The Pekin Celestials were an Illinois-Missouri League

Illinois-Missouri League

The Illinois-Missouri League was an American minor league baseball league. It began operations in 1908, and continued through 1914.-1908:The league was formed. Newly formed teams in Canton, Illinois, Galesburg, Illinois, Hannibal, Missouri, Havana, Illinois, Macomb, Illinois, and Monmouth,...

 baseball team based in Pekin, Illinois

Pekin, Illinois

Pekin is a the county seat of Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located on the Illinois River, Pekin is also the largest city of Tazewell County, and a key part of the Peoria metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population is 34,094. A small portion of the city limits extends...

, USA that played from 1909 to 1913.

In their very first season, the Celestials had four different managers. Two future major league baseball players played for them that year as well: Cecil Coombs

Cecil Coombs

Cecil Lysander Coombs was a right-handed Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Chicago White Sox in 1914...

 and Mike Prendergast

Mike Prendergast (baseball)

Michael "Mike" Thomas Prendergast was a pitcher in Major League Baseball and his nickname was "Iron Mike". Mike's parents were Jeremiah Prendergast and Catherine Louise Corcoran, both natives of County Waterford, Ireland...

. Coombs played for them in 1910 as well. In 1911 and 1912, future big leaguers Jim Bluejacket

Jim Bluejacket

Jim Bluejacket was a Major League Baseball pitcher in the early 20th century...

 and Patsy McGaffigan

Patsy McGaffigan

Mark Andrew "Patsy" McGaffigan was a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop who played for two seasons. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 73 total games in 1917 and 1918.-External links:...

played for the Celestials. 1913 is the only year in which no known future big league players played for the Celestials.