The Joplin Miners was the primary name of the

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team in

Joplin, Missouri Joplin is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, Jasper and Newton County, Missouri, Newton counties in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bulk of the city is in Jasper County, while the southern portion is in Newton County. J ...

that played for 49 seasons between 1901 and 1954.

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...

Inductees

Mickey Mantle Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed "the Mick" and "the Commerce Comet", was an American professional baseball player who played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the New York ...

and

Whitey Herzog Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog (; November 9, 1931 – April 15, 2024) was an American professional baseball outfielder and manager, most notable for his Major League Baseball (MLB) managerial career. Herzog made his major league debut a ...

played for Joplin. Professional baseball returned to Joplin and Joe Becker Stadium when the Joplin Blasters began play in 2015.

Franchise history

After early Joplin teams played in 1887, 1891 and 1901, the Miners began play in 1902 and were a consistent franchise for the next 50 years. The Miners played in the

Western Association The Western Association was the name of five different leagues formed in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries. The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Wester ...

(1934–1954, 1922–1932, 1905–1911, 1914), the Western League (1917–21, 1933) and the

Missouri Valley League The Missouri Valley League was an American minor league baseball league which operated from 1901 through 1905. History The Missouri Valley league formed in 1901 as an Independent league. The league consisted of teams in Kansas and Missouri: C ...

(1902-04). The Miners were long time affiliates of the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

(1946–1953; 1935–1942). They were also affiliates of the

St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they ...

(1933),

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

(1934) and the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...

(1954). The 1910 Miners finished 90–34 in the Western Association, 22.5 games ahead on second place Enid. The 1910 Miners were recognized as the sixty-sixth greatest minor league team of all time. In April 1920,

Ty Cobb Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed "the Georgia Peach", was an American professional baseball center fielder. A native of rural Narrows, Georgia, Cobb played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent ...

and the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

played an exhibition game against the Miners in Joplin. The team had some split seasons with other locales. The 1909 Miners also played in

El Reno, Oklahoma El Reno is a city in and the county seat of Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 16,989, marking a change of 1.55% from 16,729, recorded in the 2010 census. The city was begun shortly after ...

as the El Reno Packers. The 1914 team played some games in

Webb City, Missouri Webb City is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,031 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. Webb City also has a police department, a fire department, and animal ...

Guthrie, Oklahoma Guthrie is a city and county seat in Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. Its population was 10,191 at the 2010 census, a 2.7% increase from 9,925 in the 2000 census. First known as a railroad st ...

as the Senators and

Henryetta, Oklahoma Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 5,640 at the 2020 census. History Hugh Henry established a ranch on Creek Nation land in 1885. He soon found a deposit of coal, which he began using to fuel th ...

as the Boosters. The 1932 team played in

Hutchinson, Kansas Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, Reno County, Kansas, United States. The city is located on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887 (thus its nickname of "Salt City") but locals ...

Independence, Missouri Independence is a city in and one of two county seats of Jackson County, Missouri, United States. It is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area. In 2020 Unite ...

and

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 cen ...

. The 1952 Miners finished 87-52. The 1950 squad finished 90-46, with an 18-year-old Mickey Mantle hitting .383 with 199 hits, 30 doubles, 12 triples and 26 homers for the Miners. On January 24, 2014, it was announced that an independent professional team relocated to Joplin to play in a renovated Joe Becker Stadium. Subsequently, the Joplin Blasters of the Independent American Association began play in 2015. The Blasters played two seasons before disbanding in 2016.

Ballparks

The team played at Cox Park in 1902–1906. it was located at 16th & Main. From 1907 to 1916 the franchise played at Miners Park, located between 2nd and 4th streets off Main Street. The team had multiple home ballparks, including Joe Becker Stadium, and Miners Stadium. In 1917, the team began play in a new Miners Park, now Joe Becker Stadium, located at 1301 East Third Street.

Notable Joplin alumni

Alumni *

(1951) Inducted, 2010 *

(1950) Inducted, 1972 Notable MLB alumni *

Gene Green Raymond Eugene Green (born October 17, 1947) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for , serving for 13 terms. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His district included most of eastern Houston, including portion ...

(1954) *

Jim Coates James Alton Coates (August 4, 1932 – November 15, 2019) was an American professional baseball pitcher. A right-hander, Coates pitched in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees (1956, 1959–62), Washington Senators (1963), Cincinnati ...

(1953) MLB All-Star *

Johnny Blanchard John Edwin Blanchard (February 26, 1933 – March 25, 2009) was an American professional baseball outfielder and catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, and Milwaukee Braves. Career Bor ...

(1952) *

Jerry Lumpe Jerry Dean Lumpe ( ; June 2, 1933 – August 15, 2014) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He had a 12-season career in Major League Baseball, primarily as a second baseman, for the New York Yankees (1956–1959), Kansas City ...

(1952) MLB All-Star *

Norm Siebern Norman Leroy Siebern (July 26, 1933 – October 30, 2015) was an American professional baseball player and scout. He appeared in 1,406 games over a 12-year career in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder for the New York Yanke ...

(1952) 3 x MLB All-Star *

John Gabler John Richard Gabler (October 2, 1930 – February 7, 2009) nicknamed "Gab", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played in , and with the New York Yankees, and in with the Washington Senators. He was a switch hitter and threw ...

(1951) *

Mel Wright Melvin James Wright Jr. (May 11, 1928 – May 16, 1983) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, pitching coach and scout. A native of Manila, Arkansas, who attended Ouachita Baptist University, Wright threw and batted right-handed and was ...

(1951) *

Harry Craft Harry Francis Craft (April 19, 1915 – August 3, 1995) was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. Born in Ellisville, Mississippi, he was a center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds from 1937 to 1942. Craft attended Mississippi Coll ...

