Three-I League Organizational records
Scope and Contents
These organizational records span the history of the league during some of the minor league's most trying and successful periods in 20th century: the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war boom and decline. This collection documents primarily the operation and financial aspects of a low minor league, colorfully illustrating the reasons for the decline of the Three-I League and general minor league decline in the 1950s. Box 1, folder 1 is an information folder which contains the finding aid.
The Three-I League minutes are extensive and document the organizational history of the league from 1937 through the decision to cease operations in January 1962. Throughout this period, these detailed minutes provide excellent documentation of the operation and finances of the league and its teams. The minutes appear to be comprehensive, including numerous annual and special meetings of the league.
Annual reports include extensive financial and attendance information for the league during the period from 1938 until 1961. In many cases, the annual reports include information found in part or in its entirety in the minutes. Specific information found in these reports include the league's financial statements, trial balances, attendance reports, receipts for playoffs and special dates, mileage pools and other relevant information.
The 1954 season documents include bulletins, memorandums, minutes, publications, and other sundry items comprehensively documenting public and private matters of the league. These documents were generated primarily by league president Hal Totten and maintained in his original order. The memorandums are particularly rich, documenting the communication between Totten and the clubs, team management, team managers, scorers, and umpires. Club memos include meeting agendas, general updates, clarifications of National Association issues and issues of concern to the team management, and pressing items concerning the league.
Dates
- 1937-1962
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions but viewing materials does require an appointment. Please contact the Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330.
Conditions Governing Use
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum provides use copies of materials to facilitate private study, scholarship, and research. The Museum welcomes you to use materials in our collections that are in the public domain and to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by copyright law and with proper citation. Permission to publish materials must be obtained from: Giamatti Research Center, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, 25 Main St., Cooperstown, NY 13326 Phone: 607.547.0330 E-mail: research@baseballhall.org
Biographical / Historical
Formally known as the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League, but generally known as the Three-I League, the league ran from 1901 to 1961 with a number of interruptions: the circuit took a break in 1918 for World War I, another in 1933 and 1934 because of the Great Depression. After resuming play in 1935, it closed down in 1936 but had a six-year run from 1937 through 1942, closing down then for World War II. The league again took the field in 1946, lasting through 1961. A Class B league from 1902 throughout its lifespan, no other league survived for as long at that level.
In 1945, there were but a dozen minor leagues in the nation. Four years later, there were a record 59 leagues in 448 communities. During this period, the Three-I League enjoyed relative stability. In the 1950s, with competition from television and the manpower drain of the Korean War, minor leagues throughout the nation began folding. With the end approaching, the league was the Three-I in name only, as no Illinois or Indiana cities were represented after 1957 and teams based in Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska joined its ranks. The Three-I League suspended operations after the 1961 season, marking the end of the nation's oldest Class B league. Some 31 cities had fielded teams in the 61-year run of one of Minor League Baseball's showcase leagues.
The Midwest League, a later and lower-level creation, largely took over the traditional territory of the Three-I League.
Extent
0.65 Cubic Feet (In one letter document box and in one legal document box)
0.63 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
These organizational records include annual reports, minutes, rules, financial material, memorandums, and other sundry items illustrating minor league baseball history in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and other Midwestern states from 1937 through early 1962.
Arrangement
The collection has been arranged in chronological order.
Physical Location
Dean O. Cochran, Jr. Manuscript Archives, Aisle 7, Range d, Shelf 6
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift (BL-1971-01767, BL-1971-01768, BL-1971-01769, BL-1971-01770, BL-1971-01771, BL-1971-01772, BL-1971-01773, BL-1971-01774, BL-1971-01775, BL-1971-01776, BL-1971-01777, BL-1971-01778, BL-1971-01779, BL-1971-01780, BL-1971-01781, BL-1971-01782, BL-1971-01783, BL-1971-01784, BL-1971-01785, BL-1971-01786, BL-1971-01787, BL-1971-01788, BL-1971-01789, BL-1971-01790, BL-1971-01791, and BL-1971-01792.)
Appraisal
Due to the age of the collection, it is unknown if any materials were removed during accessioning or processing.
Existence and Location of Copies
Collection also available on microfilm in the Giamatti Research Center
Processing Information
Decisions regarding arrangement, description, and physical interventions for this collection are unknown.
- Title
- Guide to the Three-I League Organizational records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Anne McFarland
- Date
- May 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Microfilm funded by a grant from IMLS, CL-10021-01
Repository Details
Part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Archives Repository