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
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1952–1955)
Class C (1947–1948)
Class B (1916–1917)
Class D (1908–1911)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Team data
Previous names
  • Hannibal Citizens (1955)
  • Hannibal Cardinals (1953–1954)
  • Hannibal Stags (1952)
  • Hannibal Pilots (1947–1948)
  • Hannibal Mules (1916–1917)
  • Hannibal Cannibals (1908–1912)
Previous parks
  • Clemens Field (1947–1955)
  • Mainland's Park (1910–1917)
  • League Park (1908–1909)

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]

Jake Beckley Hall of Fame plaque

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Hannibal, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  2. "Baseball in Hannibal, Missouri". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  3. "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. Prospect League Standings Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  5. Prospect League Stadiums Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. "Baseball in Hannibal". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  7. "Mainland's Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  8. "League Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.

Baseball Reference

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