Kankakee Kanks

Minor league baseball first came to Kankakee, Illinois when the 1910 Kankakee Kays became charter members of the Class D level Northern Association. The Kankakee Kays joined other charter members Clinton Teddies, Decatur Commodores, Elgin Kittens, Freeport Pretzels, Jacksonville Jacks, Joliet Jolly-ites and Muscatine Pearl Finders in the eight–team league.[1]

On July 11, 1910, the Kankakee Kays were in 3rd place with a 34–24 record under manager Dan Collins when the franchise disbanded. The Elgin Kittens franchise disbanded on the same day. The Northern Association completely disbanded on July 17, 1910. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Casey Stengel made his professional debut for the Kays on May 10, 1910. At age 19, Stengel hit .251 with one home run in 59 games for Kankakee.[2][3][4][5]

In talking about playing in Kankakee Casey Stengel said, "We did not draw (fans) and getting paid was quite an adventure." Stengel claimed he had received only half of his $135 per month when Kankakee had folded in July, 1910. Years later, at his birthday party in 1956, the Kankakee Federal Savings and Loan Association presented Stengel with a check. The check was for $483.05, calculated off the original $67.50 owed, plus interest over 46 years. Stengel donated the gift to the Kankakee Little League.[6]

After the Kankakee Kays folded, Kankakee gained another minor league team during the 1912 season. On May 16, 1912, the Clinton Champs from Clinton, Iowa, members of the Illinois-Missouri League, moved the franchise to Kankakee. Playing the remainder of the 1912 season as the Kankakee Kanks, the team had a record of 54–51 while based in Kankakee. The Clinton/Kankakee team finished with an overall record of 56–56, placing 4th in the 1912 Illinois-Missouri League playing under managers Claude Suttles and Fred Wilson. The Kanks played with Illinois-Missouri League members Canton Highlanders, Champaign Velvets, Lincoln Abes, Pekin Celestials and Streator Speedboys.[7][8][9]

Continuing play in the 1913 Illinois-Missouri League, the Kanks finished in 3rd place. With a 35–51 record under manager Red Kelly, Kankakee finished 23.5 games behind the 1st place Lincoln Abes in the six–team league. A.J. Holtzhouser of Kankakee led the league in hits with 118.[7][8][10]

In their final season, the Kankakee Kanks folded during the 1914 season. On July 3, 1914, Kankakee had a record of 14–33 when the franchise permanently disbanded with Kankakee 17.5 games behind the Lincoln Abes, who folded the same day. Kankakee played in 1914 under managers Harry Randall, Gene Connelly, Teddy Raines and William Hinley. The Illinois-Missouri League finished the 1914 season without the two teams, but permanently disbanded after the 1914 season.[11][12][8][13][14]

Kankakee, Illinois has not hosted another minor league team.[15]

Kankakee minor league teams were noted to have played home games at a ballpark adjacent to the grounds of the Kankakee State Hospital. The ballpark had hosted a game featuring the Leland Giants against a hospital sponsored team in 1907. Because of the ballpark location, patients at the hospital could watch games from the hospital windows. The hospital location is 100 E. Jeffery Street.[4][16][17][18]

Kankakee State Hospital. Kankakee, Illinois

Kankakee Kanks players
Kankakee Kays players

Baseball Reference Bullpen