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 and from 1956 to 1959. League teams were based in

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...

and

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large porti ...

. The 1892 league was a Class B level league, and the league was a Class D level league in all subsequent seasons.

History

Early seasons

The charter 1892 teams were the Beatrice Indians, Fremont, Grand Island Sugar Citys, Hastings,

Lincoln Giants The Lincoln Giants were a Negro league baseball team based in New York City from 1911 through 1930. Founding The Lincoln Giants can trace their origins back to the Nebraska Indians, of Lincoln, Nebraska, from the 1890s. According to Sol White, ...

/Kearney and Plattsmouth. The league played just one season as a Class B level league before disbanding. In 1889, a touring

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensl ...

baseball team called the "Lafayettes" was formed in Nebraska. In 1890, William Pope formed the

. Pope had signed the best of the Lafayette players and the team subsequently folded. In 1892, the Lincoln Giants sought to join the Nebraska State League. Those against allowing black players in the league caused the Lincoln Giants to fold, with many of their players picked up by the other Nebraska State League teams. The Nebraska State League in 1892 was racially integrated. Baseball Hall of Fame member

Bud Fowler Bud Fowler (March 16, 1858 – February 26, 1913), born "John W. Jackson", was an American baseball player, manager, and club organizer. He is the earliest known African-American player in organized professional baseball. He was elected to the ...

played for Kearney and was elected captain of the team. John W. Patterson, John Reeves, Frank Maupin, A.S. Kennedy, William Myers and F. Long played for Plattsmouth. George Taylor, played for Beatrice. The 1892 Nebraska State League was classified as a Class B level league and folded after the 1892 season. The Nebraska State League reformed in 1910 as an eight–team Class D level league. The Columbus Discoverers, Fremont Pathfinders, Grand Island Collegians, Hastings Brickmakers, Kearney Kapitalists, Red Cloud,

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 were the member franchises as the league resumed play. In 1915, the Nebraska State League ran into financial difficulties as franchises struggled to remain solvent. Both Columbus and Kearney disbanded on June 4, 1915. After Grand Island withdrew June 28 and Norfolk disbanded June 29, the league folded on June 29, 1915. Kearney began the season 2,000 in debt and sold season tickets to eliminate the debt, but with 2,000 season tickets sold, the gameday gate money was minimal and the franchise was also affected by the city becoming "dry" and became unable to make its financial obligations to visiting teams. Kearney had logistical issuer as visiting teams were reluctant travel to Norfolk, as the train fares for the trip were expensive. Norfolk had agreed to pay extra to visiting clubs to make up the difference in train fares. Grand Island manager Harry Claire and player Crosby were given suspensions for the rest of the year due to gambling accusations and the team was also fined. The Grand Island franchise folded instead of paying the fines. After folding following the 1915 season, the Nebraska State League reformed and played the 1922 and 1923 seasons with the Beatrice Blues,

Fairbury Jeffersons The Fairbury Jeffersons were a Nebraska State League baseball team based in Fairbury, in the U.S. state of Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa t ...

, Grand Island Champions, Hastings Cubs,

Lincoln Links The Lincoln Links were an American minor league baseball franchise that represented Lincoln, Nebraska, for 18 seasons over a 23-year period (1917–39) during the 20th century. They played in the Class A Western League (1917; 1924–27), the Cla ...

and Norfolk Elk Horns as members of the six–team Class D level league. The league evolved into the 1924

Tri-State League The Tri-State League was the name of six different circuits in American minor league baseball. History The first league of that name played for four years (1887–1890) and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia. The second leagu ...

. In 1928, the Nebraska State League resumed play as an eight–team Class D level league. The Beatrice Blues, Fairbury Jeffersons, Grand Island Champs, Lincoln Links, McCook Generals, Norfolk Elks, North Platte Buffaloes and York Dukes were the 1928 league members. The league would play continually through the 1938 season.

1956 to 1959 seasons

The Nebraska State League formed for the final time in 1956. The league teams were all major league affiliates, as the Class D level eight–team league resumed play. The league members all took the monikers of their affiliate, as the Grand Island A's, Hastings Giants,

Holdrege White Sox The Holdrege White Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Holdrege, Nebraska. The White Sox played as members of the short–season Class D level Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959 as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Holdrege ...

Kearney Yankees The Kearney Yankees were a minor league baseball team that played in the Class D level Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959. Hosting home games at Kearney Memorial Field, Kearney was a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. History Ba ...

, Lexington Red Sox,

McCook Braves The McCook Braves were a minor league baseball team based in McCook, Nebraska. From 1956 to 1959, the McCook Braves played as members of the short-season Class D level Nebraska State League as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves for their durati ...

