The Nevada Lunatics were a minor league baseball team based in Nevada, Missouri. Preceded by the 1901 Nevada "Reds," the Nevada teams played exclusively as members of the Missouri Valley League, with the "Lunatics" winning the 1902 league championship. Nevada teams hosted home minor league games at Centennial Park. The "Lunatics" nickname corresponded to Nevada serving as home to the Missouri State Hospital for the Insane in the era.

History

Nevada, Missouri first hosted minor league baseball in 1901. The Nevada Reds became founding members of the Independent level Missouri Valley League.^[1][2]

The Nevada team became the Nevada "Lunatics" in 1902. The team moniker of "Lunatics" reflected local industry, as Nevada was then home to the Missouri State Hospital for the Insane. The building was the largest building in Missouri when constructed in 1885. The Nevada State Hospital closed in 1991 and the majority of the complex was demolished in 1999.^[3][4][5][6]

The Missouri Valley League was designated as a Class D league in 1902 and the newly re-named Nevada Lunatics were the Missouri Valley League Champions. With a record of 86–38, the Lunatics placed first in the 1902 Missouri Valley League standings under Manager James Driscoll. The league had no playoffs.^[7] Nevada finished 2.5 games ahead of the seconnd place Springfield Reds (83–40), who were followed by the Fort Scott Giants (80–44), Sedalia Goldbugs (72–48), Joplin Miners (56–66), Coffeyville Indians/ Chanute Oilers (41–81), Jefferson City Convicts (40–85) and Iola Gasbags (34–90) in the final standings.^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

On August 10, 1902, the Nevada Lunatics and Jefferson City Convicts had a game that featured a double no-hitter. Both Jefferson City's Jim Courtwright and Eli Cates of Nevada pitched hit–less games in a 1–0 Jefferson City victory.^[13] The rare occurrence has never happened at the Major League level and has happened just 10 times at the minor league level.^[14]

The 1903 season was the final season for minor league baseball in Nevada, as the franchise relocated during the season. On July 16, 1903, the Nevada Lunatics moved from Nevada, Missouri to Webb City, Missouri. The franchise briefly continued play members of the Missouri Valley League, becoming the Webb City Goldbugs. Shortly after the relocation, the Webb City Goldbugs franchise disbanded on July 19, 1903, after playing four games while based Webb City. the Nevada/Webb City team had an overall record of 21–43 under manager A. B. Cockerill when the team folded.^[15][16][7]

Nevada, Missouri has not hosted another minor league team.^[17]

Beginning in 1985, Nevada has hosted the Nevada Griffons, who today play as members of the summer collegiate baseball MINK League.^[18][19][20]

The ballpark

Nevada minor league teams were noted to have played home games at Centennial Park. Centennial Park was located at North Centennial Boulevard & East Ashland Street, Nevada, Missouri. Today the site is still in use, referred to as Centennial Park Fairgrounds.^[21][22][23]

(2017) Ash Place. Former Infirmary Building, Missouri State Hospital. Nevada, Missouri

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

References