The Lawrence Jayhawks were a minor league baseball team based in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1893, the Lawrence Jayhawks played briefly as members of the Class A level Western Association, which folded during the season. The Jayhawks hosted home minor league games at the South Massachusetts Street Ballpark.
| Lawrence Jayhawks | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class A (1893) |
| League | Western Association (1893) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Lawrence Jayhawks (1893) |
| Ballpark | South Massachusetts Street Ballpark (1893) |
History
editIn 1893, the Lawrence Jayhawks began minor league play as members of the four–team Class A level Western Association, the highest level of minor league play in the era. The Jayhawks began 1893 play with the Kansas City Cowboys, St. Joseph Saints and Topeka Populists teams joining Lawrence in the Western Association.[1]
The "Jayhawks" moniker corresponds with the mascot of the University of Kansas athletic teams, beginning in 1890. The University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kansas.[2][3]
The Lawrence Jayhawks began Western Association play on May 1, 1893. The Western Association folded during the season. When the league folded on June 20, 1893, Lawrence was in fourth place, 4.5 games behind the first place Kansas City Cowboys. The Jayhawks finished the season with a record of 7–12, playing under managers John Rodemaker and John Hayden. Lawrence finished behind the Kansas City Cowboys (12–8), St. Joseph Saints (11–8) and Topeka Populists (8–12) in the final standings.[4][5][6]
Lawrence, Kansas has not hosted another minor league team.}[7]
The ballpark
editThe Lawrence Jayhawks played minor league home games at the South Massachusetts Street Ballpark. Opened in 1886, the ballpark was also referred to as "League Park" when the Jayhawks played there in 1893. The ballpark was located between Massachusetts and New Hampshire Streets (on the west and east) and between 14th and 15th Streets. Today, the site hosts Liberty Memorial Central Middle School at 1400 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas.[8][9][10]
Year–by–year record
edit| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | 7–12 | 4th | John Rodemaker / John Hayden | League folded June 20 |
Notable alumni
edit- Pearce Chiles (1893)
- Bill Kemmer (1893)
- Charlie Krehmeyer (1893)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "1893 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Blackmar's Origin Of The Jayhawk". KU History. May 29, 2018.
- ^ "Legend of the Jayhawk University of Kansas". www.jayhawks.com.
- ^ "1893 Lawrence Jayhawks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1893 Lawrence Farmers minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1893 Western League (WL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Lawrence, Kansas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Unknown in Lawrence, KS minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Historical Baseball Sites in Kansas - Fort Hays State University". www.fhsu.edu.
- ^ "Liberty Memorial Central Middle School / Homepage". www.usd497.org.