It Comes and It Goes: the History of Professional Baseball in Springfield, Missouri: 1887-1950

For the better part of the first fifty years of the twentieth century, Springfield hosted professional baseball. The foundation of this long tradition began with an ill-fated first attempt at a professional team in 1887 and gained stability with a more solid effort in 1902. From that year until 1950, professional baseball continued in Springfield with play taking place in the same northside location for nearly the duration. Over the years many great players passed through the Queen City of the Ozarks, many on their way toward major-league careers