The Illinois State League (ISL) was a baseball

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

formed in 1947. The Illinois State League operated in 1947–1948 and evolved to become today's

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 ...

. The Class D league was composed entirely of new franchises, each located in Southern Illinois. The charter franchises were in the Illinois cities of Belleville, Centralia, Marion, Mattoon, Mount Vernon and West Frankfort.

History

The Illinois State League formed in 1947. The first league president was Howard V. Millard. The Illinois State League had the same six franchises in both of its seasons: the

Belleville Stags The Belleville Stags were a minor league baseball team based in Belleville, Illinois from 1947 to 1949. The Belleville Stags were charter members of the Class D level Illinois State League and remained a franchise when the league changed names t ...

, Centralia Cubs, Marion Indians, Mattoon Indians, Mount Vernon Braves, and

West Frankfort Cardinals The West Frankfort Cardinals were an American minor league baseball team based in West Frankfort, Illinois. From 1947 to 1950, the West Frankfort Cardinals were charter members of the Illinois State League in 1947 to 1948 and the Mississippi–Oh ...

. In 1947, the league began play, with a 120–game season played in two halves. There was no championship series in 1947 as the Belleville Stags won both halves and were declared as the champion. In 1948, the West Frankfort Cardinals finished 85–35 in the regular season, for the best record overall. In the playoffs, West Frankfort swept the Mattoon Indians in three games in the Championship Series to capture the 1948 championship. The Illinois State League was renamed the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League after the 1948 season. The name change occurred as the Marion Indians moved to the state of Kentucky to become the Paducah Chiefs. Subsequently, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League operated through 1955. In 1956, the league changed names again to become the Midwest League. The Midwest League has remained in operation since 1956.

All–Star games

The Illinois State League held an annual All–Star Game, which featured an all–star team versus the team with the best record in the standings. The first All–Star Game was held on August 12, 1947 at Memorial Stadium in West Frankfort. The Illinois State League All–Stars defeated Belleville 5–1. The 1948 Illinois State League All–Star Game was July 12, 1948 at Mattoon Baseball Park. The 1948 All–Stars defeated the Mattoon Indians 1–0.

Illinois State League teams: 1947–1948

Standings & statistics

1947 season

No 1947 Playoffs were played. Belleville won both halves.

1948 season

Playoffs: West Frankfort 3 games, Marion 1; Mattoon 3 games, Mt. Vernon 2; Finals: West Frankfort 3 games, Mattoon 0.

References

{{Midwest League Illinois State League Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Illinois Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States Mississippi-Ohio Valley League Midwest League Sports leagues established in 1947 Sports leagues disestablished in 1948