, North Platte Indians and Superior Senators were the 1956 franchises. Originally 12 cities had showed interest in hosting a team in the 1956 Nebraska State League. Thie interest occurred after the eight major league teams had agreed to affiliate with the league. The Nebraska cities of Ogallala, Alma, Broken Bow and

Norton, Kansas Norton is a city in, and the county seat of, Norton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,747. History Norton was founded in 1872. Like the county, it was named for Capt. Orloff Norton. The f ...

were not granted franchises. The 1956 league schedule was designed to start on July 1st and end on Labor Day. The league structure began when representatives of the league held a meeting in Kearney, Nebraska at the Fort Kearney Hotel in early June. The 1956 schedule was created by Harold George, secretary of the league. George was formerly an executive in the Western League. Mike Hollinger, a former manager of the semi–pro Kearney Irishmen team was named president of the League. Hollinger operated a bowling alley in Kearney. In structuring the 1956 league, revenue and expenses were divided between Major League Baseball, the individual Major League parent clubs and each of the league franchises. League franchises committed to selling at least $5,000 in tickets and 500 season tickets before the season started. Kearney sold 760 season ticket books, McCook followed with 741. Holdrege sold 690, North Platte 673, Lexington 665, Grand Island 656, Hastings 632 and Superior 559. The league was owned by Major League Baseball. Season tickets were sold for $10.00 each. The revenue from the first 500 tickets per franchise went to the Nebraska State League ($5,000 per team). 25% of each season ticket went to the hosting team. Concessions were split evenly between the hosting team and the league. Each team city supplied a lighted home ballpark park and a groundskeeper. The official score keeper for each game was paid $2.50. Player and manager salaries and travel costs were handled by the parent major league affiliate, with Yellow Diamond and Continental Motor lines were hired as vendors to provide bus services. Players were allotted $2.25 per day for meal money. The league selected the Rawlings baseball as the official ball for the league, with the Major League affiliates providing balls.

KGFW KGFW (1340 AM broadcasting, AM) is an American radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Kearney, Nebraska, United States, the station serves the Grand Island-Kearney area. The station is owned by NRG Media and featur ...

radio in Kearney paid $500.00 for radio rights to all Kearney games. The last Nebraska State League of 1956–1959 was stable largely because its clubs were

farm team In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...

s for the major leagues. Its final season has become well-known through the book ''A False Spring'' by

Pat Jordan Pat Jordan (17 July 1928 – 1 September 2001) was a British Trotskyist who was central to founding the International Marxist Group. Jordan was born in Chelsea, London,Cohen, S. 'Pat Jordan (1928-2001) in ''Revolutionary History'' Vol.8 No.3 pg ...

, who played in the league for McCook. The Nebraska State League was a Class B level league in the 1892 season and afterwards was exclusively a Class D level league.

Cities Represented

* Beatrice, NE: Beatrice Indians 1892; Beatrice Milkskimmers 1913–1915; Beatrice Blues 1922–1923, 1928, 1932–1938 * Columbus, NE: Columbus (NE) Discoverers 1910–1913; Columbus Pawnees 1914–1915 * Fairbury, NE: Fairbury Shaners 1915;

1922–1923; 1928–1930;

Fairbury Jeffs Fairbury is the name of two places in the United States: * Fairbury, Illinois * Fairbury, Nebraska {{place name disambiguation ...

1936–1937 *

Fremont, NE Fremont is a city and county seat of Dodge County in the eastern portion of the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. The population was 27,141 at the 2020 census. Fremont is the home of Midland University. History From the 1830 ...

: Fremont 1892; Fremont Pathfinders 1910–1913 * Grand Island, NE: Grand Island Sugar Citys 1892; Grand Island Collegians 1910–1913; Grand Island Islanders 1914; Grand Island Champions 1915; Grand Island Champions 1922–1923, 1928; Grand Island Islanders 1929–1932; Grand Island Red Birds 1937; Grand Island Cardinals 1938; Grand Island Athletics 1956–1959 * Hastings, NE:

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and 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, which took place to the north-west ...

1892; Hastings Brickmakers 1910; Hastings Third Citys 1911–1913; Hastings Reds 1914–1915; Hastings Cubs 1922–1923; Hastings Giants 1956–1959 * Holdrege, NE:

1956–1959 *

Kearney, NE Kearney is the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 30,787 in the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The westward push o ...

: Kearney 1892; Kearney Kapitalists 1910; Kearney Buffaloes 1911; Kearney Kapitalists 1912–1914; Kearney Buffaloes 1915;

1956–1959 * Lexington, NE: Lexington Red Sox 1956–1958 *

Lincoln, NE Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Lancaster County. The city covers with a population of 292,657 in 2021. It is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 73rd-largest in the United Sta ...

