Illinois State League

The present-day Midwest League got its start in 1947 as the Illinois State League. This class D league lasted only two seasons, changing its name in 1949 to the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League.

Cities Represented

• Belleville, IL: Belleville Stags 1947-1948, moved to Mississippi-Ohio Valley League 1949
• Centralia, IL: Centralia Cubs 1947-1948,moved to Mississippi-Ohio Valley League 1949
• Marion, IL: Marion Indians 1947-1948
• Mattoon, IL: Mattoon Indians 1947-1948,moved to Mississippi-Ohio Valley League 1949-1952
• Mount Vernon, IL: Mount Vernon Braves 1947-1948
• West Frankfort, IL: West Frankfort Cardinals 1947-1948,moved to Mississippi-Ohio Valley League 1949-1950

1947 - 1948 Illinois State League

1947

1947 Illinois State League - schedule
President: Howard V. Millard

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Belleville Stags	75	37	.670	0	18,539	Walter DeFreitas
Centralia Cubs	60	52	.536	15	35,000	Chuck Hawley
Marion Indians	55	56	.495	19.5	36,705	Melvin Ivy
West Frankfort Cardinals	52	60	.464	23	43,004	Everett Johnston
Mt. Vernon Braves	49	63	.438	26	38,330	Otto Huber
Mattoon Indians	41	64	.390	30.5	25,671	Frank Parenti

No Playoffs were played.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Billy Klaus	Centralia	BA	.341		Robert Freels	Belleville	W	19
Billy Klaus	Centralia	Hits	147		Don Liddle	Mt. Vernon	SO	190
Billy Klaus	Centralia	RBI	84		Ken Wild	West Frankfort	ERA	1.73
Rip Repulski	West Frankfort	HR	10		Bob Cherek	Belleville	Runs	90

1948

President: Howard V. Millard

Team Name	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
West Frankfort Cardinals	85	35	.708	0	36,656	Harold Contini
Mattoon Indians	75	44	.630	9.5	34,754	Chuck Hawley
Marion Indians	53	66	.445	31.5	13,697	Melvin Ivy
Mt. Vernon Braves	52	66	.441	32	11.364	Creepy Crespi
Belleville Stags	51	67	.432	33	6,085	Gerald Nemitz / Shan Deniston
Centralia Cubs	41	79	.342	44	18,211	Willlard Sellergren / Claude Passeau

Playoffs:West Frankfort 3 games, Marion 1; Mattoon 3 games,Mt. Vernon 2;
Finals: West Frankfort 3 games, Mattoon 0.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Richard Martz	Marion	BA	.361		Floyd Melliere	West Frankfort	W	21
Don Hazelton	Mt. Vernon	Hits	150		Mike Blyzka	Belleville	SO	192
Frank Porreca	West Frankfort	RBI	94		Floyd Melliere	West Frankfort	ERA	1.77
Paul Deters	Marion	HR	8		William Broukal	Mattoon	Runs	103

All Star Games

The first All Star Game was August 12, 1947, played at Memorial Stadium in West Frankfort. The 1948 Illinois State League All-Star Game was July 12, 1948 at Mattoon Baseball Park.

Hall of Fame Alumni

• Earl Weaver, 1948 West Frankfort Cardinals

Source

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball; Second Edition