Beatrice Blues
Encyclopedia
The Beatrice Blues were a semi-professional baseball team located in Beatrice, Nebraska
. A member of the Nebraska State League
from 1922–1923, 1928, 1932–1938, and the Tri-State League
in (1924), they were affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1936-1938.
in 1892. The Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers were in the MINK league in 1912 and the Beatrice Milkskimmers participated in the Nebraska State League
from 1913 until the league disbanded in 1915.
by the Blues. The league had a split season. The Blue's were 25-28 in the first half and 31-32 in the second half and wound up in 4th place. Ralph Kirchner managed the team until July and Ducky Holmes
replaced him for the remainder of the season. The 1923 team wound up in 5th place.
returned to the Western League
. The remaining Nebraska State League
teams and some of the teams from the collapsed South Dakota League formed the Tri-State League (NE-IA=SD). The Blues were in first place when the league disbanded on July 17.
was restarted with eight teams. The 1928 Blue's were led by Jack Ellison. He was named to the All Star team and the Piconing MI native had a 15-8 record. Spud Owen averaged .343 and was also named to the All Star team. In 1929 the Norton Jayhawks took over the franchise.
When the York Dukes dropped out of the Nebraska State League
after the 1931 season Beatrice reentered the league and remained through the 1938 season. The 1932 Blues were led by Mike Pociask and Cotton Pippen
. During the playoffs, Cotton pitched the third game of the series and won 5-3. He came back in the sixth game of the series and pitched a 2 hitter as Beatrice won 9-0. The next day he pitched the seventh game of the series. There were 3,000 fans in the Beatrice stands. Cotton went 2 for 3 at the plate and won 4-3. He did not give up an earned run in four playoff appearances. 1933 was a near repeat of the previous year. Led by pitcher Mike Pociask they once again wound up in second place. Cotton won one of the playoff games and hit two home runs during the game. Beatrice won the playoffs 5 games to 4. 1934 and 1935 were cellar years for the team. In 1936 the team secured a working agreement with the Brooklyn Dodgers. They were in 4th place in 1936, third in 1937 and again in third in 1938.
Beatrice, Nebraska
Beatrice is a city in and the county seat of Gage County, Nebraska.Beatrice is located south of Lincoln on the Big Blue River. It is surrounded by agricultural country. The population was 12,459 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. A member of the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
from 1922–1923, 1928, 1932–1938, and the Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
in (1924), they were affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1936-1938.
About
The Beatrice Blues played at the High School Athletic Park. The field acquired lights in the early 1930s. The field still exists as the local high school football stadium. Prior to the Blues, Beatrice was represented in the Nebraska State LeagueNebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
in 1892. The Beatrice-Fairbury Milkskimmers were in the MINK league in 1912 and the Beatrice Milkskimmers participated in the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
from 1913 until the league disbanded in 1915.
1922-1923 Nebraska State League
In 1922 Beatrice, NE was represented in the short-lived Nebraska State LeagueNebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
by the Blues. The league had a split season. The Blue's were 25-28 in the first half and 31-32 in the second half and wound up in 4th place. Ralph Kirchner managed the team until July and Ducky Holmes
Ducky Holmes
For Howard Elbert Holmes, also known as Ducky, baseball player, see Ducky Holmes James William "Ducky" Holmes was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played ten seasons in the National League and American League with the Louisville Colonels , New York Giants , St...
replaced him for the remainder of the season. The 1923 team wound up in 5th place.
1924 Tri-State League
In 1924 the Lincoln LinksLincoln Links
The Lincoln Links were a Western League and Nebraska State League baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns from 1938 to 1939....
returned to the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
. The remaining Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
teams and some of the teams from the collapsed South Dakota League formed the Tri-State League (NE-IA=SD). The Blues were in first place when the league disbanded on July 17.
1928, 1932-1938 Nebraska State League
In 1928 the Nebraska State LeagueNebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
was restarted with eight teams. The 1928 Blue's were led by Jack Ellison. He was named to the All Star team and the Piconing MI native had a 15-8 record. Spud Owen averaged .343 and was also named to the All Star team. In 1929 the Norton Jayhawks took over the franchise.
When the York Dukes dropped out of the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
after the 1931 season Beatrice reentered the league and remained through the 1938 season. The 1932 Blues were led by Mike Pociask and Cotton Pippen
Cotton Pippen
Henry Harold "Cotton" Pippen was a 6'2" Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for three years with St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Athletics , and Detroit Tigers . Pippen was born in Cisco, Texas , where his father was a rancher...
. During the playoffs, Cotton pitched the third game of the series and won 5-3. He came back in the sixth game of the series and pitched a 2 hitter as Beatrice won 9-0. The next day he pitched the seventh game of the series. There were 3,000 fans in the Beatrice stands. Cotton went 2 for 3 at the plate and won 4-3. He did not give up an earned run in four playoff appearances. 1933 was a near repeat of the previous year. Led by pitcher Mike Pociask they once again wound up in second place. Cotton won one of the playoff games and hit two home runs during the game. Beatrice won the playoffs 5 games to 4. 1934 and 1935 were cellar years for the team. In 1936 the team secured a working agreement with the Brooklyn Dodgers. They were in 4th place in 1936, third in 1937 and again in third in 1938.
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 53-63 | 4th | Ralph Kirchner / Ducky Holmes Ducky Holmes For Howard Elbert Holmes, also known as Ducky, baseball player, see Ducky Holmes James William "Ducky" Holmes was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played ten seasons in the National League and American League with the Louisville Colonels , New York Giants , St... |
|
| 1923 | 64-68 | 5th | Ed Willett Ed Willett Robert Edgar Willett was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played with the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League... / Matty McGrath |
|
| 1924 | 35-30 | 1st | Dick Reichle Dick Reichle Richard Wendell Reichle was a reserve outfielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly at center field for the Boston Red Sox during the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0" 185 lb., Reichle batted left-handed and threw right-handed... |
League Disbanded July 17 |
| 1928 | 64-56 | 3rd | Hal Brokow | |
| 1932 | 59-46 | 2nd | Dick Reichle Dick Reichle Richard Wendell Reichle was a reserve outfielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly at center field for the Boston Red Sox during the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0" 185 lb., Reichle batted left-handed and threw right-handed... / Sonny Brookhaus |
Won Playoffs |
| 1933 | 60-46 | 2nd | Sonny Brookhaus | Won Playoffs |
| 1934 | 38-67 | 4th | Sonny Brookhaus | |
| 1935 | 42-69 | 4th | Charlie Stis / Bennie Warren Bennie Warren Bernie Louis Warren was a Major League Baseball player. Warren played for the Philadelphia Phillies from to and the New York Giants in and . Warren served in the United States Navy during World War II from January 1943 to October 1945, missing playing time in the process.He was born in Elk... |
|
| 1936 | 56-65 | 4th | Sonny Brookhaus | Lost 1st Round |
| 1937 | 54-61 | 3rd | Lee Riley Lee Riley Leon Francis Riley was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the New York Giants. He also played in the American Football League for the New York Titans. Riley played college football at the University of Detroit... |
|
| 1938 | 62-54 | 3rd | Lee Riley Lee Riley Leon Francis Riley was an American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the New York Giants. He also played in the American Football League for the New York Titans. Riley played college football at the University of Detroit... |
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