Moline Plowboys

The Moline Plowboys were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1914 to 1941. They were located in Moline, Illinois. From 1914 to 1923, they played in the Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League; from 1924 to 1932, they played in the Class D Mississippi Valley League; and from 1937 to 1941, they again played in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. The Plowboys' ballpark from 1920 to 1941 was Browning Field.^[1]

Moline gained a franchise in July 1914 when the Danville Speakers relocated to Moline, and the Moline Plowboys were established. The Moline franchise would win Three-I Championships in 1915, 1921 and 1937. The Plowboys were Class D affiliates of the Detroit Tigers (1922), St Louis Browns (1931–32) and Chicago Cubs (1937–40). From 1920 to 1922 the Plowboys were managed by player-manager Earle Mack, son of legendary Hall of Fame owner/manager Connie Mack. In an exhibition on April 12, 1920 the Plowboys defeated the Chicago White Sox 7-1 in the first "major-league" game played at Browning.

The "Plowboys" name reflects the city of Moline's history as a leading center of plow production. Many Moline residents worked for companies such as Deere, Moline Plow Company, and Minneapolis-Moline.

Year-by-year record

References