Timeline

A group including club secretary Charles Sherman and prominent attorney William Park invites Will Bryan of South Carolina to establish a professional baseball team in Des Moines. Sherman is the son of prominent Des Moines businessman Hoyt Sherman and nephew of Union general William Tecumseh Sherman.

Hawkeyes begin spring training in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Hawkeyes beat St. Paul, 6-4, in ten innings in first Northwestern League game at Athletic Park.

The team is renamed the Prohibitionists.

The franchise and players are sold to a group in Lincoln, Nebraska, where the team finishes the regular season.

Sidney Frick sells the Des Moines franchise to William Bennett, who retains manager Bill Traffley.

Club owner William Park, an attorney, dies at his home in Des Moines. The funeral is held at his home two days later.

The Des Moines franchise is moved to Quincy, Illinois, and the league folds on June 26 of that year.

Construction starts on a new ballpark between Fourth, Sixth, Grand and Chestnut (Locust) Streets in Des Moines. The site is two and a half blocks north of the city’s commercial center.

The team is called the Undertakers after manager Joe Quinn’s offseason occupation.

The Politicians split a two-game series with the Chicago White Sox of the three-year-old American League.

The team is renamed the Underwriters as the result of a newspaper contest.

The newly-named Champions win the Western League pennant with a 97-50 record under manager Jack Doyle. Red Andreas steals 84 bases to lead the league. Pitcher Roscoe Miller wins 28 games. Lefty Lou Manske has the best winning percentage of 697.

Des Moines captures another Western League pennant with a 93-59 record, good for a 612 winning percentage. On the final day of the season, the Boosters beat Lincoln, 5-3, and second-place Sioux City loses twice to Omaha. The 1909 Boosters reflect baseball’s Dead Ball Era, which ran from the founding of the American League in 1901 to the spitball’s elimination in 1920. The Boosters hit only 23 home runs that season.

Tom Fairweather and Frank Isbell buy the franchise from Chicagoan Charles Comiskey, founder of the American League’s Chicago White Sox. They buy a site at Sixth and Holcomb Avenues on the north side of Des Moines for a new ballpark called Western League Park. The team includes Hall of Fame pitcher Red Faber of Cascade.

J.L. Wilkinson of Algona unveils his Des Moines-based All Nations Baseball Team at Western League Park. The All-Nations team defeats a local Moose lodge squad, 3-0, in seven innings. Wilkinson’s team includes Blacks, Native Americans and Mexicans among other nationalities.

Tom Fairweather buys out Frank Isbell’s interest in the club and replaces Isbell as manager with Jack Coffey.

The Iowa House rejects the Senate version on a 57-47 vote. Before the season begins, the Des Moines Register says the Boosters’ biggest problem will be Iowa’s blue law that prohibits playing baseball on Sundays.

Tom Fairweather, his attorney and the attorneys for the five moving picture houses that remained open the previous Sunday appear in court. Attorney W.R. Kendrick represents the state.

Municipal Court judge Joseph Meyer rules that baseball and movies on Sundays do not violate the state’s blue law.

The renamed Demons win the Western League title with a 98-70 record. Six players are named to the all-star team.

The Demons repeat as Western League champs, but lose to Three-I pennant winner Springfield (Illinois) in the Mid-Western Championship three games to one. Pitcher Leo Moon has the league’s best winning percentage of 750.

The Demons beat the Wichita Aviators, 13-6, in the first game played under permanent lighting at Western League Park. (It was the second such game in minor-league history.) The landmark game was partially broadcast by the NBC radio network. A Des Moines Register writer called Des Moines president Lee Keyser “the pioneer of night baseball.” Keyser’s effort is generally credited with saving minor-league baseball during the Great Depression and beyond.

Seventeen-year-old Bob Feller and Negro Leagues pitching sensation Satchel Paige square off in an exhibition at Western League Park. The Negro National League all-stars beat the (white) major-league all-stars, 4-2, although Feller from Van Meter outpitches Paige.

The Birmingham Black Barons defeat the Cincinnati Tigers, 8-4, in Des Moines in the first major-league baseball game in Iowa. Major League Baseball recognized the Negro Leagues as a “major league” in December 2020.

