Hannibal Cannibals
The Hannibal Cannibals was the original nickname of the minor league baseball teams based in Hannibal, Missouri. Hannibal played in numerous leagues under differing monikers between 1908–1955.
Hannibal Cannibals 1908–1955 (1908–1912, 1916–1917, 1948–1949, 1952–1955) Hannibal, Missouri | |
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Previous classes | Class D (1952–1955) Class C (1947–1948) Class B (1916–1917) Class D (1908–1911) |
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Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
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Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks |
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Hannibal was an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals (1953–1954) and St. Louis Browns (1947).
Hannibal is the hometown of author Mark Twain, also known as Samuel Clemens, the namesake of the Hannibal baseball park: Clemens Field.
History
Hannibal teams played as members of the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1952–1955), Central Association (1948–1949), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1916–1917), Central Association (1909–1912) and Illinois–Missouri League (1908). The team was known as the Cannibals (1908–1912), Hannibal Citizens (1955), Hannibal Cardinals (1953–1954), Hannibal Stags (1952), Hannibal Pilots, (1947–1948) and Hannibal Mules (1916–1917). Baseball Hall of Fame member Jake Beckley played for the 1911 Hannibal Cannibals.[1]
Hannibal was an expansion team in the 1952 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, the predecessor of today's Midwest League. In 1956, the franchise relocated to become the Michigan City White Caps for the first Midwest League season and professional baseball left Hannibal for the last time.[2]
Hannibal pitcher Richard Lessman threw a no-hitter against the Lafayette Red Sox on August 9, 1955 in a 1–0 victory.[3]
Through 2019, the Hannibal Cavemen and Hannibal Hoots of the collegiate summer Prospect League played at a renovated Clemens Field, which is also used for youth baseball.[4]
The ballparks
Clemens Field, named for native Samuel Clemens, was built in 1938 as a Works Project Administration (WPA) Project and was home to the Hannibal teams thereafter. After little usage, Clemens Field underwent a major renovation in 2009. Now, the stadium has the original grandstand and brick wall perimeter, holding 2,500. Clemens Field is located at 403 Warren Buffett Drive, Hannibal, Missouri.[5][6]
Previous to Clemens Field, the earlier Hannibal teams played at Mainland's Park (1910–1917), located at Market Street in the Oakwood neighborhood and League Park (1908–1909), located at the corner of Lyon and Glasscock Street, Hannibal, Missouri.[7][8]
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni
- Jake Beckley (1911) Inducted, 1971
Notable alumni
- Julio Navarro (1955)
- Gary Geiger (1954)
- John Wyatt (1954) MLB All-Star
- Hank Schmulbach (1947-198)
- Joe Lutz (1947)
- Roy Sievers (1947) 5x MLB All-Star 1957 AL Home Run Leader; 1957 AL RBI Leader; 1949 AL Rookie of the Year
- John Castle (1917)
- Oscar Fuhr (1917)
- George Stutz (1917)
- Charlie Young (1917)
- Red Smyth (1912)
- Clyde Southwick (1912)
- Al Bashang (1911)
- Ollie O'Mara (1911–1912)
- Dan Kerwin (1910)
- Hack Spencer (1910)
- Cy Slapnicka (1909) GM and Scout; Signed Baseball Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Lemon and Bob Feller
References
- "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- "Baseball in Hannibal, Missouri". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- Prospect League Standings Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- Prospect League Stadiums Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- "Baseball in Hannibal". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- "Mainland's Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
- "League Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.