Dubuque, Iowa minor league baseball
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Dubuque Baseball Club 1879–1976 (1879, 1888, 1890, 1895–1899, 1903–1915, 1917, 1922–1932, 1954–1968, 1974–1976) Dubuque, Iowa | |
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| Minor league affiliations | |
| League | Midwest League (1956–1968, 1974–1976) |
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| Major league affiliations | |
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| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | 5 (1905, 1927, 1929, 1955, 1962) |
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Previous names |
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Previous parks | John Petrakis Field, Municipal Stadium |
Several different minor league baseball teams have operated in the city of Dubuque, Iowa between 1879 and 1976.
The earliest known professional team was the Dubuque Red Stockings, who played in an early version of the Northwestern League in 1879. Dubuque also had early teams that played in the Central Interstate League in 1888, Illinois–Iowa League in 1890, Eastern Iowa League in 1895 and Western Association from 1895–1899.
The Dubuque Shamrocks played in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League from 1903–1905, winning the league title in 1905.
Dubuque Dubs
The team name became the Dubuque Dubs in 1906 and they played in the Three-I League from 1906–1915, when they moved to Freeport, Illinois to become the Freeport Comeons on July 14, 1915.
The Dubs returned in 1917 in the Central Association, but also moved mid-season, to Charles City, Iowa, where they became the Charles City Tractorites.
Multiple players with major league experience played for the team, including Hall of Fame pitcher Red Faber and 223-game winner Mel Harder.[1][2]
Missisissippi Valley League
The Dubuque Climbers played in the Mississippi Valley League from 1922 to 1923.
Of note, Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Joe McGinnity played for the team both years, managing the squad the latter season. The then 51-year-old was 5-8 in 19 games in 1922 and 15-12 with a 3.93 ERA in 42 games in 1923, at the age of 53.[3] He led the squad to a first-place finish in the standings in 1923.
Art Delaney, who pitched three years in the major leagues, also played for the team.[4]
After returning to the Dubs name for the 1924 season, the team became the Dubuque Ironmen for 1925. Hall of Fame baseball player Iron Joe McGinnity played for the team.[5]
The name was the Dubuque Speasmen during the 1926 season and was managed by Bill Speas, after whom the team was nicknamed.
The team featured multiple players who played or who would go on to play in the major leagues: Estel Crabtree, Luther Harvel, Al Platte and Webb Schultz.[6]
They were once again the Dubs from 1924–1928. In 1927, still under manager Speas, they were the de facto league champions, finishing first in the standings.
They wee the Dubuque Tigers from 1929 to 1932 and won a league championship in 1929.
Numerous future and former major league players played for the team, including Otto Bluege, Paul Speraw and Biggs Wehde in 1929,[7] Johnny Dickshot, Wally Millies and Wehde in 1930,[8] George Caithamer, Red Lutz, Hal Trosky and Phil Weintraub in 1931,[9] and Maurice Archdeacon, Red Evans and Wehde in 1932.[10]
Following the 1932 season, the Tigers ceased to exist.[11]
Dubuque Packers
The Dubuque Packers were a minor league baseball team that played in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League from 1954–55 and the Midwest League from 1956–68 and 1974-76.
Their minor league affiliations included:
- 1954-58: Chicago White Sox
- 1959-60: Pittsburgh Pirates
- 1961-66: Cleveland Indians
- 1967: Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1974: no affiliation
- 1975-76: Houston Astros
They won league championships in 1955 & 1962.
Notable alumni
- Steve Yeager, major league baseball catcher
- Tommy John, major league pitcher
- Tommy Agee
- Joe Rudi
- Terry Puhl
- Dave Nelson