# Mississippi–Ohio Valley League

The Mississippi–Ohio Valley League was a Class D level American minor league baseball league. Evolving from the renamed Illinois State League (1947-1948), the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League operated for seven seasons, from 1949 through 1955. In 1956 the league was renamed the Midwest League, which still exists today.

## History

In 1947, the Illinois State League was formed. Charter franchises were in the Illinois cities of Belleville, Centralia, Marion, Mattoon, Mount Vernon and West Frankfort. After the 1948 season, the Marion Indians moved out of Illinois to Kentucky. This necessitated a name change for the league.
The league changed names in 1949 to the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League. The league incorporated the new Paducah Chiefs and the five former Illinois State League teams, the Belleville Stags, Centralia Cubs, Mattoon Indians, Mount Vernon Kings, and West Frankfort Cardinals as 1949 charter members.
In 1950, a Springfield, Illinois franchise left the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, the join the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League. The Mississippi–Ohio Valley League added expansion teams in the Paris Lakers and Vincennes Velvets. The Belleville franchise folded. There was more movement in 1951, as the Springfield Giants and West Frankfort Cardinals both folded and the Paducah Chiefs left to join the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League. The league played 1951 with six teams, as Danville Dans joined from the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League.
In 1952, the league again expanded to eight teams, adding the Commodores in Decatur, Illinois and Cardinals in Hannibal, Missouri, while Vincennes relocated to Canton, Ohio. In 1953, the Canton and Centralia franchises both folded and the league returned to six teams. There was expansion again in 1954, as two Iowa teams, the Clinton Pirates and Dubuque Packers returned the league to eight members.
In the final season of the league, the Danville Dans moved to Kokomo, Indiana and became the Kokomo Giants and Mount Vernon moved to Lafayette, Indiana as the Lafayette Red Sox. Following the 1955 season, Hannibal moved to become the Michigan City White Caps, joining Kokomo, Lafayette, Clinton, Dubuque, Decatur, Mattoon and Paris in the renamed Midwest League. The Midwest League still exists today, with 16 teams.

## Cities represented

* Belleville, IL: Belleville Stags 1949, moved from Illinois State League 1947–1948
* Canton, IL: Canton Citizens 1952
* Centralia, IL: Centralia Cubs 1949, moved from Illinois State League 1947–1948; Centralia Sterlings 1950; Centralia Zeros 1951–1952
* Clinton, IA: Clinton Pirates 1954–1955, moved to Midwest League 1956–1959
* Danville, IL: Danville Dans 1951–1954
* Decatur, IL: Decatur Commies 1952–1955, moved to Midwest League 1956–1974
* Dubuque, IA: Dubuque Packers 1954–1955, moved to Midwest League 1956–1967
* Hannibal, MO: Hannibal Stags 1952; Hannibal Cardinals 1953–1954; Hannibal Citizens 1955
* Kokomo, IN: Kokomo Giants 1955
* Lafayette, IN: Lafayette Chiefs 1955
* Mattoon, IL: Mattoon Indians 1949–1954, moved from Illinois State League 1947–1948; Mattoon Phillies 1955, moved to Midwest League 1956
* Mount Vernon, IL: Mount Vernon Kings 1949–1954
* Paducah, KY: Paducah Chiefs 1949–1950, moved to Kitty League 1951–1955
* Paris, IL: Paris Lakers 1950–1955, moved to Midwest League 1956–1959
* Springfield, IL: Springfield Giants 1950
* Vincennes, IN: Vincennes Citizens 1950; Vincennes Velvets 1951–1952
* West Frankfort, IL: West Frankfort Cardinals 1949–1950, moved from Illinois State League 1947–1948

