Mitchell Kernels

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Mitchell Kernels
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940)
Collegiate summer baseball (1953–1960)
LeagueSouth Dakota League (1920)
Dakota League (1921–1922)
South Dakota League (1923)
Nebraska State League (1936–1937)
Western League (1939–1940)
Basin League (1953-1960)
Major league affiliations
TeamSt. Louis Cardinals (1936–1937)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1920
  • 1921
  • 1922
  • 1936
Team data
NameMitchell Kernels (1920–1923, 1936–1937, 1939–1940, 1953–1960)
BallparkHitchcock Park (1920–1923)
Kernel Park (1936–1937, 1939–1940, 1953–1960)

The Mitchell Kernels were a minor league baseball team based in Mitchell, South Dakota. The Kernels played as members of the South Dakota League (1920), Dakota League (1921–1922), South Dakota League (1923), Nebraska State League (1936–1937) and Western League (1939–1940), winning four league championships. The Mitchell Kernels were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936 and 1937.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Bottomley played for the 1920 Mitchell Kernels.

The Mitchell Kernels continued play as a member of the collegiate minor league Basin League from 1953 to 1960.

The "Kernels" moniker was adopted by Mitchell High School sports teams in the 1930s.

History[edit]

The Mitchell Kernels first played as members of the Class D level 1920 South Dakota League, winning the first of their three consecutive championships.[1] The Mitchell Kernels then played in the Dakota League (1921–1922), South Dakota League (1923), Nebraska State League (1936–1937) and Western League (1939–1940).[2] The Kernels were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936 and 1937. The Mitchell Kernels won league championships in 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1936.[3]

The Mitchell use of the "Kernels" moniker corresponds to Mitchell, South Dakota being home to the famed Corn Palace, which was built in 1892.[4]

The Mitchell Kernels resumed play in 1953 as charter members of the Basin League (1953–1973), an independent collegiate minor league. In its duration the Basin League evolved from rosters containing some professional players to rosters being totally amateur, becoming a pioneer in what is known today as Collegiate summer baseball. Mitchell played in the Basin League from 1953–1960. Mitchell was a charter member of the 1953 Basin league along with Chamberlain, Huron, Mitchell, Pierre, Watertown, Winner and Yankton, as well as Valentine, Nebraska. Mitchell did not win a championship while playing in the Basin League. Future major league players Frank Carpin, Doug Clemens, Doc Daugherty, Eddie Fisher, Dick Green, Dave Giusti, Dean Look, Jim O'Toole and Don Schwall played for the Mitchell Kernels' Basin League teams.[5][6]

Today, the Kernels moniker has been the long-time moniker of Mitchell High School, who first adopted the nickname in the 1930s.[7][8][9]

Championship seasons[edit]

In their first season of minor league play, as charter members of the Class D level South Dakota League, the Mitchell Kernels won the league championship. They would win three consecutive championships. Mitchell ended the 1920 season with a record of 61–36, 1st in the league standings under Manager Henry Scharnweber. The league had no playoffs for its duration. In the eight–team league, Mitchell finished 3.0 games ahead of the Sioux Falls Soos (58–40), followed by the Huron Packers (56–40), Wessington Springs Saints (49–48), Redfield Reds/Red Sox (46–49), Madison Grays (42–50), Aberdeen Boosters (42–54) and Miller Climbers/Jugglers (28–65). In his first professional season, Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Bottomley played for Mitchell in 1920, hitting .312 with 7 home runs in 97 games.[10][11][1][12][13][3]

In 1921, the league changed names to the Dakota League and Mitchell defended their title. Continuing play under Manager Henry Scharnweber, the Kernels finished in 1st place with a 65–33 record, 3.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Sioux Falls Soos (61–35). They were followed in the standings by the Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins (55–43), Redfield Red Sox (47–46), Madison (45–50), Watertown Cubs (44–53), Aberdeen Grays (35–62) and Huron Packers (34–64).[14][3][15][16][17]

The Kernels won their third consecutive championship, becoming the 1922 Dakota League Champions. Mitchell finished 60–37, again managed by Henry Scharnweber. Mitchell finished 4.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Aberdeen Grays (56–42) and Fargo Athletics (56–42), followed by the Sioux Falls Soos (55–42), Jamestown Jimkotans (46–51), Watertown Cubs (42–54), Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins (42–55) and the Valley City Hi-Liners/Bismarck Capitals (30–64). In 1923, Mitchell was unable to defend their tiles as the South Dakota league folded during the season on July 13, 1923 with Mitchell in 3rd place.[18][19][20][21][22][3]

