The Fairbury Shaners were a minor league baseball team were based in Fairbury, Nebraska. In 1915, the Shaners played as a member 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 ...

. The league folded during the 1915 season with the Shaners in fourth place. When the Nebraska State League resumed play in 1922, the Fairbury Jeffersons began play in the reformed league. The "Shaners" were nicknamed by local newspapers for their manager Bert Shaner. Fairbury hosted minor league home games at Fairbury City Park, which is still in use today as a public park.

History

Minor league baseball began in Fairbury, Nebraska in 1915, when the Fairbury "Shaners" became members of the eight–team Class D level

Fairbury replaced the

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 ...

franchise in the league. Fairbury paid $400.00 for the Superior franchise, a price which included bats, balls and team uniforms. The former Superior uniforms were sold by Fairbury for $100.00. Fairbury was managed by Bert Shaner in 1915, corresponding to the team "Shaners" nickname, given by local newspapers. Fairbury was joined by 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 ...

Columbus Pawnees The Columbus Pawnees were a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1915, Columbus teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League for their six seasons of minor league play. The "Pawnee ...

Grand Island Champions 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 commu ...

Hastings Reds 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, ...

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and

York Prohibitionists York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

in beginning Nebraska State League play on May 14, 1915. The Shaners' home opener drew over 1,000 fans for the opening day festivities at Fairbury City Park. Fairbury Mayor Mason threw out the ceremonial first pitch, with Fairbury club president Wes Crawford serving as the catcher. In their first season of minor league play, 1915 Fairbury placed fourth as the eight–team Nebraska State League. The 1915 league season saw tour of the eight teams fold during the season, before the league itself folded on July 18, 1915. When the league folded, the Shaners ended the season with a record of 22–31, playing the season under manager Bert Shaner. During the season, the Columbus, Grand Island, Kearney and Norfolk teams folded, leaving Fairbury in last place among the Nebraska State League's four remaining teams. On July 18, 1915, the Shaners were 13.0 games behind the first place Beatrice Milkskimmers when the Nebraska State League folded. Beatrice (35–18) was followed by Hastings (30–27) and York (25–31) in finishing ahead of Fairbury. Fremont, Nebraska native and former major league pitcher Harry Smith attended tryouts for the team before the season but did not appear on the final roster. Future major league players Eddie Brown and

Lyman Lamb Lyman Raymond Lamb (March 17, 1895 – October 5, 1955) was an American professional baseball outfielder and third baseman. While playing in the minor leagues in 1924, he hit 100 doubles to set the organized baseball single-season record. Baseba ...

played for Fairbury in 1915. Brown was sold to the

Mason City Claydiggers The Mason City Claydiggers were a minor league baseball team based in Mason City, Iowa. In 1912, Mason City "Cementmakers" were a member of the independent Iowa State League before the "Claydiggers" played as members of the Class D level Central ...

for $500.00 during the season, after hitting .314 in 35 games for Fairbury. After a seven–season hiatus, the 1922 Nebraska State League returned to play, with a Fairbury franchise resuming play. The 1922 Fairbury Jeffersons defeated Norfolk in the Finals to win the league championship.

The ballpark

The Fairbury Shaners' home minor league ballpark in 1915 was City Park. Today, the Fairbury City Park is still in use as a public park with ballfields. The park is located at 421 Park Road in Fairbury, Nebraska.

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

* Eddie Brown (1915) *

(1915) * Harry Smith (1915)* * Fairbury Shaners players

External links

Fairbury - Baseball Reference

References

{{Reflist, 2 Defunct baseball teams in Nebraska Nebraska State League teams Baseball teams established in 1915 Baseball teams disestablished in 1915 Jefferson County, Nebraska