The Chicago American Giants beat the Kansas City Monarchs, 11-4, in Des Moines. Chicago had lost three straight to Kansas City coming into the game at Western League Park.

The St. Louis Stars top the Kansas City Monarchs, 9-5, at Western League Park. Three St. Louis fielding gems in the fifth and ninth innings contribute to the Stars’ victory.

The Kansas City Monarchs beat the Chicago American Giants, 7-3, in a Negro American League game at Western League Park. Pitcher Frank “Fireball” Bradley scatters five Chicago hits, strikes out 10 and hits a home run.

The Western League comes back to life and the Des Moines franchise is named the Bruins to reflect the Chicago Cubs’ ownership.

The Bruins shut out Lincoln, 9-0, in the first game at Pioneer Memorial Stadium at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. The first game at the new ballpark draws 4,262 fans. The Bruins finish second in the Western League in 1947. Pitcher Herb Chmiel leads the league with a 2.23 ERA and a 778 winning percentage.

The Bruins finish first during the regular season, but lose in the first round of the Western League playoffs to Lincoln.

Iowa native Elvin “Stubby” Stabelfeld no hits Pueblo, 7-0, at Pioneer Memorial Stadium. After walking the first Pueblo batter, Stabelfeld retires the next 27 in a row. It was his fourth shutout of the season.

Des Moines finishes fourth during the regular season and then loses to Pueblo four games to three in the Governor’s Cup playoffs.

The Chicago Cubs defeat the Bruins, 4-1, at Pioneer Memorial Stadium. Bruin manager Charlie Root, 51, is the starting pitcher for the home team. The game draws 5,903. Root pitched for Chicago from 1926 to 1941 and holds the Cubs’ all-time record for wins at 201.

Former owner Tom Fairweather dies at his farm home north of Des Moines after suffering a heart attack. Services are held two days later at the Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. Fairweather also served as a city council member and mayor in Des Moines.

The Chicago Cubs shut out the Bruins, 9-0, at Pioneer Memorial Stadium. Former Bruin hurler Bob Kelly goes the distance for Chicago. Hank Sauer hits two home runs for the Cubs.

The Bruins shut out the Chicago Cubs, 2-0, thanks to semi-regular pitcher John Kuncl who held the Cubs to two singles and did not allow a runner past first base. Kuncl had not started since June 21.

The Bruins finish fourth during the regular season and capture the Western League playoff championship by defeating Denver three game to one.

The Indianapolis Clowns beat the Kansas City Monarchs, 6-3, after scoring three runs in the tenth inning. Each team featured a female at second base: Connie Morgan for Indianapolis and Toni Stone for Kansas City. Hall of Famers Buck O’Neil and Oscar Charleston managed Kansas City and Indianapolis, respectively.

The Bruins end up fourth during the regular season and are swept by Wichita in the Western League playoff finals. Joe Stanka leads the league’s pitchers with 17 wins. Pepper Martin is hired in mid-July to replace manager Les Peden. The Bruins’ home attendance more than doubles over the last 35 games.

The Bruins have their last winning season as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, finishing third under manager Lou Klein.

The San Francisco Giants nip the Cleveland Indians, 12-11, in 10 innings as five or six-spectators deep stand in the back of the outfield for most of the game. Rookie Orlando Cepeda, 20, goes 4-for-4, homers and drives in three runs. Willie Mays and former Des Moines favorite Bob Speake homer for the Giants too. The Cleveland lineup includes Minnie Minoso, Rocky Colavito, Roger Maris and Hoyt Wilhelm. The two clubs combined for 29 hits including 17 singles, eight doubles and four home runs.

Pioneer Memorial Stadium is renamed Sec Taylor Stadium after popular Register sports editor Sec Taylor. Taylor receives a proclamation from Des Moines mayor Charles Iles at Hotel Fort Des Moines that evening. Taylor started at the Register in 1914.

Des Moines finishes in last place, ending it’s three-year experience in the Three-I League. Dick Haines leads the league with a 355 batting average.

Des Moines lands another pro baseball team called the Iowa Oaks in the modern-day triple-A American Association thanks to new owner Ray Johnston of Texas. Des Moines rejected an invitation 66 years earlier to join the original American Association.

