Independence Yankees
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Independence Yankees 1896–1952 (1896; 1906-1908; 1911; 1921-1925; 1928-1932; 1947-1950; 1952) Independence, Kansas |
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Class D (1952; 1947-1950; 1924; 1906-1908)
Class C (1925; 1928-1932; 1922-23) |
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| League titles | 1906, 1921, 1930, 1948, 1949 |
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Previous names
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Previous parks
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Shulthis Stadium |
The Independence Yankees was the most notable nickname of the minor league baseball teams that played in Independence, Kansas for numerous seasons between 1896 and 1952. In 1930, Independence was the site of the first night game in organized baseball. Independence played as an affiliate of the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns. Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee Mickey Mantle played for Independence in 1949.
Baseball in Independence started with a team in the Kansas State League in 1896. From 1906 to 1911 Independence teams played in four leagues with four different nicknames. Then from 1921-1932, the Independence Producers played in the Southwestern League (1921-1924) and the Western Association (1925-1932) The 1921 Producers finished with a record of 100-38.
On August 9, 1908 Gene Packard pitched a perfect game for Independence against the Bartlesville Boosters, with 10 strikeouts.
On July 2, 1930, Independence Producer pitcher Colonel Bob House had nineteen Strike Outs against Springfield, Missouri, which was a league record for Strike Outs in a single game. Four days later the Producers had eight Home Runs in a game against Muskogee, Oklahoma. Those eight Home Runs in a single game also set a league record.
The Independence Yankees were formed in 1947 as an expansion team in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League. The team remained in the league, as an affiliate of the New York Yankees (1947-1950) and St. Louis Browns (1952) The team did not play in 1951, and took the name Browns in 1952 when the league and its teams folded after the season.
Despite only 20 seasons of minor league teams, Independence had successes on the field. The 1906 Independence Coyotes won the Kansas State League Championship with a 69-48 record. They changed leagues when the KSL folded, but changed their name to Champs for 1907.
The 1921 Independence Producers finished with a record of 100-38 in taking the Southwestern League Championship. The team is ranked #77 on the All Time Top-100 Teams by MiLB.com and Baseball Historians Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright.
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