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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7 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?
Looking for information on the ownership and general manager of the 1917 Alton Blues. Family lore notes some involvement. Thanks
Do you have any info on Daniel C Kearney? Played around 1905. He was my grandfather