Vida Blue fans a franchise record 16 Omaha Royals in his last appearance of the season. The Oaks’ 3-0 victory in Omaha improves Blue’s record to 12-3. It was his fifth win over Omaha that season.

The Oaks win the American Association’s Eastern Division, but are beaten by Tulsa in the AA championship series four games to three. Twenty-eight members of the Oaks eventually play in the major leagues.

The Oaks/Chicago White Sox exhibition ends in a 3-3 tie because rain stops the game after four innings. Iowa starting pitcher Paul Patterson gives the Oaks a 3-2 lead with a two-run single in the second inning. Jim Spencer’s home run in the third for the White Sox ties the score at 3-3.

The Oaks edge the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, in seven innings at Sec Taylor Stadium. The Twins are ahead, 9-6, at the start of the eighth inning and leave the field to catch a plane to Boston. Since the Oaks do not get to bat in the bottom of the eighth, the score reverts to the end of the seventh when Iowa led, 6-5. The Oaks jump out to a 5-1 lead on home runs by Mike Wolf and Bee Richard in the fourth. In the sixth, Glen Adams’ solo homer and Bob Gorinski’s two-run shot tie the score at 5-5. Jim Fuller’s home run in the seventh is the difference for Iowa.

Des Moines signs a working agreement with the Chicago Cubs. The name, however, remains the “Oaks.”

The Oaks come from behind to beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-5, before 4,464 at Sec Taylor Stadium. Iowa’s Carlos Lezcano ties the score with a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth. Two batters later, Tye Waller scored the winning run on Bill Hayes’ infield single. Mike Lum put Chicago ahead with a two-run blast in the ninth. NL batting champion Bill Buckner did not play for the Cubs.

The newly-named Iowa Cubs beat the Chicago Cubs, 7-2, despite a double and two singles by Bill Buckner. Iowa’s Mel Hall collects three hits, scores once and drives in a run. Hall is named the AA rookie of the year with 32 home runs, 34 doubles, six triples, 125 RBIs and a .329 batting average. Iowa’s Jay Howell is chosen the AA pitcher of the year with a 13-4 record and 2.36 ERA.

The Iowa Cubs defeat the Chicago Cubs for the third straight time, this time by a score of 7-5. Carmelo Martinez’s solo shot and Mike Diaz’s two-run homer key the I-Cubs’ offense. Jerry Morales hits a three-run homer for Chicago. The exhibition was broadcast by Iowa Public Television.

Ron Cey clubs two home runs and drives in five runs in Chicago’s 11-3 win over the I-Cubs at Sec Taylor Stadium. Bill Buckner collects four doubles and a single and scores four times for Chicago. Cey’s replacement, Richie Hebner, drives in three runs with a two-run homer and a single.

The I-Cubs finish second in the Eastern Division of the AA with an 80-74 mark. Then Denver takes three out of four playoff games against Iowa.

The Iowa Cubs hold the Chicago Cubs hitless for 5 2/3 innings and win, 5-1, at Sec Taylor Stadium. Iowa’s runs come in the sixth and include a homer by Tom Lombarski. The I-Cubs also compile five doubles and one triple. Chicago pinch-hitter, Keith Moreland, a right-handed hitter, bats from the left side this time.

Gary Varsho’s home run, two doubles and four RBIs propel Iowa to a 9-3 win over the Chicago Cubs at Sec Taylor Stadium. A crowd of 8,131 sees Chicago’s Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run double and Ryne Sandberg add a solo home run. Other former I-Cubs on hand include Greg Maddux and Davey Martinez.

Voters approve a $12.5 million bond issue to rebuild Sec Taylor Stadium and to upgrade the city’s parks and pools. About $6.6 million of the bond issue is earmarked for the $7.5 million stadium renovation and expansion. Team owners are to pay $875,000 to increase grandstand seating and to add skyboxes and elevators. The vote ensured the continuation of triple-A baseball in Des Moines.

