Grand Island Athletics

	Grand Island Athletics; 1892–1959; Grand Island, Nebraska
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Class D (1956–1959)
League	Nebraska State League (1956–1959, 1937–1938, 1928–1932, 1922–1923, 1910–1915, 1892); Tri-State League (1924)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Kansas City Athletics (1956–1959); St. Louis Cardinals (1937–1938);
Minor league titles
League titles	3 1957, 1931, 1914
Team data
Previous names	Grand Island Athletics (1956–1958); Grand Island Cardinals (1938); Grand Island Red Birds (1937); Grand Island Islanders (1929–1932, 1924, 1914); Grand Island Champs (1928); Grand Island Champions (1922–1923, 1915); Grand Island Collegians (1910–1913); Grand Island Sugar Citys (1892);
Previous parks	Municipal Field (1956–1959)

The Grand Island Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Grand Island, Nebraska. The Grand Island Athletics played in the short-season Class D Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959. Earlier Grand Island teams played in the Nebraska State League, ar the beginning in 1892.

Grand Island was an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics (1956–1959) and St. Louis Cardinals (1937–1938).

History

From 1956–1959, the Nebraska State League was composed of players in their first professional season. Based in Grand Island, Nebraska, the team was an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. The Grand Island Athletics or "A's" played their home games at Municipal Field. The A's captured the League Championship in 1957.[1]

Grand Island also played as a member of the Nebraska State League from 1937–1938, 1928–1932, 1922–1923, 1910–1915 and in 1892. Grand Island played as the Grand Island Cardinals (1938), Grand Island Red Birds (1937), the Grand Island Islanders (1929–1932, 1914), Grand Island Champs (1928), Grand Island Champions (1922-1923, 1915), Grand Island Collegians (1910-1913) and Grand Island Sugar Citys (1892). The Grand Island Islanders played in the Tri-State League for the 1924 season. Overall, Grand Island captured Nebraska State League championships in 1957, 1931 and 1914.[2]

Many of the Grand Island players lived in Grand Island's Yancey Hotel.[1]

The Nebraska State League permanently folded after the 1959 season, along with 1959 league members Grand Island Athletics, Hastings Giants, Holdrege White Sox, Kearney Yankees, McCook Braves and North Platte Indians. Grand Island has not hosted another minor league team.[3]

The ballpark

The Grand Island Athletics played at Municipal Field. The ballpark still exists today, within Grand Island's Ryder Park. Municipal Field is located at 202 North Custer Avenue, Grand Island, Nebraska.[4][1]

Notable alumni

Jack Aker (1959)
Jim Cockman (1912)
Murry Dickson (1937) MLB All-Star
Eddie Lake (1937)
Lou Klimchock (1957)
Art Mazmanian (MGR 1956-1958) 1984 USA Olympic Team coach
Lenny Metz (1922-1923)
Len Rice (1937)
Jose Santiago (1959) MLB All-Star
Fresco Thompson (1923)
Chuck Ward (1913-1914)
Ed Willett (MGR, 1922)

Year-by-year record

(from Grand Island Athletics - BR Bullpen)

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1956	35-28	2nd	Art Mazmanian	none
1957	33-22	1st	Art Mazmanian	League Champions
1958	33-30	3rd	Art Mazmanian	none
1959	32-30	3rd	Art Mazmanian	none

References

"Grand Island Athletics 1956". www.nebaseballhistory.com.
"Grand Island, Nebraska Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
"Nebraska State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
https://www.grand-island.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/80/2311

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[auto-1] "Grand Island Athletics 1956". www.nebaseballhistory.com.

[2] "Grand Island, Nebraska Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.

[3] "Nebraska State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[4] ttps://www.grand-island.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/80/2311