## Standings & statistics

1949 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Centralia Cubs | 74 | 44 | .627 | – | 35,000 | Lou Bekeza |
| West Frankfort Cardinals | 71 | 49 | .592 | 4 | 24,140 | Robert Stanton |
| Mattoon Indians | 62 | 56 | .525 | 12 | 38,325 | Chuck Hawley |
| Paducah Chiefs | 54 | 65 | .454 | 20½ | 54,859 | Caroll Peterson / Eddie Kearse |
| Mt. Vernon Kings | 53 | 67 | .442 | 22 | 36,240 | Robert Shreve / Bill Trotter |
| Belleville Stags | 43 | 76 | .361 | 31½ | 13,500 | Les Mueller / Joe Yurkovich / Addie Nesbit / Bunny Mick |
Playoffs: Mattoon 3 games, Centralia 0; Paducah 3 games, West Frankfort 0; Finals: Paducah 4 games, Mattoon 3.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Bunny Mick | Belleville | BA | .354 | Joseph Prucha | Centralia | W | 19 |
| Ev Joyner | West Frankfort | Hits | 170 | Joseph Mattis | Mattoon | SO | 166 |
| Richard Martz | Paducah | RBI | 100 | Dick Loeser | West Frankfort | ERA | 2.22 |
| Arthur Oliver | Paducah | HR | 17 | Dick Loeser | West Frankfort | PCT | .857 12–2 |
| Ev Joyner | West Frankfort | Runs | 104 |
1950 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League - schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Centralia Sterlings | 83 | 40 | .675 | – | 35,767 | Lou Bekeza |
| West Frankfort | 72 | 47 | .605 | 9 | 20,910 | Robert Stanton |
| Mattoon Indians | 71 | 47 | .602 | 9½ | 27,982 | Chuck Hawley |
| Paducah Chiefs | 67 | 55 | .549 | 15½ | 47,297 | Walter DeFreitas |
| Springfield Giants | 60 | 59 | .504 | 21 | 21,126 | Ham Schulte / Von Price |
| Paris Lakers | 43 | 75 | .364 | 37½ | 24,089 | Earl Skaggs / Von Price John Morris |
| Vincennes Citizens | 43 | 76 | .361 | 38 | 18,977 | Melvin Ivy / Andy E. Smith |
| Mt. Vernon Kings | 37 | 77 | .325 | 41½ | 28,431 | Benny Meyer / Robert Schlemmer |
Playoffs: Centralia 3 games, Mattoon 1; Paducah 3 games, West Frankfort 0 Finals: Cancelled; Bad Weather & Military Call–up.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| James Belz | West Frankfort | BA | .349 | Gene Pisarski | Centralia | W | 22 |
| James Belz | West Frankfort | Hits | 154 | William Ecklund | Centralia | SO | 174 |
| Lou Bekeza | Centralia | RBI | 120 | Gene Pisarski | Centralia | ERA | 2.06 |
| Kenneth Dickens | Vincennes | HR | 21 | Gene Pisarski | Centralia | PCT | .880 22–3 |
| James Belz | West Frankfort | Runs | 133 |
1951 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Paris Lakers | 84 | 36 | .700 | – | 51,331 | Tom Sunkel |
| Centralia Zeroes | 69 | 51 | .575 | 15 | 38,554 | Lou Bekeza |
| Mt. Vernon Kings | 60 | 59 | .504 | 23½ | 39,665 | Chuck Hawley / Charles Popovich |
| Danville Dans | 51 | 67 | .432 | 32 | 24,775 | Frank Piet / Everett Hall |
| Mattoon Indians | 49 | 69 | .415 | 34 | 28,442 | Melvin Ivy |
| Vincennes Velvets | 43 | 74 | .368 | 39½ | 25,652 | Stormy Kromer / Robert Signaigo |
Playoffs: Mt. Vernon 2 games, Centralia 0. Danville 2 games, Paris 1. Finals: Danville 2 games, Mt. Vernon 0.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Clint McCord | Paris | BA | .363 | Lee Tunnison | Centralia | W | 20 |
| Clint McCord | Paris | Hits | 173 | Lee Tunnison | Centralia | SO | 170 |
| James Given | Mt. Vernon | RBI | 119 | Lee Tunnison | Centralia | ERA | 3.12 |
| Clint McCord | Paris | HR | 16 | Fred Williams | Paris | PCT | .789 15–4 |
| Clint McCord | Paris | Runs | 132 |
| Lou Bekeza | Centralia | HR | 16 |
1952 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League - schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Danville Dans | 87 | 40 | .685 | – | 75,898 | Virl Minnis |
| Paris Lakers | 85 | 42 | .669 | 2 | 36,606 | Tom Sunkel |
| Decatur Commodores | 73 | 52 | .584 | 13 | 94,300 | Julian Acosta |
| Hannibal Stags | 70 | 57 | .551 | 17 | 36,616 | Walter DeFreitas |
