Three-I League (1901-1961)

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

[etable]

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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