Wellington Dukes (baseball)
The Wellington Dukes was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Wellington, Kansas between 1887 and 1911. Wellington teams played exclusively as members of the Kansas State League in 1887 and from 1909 to 1911. History. Minor league baseball in Newton, Kansas began with the 1887 season. The Wellington Browns won the league championship as charter members of the six–team Independent level Kansas State League, which reduced to four teams during the season. After beginning league play on May 17, 1887, the Kansas State League folded on August 8, 1887, with Wellington  in 1st place on that date. Wellington compiled a 20–15 record playing under manager Jack Pettiford to finish 3.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Arkansas City team in the final standings. In 1909, the Wellington "Dukes" resumed minor league play in a new league. Wellington became members of the reformed eight–team Class D level Kansas State League. Newton joined the Arkansas City-Winfield Twins, Great Bend Millers, Hutchinson Salt Packers, Larned Cowboys, Lyons Lions, McPherson Merry Macks and Newton Railroaders as 1909 league members. In their first season of Kansas State League play, the Wellington Dukes placed 6th  in the 1909 Kansas State League. Wellington finished with a 44–54 overall record to end the season to place 6th in the eight–team league. Playing under managers Cy Mason and John Meade, the Dukes finished 17.0 games behind the 1st place Lyons Lions in the final Kansas State League standings. Continuing play as members of the 1910 Kansas State League, the Wellington Dukes finished the season with a record of 48–56 to place 6th under managers C. Pinkerton, Spencer Abbott, Harry Vitter and Lewis Armstrong. The Dukes finished 19.5 games behind the 1st place Hutchinson Salt Packers in the  final 1910 standings of the eight–team league. On August 12, 1910, Wellington pitcher Henry Grohs threw a no-hitter in a 1–0 Dukes victory over the Larned Wheat Kings. The 1911 Wellington Dukes played their final season and finished last in the standings as the Kansas State League folded during the season. The Kansas State League folded on July 11, 1911. The Dukes ended the 1911 season with a record of 15–38 record, after the league disbanded on July 11, 1911 due to crop failures and drought. When the league ceased play, Wellington was in 8th place in the  standings, as the Duked ended their final season finished 21.0 games behind the 1st place Great Bend Millers (39–20) in the shortened season. The Kansas State League resumed play in 1914, without a Wellington franchise. Wellington, Kansas has not hosted another minor league team. The ballpark. The Wellington minor league teams were noted to have played home games at Woods Park. Woods Park is still in use today as a public park. It is located at 1110 West 4th Street, Wellington, Kansas. External references. Reference Bullpen