between 1 ...

(1909–10) * Charlie Case (1908) * Beany Jacobson (1903, 1908–09)

Memorable games

* May 30, 1909 – The Commodores win a 26-inning, 5-hour marathon over the

Bloomington Bloomers The Bloomington Bloomers were a minor League baseball franchise based in Bloomington, Illinois that played between 1889 and 1939. They were affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals (1935), Cleveland Indians (1938) and Chicago Cubs (1939). They play ...

2–1. The 26 innings stays the record for the most innings in a completed professional game in the United States for 57 years.. * August 18, 1960 – 18-year-old, left-handed pitcher Bob Sprout of the Commodores pitched a no hitter against the Waterloo Hawks. In that game, Sprout struck out 22 hitters, which stands as the MWL single-game strikeout record. The Commies won by a 3–0 score.

In fiction

The Commodores appear in

Harry Turtledove Harry Norman Turtledove (born June 14, 1949) is an American author who is best known for his work in the genres of alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery fiction. He is a student of history and completed ...

Worldwar The Worldwar series is the fan name given to a series of eight alternate history science fiction novels by Harry Turtledove. Its premise is an alien invasion of Earth during World War II, and includes Turtledove's ''Worldwar'' tetralogy, as ...

series, an alternate history in which aliens invade Earth in 1942 and the Second World War turns into an interplanetary war. Members of the team are on a train which is attacked by the aliens at the beginning of the invasion. One ball player is kidnapped by the invaders and is eventually taken by them to China, while another player and the team's manager escape and join the forces fighting the invasion. A considerable part of the series is described from these three characters' points of view, in which their baseball background plays a significant role in a number of ways.

References

External links

The Decatur Commodores in the Midwest League

One Glorious Season: How Baseball Helped to Integrate Decatur, Illinois
{{Midwest League Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct Midwest League teams Defunct baseball teams in Illinois Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League teams Mississippi-Ohio Valley League Professional baseball teams in Illinois

Commodores Commodores are an American funk and soul band, which were at their peak in the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1968, and signed with Motown in ...

Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates Philadelphia Phillies minor league affiliates St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates 1900 establishments in Illinois Baseball teams established in 1900 1974 disestablishments in Illinois Sports clubs disestablished in 1974 Baseball teams disestablished in 1974 Northern Association teams