Jefferson City had its first minor league baseball team in 1902, when the Jefferson City Convicts became members of the Missouri Valley League. The Missouri Valley League had formed in 1901 as an Independent League. The team moniker of "Convicts" was a reference to Jefferson City being home to the Missouri State Penitentiary. The prison held 2,200 prisoners in 1900. The Missouri Valley League was designated as a Class D league in 1902. With a record of 40–85, the Jefferson City Convicts finished 7th in the 1902 Missouri Valley League standings under Managers A. B. Carey and E. J. Miller. The Nevada Lunatics finished 1st, with a 86–38 record, ahead of the 2nd place Springfield Reds, followed by the Fort Scott Giants, Sedalia Goldbugs, Joplin Miners, Coffeyville Indians/ Chanute Oilers, Jefferson City Convicts and Iola Gasbags. The Jefferson City franchise folded after the season, replaced by the Leavenworth White Sox in the 1903 Missouri Valley League. On August 10, 1902, the Nevada Lunatics and Jefferson City Convicts played a game that resulted in a double no-hitter. Both Jefferson City's Jim Courtwright and Eli Cates of Nevada pitched no–hit games in a 1–0 Nevada victory. The rare occurrence has happened just 10 times in baseball history, all at the minor league level. The 1911 season was the final season for minor league baseball in Jefferson City. The Jefferson City Senators played as charter members of the Class DMissouri State League. The "Senators" moniker was a reflection of Jefferson City being the state capitol of Missouri and the home of the legislative Missouri State Capitol building. The 1911 Missouri State League began their first season with five teams: Brookfield Hustlers, Jefferson City Senators, Kirksville Osteopaths, Macon Athletics and Sedalia Cubs. The Brookfield Hustlers folded on May 19, 1911. Shortly after Brookfield folded, the Sedalia Cubs moved to Brookfield on May 24, 1911. When the Jefferson City Senators folded from the four–team league on June 2, 1911, its demise caused the Missouri State League to permanently fold on June 5, 1911. Jefferson City was in 3rd place with an 11–9 record under Manager Jack Meyers when the franchise permanently folded. The 1911 Senators were the last minor league team hosted in Jefferson City.
The ballpark
The name and location of the ballparks for the Jefferson City Convicts and Jefferson City Senators is unknown. However, it is possible they played at the site of Whiteway Park, which later hosted the semi-professional Jefferson City Senators and was named for the nearby lighted streets.
