Macomb Potters

The Macomb Potters were a minor league baseball franchise based in Macomb, Illinois. The Macomb Potters played as members of the Class D Illinois-Missouri League from 1908–1910.

Macomb Potters
1908–1910
(1908–1910)
Macomb, Illinois
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1908–1910)
Previous leagues
Illinois-Missouri League (1908–1910)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Macomb Potters (1908–1910)
Previous parks
Unknown (1908–1910)

History

The Macomb Potters were formed in 1908. On March 24, 1908, at a public meeting, the "Potters' moniker was suggested by Harry Grigsby, as the name reflected a prevailing local industry. The "Potters" moniker was adopted. The Macomb Potters became charter members of the Class D Illinois-Missouri League after local baseball enthusiasts and fans raised funds to start the team, hire a team manager and pay players.[1][2]

In their first season of 1908, Macomb finished 2nd in the six–team Illinois–Missouri League. With a record of 66–53, the Potters were 2nd in the standings, finishing 3.0 games behind the 1st place Hannibal Cannibals. The 1908 Manager was Jap Wagner.[3][4][5][6][7]

The initial 1908 Illinois–Missouri League standings season standings consisted of the Canton Chinks (56–61), Galesburg Hornets (50–67), champion Hannibal Cannibals (68–49), Havana Perfectos (58–61), Macomb Potters (66–53) and Monmouth Browns (55–62).[2][8][6]

The 1909 Macomb Potters played their second season in the Illinois–Missouri League. With a regular season record of 63–67, Macomb finished 4th in the Illinois-Missouri League under Manager Orville Wolfe. [9][10][11][6][7]

On Friday, June 18, 1909, the Macomb Potters hosted an exhibition game against the defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. In front of 2,964 fans, the Cubs beat the Potters 6–0. The game was scheduled with the agreement that the Cubs would feature their regular lineup. The selected date allowed the Cubs to play in between the Cubs' series with the Brooklyn Superbas.[1][12]

The Cubs–Potters exhibition game was advertised as “the greatest day in the baseball history of McDonough County,” as a large advertisement was placed in the June 17, 1909 Macomb Daily Journal. The teams took infield at 2:30 p.m., ahead of the 3:00 p.m. game. Admission was $1.00 per ticket. After the game, each team split the gate money minus expenses. Each club received $971.50.[1][12]

The Macomb Potters disbanded before the end of the 1910 Illinois–Missouri League season. On August 17, 1910 The Macomb Potters has a record of 50–43 and the team was 2nd place in the League standings when the franchise permanently folded. The Jacksonville Jacks disbanded from the league on the same day. The 1910 Manager was Joseph Stewart.[13][14][15][6][7]

During the 1910 season, the Macomb Potters and the Chicago Cubs played a second exhibition game in Macomb. The 1910 game was won by the Cubs 5–0.[1]

The Macomb Potters were the last minor league team hosted in Macomb.[16][17]

The ballpark

The name and location of the ballpark for the Macomb Potters is unknown. It is possible the team played on the campus of Western Illinois University or at Macomb's McDonough County Fairgrounds, which hosted Macomb semi-pro games in Macomb's immediate post-Potters era.[18][19][20]

Notable alumni

Year-by-year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
190866-532ndJap WagnerNone
190963-674thOrville WolfeNone
191050-43NAJoseph Stewartfranchise disbanded August 17
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References
  1. "Macomb Potters – Western Illinois Museum".
  2. "1908 Illinois-Missouri League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1908 Macomb Potters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "1908 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1908 Macomb Potters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "Illinois-Missouri League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  7. "Macomb Potters - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "1908 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1909 Macomb Potters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1909 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1909 Macomb Potters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "Voice Vault: The day the Cubs took over Macomb". The McDonough County Voice.
  13. "1910 Macomb Potters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "1910 Illinois-Missouri League (IIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "1910 Macomb Potters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "Macomb, IL - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  17. "Macomb, Illinois Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "Unknown in Macomb, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. "Shoeless Joe Jackson & Baseball's "Black Sox" in McDonough County – Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau".
  20. "Believe it or not". The McDonough County Voice.
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