The I-Cubs beat Louisville, 3-2, in the first game played at the new Sec Taylor Stadium with a record 10,749 on hand. Converted shortstop Jim Bullinger earns his fifth save of the season. Ozzie Conseco’s two-run home run off Iowa starter Jeff Hartsock in the fourth ties the score at 2-2. Scott Bryant scores the winning run after leading off the seventh with a double and scoring when Mike Knapp’s ground ball rolls through the shortstop’s legs.

I-Cub president and general manager Sam Bernabe is selected the American Association executive of the year.

Todd Helton of Colorado Springs wins the 12-man home run contest in conjunction with the triple-A all-star game a day later and receives $1,000 and a contract from Louisville Slugger.

The triple-A all-stars representing American League affiliates defeat their triple-A National League opponents, 5-3, in the first (and only) triple-A all-star game in Des Moines. The game features all-stars from the American Association, International League and Pacific Coast League. Second baseman Frank Catalanotto of Toledo is named the “star of stars.” Des Moines mayor Bob Ray and Iowa governor Terry Branstad throw out the ceremonial first pitches. Outfielder Robin Jennings and pitcher Dave Swartzbaugh represented the I-Cubs.

The Iowa Cubs and Chicago Cubs tie 10-10 in a six-inning exhibition that includes the ejection of Chicago slugger Sammy Sosa. The 20 runs scored by the two teams break the old mark of 19 when the Chicago White Sox beat Iowa, 12-7, in 1977. In the first inning, Mark Grace, Sosa and Henry Rodriguez hit back-to-back-to back homers off I-Cub starter Kevin Foster. In the bottom of the third, Jason Maxwell, Robin Jennings and Micah Franklin do the same for Iowa. Mickey Morandini also homered for Chicago. Jason Hardtke did the same for the I-Cubs. Sosa was ejected in the fifth after kicking dirt on the shoes of the home plate umpire. The teams combined for 23 hits, including eight home runs and five doubles.

The I-Cubs finish 85-59 and win the Central Division of their first year in the Pacific Coast League. In doing so, Iowa ties the franchise record for most wins in a regular season. However, New Orleans took two of three games in the semifinals of the PCL playoffs. Kennedy’s father, Bob, recommended switching Chicago’s triple-A affiliate from Wichita, Kansas, to Des Moines when Bob was Chicago’s general manager.

Before the season, Home Plate Club seats are added behind home plate, a $100,000 sound system is installed and Sec Taylor Stadium is designated a smoke-free facility.

Sec Taylor Stadium is renamed Principal Park in recognition of Principal Financial Group Inc.’s $2.5 million donation for major ballpark improvements. They included a new entrance and an elevated water fountain outside the right-field fence and the addition of a right-field seating area.

Chicago hurler Kerry Wood pitches the I-Cubs to a 2-1 victory over Oklahoma City in his third and final rehab appearance. Wood strikes out nine batters in 5 2/3 innings. A record 13,669 fans turn out to see Wood.

The I-Cubs celebrate their 25^th anniversary.

The I-Cubs beat Nashville, 5-4, in a game with an official attendance of zero. There is widespread flooding in central Iowa that season. Iowa president/general manager Sam Bernabe gets permission from the City of Des Moines to play the game as long as no spectators are on hand; the scoreboard is not used; and there is no public address system, National Anthem, music or staff.

The Kiwanis Miracle League holds its first full season at a state-of-the-art field just west of Principal Park. The ballpark is designed for youth with physical and mental challenges.

Thirty-four men and women from 15 countries are sworn in as U.S. citizens before the I-Cubs’ game against Albuquerque at Principal Park. The annual ceremony continues to this day.

Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg is named manager of the I-Cubs. Sandberg had previous minor-league managerial experience with the Chicago Cubs’ affiliates in Peoria, Illinois, and Tennessee. Iowa finishes with an 82-62 record and ties for first place in its division under Sandberg. Sandberg is chosen the Pacific Coast League’s manager of the year. In addition, outfielder Brad Snyder was named a TOPPS/MiLB triple-A all-star.

First baseman Bryan LaHair is the Pacific Coast League’s most valuable player with a .331 batting average, 38 home runs and 109 RBIs in 129 games. His 38 homers break the club record of 37 set by Joe Hicks in 1984. He also has 38 doubles, 91 runs scored, 303 total bases and a 664 slugging percentage.

