Rock Rapids Browns

The Rock Rapids Browns were a minor league baseball team based in Rock Rapids, Iowa. The Rock Rapids Browns played the 1902 season as members of the Class D level Iowa-South Dakota League. The Rock Rapids Browns were the only minor league team hosted in Rock Rapids to date.

Rock Rapids Browns
(1902)
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1902)
Previous leagues
Iowa-South Dakota League (1902)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Rock Rapids Browns (1902)
Previous parks
Unknown (1902)

History

The Rock Rapids Browns became charter members of the six–team Iowa-South Dakota League in 1902. Rock Rapids joined the Flandreau Indians, Le Mars Blackbirds, Sheldon, Iowa, Sioux City Cornhuskers and Sioux Falls Canaries as charter members. The Rock Rapids Browns finished the 1902 Iowa–South Dakota League regular season with a record of 32–59, 34.0 games behind the 1st place Sioux Falls Canaries. The Browns were 5th in the standings under Manager Grandpa Greene, also finishing behind the Sioux City Cornhuskers, Flandreau Indians and Le Mars Blackbirds and ahead of 6th place Sheldon.[1][2][3][4][5]

After a home game in Rock Rapids, it was reported that fans rushed the field, angry at an umpire. It was also reported that after the Browns started poorly, a meeting was held in Rock Rapids and fans were sent out to the Iowa cities of Des Moines, Algona, Sioux City and Flandreau to scout for better players.[6]

Reports indicated that by mid–August pitcher Ralph Thomas had been suspended from the team for drunkenness and Joe Snooks for drunkenness and insulting a "respectable married lady of Rock Rapids."[7][6][8]

Placing 5th in the 1902 league standings, Rock Rapids finished behind the champion Sioux Falls Canaries (65–24), Sioux City Cornhuskers (56–40) Flandreau Indians (51–19), Le Mars Blackbirds (43–48) and ahead of Sheldon (14–71).[3][2]

The Rock Rapids Browns permanently folded after the 1902 season. Discussion was held to discuss the franchise returning to play in 1903. The Iowa–South Dakota League played their last season in 1903 as a four–team league before folding.[2][6]

The ballpark

The exact name and location of the ballpark for the Rock Rapids Browns is unknown. It is possible that the Browns played at the site of today's Borman Forster Fields. The location of the 21 acre park is 1400 South 3rd Avenue, Rock Rapids, Iowa, 51246.[9][10]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
19021Rock Rapids BrownsClass DIowa-South Dakota League

Year-by-year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
190232–595thGrandpa GreeneNone

Notable alumni

See also

Rock Rapids Browns players

References
  1. "Rock Rapids Browns - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Iowa-South Dakota League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  3. "1902 Iowa-South Dakota League (ISDL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1902 Rock Rapids Browns Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Rock Rapids Browns - Rock Rapids, Iowa | MascotDB.com". www.mascotdb.com.
  6. "CENTURY ENDS PART TWO". iagenweb.org.
  7. "Ralph Thomas Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. <https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/stats/p-e167113b
  9. "Unknown in Rock Rapids, IA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "Borman Forster Fields". May 17, 2019.
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