Kokomo Wild Cats

The Kokomo Wild Cats was the only known moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Kokomo, Indiana between 1890 and 1909. Kokomo teams played as members of the Indiana State League in 1890, 1896 and 1900, the Indiana–Illinois League in 1899, Ohio-Indiana League in 1907 and Northern State of Indiana League in 1909.

Kokomo Wild Cats
Minor league affiliations
Class
League
Major league affiliations
Team
  • None
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
Name
  • Kokomo (1890, 1896, 1899–1900)
  • Kokomo–Sharpsville (1907)
  • Kokomo Wild Cats (1909)
BallparkUnknown

The Kokomo Wild Cats were succeeded by the 1955 Kokomo Giants, who played as members of the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League

History

Kokomo first hosted minor league baseball in 1890. When the Independent level Indiana State League expanded and played as an eight–team league in 1890, the Kokomo team joined the league. The 1890 member teams joining Kokomo to begin the season were teams representing the Indiana cities of Anderson, Bluffton, Elkhart, Fort Wayne Reds, Marion, Muncie and Peru. The Kokomo team finished the season in 4th place with a record of 29–29, playing under manager Frank Jones. Kokomo ended the season in a virtual tie with the Logansport Ottos in the final standings.[1][2][3][4]

The 1896 Kokomo team resumed play as members of the six–team Independent level Indiana State League. The league played briefly, with Kokomo placing 3rd with a 4–4 record. The league began play on July 26, 1986 and folded on August 4, 1896.[5][6][7][8]

The Kokomo team played briefly as members of the 1899 Indiana–Illinois League before relocating. On June 30, 1899, Kokomo had a 21–17 record when the franchise relocated to Mattoon, Illinois. The franchise reportedly relocated to become the Mattoon team when the Kokomo home ballpark went into receivership due to a $125 debt.[9]

In 1900, Kokomo resumed play when the Indiana State League reformed as a six–team league for the 1900 season. On June 10, 1900, the league folded with Kokomo in 5th place with a 8–16 record under manager Edward Hill. When the Logansport/Elwood and Muncie teams both disbanded on June 10, 1900, causing the entire league to fold. Kokomo finished 9.0 games behind the Wabash Farmers, who were in 1st place with a 19–9 record when the league disbanded.[10][3][11]

In 1907, Kokomo partnered with neighboring Sharpsville, Indiana as the Kokomo-Sharpsville team became members of the Class D level Ohio-Indiana League. The team played under manager Frank Morris and finished in 3rd place with a 24–22 record. Kokomo finished 3.5 games behind the 1st place Decatur Admirals in the final standings of the six–team league. The Ohio-Indiana League did not return to play in the 1908 season.[12][13]

In 1909, the Kokomo "Wild Cats" became members of the six–team Class D level Northern State of Indiana League. The Wild Cats ended the season in 4th place with a record of 50–53, playing under manager Ed Hill. Kokomo ended the season 15.0 games behind the 1st place Bluffton Babes, who won the league championship with a 65–38 record. The Kokomo Wild Cats folded after the 1909 season, replaced by the Logansport Whitecaps franchise in the six–team 1910 Northern State of Indiana League[14][15]

Kokomo, Indiana was without minor league baseball until 1955, when the Kokomo Giants began play as members of the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League.[16]

Beginning in 2014, Kokomo became home to the collegiate summer baseball level Kokomo Jackrabbits who began play as members of the Northwoods League.[17]

The ballpark

The name of the Kokomo home minor league ballpark is unknown.[18]

(2008) Wildcat Creek. Kokomo, Indiana.

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1890, 18962KokomoIndependentIndiana State League
18991Indiana–Illinois League
19001Indiana State League
19061Kokomo–SharpsvilleClass DOhio-Indiana League
19091Kokomo Wild CatsNorthern State of Indiana League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
189029–294thFrank JonesNone held
18964–45thBob BerryhillNone held
189921–17NANARelocated to Mattoon June 30
19008–165thEdward HillNone held
190724–223rdFrank MorrisNone held
190950–534thEdward HillNone held

Notable alumni

See also

Kokomo Wild Cats players

References
  1. "1890 Indiana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1890 Indiana State League (ISL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "Howard County Historical Society: Baseball in Howard County - As Early As 1890". howardcountymuseum.org.
  4. "1890 Kokomo Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "1896 Indiana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1896 Indiana State League (ISL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1896 Kokomo Blues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "Kokomo Blues minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1899 Indiana-Illinois League (IIL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1900 Indiana State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1900 Kokomo Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1907 Kokomo Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "1907 Kokomo-Sharpesville Combines minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "1910 Northern State of Indiana League schedule". The Huntington Herald. 1910-07-07. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  15. "1910 Northern State of Indiana League (NSIL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "1955 Kokomo Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. "2021 Kokomo Jackrabbits Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "Unknown in Kokomo, IN minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

Baseball Reference

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