The Nevada Lunatics were a minor league baseball team based in

Nevada, Missouri Nevada ( ''nə--də'') is a city in and the county seat of Vernon County, on the western border of Missouri, United States. The population was 8,386 at the 2010 census, and 8,254 in the 2018 estimate. The local government has a council-manager ...

in 1901 and 1902. Preceded by the 1901 Nevada Reds, Nevada played exclusively as members of the Missouri Valley League, winning the 1902 championship. Nevada teams played home games at Centennial Park. The "Lunatics" nickname corresponds to Nevada serving as home to the Missouri State Hospital for the Insane in the era.

History

Nevada, Missouri first hosted minor league baseball in 1901. The Nevada Reds became founding members of the Independent level Missouri Valley League. The Nevada team became the Nevada "Lunatics" in 1902. The team moniker of "Lunatics" reflected local industry, as Nevada was then home to the Missouri State Hospital for the Insane. The building was the largest building in Missouri when constructed in 1885. The Nevada State Hospital closed in 1991 and the majority of the complex was demolished in 1999. The Missouri Valley League was designated as a Class D league in 1902 and the newly re-named Nevada Lunatics were the Missouri Valley League Champions. with a record of 86–38, the Lunatics finished 1st in the 1902 Missouri Valley League standings under Manager James Driscoll. The league had no playoffs. Nevada finished 2.5 games ahead of the 2nd place

Springfield Reds Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

(83–40), who were followed by the Fort Scott Giants (80–44),

Sedalia Goldbugs The Sedalia Goldbugs were a minor league baseball team based in Sedalia, Missouri. Between 1904 and 1911, Sedalia teams played as a member of the Missouri Valley League (1902–1904), Western Association (1905) and Missouri State League (1911), w ...

(72–48),

Joplin Miners The Joplin Miners was the primary name of the minor league baseball team in Joplin, Missouri that played for 49 seasons between 1901 and 1954. Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Mickey Mantle and Whitey Herzog played for Joplin. Professional baseba ...

(56–66), Coffeyville Indians/ Chanute Oilers (41–81), Jefferson City Convicts (40–85) and

Iola Gasbags The Iola Gasbags were a minor league baseball team based in Iola, Kansas. Between 1902 and 1906, Iola teams played as a member of the Missouri Valley League from 1902 to 1904 and the 1906 Kansas State League. The Iola Gasbags won the 1904 Missouri ...

(34–90) in the final standings. On August 10, 1902, the Nevada Lunatics and Jefferson City Convicts had a game that featured a double

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...

. Both Jefferson City's Jim Courtwright and Eli Cates of Nevada pitched hit–less games in a 1–0 Jefferson City victory. The rare occurrence has never happened at the Major League level and has happened just 10 times at the minor league level. The 1903 season was the final season for minor league baseball in Nevada, as the franchise relocated during the season. On July 16, 1903, the Nevada Lunatics moved from

to Webb City, Missouri. The franchise briefly continued play members of the Missouri Valley League, becoming the

Webb City Goldbugs Webb most often refers to James Webb Space Telescope which is named after James E. Webb, second Administrator of NASA. It may also refer to: Places Antarctica *Webb Glacier (South Georgia) *Webb Glacier (Victoria Land) *Webb Névé, Victoria La ...

. However, the Webb City Goldbugs disbanded on July 19, 1903 after playing four games for Webb City. Nevada/Webb City had an overall record of 21–43 under manager A. B. Cockerell when the team folded. Nevada, Missouri has not hosted another minor league team. Beginning in 1985, Nevada has hosted the Nevada Griffons, who today play as members of the

summer collegiate baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are Amateur baseball in the United States, amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibi ...

MINK League.

The ballpark

Nevada minor league teams were noted to have played home games at Centennial Park. Centennial Park was located at North Centennial Boulevard & East Ashland Street, Nevada, Missouri. Today the site is still in use, referred to as Centennial Park Fairgrounds. Ash Place from SE 2

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Eli Cates Eli Eldo Cates (January 26, 1877 – May 29, 1964) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Cates played for the Washington Senators in . On August 10, 1902, Cates pitched a notable minor league baseball no-hitter. On that date, the Nevada Lunati ...

(1902) *

Harry Cheek Harry Gordon Cheek (April 23, 1879 – August 25, 1927) was a Major League Baseball player. Cheek played for the Philadelphia Phillies in . In 2 games, Cheek had 2 hits in 4 at-bats, with a .500 batting average. Cheek was born in Kansas City, M ...

(1901–1902) * Nick Kahl (1902) *

Bill Rapps William Herman Rapps (February 1, 1881 – April 20, 1965) was a professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 consecutive seasons, 1903 to 1917, in Minor League Baseball. He was known by several nicknames over his career, the most freque ...

(1902) *

Mike Welday Lyndon Earl "Mike" Welday (December 13, 1878 in Conway, Iowa, United States – May 28, 1942 in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA) was a left-handed Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Chicago White Sox in 1907 and 1909. He made his major ...

(1902)

References