# Webb City, Missouri minor league baseball history

Minor league baseball teams were based in Webb City, Missouri in various seasons between 1887 and 1912. Under numerous nicknames, Webb City teams played as members of the 1887 Southwestern League, 1891 Southwestern Missouri League, the Missouri Valley League in 1903 and 1905, Western Association from 1906 to 1909 and 1912 Missouri-Kansas League. Webb City hosted home minor league games at Sunset Park for the duration of their minor league play.

## History

Minor league baseball began in Webb City, Missouri in 1887. The Webb City Stars played as charter members of the 1887 Southwestern League. In their first season of play, Webb City placed 5th in the six–team league. The Stars finished with a record of 10–11, playing under manager James Ellis. The Southwestern League folded after the 1887 season.
Webb City returned to minor league baseball in 1891, when the Webb City team played as member of the Southwestern Missouri League. Webb City ended the 1891 season with a 10–14 record, finishing in fourth place in the seven–team league.
In 1903, Webb City briefly gained a franchise during the season. On July 16, 1903, the Nevada Lunatics of Nevada, Missouri, members of the Independent level Missouri Valley League relocated to Webb City. The team became the Webb City Goldbugs. On July 19, 1903, the Webb City Goldbugs disbanded after playing four games based in Webb City. The Nevada/Webb City team had an overall record of 21–43 under manager A. B. Cockerell when the team folded.
In 1905, Webb City returned to minor league play, rejoining the Class C level Missouri Valley League. The 1905 Webb City Goldbugs ended the season with a record of 47–54, placing fifth in the Missouri Valley League, playing under manager Elmer Meredith. The team played home games at Sunset Park in Webb City. The Missouri Valley League folded after the 1905 season, as the league was renamed to become the Western Association.
Webb City continued play in the 1906 Class C level Western Association. The 1906 Webb City Goldbugs finished with a 57–79 record, placing seventh in the Western Association while playing under manager Dick Rohn.
The 1907 Webb City Goldbugs finished with a record of 65–70, continuing play in the Western Association. The team placed sixth in the Western Association final standings. The 1907 managers were Dick Rohn and George Dalrymple.
Webb City became the Webb City Webbfeet in 1908, continuing play in the Western Association. The 1908 Webb City Webbfeet finished with a record of 66–69 and placed sixth in the Western Association final standings. The manager was Larry Milton.
On August 21, 1908, Fred Burnham of the Webfeet pitched a no–hitter against the Hutchinson Salt Pickers in a 5–0 Webb City victory.
The Webb City Webbfeet continued play in 1909 and relocated during the season. On July 18, 1909, the Webb City franchise moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma and became the Sapulpa Oilers . The Webb City/Sapulpa team finished the season with an overall record of 64–59. The team placed fifth in the Western Association, playing under managers Perry Reinker and Frank Everhart.
In 1912, minor league baseball returned as the Webb City team played as a charter member of the independent level Missouri-Kansas League. The Webb City team finished with a record of 7–6 and placed third in the four–team league.
In 1914, Webb City partnered with neighboring Joplin, Missouri for a team, which played home games in Joplin. The Joplin-Webb City Miners played as a member of the 1914 Western Association. On July 10, 1914, the Joplin–Webb City Miners' record was 22–46 when the franchise moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Webb City, Missouri has not hosted another minor league team.

## The ballpark

Webb City minor league teams hosted home games at Sunset Park for their duration of minor league play. The ballpark was located on West Broadway in Webb, City, Missouri.

## Timeline

| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Ballpark |
| 1887 | 1 | Web City Stars | Independent | Southwestern League | Sunset Park |
| 1891 | 1 | Web City | Independent | Southwestern Missouri League | Sunset Park |
| 1903 | 1 | Webb City Goldbugs | Class D | Missouri Valley League | Sunset Park |
| 1905 | 1 | Webb City Goldbugs | Class C | Missouri Valley League | Sunset Park |
| 1906–1907 | 2 | Webb City Goldbugs | Class C | Western Association | Sunset Park |
| 1908–1909 | 2 | Webb City Webbfeet | Class C | Western Association | Sunset Park |
| 1912 | 1 | Webb City | Class D | Missouri-Kansas League | Sunset Park |
| 1914 | 1 | Joplin-Webb City Miners | Class D | Western Association | Sunset Park |

## Year-by-year record

| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
| 1887 | 10–11 | NA | James Ellis | Disbanded July 15 |
| 1892 | 10–14 | 4th | NA | No playoffs held |
| 1903 | 21–43 | NA | A.B. Cockerell | Nevada (21–39) moved to Webb City July 13 Team folded July 16 |
| 1905 | 47–54 | 5th | Elmer Meredith | No playoffs held |
| 1906 | 57–79 | 7th | Tom Hayden / Richard Rohn | No playoffs held |
| 1907 | 65–70 | 6th | Richard Rohn / George Dalrymple | No playoffs held |
| 1908 | 66–69 | 6th | Larry Milton | No playoffs held |
| 1909 | 64–59 | 5th | Perry Parker / Frank Everhart | Webb City moved to Sapulpa July 18 |
| 1912 | 7–6 | 3rd | NA | No playoffs held |
| 1914 | 35–92 | 6th | Claude Marcum | Joplin-Webb City (22–46) moved to Guthrie July 10 |

## Notable alumni

* Chick Autry (1906)
* Harry Cheek (1906–1908)
* Orth Collins (1907)
* Dick Crutcher (1909)
* Red Downey (1908)
* Fred Ketchum (1905)
* Bill Lattimore (1906)
* Con Lucid (1891)
* Tex Jones (1907)
* Larry Milton (1907, 1908)
* Ivy Olson (1906–1907)
* Harrison Peppers (1887, 1891)
* Bill Rapps (1903)
* John Roach (1908)
* Ray Rolling (1906)