Sedalia Goldbugs
The Sedalia Goldbugs were a minor league baseball team based in Sedalia, Missouri. Sedalia played as a member of the Missouri Valley League (1902–1904), Western Association (1905) and Missouri State League (1911). Sedalia played as the Sedalia Cubs in 1911.
Sedalia Goldbugs 1902–1911 (1902–1905, 1911) Sedalia, Missouri | |
Minor league affiliations | |
---|---|
Previous classes | Class C (1904–1905) Class D (1902–1903) |
Previous leagues | Missouri Valley League (1902–1904) Western Association (1905) Missouri State League (1911) |
Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams | None |
Minor league titles | |
League titles | 2 1903, 1911* |
Team data | |
Previous names | Sedalia Goldbugs (1902–1905) Sedalia Cubs (1911) |
Previous parks | Liberty Park Stadium (1902–1905, 1911) |
History
Minor league baseball began in Sedalia, Missouri in 1902. The Sedalia Goldbugs were charter members of the eight–team Class D Missouri Valley League in 1902.[1]
The 1902 Sedalia Gold Bugs finished 72–48, 4th in the Missouri Valley League, playing at Liberty Park in Sedalia. The Gold Bugs were managed by Joe Roe, RL Hawkins, George Allen and Dave Fultz. Sedalia was joined in the 1902 standings by the Coffeyville Indians/Chanute Oilers (40–81), Fort Scott Giants (80–44), Iola Gasbags (34–90), Jefferson City Convicts (40–85), Joplin Miners (56–66), Nevada Lunatics (86–38) and Springfield Reds (83–40).[2][3][1][4]
Sedalia Won the 1903 Missouri Valley League Championship. The Sedalia Goldbugs finished 86–47, 1st in the Missouri Valley League, which had no playoffs. Sedalia finished 2.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Springfield Midgets. Sedalia was managed by Jimmie Driscoll, W. J. Ferguson and R. N. Harrison.[5][6][1][7][8]
In 1904, the Missouri Valley League became a Class C League. The Sedalia Goldbugs finished 71–53, 4th in the Missouri Valley League. Sedalia was managed by E. E. Codding. Sedalia left the Missouri Valley League after the conclusion of the 1904 season.[9][10][1][7][11]
The Sedalia Goldbugs joined the reformed Class C Western Association in 1905. The league began the season as a Class D league and was upgraded to a Class C league on June 2, 1905. The Gold Bugs finished 70–64, 4th in the Western Association. They had three managers in Dutch Henry, Billy White and Dick Rohn. The final Western Association standings of 1905: Guthrie Senators (66–70), Joplin Miners (65–73), Leavenworth Orioles (75–59), Oklahoma City Mets (77–58), Sedalia Goldbugs (70–64), Springfield Highlanders (54–80), Topeka White Sox (54–80) and Wichita Jobbers (79–56). The Sedalia Goldbugs franchise folded after the 1905 season. The Webb City Goldbugs began play in the 1906 western Association.[12][13][14][15][16]
In 1911, the Sedalia Cubs played as charter members of the Independent Missouri State League. The Missouri State League began the season as a five–team league. Charter members were the Brookfield Hustlers, Jefferson City Senators, Kirksville Osteopaths, Macon Athletics and Sedalia Cubs. The Brookfield Hustlers folded on May 19. On May 24, 1911, the Sedalia Cubs were in 1st place with an 7–3 record, when the franchise moved to Brookfield, Missouri and became the Brookfield Cubs. Their manager was J. T. Easley. The Missouri State League played as a four-team league until it permanently folded on June 4, 1911. The Sedalia/Brookfield Cubs were 11–8 and in 1st place when the league folded. Sedalia has not hosted another minor league franchise.[17][18][19][20][21]
Ballpark
The Sedalia Goldbugs and Sedalia Cubs played at Liberty Park. Liberty Park had an estimated capacity of 600. Today, the park is still in use and contains Liberty Park Stadium, the original baseball park and grandstands. The address is 1500 West 3rd Street, Sedalia, Missouri, 65301.[22][23][24][25]
Notable alumni
- George Blackburn (1905)
- Jim Bluejacket (1905)
- Eli Cates (1903)
- Harry Cheek (1905)
- Dave Fultz (1902, MGR)
- Dutch Henry (1905, MGR)
- Larry Milton (1902)
- Ed Reulbach (1902–1904)
- Ray Rolling (1905)
- Frosty Thomas (1902)
References
- "Missouri Valley League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- "1902 Sedalia Gold Bugs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "1902 Missouri Valley League (MVL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "1902 Sedalia Goldbugs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "1903 Sedalia Gold Bugs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "1903 Missouri Valley League (MVL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "Sedalia Gold Bugs - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- "1903 Sedalia Goldbugs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "1904 Sedalia Gold Bugs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "1904 Missouri Valley League (MVL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "1904 Sedalia Goldbugs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "1905 Sedalia Gold Bugs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "1905 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "Western Association - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- "1905 Sedalia Goldbugs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "1906 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "Sedalia Cubs - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- "Missouri State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- "1911 Missouri State League (MSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "Brookfield Cubs - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- "1911 Sedalia/Brookfield Cubs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "Liberty Park in Sedalia, MO history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- "Liberty Park". October 24, 2017.
- "Liberty Park".
- https://scholars.fhsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=all_monographs