Topeka Jayhawks

• Location: Topeka, KS
• League: Western League 1909-1910, 1912-1915; Western Association 1927-1928; Western League 1929; Western Association 1932
• Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals 1927-1928
• Ballpark:

Topeka, KS joined the Western League in 1909 as the Topeka Jayhawks. The Western Association president became so upset he "took away" Topeka's 1908 WA pennant. The Jayhawks went 76-73 in their first season, finishing fourth in the WL. Kaufmann (22-26) led the league in losses and tied for fourth in wins, while Wright (21-10) was sixth in victories. Pettigrew hit 12 homers, tied for second in the loop. Duff Cooley, who had managed Topeka in the WA since 1906, skippered the new WL team.

Topeka fell apart in 1910 and finished 65 and a half games behind the Sioux City Packers with a 42-125 record, setting the all-time Western League loss record. Four pitchers on their roster lost 20 or more games in the league that year. In 1911 they were known as the Topeka Kaws but became the Jayhawks again in 1912, finishing 51-109 and in last place, 47 games behind the Denver Grizzlies. The club improved to a tie for sixth the next year at 73-92. Forsythe (.334) was fourth in average while McLarry was third with 48 doubles. Topeka slipped back to 7th in 1914 with a 68-97 mark. Koerner tied for the league lead with 46 doubles and was third with 123 runs while Forsythe had 201 hits and two pitchers were second and third in ERA - Reisigi (17-13, 2.64) and Grover (11-16, 2.67).

The Jayhawks improved to 75-63 and third in 1915. Dashner (16-14, 2.58) was fifth in ERA and fourth with 174 Ks while Grover (20-16) was fifth in wins. In 1916 they were renamed the Topeka Savages.

In 1929 the Amarillo Texans moved to Topeka and reclaimed the Jayhawks name. The club was sixth in the Western League at 75-85. Bud Honea (.309) led the WL with 46 stolen bases. Pat Caraway (19-17) was tied for fourth in wins, 5th in losses and first in innings (305) and strikeouts (159). In 1930 the franchise moved to St. Joseph, MO and became the St. Joseph Saints. The Topeka Senators took their place in town.

Source: "The Western League" by W.C. Madden and Patrick Stewart

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1909	76-73	4th	Duff Cooley	none
1910	42-125	8th	Duff Cooley	none
1912	51-109	8th	Dale Gear	none
1913	73-92	7th	Dale Gear	none
1914	68-97	7th	Dale Gear / Duff Cooley	none
1915	75-63	3rd	Jimmy Jackson	none
1927	74-58	2nd	Joe Schultz	none
1928	70-61	2nd	Eddie Dyer
1929	75-85	6th	Jimmy Payton	none
1932	36-37	--	Grover Wilson	--	Joplin (2-1) moved to Topeka May 10 Team disbanded July 18