Basin League
The Basin League was an independent collegiate minor league, that operated from 1953–1973, featuring teams primarily from South Dakota.
The league name reflected the number of teams situated along the Missouri River Basin. The league roster structure evolved from some professional to totally amateur during its existence, becoming a pioneer of what is known today as collegiate summer baseball.
Over 100 future major league players played in the Basin League, among them Baseball Hall of Fame members Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer and Don Sutton.
History
The league was established in 1953 with a roster of South Dakota franchises and one nearby Nebraska team. Teams in Chamberlain, Mitchell, Pierre, Winner, as well as Valentine, Nebraska were the charter franchises. The league's name reflected the number of teams situated along the Missouri River Basin. The Pierre Cowboys played in all 21 seasons of the league's existence.The Basin League began with a mix of professional players and amateurs on its rosters. It later became exclusively amateur, evolving into what is known today as collegiate summer baseball.
In 1954, the league expanded, as Huron, Watertown and Yankton entered the league.
In 1955, the League ran an advertisement in The Sporting News seeking players. In the April 6, 1955 edition of "The Sporting News": "Class A Players Wanted - For fast semipro Basin League. Capable of playing Class A ball. Write 712 Capital, Yankton, S.D."
In 1958, the league split the season into two halves, with each half winner meeting for the league championship. The Basin League reverted back to full season play in 1959.
As the league grew the late 1950s, a few Basin League teams were assigned a "'parent" major league club and received equipment and support. The Rapid City Chiefs were assigned to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Sturgis Titans were assigned to the Boston Red Sox and the Pierre Cowboys were assigned to the Cleveland Indians. While a positive for those franchises, it created an imbalance in support for the other league teams without a sponsoring parent club.
The Basin League roster structure changed in 1960. Teams were limited to three professional players per team. In 1961, the number of professionals per team was reduced from three to two. Then, in 1962, none were allowed. Professionals were allowed to manage. But by 1964, professional managers were also excluded. Amateur umpires were used by the league from 1953-1960.
From 1962 through 1967, the Basin League received regular national coverage in the weekly publication "The Sporting News." The Sporting News covered the Basin League, as they did with lower minor professional leagues. In 1966, the Basin League amateur talent pool was damaged when the NCAA ruled that NCAA college seniors could no longer play in the league.
To keep their amateur status, most Basin League players received approximately $200-$500 for the summer season, with the pay received for working 'odd jobs' in the local communities. Players often worked for the city recreation departments maintaining public facilities and baseball fields.
The Basin League ceased operations after the 1973 season. The growth of youth baseball had created conflicts for fans. The NCAA had put restrictions on the league, while at the same time, major league teams were reexamining player development resources. The four league teams remaining in the final season of 1973: Chamberlain Mallards, Pierre Cowboys, Rapid City Chiefs and the Sturgis Titans.
For a time, the Basin League was touted as the best summer college league in the country. Comparable leagues included the Cape Cod League and the Alaska Baseball League.
League Franchises/Titles
- Chamberlain, South Dakota - Chamberlain Chiefs ; Chamberlain Mallards. Titles: 1968, 1970, 1971
- Huron, South Dakota - Huron Elks. Titles: 1954, 1955
- Mitchell, South Dakota - Mitchell Kernels. Titles: None
- Mobridge, South Dakota - Mobridge Lakers. Titles: 1972
- Pierre, South Dakota - Pierre Cowboys,. Titles: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969
- Rapid City, South Dakota - Rapid City Chiefs. Titles: 1957
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Sioux Falls Packers. Titles: 1964
- Sturgis, South Dakota - Sturgis Titans. Titles: 1973
- Watertown, South Dakota - Watertown Lake Sox. Titles: 1956
- Winner, South Dakota - Winner Pheasants,. Titles: 1953
- Yankton, South Dakota - Yankton Terrys. Titles: None
- Valentine, Nebraska - Valentine Hearts. Titles: 1963
Notable Basin League alumni
[Baseball Hall of Fame] Alumni
- Bob Gibson, Chamberlain Chiefs Inducted, 1981
- Pat Gillick, Valentine Hearts Inducted, 2011
- Jim Palmer, Winner Pheasants Inducted, 1990
- Don Sutton, Sioux Falls Packers Inducted, 1998
Major League/notable alumni
- RAPID CITY CHIEFS : Gary Adams, Joe Moock, Charlie Shoemaker, Tom Belcher, Bart Shirley, Dave Baldwin, Nick Willhite, Jim Fairey, Dick Billings, **Frank Howard, Jim McAndrew, Jim Johnson, Rich Hacker, Danny Thompson, Gary Neibauer, **Stan Bahnsen, Steve Renko, Dennis Musgraves, Rick Kester, Gary Holman, Lou Camilli, Kal Segrist, Gary Moore, Bill Bethea, Gary Wheelock, Sam Ewing, Pat Osburn, Joe Lutz, **Dave Collins, Floyd Temple, Randy Brown, Bart Shirley.
