Keokuk Westerns

1875 Keokuk Westerns / Franchise: Keokuk Westerns / BR Team Page

Record: 1-12, Finished 12th in National Association (1875 NA)

Managed by Joe Simmons

Ballpark: Perry Park (May 4-June 14, 1875)

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History, Comments, Contributions

The 'Keokuk Westerns. or the "Western Base Ball Club of Iowa" was the first professional baseball club from Iowa. First formed as an amateur team in 1872 and by 1874 they were one of the top clubs in the state. By the end of the season, the team had defeated one of the best clubs from Missouri, the St. Louis Empires, as well as a top eastern club from Staten Island, NY. The Westerns posted a 23-9 record, with 5 losses coming from National Association clubs, including the Chicago White Stockings and the New York Mutuals. After the season, the Westerns' four-member board of directors which consisted of C.L. Williams, Robert McGuire, John Irwin and William Trimble, decided that the team should turn professional and join the National Association for the 1875 season. Unfortunately, this was a mistake. While the Westerns played only 5 teams that season, they posted an overall record of 1-12. The club’s only win came against the St. Louis Red Stockings. Five of the team’s losses were blowouts, while another 3 were only one-run games.

Some of the team's problems were caused by a lack of offense. While catcher Paddy Quinn, outfielder Charley Jones and shortstop Jimmy Hallinan had above .200 batting averages, the team as a whole batted only .180. Pitcher Mike Golden had an ERA of 1.83, but gave up 111 hits, and 88 runs (23 earned). In addition, he struck out only 20 players and walked only 12. Combined, the team struck out only 22 times, and only one player was walked once. It also didn't help that the team committed a total of 78 errors: Hallinan with 16 and second baseman Joe Miller with 13. Following the team's disbanding, the players found themselves on other teams including Chicago, New York and the Hartford Dark Blues. John Carbine and Billy Riley would return to the majors in 1879.

Sources

• Paul Batesel: Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871-75, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2012.
• Peter Filichia: Green Cathedrals: The Ultimate Celebrations of All 273 Major League and Negro League Ballparks Past and Present, Addison Wesley Publishing Company (March 1993)
• Janice Beck Stock: Amazing Iow, Harper Collins, New York, NY, 2003.