Iola Cubs
The Iola Cubs was the first and primary name of the Class Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League minor league baseball team based in Iola, Kansas, USA, that played in 1946 and 1947. The Iola Cubs were preceded by other early 1900s Iola minor league teams and succeeded by the Iola Indians. Iola won league championships in 1904 and 1946.
History
The 1946 Iola Cubs were the first professional baseball team based in Iola since the 1908 Iola Champs. The Iola Cubs were an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, playing in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League. Managed by Al Reitz both years, the team finished second and third in the standings in 1946 and 1947, respectively, and reached the league finals both seasons.Remaining in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League, Iola became an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and played as the Iola Indians in 1948-1952. After disbanding in 1953, the Iola Indians played a final season in the Western Association in 1954.
Decades earlier, the Iola Gasbags and Iola Gaslighters played in the Missouri Valley League. The 1906 Iola Grays, of the Kansas State League, moved to Cherryvale, Kansas on June 15, 1906, becoming the Cherryvale Boosters. The 1908 Iola Champs, of the Oklahoma-Kansas League, had disbanded on July 8, 1908.
The ballpark
For the duration of the professional franchises, Iola home games were played at Riverside Municipal Ballpark, which is within Riverside Park. The ballpark was a Works Project Administration project. Located at 418 Park Avenue and South State Street in Iola, Kansas, the ballpark and adjacent park grounds are still in use today. The ballpark with a track and stands are utilized by Iola's USD 257 school district sports teams.Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and Yankee legend Mickey Mantle played for the Independence Yankees in 1949 and played at Riverside Municipal Ballpark.
Notable alumni
- Woody Fair
- Larry Milton
- Willie Ramsdell
- Al Reitz
- Floyd Temple
- Bill Upton
Season-by-season
| Year | Record | Win-Loss % | Manager | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs/Notes |
| 1946 | 63-57 | .000 | Al Reitz | 3rd | Finals Tied 3-3 |
| 1947 | 69-57 | .000 | Al Reitz | 2nd | Lost in league finals |
| 1948 | 51-22 | .000 | Al Reitz | 7th | none |
| 1949 | 70-55 | .000 | Winlow Johnson | 3rd | Lost in league finals |
| 1950 | 38-84 | .000 | Winlow Johnson | 7th | none |
| 1951 | 38-84 | .000 | Forrest L. Crawford / Al Reitz / Mason Pool / Floyd Temple | 6th | none |
| 1952 | 70-47 | .000 | Floyd Temple / Woody Fair | 1st | Lost in league finals |
| 1954 | 39-101 | .000 | Willie Ramsdell / Ralph Kennedy | 8th | none |