Three‑I League

Three-I League (1901-1961)

Tombstone

Formed:  January 31, 19011New Baseball League, The St. Joseph Gazette, Feb. 1, 1901
Disbanded: January 7, 19622Six Officials Agree To Disband B Loop, AP via The Schenectady Gazette, Jan. 8, 1962
Level: Class B from 1902

First Games: April 1901
Last Games: September 5, 1961[Lincoln Grabs Third In Three-Eye Action And Reds Spill Again, AP via The Lawrence Journal-World, Sep. 6, 1961[/mfn]

Seasons: 55
States: IL, IN, IA

Leadership

Trophy Case

 

Background

The Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League was colloquially known as the “Three-I League.”  It was formed as a Class D League in Peoria, IL in 1901. It’s charter member cities were Peoria, Decatur, Bloomington, Rockford, and Rock Island in Illinois, Davenport and Cedar Rapids in Iowa, and Terre Haute in Indiana. Evansville was added a few weeks later. It immediately branded itself as the  the Three-I League and became a Class B operation in 1902.

It 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

FranchiseYears ActiveThree-I League Champions
Alton Blues1917
Bloomington Bengals1937None
Bloomington Bloomers1903-1910, 1912-1929, 1935 & 1938-19391935
Bloomington Blues1901-1902
Bloomington Cubs1930-1931
Burlington Bees1954-1961None
Burlington Flints1952-1953None
Cedar Rapids Braves1958-19611958
Cedar Rapids Indians1950-1954None
Cedar Rapids Rabbits1920-1921
Cedar Rapids Rabbitts1901-1909
Cedar Rapids Raiders1938-19421940-1941-1942
Cedar Rapids Raiders1955-1957None
Clinton Giants1939-1941None
Clinton Infants1907-1908
Clinton Owls1937-1938None
Danville Dodgers1946-1950None
Danville Speakers1910-1914
Danville Veterans1922-19321930
Davenport Blue Sox1913 & 1915-1916
Davenport Cubs1946-1947
Davenport DavSox1957-1958
Davenport Knickerbockers1906
Davenport Pirates1948-19491949
Davenport Prodigals1909-1912
Davenport Quads1950None
Davenport River Rats1901-1904
Davenport Riversides1905
Davenport Tigers1951-1952None
Decatur Commodores1901-1909 & 1912-1915
Decatur Commodores1922-1942, 1946-1948 & 19501928-1938
Decatur Cubs1949None
Decatur Nomads1911
Des Moines Demons1959-1961
Dubuque Dubs1906-1910 & 1912-1915
Dubuque Hustlers1911
Dubuque Shamrocks1903-1905
Evansville Bees1938-1942None
Evansville Braves1946-19571946-1948-1956-1957
Evansville Evas1919-1923
Evansville Hubs1926-1931
Evansville Little Evas1924
Evansville Pocketeers1925
Evansville River Rats1901-1902
Fort Wayne Chiefs1935None
Fox Cities Foxes1958-19611960
Freeport Commons1915
Green Bay Blue Jays1958-19591959
Green Bay Dodgers1960None
Hannibal Mules1916-1917
Joliet Standards1903
Keokuk Kernels1952-19571955
Lincoln Chiefs1959-1961None
Madison Blues1940-1942None
Moline Plow Boys1914-1917 & 1919-1923
Moline Plow Boys1937-19411937
Peoria Chiefs1953-1957None
Peoria Distillers1905-1917
Peoria Reds1937None
Peoria Tractors1919-1932 & 1935
Quincy Gems1913-1917
Quincy Gems1946-19561951-1953-1954
Quincy Indians1928-19321931
Quincy Infants1911
Quincy Old Soldiers1912
Quincy Red Birds1925-1927
Rochester A’s1958None
Rock Island Islanders1901-1911, 1916-1917 & 1920-1921
Rockford Red Sox1901-1904
Rockford Rox1917 & 1919-1923
Rockford Wakes1915-1916
Sioux City Soos1959-1960None
Springfield Browns1938-1942 & 1946-19491939
Springfield Foot Trackers1903
Springfield Hustlers1904
Springfield Senators1905-1912
Springfield Senators1925-1932 & 1935
Springfield Watchmakers1913-1914
Terre Haute Browns1919-1920
Terre Haute Hottentots1901-1902
Terre Haute Huts1955-1956None
Terre Haute Phillies1946-19541950-1952
Terre Haute Tots1921-1932 & 1935 & 1937
Topeka Hawks1959None
Topeka Reds1960-19611961
Waterloo Boosters1910-1911
Waterloo Hawks1940-1942
Waterloo Red Hawks1938-1939
Waterloo White Hawks1946-19561947
Winona A’s1958None

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Comments

15 Responses

  2. 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!

    Reply

  3. Looking for William Eberhardt, possibly Bill, played around 1915. Possibly a pitcher, not sure of the team he played for.

    Reply

  4. Looking for information on Freemont Baylor played in Iowa around 1908-1912
    He was a pitcher
    Possibly for the Cedar Rapid Rabbits

    Reply

    3. Still have those balls? If so, I might be interested in the two signed. how much do you want for them?

      Reply

  6. Looking for information on the ownership and general manager of the 1917 Alton Blues. Family lore notes some involvement. Thanks

    Reply

  8. What about the Storm Lake White Caps and then Spencer Team ( I don’t remember the team name. I just remember attending some of the the games in the early 1950s.

    Reply

    1. Hey Robert,

      Thanks for commenting! We’ll look into those and also create a proper league team table soon. Looks like the Storm Lake Whitecaps name was revived by a team in the Pioneer Collegiate Baseball League back in 2017. That circuit now appears to be out of business.

      Reply

  9. my grandfather, Daniel Celestine kearney played this league for years. He was a pitcher, and lived in ElPaso illinois. I believed he played for the Bloomington Cubs. Since he met his Wife at a Chicago Cubs game in 1905, although I live in Saint Louis, I am a still a closet cubs fan today. I have his Baseball bat, a Bingo, and gold pocket watch.

    Reply

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