1892;

1922–1923, 1928–1935; Lincoln Red Links 1936; Lincoln Links 1938 * McCook, NE: McCook Generals 1928–1932;

1956–1959 * Mitchell, SD: Mitchell Kernels 1936–1937 * Norfolk, NE: Norfolk Drummers 1914–1915; Norfolk Elk Horns 1922–1923; Norfolk Elkhorns 1928–1932; Norfolk Elks 1933; Norfolk Elkhorns 1934–1935; Norfolk Elks 1936–1937; Norfolk Elkhorns 1938 * North Platte, NE: North Platte Buffaloes 1928–1932; North Platte Indians 1956–1959 * Norton, KS: Norton Jayhawks 1929–1930 * Plattsmouth, NE: Plattsmouth 1892 * Red Cloud, NE:

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 ...

1910 * Seward, NE:

1910–1913 *

Sioux City, IA Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County, ...

: Sioux City Cowboys 1938 *

Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls () is the most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the 130th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha County and also extends into Lincoln County to the south, which continues up t ...

Sioux Falls Canaries The Sioux Falls Canaries are a professional baseball team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The Canaries are members of the North Division of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major L ...

1933–1938 * Superior, NE: Superior Brickmakers 1910–1914; Superior Senators 1956–1958 *

York, NE York is a city in and the county seat of York County, Nebraska, United States. At the 2010 census, the city population was 7,766. It is the home of York College and the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women. History York was platted in 1869. ...

: York Prohibitionists 1911–1915; York Dukes 1928–1931

Standings & statistics

1892

1892 Nebraska State League League disbanded in July.

1910 to 1915

1910 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled 1911 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled 1912 Nebraska State League A Kearney win over Hastings was reversed at the 1913 spring meeting, giving Hastings the championship.
Playoffs: None Scheduled 1913 Nebraska State League Seward (27–37) moved to Beatrice July 21.
Playoffs: None Scheduled 1914 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled 1915 Nebraska State League Columbus and Kearney disbanded June 4; Grand Island and Norfolk disbanded June 28.
The league folded July 18.

1922 to 1923

1922 Nebraska State League Playoff: Fairbury 4 games, Norfolk 3. 1923 Nebraska State League Playoff: No Playoffs Scheduled

1928 to 1938

1928 Nebraska State League Playoff: No Playoffs Scheduled 1929 Nebraska State League Playoff: No Playoffs Scheduled 1930 Nebraska State League Norton suspended operations August 25; final seven games were forfeited to scheduled opponents.
Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1931 Nebraska State League Playoffs: Grand Island 4 games, North Platte 1. 1932 Nebraska State League Playoffs: Beatrice 2 games, Lincoln 1. Finals: Beatrice 4 games, Norfolk 3. 1933 Nebraska State League Playoffs: Beatrice 5 games, Norfolk 4. 1934 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled 1935 Nebraska State League Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Sioux Falls 3. 1936 Nebraska State League Lincoln and Fairbury disbanded July 16.
Playoffs: Sioux Falls 3 games, Beatrice 2: Mitchell 3 games, Norfolk 1. Finals: Mitchell 4 games, Sioux Falls 2. 1937 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1938 Nebraska State League Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Sioux City 2.

1956 to 1959

1956 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1957 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1958 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1959 Nebraska State League Playoffs: None Scheduled.

Hall of Fame alumni

* Fred Clarke, 1892, Hastings *

, 1892, Kearney *

Jim Kaat James Lee Kaat (; born November 7, 1938) is an American former professional baseball player and television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left-handed pitcher for the Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins (–), ...

, 1957, Superior Senators *

Phil Niekro Philip Henry Niekro ( ; April 1, 1939 – December 26, 2020), nicknamed "Knucksie", was an American baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball, 20 of them with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves. Niekro's 318 career victor ...

, 1959,

Dazzy Vance Charles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance (March 4, 1891 – February 16, 1961) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a pitcher for five different franchises in Major League Baseball (MLB) in a career that spanned twenty years. Known for ...

, 1912–1913, Superior Brickmakers; 1914, Hastings Reds

Related Sites

Nebraska Minor League Baseball History

References

{{reflist

Sources

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition. This article is based on th
"Nebraska State League"
article at Baseball-Reference.com Bullpen. The Bullpen is a wiki, and its content is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. Baseball in Nebraska Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Nebraska Baseball leagues in South Dakota Baseball leagues in Iowa Baseball leagues in Kansas Sports leagues established in 1892 1959 disestablishments in the United States Sports leagues disestablished in 1959