Baseball in Mattoon, Illinois

Overview

The record of the Illinois State/Mississippi-Ohio Valley/Midwest League franchise in Mattoon, Illinois.

Mattoon lasted longest of the league's charter members; it's the only team from the original ISL set to survive into the Midwest League era.

There were no half-measures in Mattoon. Some summers they'd contend for the championship; others they'd dump in the cellar. Hardly ever did they finish with the pack.

For an eleven-year franchise, this team sent surprisingly few players to the major leagues; it was a long way to the big city from the ISL and the M-OV, particularly for players on unaffiliated teams....

The 1956 team's particularly interesting. This team had a powerful lineup--and the worst pitching staff in Midwest League history. As I said: No half measures, here.

Summary

• Midwest League seasons: 11
• Won/Lost overall: 631/693, .477
• Best season: 75/44, .630 (1948 -- finished second)
• Championship Playoffs Won: none
• Best MWL Won/Lost Record: no seasons

Mattoon was a charter member of the Midwest League's predecessor league, the Illinois State League. The franchise moved to Keokuk after the 1957 season.

Historically, this is the Wisconsin Rapids franchise. The current Fort Wayne team is Mattoon's successor.

Seasonal Results
Other Leagues

Team Names

• Mattoon Indians, 1947-52
• Mattoon Phillies, 1953-56
• Mattoon Athletics, 1957

Affiliations

• Chicago White Sox, 1947
• Cleveland Indians, 1948
• Independent, 1949-51
• Cincinnati Reds, 1952
• Philadelphia Phillies, 1953-56
• Kansas City Athletics, 1957

Officers, Managers, & Coaches

Ballpark

• Mattoon Baseball Park

Attendance record

• 61,000 (1953)

Ballparks & Attendance

Best Seasons

• Hitter: Dave Gottschalk (1956) .305, 19 HR, 99 RBI
• Pitcher: Chuck Hawley (1948) 18 wins; 1.80

Best Big League Career

• Art Mahaffey (1956)
  • Dallas Green played here in 1955. If you include Green's non-playing career, he's the most successful Mattoon alumnus.

Awards

• none.

Mattoon Highlights

Team Records

Hitters

• Batting: Eddie Logan (1956) .384
• Home Runs: Dave Gottschalk (1956) & Charles Randall (1956) 19
• Runs Batted In: Walt Dunkovich (1950) & Nate Dickerson (1956) 101

Seasonal Hitting Leaders

Pitchers

• Wins: Dave Hill (1950) 20
• Won/Lost (10 decisions): Bill Johay (1955) 11/3; .786
• Earned Run Average: Chuck Hawley (1948) 1.80
• Strikeouts: Tom Cronin (1954) 225

Seasonal Pitching Leaders

Note

This summary originated as the February 2, 2001, 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.