Baseball in Centralia, Illinois

Overview

The record of the Midwest League franchise in Centralia, Illinois.

Centralia was a charter member of the MWL predecessor Illinois State League. Although the team only lasted for six summers, it had some fine seasons and some interesting players.

Several of this team's star players--Claude Passeau, Chuck Hawley, and Lew Bekeza--were player-managers.

Summary

• Midwest League seasons: 6
• Won/Lost overall: 368/349, .513
• Best season: 83/40, .675 (1950)
• Championship Playoffs Won: none
• Best MWL Won/Lost Record: 2 seasons

Centralia was a charter member of the MWL predecessor Illinois State League, which began play in 1947. The franchise failed after the 1952 season and was not replaced.

Seasonal Results
Other Leagues

Team Names

• Centralia Cubs, 1947-49
• Centralia Sterlings, 1950
• Centralia Zeros, 1951-52

Affiliations

• Chicago Cubs, 1947-48
• Independent, 1949-52

Officers, Managers, & Coaches

Ballpark

• Fans Field

Attendance record

• 38,554 (1951)

Ballparks & Attendance

Best Seasons

• Hitter: Lew Bekeza (1950) .332, 17 home runs, 120 runs batted in
• Pitcher: Gene Pisarski (1950) 22-3, 2.06 ERA

Best Big League Career

• Billy Klaus (1947)
  • Claude Passeau had a long major league career before his Centralia year

Awards

• none

Centralia Highlights

Team Records

Hitters

• Batting: Billy Klaus (1947) .341
• Home Runs: Lew Bekeza (1950) 17
• Runs Batted In: Lew Bekeza (1950) 120

Seasonal Hitting Leaders

Pitchers

• Wins: Gene Pisarski (1950) 22
• Won/Lost (10 decisions): Gene Pisarski (1950) 22/3, .880
• Earned Run Average: Gene Pisarski (1950) 2.06
• Strikeouts: Chuck Hawley (1947) 180

Seasonal Pitching Leaders

Notes

This summary originated as the June 13, 1999, Midwest League Tidbit on the Midwest League Mailing List.

Sources

These pages draw heavily on several sources:

• Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, eds, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham: Baseball America, 1997)
• Midwest League Media Guide and Record Book (Beloit: Midwest League, various years; title varies)
• Kevin Saldana, Today in Minor League Baseball History (???: SalFam Books, 1999)
• Baseball America's Almanac (Durham: Baseball America, various years)
• News sources.