In 1936, the Mitchell Kernels the won league championship as the franchise resumed play in the Class D level Nebraska State League. Playing as an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Kernels ended the six–team Nebraska State League regular season with a record of 68–50, placing 2nd in the standings, 2.0 games behind the Sioux Falls Canaries. Cliff Knox was the Mitchell manager. In the Playoffs, the Mitchell Kernels beat the Norfolk Elks 3 games to 1. In the Finals, the Mitchell Kernels defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries 4 games to 2.[23][24][25][3][26]

The ballparks[edit]

From 1920 to 1923, Mitchell teams were noted to have played minor league home games at Hitchcock Park. The ballpark was located on East Hanson Street between South Gamble Street & South Foster Street in Mitchell South Dakota. Today, Hitchcock Park is still in use as a public park area with a baseball field. The address is 1201 E Hanson Avenue, Mitchell, South Dakota.[27][28]

Beginning in 1936 minor league Kernels reportedly played home games at Kernel Park. Kernel Park stood on a site directly adjacent to "Joe Quintal Field", which was built in 1941. Joe Quintal Field is still in use as home to Mitchell High School and Dakota Wesleyan University sports teams. Joe Quintal Field is located at 501 East 11th Avenue, Mitchell, South Dakota.[29][30][31][32][33] [34]

Timeline[edit]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League
1920 1 Mitchell Kernels Class D South Dakota League
1921–1922 2 Dakota League
1923 1 South Dakota League
1936–1937 2 Nebraska State League
1939–1940 2 Western League
1953–1960 8 Collegiate Summer Basin League

Year–by–year records[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs/Notes
1920 61–36 1st Hank Scharnweber League Champions
1921 65–33 1st Hank Scharnweber League Champions
1922 60–37 1st Hank Scharnweber League Champions
1923 28–27 3rd Hank Scharnweber League disbanded July 17
1936 68–50 2nd Cliff Knox League Champions
1937 75–41 2nd Cliff Knox No playoffs held
1939 49–69 5th Red Davis No playoffs held
1940 44–70 4th Ed Grayston / Jimmy Zinn Sioux City Soos moved to Mitchell July 24

[3]

Notable alumni[edit]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni[edit]

Notable alumni[edit]

See also[edit]

Mitchell Kernels players

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "1920 South Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "Mitchell, South Dakota Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ "Mitchell Corn Palace, SD | Official Website". cornpalace.com.
  5. ^ "Basin League". www.attheplate.com.
  6. ^ Writer, Darrell Shoemaker, Journal Sports. "Basin League had memorable run in S.D." Rapid City Journal Media Group.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Home". mitchellkernels.
  8. ^ "Cornelius' roots go back 50 years". The Mitchell Republic.
  9. ^ "Fast Facts - Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, SD". www.visitmitchell.com.
  10. ^ "1920 Mitchell Kernels Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ "1920 South Dakota League (SDL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. ^ "1920 Mitchell Kernels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "Jim Bottomley – Society for American Baseball Research".
  14. ^ "1921 Dakota League (DL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. ^ "1921 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. ^ "1921 Mitchell Kernels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "1921 Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. ^ "1922 Dakota League (DL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. ^ "1922 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  20. ^ "1923 Dakota League (DL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. ^ "1922 Mitchell Kernels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. ^ "1922 Dakota League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. ^ "1936 Mitchell Kernels Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. ^ "1936 Nebraska State League | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  25. ^ "1936 Mitchell Kernels Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. ^ "1936 Mitchell Kernels Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  27. ^ "Hitchcock Park in Mitchell, SD history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. ^ "Hitchcock Park". Mitchell, SD.
  29. ^ "Basin League History (1953-1973)". usfamily.net.
  30. ^ Jul 9th 2018 - 2pm, Marcus Traxler. "Joe Quintal Field project slightly behind schedule". The Daily Republic.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ "Facilities". Dakota Wesleyan University.
  32. ^ "Mitchell Baseball Park in Mitchell, SD history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  33. ^ "1936 Nebraska State League (NSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  34. ^ "1936 Nebraska State League (NSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

External links[edit]

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