The Watertown Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, South Dakota. The unaffiliated Cubs played as members of the Class D level

Dakota League Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesot ...

in 1921 and 1922 and South Dakota League in 1923. Watertown hosted minor league home games at Riverside Park.

History

Minor league baseball began in Watertown, South Dakota when the 1921 Watertown "Cubs" became members of the eight–team Class D level

. In their first season of play, the Cubs finished the 1921 season with a 44–53 record, placing sixth, playing the season under manager Mattie McGrath. Watertown finished 20.5 games behind the first place

Mitchell Kernels The Mitchell Kernels were a minor league baseball team based in Mitchell, South Dakota. The Kernels played as members of the South Dakota League (1920), Dakota League (1921–1922), South Dakota League (1923), Nebraska State League (1936–1937) ...

. The team played home games at Riverside Park. In 1922, the Watertown Cubs played in the final season of the Dakota League, which continued as an eight–team, Class D level league. Watertown finished in sixth place with a 42–54 regular season record. Playing under manager John Mokate, the Cubs finished 17.5 games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels. To minimize travel, the Dakota League was divided into two Class D level leagues in 1923. The two new leagues, each with four teams, were the South Dakota League and the

North Dakota League The North Dakota League was a Minor League Baseball league which operated in five North Dakota cities in . The Class D level league had four teams at the start of its season, with one team relocating in July. The league evolved from the South Da ...

in 1923. The Watertown Cubs played in the 1923 South Dakota League and finished last as the league folded during the season. When the South Dakota League folded on July 17, 1923, the Cubs ended the season with a record of 15–41 record under manager

Wib Smith Wilbur Floyd "Wib" Smith (August 30, 1886 – November 18, 1959) was a Major League Baseball catcher who played in with the St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the ...

, placing fourth, finishing 19.5.0 games behind the first place

Sioux Falls Soos The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota language, Dakota: Help:IPA, /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada, First Nations peoples in North America. The ...

. The Watertown Cubs were followed in organized baseball by the Watertown "Lake Sox," a

Basin League The Basin League was an independent collegiate minor league, that operated from 1953 to 1973, featuring teams primarily from South Dakota and one from Nebraska. The league name reflected the number of teams situated along the Missouri River Basin. ...

collegiate summer team, that played from 1954 to 1962. The Watertown Expos resumed minor league play in 1971 as an affiliate of the Montreal Expos, playing in the

Northern League Northern League may refer to: Sport Baseball * Northern League (baseball, 1902–71), a name used by several minor leagues that operated in the upper midwestern U.S. and Manitoba from 1902 to 1971 * Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010), an indep ...

The ballpark

The Watertown Cubs played home minor league games at Riverside Park. Today, Riverside Park is still in use as a public park.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

(1923, MGR) * Jerry Standaert (1922) * Lefty Taber (1921)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Watertown - Baseball Reference
Professional baseball teams in South Dakota Defunct baseball teams in South Dakota Baseball teams established in 1921 Baseball teams disestablished in 1923 Watertown, South Dakota Dakota League teams South Dakota League teams