Keokuk Indians

Keokuk Indians 1904–1962 (1952–1962, 1947–1949, 1935, 1929–1933, 1904–1915) Keokuk, Iowa
Class-level
Previous	Class-D (1958–1962, 1929–1932, 1904–1915 ) Class-B (1952–1957, 1933) Class-C (1947–1949) Class-A (1935)
Minor league affiliations
League	Midwest League (1958–1962)
Previous leagues	Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1952–1957) Central Association (1947–1949) Western League (1935) Mississippi Valley League (1929–1933) Central Association (1908–1915) Iowa League of Professional Baseball Clubs (1904–1907)
Major league affiliations
Previous	Los Angeles Dodgers (1962) St. Louis Cardinals (1958–1961, 1931–1932) Cleveland Indians (1954–1957) Pittsburgh Pirates (1947–1949)
Minor league titles
League titles	2 (1931, 1955)
Team data
Previous names	Midwest Dodgers (1962) Keokuk Dodgers (1962) Keokuk Cardinals (1958–1961) Keokuk Kernels (1952–1957) Keokuk Pirates (1947–1949) Keokuk Indians (1904–1915, 1929–1933, 1935)
Previous parks	Joyce Park (1929-62) Hubinger Park (1904–1915) Sportsman's Park (Keokuk) (1875–1903)

After baseball began in Keokuk, Iowa in 1875, the Keokuk Indians was the primary nickname of Keokuk minor league baseball teams. After the Indians (1904–1915, 1929–1933, 1935), Keokuk was home of the Keokuk Pirates (1947–1949), Keokuk Kernels (1952–1957), Keokuk Cardinals (1958–1961) and the Keokuk Dodgers (1962). Notable Keokuk alumni include Bud Fowler, Roger Maris and Tim McCarver.

Baseball in Keokuk started in 1875 when the Keokuk Westerns played in the National Association, a league that directly evolved into today's major League Baseball. On May 4, 1875, the Keokuk Westerns hosted the (present-day Chicago Cubs) and the teams played the first professional baseball game in Iowa.

In 1885, Bud Fowler played for the Keokuk Westerns. Fowler became the first known African-American to play professional baseball, becoming a pioneer for baseball players.

Early Keokuk Indians teams played in the Iowa State League (1904–1907), Central Association (1908–1915), Mississippi Valley League (1929–1933) and the Western League (1935). They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935.

In 1947, the Pittsburgh Pirates established an affiliate in Keokuk that played in the Central Association through 1949. In 1952, Keokuk joined the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League and used the "Kernels" nickname, which was related to The Hubinger Company, who made corn starch. The Kernels became a Cleveland Indians affiliate in 1954. In 1958 they became the Cardinals, after becoming a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate and joining the Midwest League. Keokuk became a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate in 1962, but the team was moved by the Midwest League to Dubuque, Iowa on August 2 and renamed the Midwest Dodgers for the duration of its final season.

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