(1950, MGR) *

Lou Skizas Louis Peter Skizas (June 2, 1932 – November 17, 2023) was an American professional baseball outfielder and third baseman in Major League Baseball from 1956 through 1959 for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers and Chicag ...

(1950) * Bob Wiesler (1950) *

Cal Neeman Calvin Amandus Neeman (February 18, 1929 – October 1, 2015) was an American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1957 to 1963 for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland India ...

(1949–1950) *

Al Pilarcik Alfred James Pilarcik (July 3, 1930 – September 20, 2010) was an American professional baseball player. An outfielder, he appeared in 668 Major League games between and for the Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox. ...

(1949) *

Jim Finigan James Leroy Finigan (August 19, 1928 – May 16, 1981) was an American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League (MLB). Primarily a third baseman and second baseman, he played for the Philadelphia / Kansas City Athletic ...

(1948–49) 2 x MLB All-Star * Jerry Snyder (1947) *

Eddie Bockman Joseph Edward Bockman (July 26, 1920 – September 29, 2011) was an American professional baseball third baseman and scout, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (), Cleveland Indians (), and Pittsburgh Pirates (–) ...

(1940–41) *

Ralph Houk Ralph George Houk (; August 9, 1919 – July 21, 2010), nicknamed "the Major", was an American catcher, coach (baseball), coach, manager (baseball), manager, and front office executive in Major League Baseball. He is best known as the successor o ...

(1940) Manager: 1961 & 1962 World Series Champion – New York Yankees * Al Lyons (1940) * Ferrell Anderson (1939) * Russ Derry (1938) *

Al Gerheauser Albert "Lefty" Gerheauser (June 24, 1917 – May 28, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues for five seasons (1943-46 and 1948), for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Browns ...

(1938) *

Benny Bengough Bernard Oliver "Benny" Bengough (July 27, 1898 – December 22, 1968) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the New York Yankees during the 1920s when ...

(1936–37, MGR) *

Johnny Lindell John Harlan Lindell (August 30, 1916 – August 27, 1985) was an American professional baseball player who was an outfielder and pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1941 to 1950 and from 1953 to 1954 for the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinal ...

(1936) MLB All-Star *

Wally Schang Walter Henry Schang (August 22, 1889 – March 6, 1965) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from to for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, St. Lou ...

(1934) *

Cy Blanton Darrell Elijah (Cy) Blanton (July 6, 1908 – September 13, 1945) was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies. Blanton batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Blant ...

(1932) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1935 NL ERA Leader *

Tommy Thevenow Thomas Joseph Thevenow (September 6, 1903 – July 29, 1957) was an American professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1924 to 1938 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cinci ...

(1923) * Pea Ridge Day (1923) *

Gabby Street Charles Evard "Gabby" Street (September 30, 1882 – February 6, 1951), also nicknamed "the Old Sarge", was an American catcher, manager (baseball), manager, coach (baseball), coach, and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball during the firs ...

(1922, MGR) Manager: 1931 World Series Champion – St. Louis Cardinals *

Gene Robertson Eugene Edward Robertson (December 25, 1899 – October 21, 1981) was a professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees, and Boston Braves. In nine seasons, Robe ...

(1920) *

Paul Strand Paul Strand (October 16, 1890 – March 31, 1976) was an American photographer and filmmaker who, along with fellow modernist photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston, helped establish photography as an art form in the 20th century. ...

(1919) * Dick Crutcher (1918–19) *

Rudy Hulswitt Rudolph Edward Hulswitt (February23, 1877January16, 1950) was a professional baseball player who played shortstop in the Major Leagues from 1899 to 1910. Hulswitt played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Louisville Colonels, and St. ...

(1918–19) * George Boehler (1918–20) *

Bill Burwell William Edwin Burwell (March 27, 1895 – June 11, 1973) was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach. Born in Jarbalo, Kansas, Burwell was a right-handed pitcher who stood tall and weighed . World War I service In 1917, ...

(1917–19) *

Josh Devore Joshua M. Devore (November 13, 1887 – October 6, 1954) was an American professional baseball player who played outfielder in the major leagues from –. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, and Boston B ...

(1917) * Pat Collins (1917–19) *

Earl Hamilton Earl Andrew Hamilton (July 19, 1891 – November 17, 1968) was an American left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Browns (1911–16, later in 1916–17), Detroit Tigers (1916), Pittsburgh Pirates (1918–23), and the Philadelphia Phillies (1924) ...

(1910) * Joe Kelly (1910) *

Marc Hall ''Hall v Durham Catholic School Board'' was a 2002 court case in which Marc Hall, a Canadians, Canadian teenager, fought a successful legal battle against the Durham Catholic District School Board to bring a same sex couple, same-sex date to his ...

(1910) * Mike Balenti (1909) *

Cy Slapnicka Cyril Charles Slapnicka (March 23, 1886 – October 20, 1979) was a Major League Baseball pitcher and executive. He played for the Chicago Cubs (1911) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1918). His playing career was unusual in that he went almost seven year ...

(1908) MLB: Player, GM and Scout; Signed

pitchers

Bob Lemon Robert Granville Lemon (September 22, 1920 – January 11, 2000) was an American right-handed pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Lemon was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. Lemon was raised in California, ...

and

Bob Feller Robert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 – December 15, 2010), nicknamed "the Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob", and "Rapid Robert", was an American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Clevel ...

References

{{reflist Sports in Joplin, Missouri Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams established in 1902 1902 establishments in Missouri Defunct baseball teams in Missouri New York Yankees minor league affiliates St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates St. Louis Browns minor league affiliates Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates Defunct Missouri Valley League teams Baseball teams disestablished in 1954 1954 disestablishments in Missouri Defunct Western Association teams Defunct Western League teams