Vincennes Velvets

The Vincennes Velvets was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Vincennes, Indiana between 1903 and 1952. The Velvets were members of the Class D level Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, predecessor to today's Midwest League. Previous teams in Vincennes played as members of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League (1903–1906, 1910–1911, 1913) and Eastern Illinois League (1908).[1][2]

Vincennes Velvets
1903–1952
(1903–1906, 1908, 1910–1911, 1913, 1950–1952)
Vincennes, Indiana
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1903–1906, 1908, 1910–1911, 1913, 1950–1952)
Previous leagues
Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League (1903–1906)
Eastern Illinois League (1908)
Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League (1910–1911, 1913)
Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1950–1952)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsSt. Louis Browns (1950)
Minor league titles
League titles 3 1905, 1906, 1910
Team data
Previous names
Vincennes Alices (1903)
Vincennes Reds (1904)
Vincennes Alices (1905–1906 1908, 1910)
Vincennes Hoosiers (1911)
Vincennes Alices (1913)
Vincennes Citizens (1950)
Vincennes Velvets (1951–1952)
Previous parks
Nehi Park (1950–1952)

The Vincennes Velvets were an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns in 1950.

History

The Vincennes Velvets were preceded in Vincennes, Indiana by other minor league teams.

In 1903, the Vincennes Alices first played minor league baseball as members of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League, also known as the KITTY League. Vincennes played in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League in the 1903–1906, 1910–1911 and 1913 seasons. The team used the Vincennes Reds moniker in 1904 and the Vincennes Hoosiers moniker in 1911. In 1908, the Vincennes Alices played one season as members of the 1908 Eastern Illinois League.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

The Vincennes Alices won Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Championships in 1905, 1906 and 1910.[8][12][13][14]

Following the 1949 season, the Belleville Stags of the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League moved to Vincennes following the 1949 season. The franchise became the Vincennes Citizens in 1950, playing as an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, before operating as an independent in 1951–1952. The team changed from the "Citizens" moniker in 1950 and became the Vincennes Velvets in 1951. The name change occurred when Champagne Velvet Beer became a sponsor of the team.[15][16][17][18]

The 1950 Vincennes Citizens finished 43–76, 7th place in the eight–team Mississippi–Ohio Valley League regular season under Managers Mel Ivy and Andy Smith. Vincennes was 38.0 games behind the 1st place Centralia Sterlings in the final regular season standings. Playing at Nehi Park, Vincennes had total home attendance of 18,977, an average of 319 per game.[19][20][1]

The Vincennes Velvets finished in 6th place in 1951, 39.5 games behind the 1st place Paris Lakers in the regular season standings. With a 43–74 record under Managers Stormy Kromer and Bob Signaigo, Vincennes was last in the six–team Mississippi–Ohio Valley League standings. Vincennes had 1951 total attendance of 25,652, an average of 438 per game, 5th in the league.[21][19][22]

The franchise moved during the 1951 season. On June 7, 1952, the Vincennes Velvets moved to Canton, Illinois on June 7, 1952, where the franchise became the Canton Citizens The Vincennes/Canton team finished the 1952 season with a 54–70 record and were 6th in the eight–team Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, 31.5 games behind the 1st place Danville Dans. The Vincennes Velvets were the last minor league team in Vincennes, Indiana.[3][23][19][24][25][26]

The ballpark

Beginning in 1950, Vincennes teams played at Nehi Park. Nehi Park was located at 13th Street & Willow Street, Vincennes, Indiana. The ballpark was located behind the Nehi Bottling Works.[27][16][2][28]

Velvet Beer, namesake of the Vincennes Velvets
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
19031Vincennes AlicesClass DKentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League
19041Vincennes Reds
1905–19062Vincennes Alices
19081Eastern Illinois League
19101Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League
19111Vincennes Hoosiers
19131Vincennes Alices
19501Vincennes CitizensMississippi–Ohio Valley League
1951–19522Vincennes Velvets

Notable alumni

See also

Vincennes Velvets/Canton Citizens players

References
  1. "1950 Vincennes Citizens Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. http://mwlarchives.com/vincennes.html
  3. "Vincennes, IN - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  4. "Vincennes Hoosiers - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Vincennes Alices - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. "Vincennes Reds - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  7. "Eastern Illinois League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  9. "Eastern Illinois League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1908 Eastern Illinois League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1911 Vincennes Hoosiers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1905 Vincennes Alices Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "1906 Vincennes Alices Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "1910 Vincennes Alices Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "Vincennes, Indiana in the Midwest League | MWLguide.com". www.mwlguide.com.
  16. Day, Richard; Hall, Garry; Hopper, William (2006-04-19). Vincennes: 1930-1960. ISBN 9781439632819.
  17. "Vincennes Citizens - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  18. "1950 Mississippi-Ohio Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. "Mississippi-Ohio Valley League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  20. "1950 Vincennes Citizens Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. "1951 Vincennes Velvets Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "1951 Vincennes Velvets Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "1952 Vincennes Velvets/Canton Citizens Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. "1952 Mississippi-Ohio Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  25. "1952 Canton Citizens/Vincennes Velvets Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. –
  27. "Vincennes' Nehi Park | MWLguide.com". www.mwlguide.com.
  28. "Nehi Park in Vincennes, IN history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

Baseball Reference Bullpen

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