Mattoon Phillies

The Mattoon Phillies was the primary nickname for the minor league baseball teams based in Mattoon, Illinois. Mattoon teams played in various leagues between 1899 and 1957.

Mattoon Phillies
1899–1957
(1899, 1906–1908, 1947–1957)
Mattoon, Illinois
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
Class D (1906–1908, 1947–1957)
Class E (1899)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Team data
Previous names
  • Mattoon Athletics (1957)
  • Mattoon Phillies (1953–1956)
  • Mattoon Indians (1947–1952)
  • Mattoon Giants (1907–1908)
  • Mattoon Canaries (1906)
  • Mattoon (1899)
Previous parks
Mattoon Baseball Park (1947-1956)

Mattoon was an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox (1947), Cleveland Indians (1948), Cincinnati Reds (1952), Philadelphia Phillies (1953–1956) and Kansas City Athletics (1957).

The franchise is the oldest in the Midwest League, evolving to become today's Fort Wayne TinCaps.

History

Mattoon was a founding franchise in the Midwest League. Mattoon played in the leagues directly preceding the MWL: the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1949–1955) and the Illinois State League (1947–1948).[1]

Earlier, Mattoon had teams in the Eastern Illinois League (1907–1908), Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (1906) and Indiana–Illinois League (1899). Mattoon was an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox (1947), Cleveland Indians (1948), Cincinnati Reds (1952), Philadelphia Phillies (1953–1956) and Kansas City Athletics (1957).[2]

The Mattoon Illinois State League (ISL) franchise was the direct result of the efforts of the Mattoon Athletic Association, which was formed in 1947 by William Zurheider, Clyde Kirk and Charles Heath. The corporation issued 600 shares of stock at $250 and built a new ballpark. Charles Heath was also a founder of the ISL.[3]

Mattoon had two no-hitters. On August 24, 1954 Tom Cronin defeated the Hannibal Cannibals 2–0 in a no-hitter. On July 16, 1956 Mike Wallace pitched a no-hitter against the Clinton Pirates, winning 6–0.[4]

The franchise moved Keokuk, Iowa and became the Keokuk Indians in 1958. The franchise is the oldest in the Midwest League, as it has evolved into today's Fort Wayne TinCaps.[1]

The ballpark

From 1947-1956 Mattoon teams played at the Mattoon Baseball Park. The ballpark hosted the 1948 Illinois State League All-Star Game and the 1950 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League All-Star Game. Baseball Hall of Fame member Earl Weaver played in the 1948 game. The ballpark had a capacity of 2,500 and was destroyed shortly after the team left in the late 1950s. Mattoon Baseball Park was located at DeWitt Avenue and North Logan Street, Mattoon, Illinois.[3][1][5][6][7][1]

Dallas Green, 2009. Green managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1980 World Series Championship

Notable alumni[2]

References
  1. "Baseball in Mattoon, Illinois". Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  2. "Mattoon, Illinois Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  3. "Summary of Professional Ball in Mattoon, Illinois". Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  4. "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  5. "Baseball in Mattoon". Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  6. "Mattoon Baseball Park - Mattoon Indiana - Former Home of the Mattoon Philies". digitalballparks.com.
  7. "Illinois State League 1948". Retrieved July 4, 2018.
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