- STURGIS TITANS : Frank Baker, Luke Walker, Jimy Williams, Dick Selma, Dick Joyce, Ted Sizemore, Dave Campbell, Bob Reed, Stu Locklin, Jim French, John Sevcik, Shaun Fitzmaurice, Larry Bearnarth, Nick Leyva, Gary Allenson, **Dan Quisenberry, Willie Norwood, Mike Proly, Gene Ammann, Bob Baird, Rusty Gerhardt, Ben Hines. Dave Moates, Tommy Smith, Jim Miles, Glenn Redmon.
- PIERRE COWBOYS : **Sammy Ellis, Del Unser, Bill Dillman, Bill Scripture, Ken Tatum, Woody Woodward, Jim Howarth, Tom Brown, John Lowenstein, John Herrnstein, Steve Boros, Bill Roman, Dave Lemonds, Carroll Hardy, Mike Caldwell, Matt Galante, Mike Cubbage, **Kent Tekulve, Mac Scarce, Craig Anderson, John DeMerit, **Johnny Edwards, Jake Jacobs, Milt Welch, Larry Burchart, Ty Cline, Bill Haywood, **Geoff Zahn, Gary Beare, Rick Lysander, Mike Pazik, Greg Pryor.
- WINNER PHEASANTS : **Jim Palmer, Ed Spiezio, Merv Rettenmund, Pat Locanto, Pete Craig, Bill Faul, Carl Morton, Dick Bertell, Bobby Floyd, **Jim Lonborg, Gary Gentry, Jim Burton, **Mickey Owen, Don Lee, Purnal Goldy, Mickey Livingston, Rocky Krsnich, Tony Ordeñana, Ted Schreiber, Steve Blateric, Tom Lundstedt, John Noriega.
- WATERTOWN LAKE SOX : **Dick Howser, Howie Bedell, Purnal Goldy, **Dick Radatz, Bill Davis, Kermit Wahl, Eddie Watt, Don Wallace, Ronald Cox, Cal Emery Ron Perranoski, Dick Ricketts, Chuck Lindstrom, Dennis Aust.
- VALENTINE HEARTS : Lou Marone, **Paul Splittorff, Chuck Dobson, Joe Keough, Bill Zepp, Scott Reid, Duffy Dyer, Ken Suarez, Dave Robinson, Pat Gillick, Al Closter, Al Montreuil.
- MITCHELL KERNELS : Dick Green, Dean Look **Jim O'Toole, **Dave Giusti, **Eddie Fisher, Doug Clemens, **Don Schwall, Frank Carpin, **Randy Gumpert.
- HURON ELKS : Fritz Fisher, Mike Joyce, Jerry Adair, Frank Kreutzer, Johnny Watson, Jack Brittin, Gary Wagner.
- SIOUX FALLS PACKERS : **Don Sutton, **Clyde Wright, Al Schmelz, Jon Warden.
- CHAMBERLAIN CHIEFS/MALLARDS : **Bob Gibson, Bobby Cuellar, **John Stearns, Bob Apodaca, Jim Lentine, Tom Harmon, Mickey O'Neil,John Littlefield.
- MOBRIDGE LAKERS : Gene Hiser, Ron Cash, Del Youngblood, Derek Bryant.
- YANKTON TERRYS : Ed Hobaugh, Rex Johnston, Bill Lajoie, Norm Stewart, Bobby Klaus, Marv Olson, MGR,.
- HURON ELKS : Bobby Klaus, Phil Haugstad, Dave Thies
Basin League ballparks
- Chamberlain Chiefs/Mallards. Greig Field. The ballpark is still in use today.
- Huron Elks. Memorial Ballpark Stadium. The ballpark also hosted the Huron Cubs and Huron Phillies minor league teams.
- Mitchell Kernels. Kernel Park. Kernel Park was located adjacent to Joe Quintal Field, which is still in use today as home to Mitchell High School teams.
- Mobridge Lakers. Mobridge Field. The field is still in use and known as the American Legion Memorial Park.
- Pierre Cowboys,. Hyde Stadium. Hyde Stadium is still in use and is located near the state capitol and governor's mansion.
- Rapid City Chiefs. Sioux Park Stadium. Sioux Park Stadium was built specifically for the Chiefs in 1957 and is still in use after being renamed Fitzgerald Stadium.
- Sioux Falls Packers. Sioux Falls Stadium. Sioux Falls Stadium was built in 1941 and was nicknamed "The Birdcage." The ballpark is still in use and has been remodeled as home to the Sioux Falls Canaries.
- Sturgis Titans. Strong Field. Built in 1951, Titan Field was renamed Strong Field in 1967 after the contractor who led the movement to build the facility. It is still in use today for the Sturgis Titans high school teams and American Legion teams.
- Watertown Lake Sox. Watertown Stadium. Watertown Stadium later became the home of the minor league Watertown Expos and is still in use today.
- Winner Pheasants. Leahy Bowl. The Leahy Bowl was named for Winner native Frank Leahy, legendary football coach at Notre Dame University. The baseball field is still in use today.
- Yankton Terrys. Riverside Field. The Ballpark is still in use today as home to the Mount Marty College baseball team. It has been renamed Bob Tereshinski Stadium at Riverside Field after former MMC baseball coach Bob Tereshinski.
- Valentine Hearts. Veterans Memorial Field. Veterans Memorial Field is still in use today as home to American Legion baseball.