Monett Red Birds


The Monett Red Birds were a minor league baseball team based in Monett, Missouri from 1936–1939. Monett played as members of the Independent Missouri Valley League in 1901 and the Class D Arkansas–Missouri League from 1936–1939. Their home ballpark was J.C.C. Park. The Monett Red Birds were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

History

Minor League baseball began in Monett in 1901, when the Monett Railroadmen played as members of the Independent Missouri Valley League.
In 1936, minor league baseball returned when the Monett Red Birds became charter
members of the Arkansas–Missouri League, a Class D league that reformed from the 1935 Arkansas State League.
In 1936, playing in the Arkansas–Missouri League, as an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Monett Red Birds had a record of 56–63. The Red Birds were 4th in the Arkansas–Missouri League standings, along with the Bentonville Mustangs ,
Cassville Blues, Fayetteville Bears, who were also a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, Rogers Lions and Siloam Springs Travelers. Monett finished 18.5 games behind the champion Siloam Springs Travelers, playing under managers Buzz Arlitt and Ken Blackman.
On May 1, 1936, the Monett Red Birds hosted an exhibition game against the Negro League famed team, the Kansas City Monarchs. Baseball Hall of Fame member Willard Brown of the Monarchs hit a home run in the game, as the Monarchs won the contest 7–1.
Monett finished 5th in the 1937 Arkansas–Missouri League. With a record of 45–76, the Red Birds were 5th in the five–team league, 36.0 games behind the Rogers Lions. The managers were Ken Blackman and Joseph Davis.
For the 1938 season, Monett used the one word moniker Monett Redbirds. Continuing play in the Arkansas–Missouri League, Monett was 44–74 under managers Heinie Mueller and Frank Sigafoos. The Redbirds finished 5th in the six–team league, 30.5 games behind the 1st place Neosho Yankees.
In their final season of 1939, the Monett Red Birds finished 35–89. Monett was 4th in the four–team league, finishing 45.5 games behind the champion Fayetteville Angels under Manager Fred Hawn. The Monett franchise folded after the 1939 season, replaced by the Siloam Springs Cardinals in the 1940 Arkansas–Missouri League, which permanently folded after the 1940 season.

The ballpark

The Monett Red Birds played at J.C.C. Park. The Junior Chamber of Commerce Park had a capacity of 1,000 and dimensions of : 320–365–330. J.C.C Park was located at South Lincoln Avenue, off U.S. 60, Monett, Missouri.

Notable alumni