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Neosho Yankees
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1937–1940)
LeagueArkansas–Missouri League (1937–1940)
Major league affiliations
TeamNew York Yankees (1938–1940)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Conference titles (1)1938
Wild card berths (1)1937
Team data
NameNeosho Night Hawks (1937)
Neosho Yankees (1938–1940)
BallparkNeosho High School Stadium (1937–1940)

The Neosho Yankees were a minor league baseball team based in Neosho, Missouri. From 1937 to 1940, Neosho teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Arkansas–Missouri League, winning the 1938 league pennant. Adopting their nickname, Neosho served as a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees from 1938 to 1940, after playing in 1937 as the unaffiliated Neosho "Night Hawks." Neosho teams hosted minor league home games at the Neosho High School Stadium.

History

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Neosho, Missouri first hosted minor league baseball in 1937, when the Neosho Night Hawks became a member of the five–team Arkansas–Missouri League, playing at Neosho High School Stadium.[1] The Night Hawks finished the 1937 Arkansas–Missouri League regular season in fourth place with a 52–71 record, finishing 25.0 games behind the first place Rogers Lions. Playing under Manager Dennis Burns, Neosho lost to Rogers 3 games to 1 in the first round of the playoffs.[2][3][4][5]

In 1938, Neosho became an affiliate of the New York Yankees and captured Arkansas–Missouri League pennant.[6] The newly named Neosho Yankees finished the regular season with a record of 73–42 under returning manager Dennis Burns. Neosho finished 5.5 games ahead of the second place Carthage Pirates, who had just joined the six–team league. In the 1938 Playoffs, Neosho swept the Rogers Reds in three games to advance to the Finals. In the Arkansas–Missouri League Finals, the Carthage Pirates defeated Neosho 4 games to 1.[7][8][9][10][4][5]

The Arkansas–Missouri League played with four teams in 1939. In the regular season, the Neosho Yankees ended with a record of 65–61, finishing in third place. Playing again under manager Dennis Burns, Neosho finished 16.5 games behind the first place Fayetteville Angels. Nesho did not qualify for the 1939 playoffs.[5][11][12][4][13] Ralph Houk played for Neosho in 1939, his first professional season. With a salary of $70.00 a month, Houk played well enough (.286) that Neosho hosted a "Ralph Houk Day" at the ballpark.[14]

In 1940, the four–team Arkansas–Missouri League permanently folded during the season, as Neosho played its final minor league season.[15] The league folding became unavoidable after the Fayetteville Angels franchise folded due to poor attendance. On July 1, 1940, the league folded after hosting an All-Star game. At the time the league folded, the Neosho Yankees were in second place with a 27–29 record under manager Ed Grayston and were 10.5 games behind the first place Carthage Pirates.[5][16][17][9][4][18]

The Arkansas–Missouri League did not return to play in 1941.[5] Neosho, Missouri has not hosted another minor league team.[19]

The ballpark

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Neosho teams were noted to have played minor league home games at High School Stadium. High School Stadium had a capacity of 1,000 in 1939, with dimensions of (Left, Center, Right) 310–340–310. The ballpark location was noted as near South Neosho Boulevard & Stadium Drive. Today, the Neosho High School stadium is named Bob Anderson Stadium. The location is 511 South Neosho Boulevard, Neosho, Missouri.[20][21][22]

(2020) Neosho High School. Neosho, Missouri

Timeline

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Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League Affiliate Ballpark
1937 1 Neosho Night Hawks Class D Arkansas–Missouri League None Neosho High School Stadium
1938–1940 3 Neosho Yankees New York Yankees

Year–by–year records

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Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1937 52–71 4th Dennis Burns Lost in 1st round of playoffs
1938 37–42 1st Dennis Burns Lost in League Finals
1939 65–61 3rd Dennis Burns Did not qualify
1940 27–29 2nd Ed Grayston League disbanded July 1

[23][24][25][26][27][5]

Notable alumni

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See also

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Neosho Yankees players

References

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  1. ^ "1937 Neosho Night Hawks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "1937 Neosho Night Hawks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ "1937 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "Arkansas-Missouri League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  6. ^ "1938 Neosho Yankees Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "1938 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ^ a b "Minor League History: Arkansas-Missouri League". November 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "Clipped From The Neosho Times". The Neosho Times. June 16, 1938. p. 4 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew". www.statscrew.com.
  12. ^ "1939 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. ^ "1939 Neosho Yankees Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ^ "Ralph Houk – Society for American Baseball Research".
  15. ^ "1940 Neosho Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew". www.statscrew.com.
  17. ^ "1940 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. ^ "1940 Arkansas-Missouri League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. ^ "Neosho, Missouri Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "Neosho School District breaks ground on End Zone Facility". www.neoshosd.org.
  21. ^ "High School Stadium in Neosho, MO history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. ^ "New York Yankees Baseball Stadium Minor League Affiliations and Yankees Baseball Parks". digitalballparks.com.
  23. ^ "1938 Neosho Yankees minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. ^ "1939 Neosho Yankees minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. ^ "1940 Neosho Yankees minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. ^ "1937 Neosho Night Hawks minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  27. ^ "1940 Arkansas-Missouri League (AAL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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