Six I-Cub pitchers strike out 21 New Orleans batters in an extra inning loss to set a franchise record. New Orleans won, 7-6, on a ground out in the bottom of the 13^th. The pitchers and their strikeout totals were: Guillermo Moscoso, 10; Hisanori Takahashi, one; Casey Coleman, two; Eduardo Sanchez, one; Marcus Hatley, three; and Jeff Antigua, four.

Third baseman Kris Bryant is named the minor-league player of the year after hitting 43 home runs including 21 for the I-Cubs. In addition, Bryant had 325 total bases, 78 extra-base hits, a .661 slugging percentage and a 1.098 on-base plus slugging percentage. Relief pitcher Blake Parker ties the Iowa single-season record for saves with 25.

I-Cub president and general manager Sam Bernabe is named Baseball America’s minor-league executive of the year during the baseball winter meetings in San Diego.

The I-Cubs announce they will extend the backstop netting to the far ends of the dugouts to improve fan safety.

A new HD ribbon video board on the left-field suites and state-of-the-art LED lighting from MUSCO in Fairfield are added to Principal Park. The new lights come on almost immediately and “dance” after big moments such as I-Cub home runs. In addition, free wi-fi is added throughout the ballpark.

Manager Marty Pevey picks up his 1,000^th win as a manager and 356^th as the I-Cubs’ skipper. He becomes the franchise’s all-time leader in managerial wins with the team’s 6-3 victory in 11 innings over Nashville.

Iowa clinches a berth in the Pacific Coast League playoffs by beating Memphis, 5-1, at Principal Park. In 2018, the I-Cubs finished last in the PCL’s American Northern Division. However, Round Rock defeats the I-Cubs three games to two in the first round of the playoffs. I-Cub pitcher Colin Rea is named the PCL pitcher of the year.

The I-Cubs are part of a new triple-A league called Triple-A East. Their division includes Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Omaha, St. Paul and Toledo. The triple-A season doesn’t start until May 4 due to lingering concerns about the pandemic and does not end until October 3, about a month later than normal.

I-Cub broadcaster Alex Cohen and his girlfriend Tessa Chen are the subjects of a new episode of House Hunters.

Minor-league baseball returns to Principal Park after a 604-day absence due to the pandemic. The last minor-league game at Principal Park was played on September 8, 2019. Several precautions are taken to keep fans safe. Indianapolis wins, 3-0., with 3,656 in attendance.

Three I-Cub pitchers no-hit St. Paul in the seven-inning first game of a doubleheader at Principal Park. Starter Justin Steele strikes out five. Scott Effross fans three, and Dillon Maples strikes out two. In the seventh, Tyler Ladendorf scores on Trent Giambrone’s sacrifice fly.

The sale of the I-Cubs to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) is announced. DBH is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company. Majority owner Michael Gartner’s group had owned the ballclub since October 1, 1999. Home attendance exceeded 500,000 in 12 years of the group’s ownership. Another 483,254 fans came to Principal Park for the finals of the high school baseball tournament. In addition, 419 men and women became U.S. citizens during ceremonies at the ballpark.

The I-Cubs join the 20-team triple-A International League. The I-Cubs are only one of three minor-league franchises to play in all three historic triple-A leagues: American Association, International League and Pacific Coast League.

Endeavor announces it has sold the I-Cubs and nine other minor-league teams to one of its largest investors, Silver Lake Partners, for a reported $280 million due to a perceived conflict of interest.

The I-Cubs’ record improves to 55-38 thanks to a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over Indianapolis at Principal Park. Iowa is down 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth. Edwin Rios comes through then with a 450-foot home run with two runners on base much to the fans’ delight.

The I-Cubs finish 82-65 but miss the International League playoffs. However, the ballclub set several franchise records. The pitchers struck out a record 1,395 batters. The hitters made a record 5,762 plate appearances, scored a record 892 runs, and drove in a record 856 runs. Other records: 729 walks, 90 hit by pitches, and 538 extra-base hits. Their 207 home runs are only nine fewer than the record of 216 in 1998.