Tombstone
Formed:
Disbanded: January 7, 1962
Level:
First Game:
Last Game:
Seasons:
States:
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Leadership
Trophy Case
Background
The Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League was colloquially known as the “Three-I League”. Formed as a Class D League in 1901, the Three-I became a Class B operation in 1902 and stayed at that level until its demise after the 1961 season. Like most minor leagues of the era, the Three-I went dark for a several seasons during World War I (1918), the Great Depression (1933-1934 & 1936) and World War II (1943-1945).
In addition to Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, the Three-I League also included occasional entries from Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
After dropping to only six clubs in the league membership during the 1961 season, the Three-I League folded on January 7, 1962.
Three-I League Franchise List
| Franchise | Years Active | League Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Alton Blues | 1917 | |
| Bloomington Bengals | 1937 | None |
| Bloomington Bloomers | 1903-1910, 1912-1929, 1935 & 1938-1939 | 1935 |
| Bloomington Blues | 1901-1902 | |
| Bloomington Cubs | 1930-1931 | |
| Burlington Bees | 1954-1961 | None |
| Burlington Flints | 1952-1953 | None |
| Cedar Rapids Braves | 1958-1961 | 1958 |
| Cedar Rapids Indians | 1950-1954 | None |
| Cedar Rapids Rabbits | 1920-1921 | |
| Cedar Rapids Rabbitts | 1901-1909 | |
| Cedar Rapids Raiders | 1938-1942 | 1940-1941-1942 |
| Cedar Rapids Raiders | 1955-1957 | None |
| Clinton Giants | 1939-1941 | None |
| Clinton Infants | 1907-1908 | |
| Clinton Owls | 1937-1938 | None |
| Danville Dodgers | 1946-1950 | None |
| Danville Speakers | 1910-1914 | |
| Danville Veterans | 1922-1932 | 1930 |
| Davenport Blue Sox | 1913 & 1915-1916 | |
| Davenport Cubs | 1946-1947 | |
| Davenport DavSox | 1957-1958 | |
| Davenport Knickerbockers | 1906 | |
| Davenport Pirates | 1948-1949 | 1949 |
| Davenport Prodigals | 1909-1912 | |
| Davenport Quads | 1950 | None |
| Davenport River Rats | 1901-1904 | |
| Davenport Riversides | 1905 | |
| Davenport Tigers | 1951-1952 | None |
| Decatur Commodores | 1901-1909 & 1912-1915 | |
| Decatur Commodores | 1922-1942, 1946-1948 & 1950 | 1928-1938 |
| Decatur Cubs | 1949 | None |
| Decatur Nomads | 1911 | |
| Des Moines Demons | 1959-1961 | |
| Dubuque Dubs | 1906-1910 & 1912-1915 | |
| Dubuque Hustlers | 1911 | |
| Dubuque Shamrocks | 1903-1905 | |
| Evansville Bees | 1938-1942 | None |
| Evansville Braves | 1946-1957 | 1946-1948-1956-1957 |
| Evansville Evas | 1919-1923 | |
| Evansville Hubs | 1926-1931 | |
| Evansville Little Evas | 1924 | |
| Evansville Pocketeers | 1925 | |
| Evansville River Rats | 1901-1902 | |
| Fort Wayne Chiefs | 1935 | None |
| Fox Cities Foxes | 1958-1961 | 1960 |
| Freeport Commons | 1915 | |
| Green Bay Blue Jays | 1958-1959 | 1959 |
| Green Bay Dodgers | 1960 | None |
| Hannibal Mules | 1916-1917 | |
| Joliet Standards | 1903 | |
| Keokuk Kernels | 1952-1957 | 1955 |
| Lincoln Chiefs | 1959-1961 | None |
| Madison Blues | 1940-1942 | None |
| Moline Plow Boys | 1914-1917 & 1919-1923 | |
| Moline Plow Boys | 1937-1941 | 1937 |
| Peoria Chiefs | 1953-1957 | None |
| Peoria Distillers | 1905-1917 | |
| Peoria Reds | 1937 | None |
| Peoria Tractors | 1919-1932 & 1935 | |
| Quincy Gems | 1913-1917 | |
| Quincy Gems | 1946-1956 | 1951-1953-1954 |
| Quincy Indians | 1928-1932 | 1931 |
| Quincy Infants | 1911 | |
| Quincy Old Soldiers | 1912 | |
| Quincy Red Birds | 1925-1927 | |
| Rochester A's | 1958 | None |
| Rock Island Islanders | 1901-1911, 1916-1917 & 1920-1921 | |
| Rockford Red Sox | 1901-1904 | |
| Rockford Rox | 1917 & 1919-1923 | |
| Rockford Wakes | 1915-1916 | |
| Sioux City Soos | 1959-1960 | None |
| Springfield Browns | 1938-1942 & 1946-1949 | 1939 |
| Springfield Foot Trackers | 1903 | |
| Springfield Hustlers | 1904 | |
| Springfield Senators | 1905-1912 | |
| Springfield Senators | 1925-1932 & 1935 | |
| Springfield Watchmakers | 1913-1914 | |
| Terre Haute Browns | 1919-1920 | |
| Terre Haute Hottentots | 1901-1902 | |
| Terre Haute Huts | 1955-1956 | None |
| Terre Haute Phillies | 1946-1954 | 1950-1952 |
| Terre Haute Tots | 1921-1932 & 1935 & 1937 | |
| Topeka Hawks | 1959 | None |
| Topeka Reds | 1960-1961 | 1961 |
| Waterloo Boosters | 1910-1911 | |
| Waterloo Hawks | 1940-1942 | |
| Waterloo Red Hawks | 1938-1939 | |
| Waterloo White Hawks | 1946-1956 | 1947 |
| Winona A's | 1958 | None |
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5 Responses
GO hawks GG!
Looking for a Harry Campbell that is said to have played in the Three-I League in and about 1910 to 1920. Believed he did play with the Bloomington Bloomers but also played for teams in Colfax and Saybrook in Illinois and for a team in Ogden, Iowa. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!
Looking for William Eberhardt, possibly Bill, played around 1915. Possibly a pitcher, not sure of the team he played for.
Looking for information on Freemont Baylor played in Iowa around 1908-1912
He was a pitcher
Possibly for the Cedar Rapid Rabbits
Have Three I League game balls 2 signed by various members of the Springfield Browns. Anyone have any interest?