| Mt. Vernon Kings | 55 | 67 | .451 | 29½ | 34,752 | James Granneman / Stanley Sadich Frank Brookman |
| Vincennes Velvets / Canton Citizens | 54 | 70 | .435 | 31½ | 25,654 | Chuck Hawley / Robert Sisk |
| Centralia Zeroes | 41 | 83 | .331 | 44½ | 28,755 | Charles Starasta / John Streza |
| Mattoon Indians | 35 | 89 | .282 | 50½ | 49,316 | Walter Dunkovich / Charles Popovich Robert Carson |
Vincennes moved to Canton June 7. Playoffs: Hannibal 3 games, Danville 1. Decatur 3 games, Paris 2. Finals: Decatur 3 games, Hannibal 1.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
1953 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League - schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Decatur Commodores | 68 | 50 | .576 | – | 96,337 | Ray Taylor |
| Paris Lakers | 66 | 53 | .555 | 2½ | 35,000 | Tom Sunkel |
| Mattoon Phillies | 64 | 56 | .533 | 5 | 61,000 | James Deery |
| Hannibal Cardinals | 55 | 62 | .470 | 12½ | 35,200 | Tince Leonard |
| Mt. Vernon Kings | 55 | 64 | .462 | 13½ | 31,600 | Robert Schmidt |
| Danville Dans | 48 | 71 | .403 | 20½ | 62,700 | Virl Minnis |
Playoffs: Decatur 3 games, Hannibal 0. Paris 3 games, Mattoon 0. Finals: Decatur 3 games, Paris 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
1954 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League - schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Decatur Commodores | 74 | 52 | .587 | – | 38,776 | Johnny Lucadello |
| Danville Dans | 66 | 59 | .528 | 7½ | 39,992 | Richard Klaus |
| Clinton Pirates | 63 | 59 | .516 | 9 | 74,768 | Robert Clark |
| Dubuque Packers | 62 | 61 | .504 | 10½ | 65,993 | Jack Conway |
| Mattoon Phillies | 62 | 64 | .492 | 12 | 48,422 | Carl Bush / Don Osborn |
| Paris Lakers | 58 | 68 | .460 | 16 | 39,103 | Tom Sunkel |
| Hannibal Cardinals | 58 | 68 | .460 | 16 | 33,065 | J.C. Dunn |
| Mt. Vernon Kings | 57 | 69 | .452 | 17 | 27,584 | Lou Bekeza |
Playoffs: Clinton 2 games, Decatur 0. Danville 2 games, Dubuque 1. Finals: Danville 3 games, Clinton 1.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Johnny Lucadello | Decatur | BA | .362 | John Bumgarner | Decatur | W | 22 |
| Leon Wagner | Danville | Hits | 160 | David Jiminez | Clinton | SO | 249 |
| Robert Schmidt | Paris | RBI | 125 | John Bumgarner | Decatur | ERA | 2.67 |
| J.C. Dunn | Hannibal | HR | 26 | David Jimenez | Clinton | PCT | .769 20–6 |
| Leon Wagner | Danville | Runs | 108 |
1955 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League - schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Dubuque Packers | 74 | 52 | .587 | – | 94,925 | Ira Hutchinson |
| Mattoon Phillies | 68 | 57 | .544 | 5½ | 51,277 | Burl Storie |
| Clinton Pirates | 68 | 57 | .544 | 5½ | 57,683 | Robert Clark |
| Kokomo Giants | 64 | 62 | .508 | 10 | 45,289 | Walt Dixon / Jack Milaskey |
| Lafayette Chiefs | 63 | 63 | .500 | 11 | 61,287 | Mark Wylie |
| Decatur Commodores | 62 | 64 | .492 | 12 | 54,260 | Al Unser |
| Paris Lakers | 62 | 64 | .492 | 12 | 30,245 | Richard Rigazio |
| Hannibal Citizens | 42 | 84 | .333 | 32 | 40,977 | James Granneman / Allan Shinn |
Playoffs: Dubuque 2 games, Clinton 0. Mattoon 2 games, Kokomo 0. Finals: Dubuque 3 games, Mattoon 0.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Orlando Cepeda | Kokomo | BA | .393 | Allen Evans | Kokomo | W | 21 |
| Jimmy Lynn | Dubuque | Hits | 180 | Benjamin Rich | Clinton | SO | 199 |
| Jimmy Lynn | Dubuque | RBI | 121 | Dave Wegerek | Lafayette | ERA | 2.59 |
| Walt Dixon | Kokomo | HR | 24 | Glen Rosenbaum | Dubuque | PCT | .833 15–3 |
| Jimmy Lynn | Dubuque | Runs | 121 |
Following the 1955 season, Hannibal folded. The other seven teams became charter members of the newly named, Class D level Midwest League and the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League was permanently folded.