On This Date: Four Pitchers and No Luck

July 9, 1897 

True to form, the Divorcees returned to their familiar offensive funk in game three of their series against Grand Forks. The club managed just four singles against the Senators starter Hoar. With that performance, Gus Munch’s chances were doomed from the start, but the Fargo lefty was not sharp anyway and asked to be removed after surrendering four runs in the third inning. Fargo would use three more men to pitch before the game was done, including position players John Murphy and Bill Zink. The GFPD observed “Four of Fargo’s pitchers were killed and over the grisly corpses Grand Forks piled eleven runs and hits innumerable…” (July 10) The use of four pitchers in a nine inning game was exceptionally rare during this era of baseball and shows just how disastrous the outing was for the Divorcees. As a result of the ever-changing lineup, Deacon Phillippe found himself called upon to play left field later in the game. The Fargo defense did not help matters by committing seven errors, but homeruns from Joe Marshall and catcher Jake Bouchert were more than enough to lift Grand Forks to an 11-0 victory. All things considered, the final score could have been much worse.

116 Years Ago Today

The F-M Redhawks of the American Association just completed a 6-3 comeback win against the rival Winnipeg Goldeyes on a 9th inning grand slam from Jeremiah Piepkorn. The win keeps the Redhawks in first place in their division, as they seek another playoff appearance.

The Fargo Divorcees were in a much different situation 116 years ago today. Despite a great pitching performance from Gus Munch, Fargo fell to rival Moorhead 4-2 in 16 innings. Postseason hopes were non-existent for the 1897 squad, not only because of their poor record, but because the Red River Valley League had folded just days earlier.

Fargo baseball fans should be grateful for the relative stability of the minor leagues of today.

On This Date: Excerpts from Moorhead's Opening Day

Excerpts from my writing on Moorhead's opening day:

May 26, 1897 -

Moorhead hosted Wahpeton-Breckenridge in the season opener for each team... Before the game, the Moorhead cranks held an afternoon parade, held in part to encourage residents of both Fargo and Moorhead to come out and “root” for the Barmaids... An impressive crowd of 600 to 700 congregated at the Moorhead ballpark for a 3:30 matchup with Wahpeton-Breckenridge and saw Moorhead Mayor Lewis throw out the ceremonial first pitch to start the on-field festivities. After this, Lewis spoke briefly to the crowd and bestowed upon the Moorhead club a horseshoe for good luck... Superstitious fans were satisfied with the gesture, as Moorhead prevailed 16-7 in this season opening game.

On This Date: Fargo Players Appear; Millers' Home Finale

Sept. 19, 1897 - Trying to squeeze in just a little more summer, the workers of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railroads scheduled a game in St. Paul. Slated to appear for the Northern Pacific team were three players who appeared for Fargo earlier in the season. The most notable of these was Jimmy Banning, the only man to appear on both the 1887 and 1897 Fargo league teams. Banning made a few playing and umpiring appearances in Fargo earlier in the summer of 1897. Also appearing for the NP were Frank Schumansky, who was slated as the starting pitcher, and the unfortunate Hornsby, whose brief appearance for Fargo had been an embarrassment.

An awful weather day greeted the railroad men on the afternoon of Sunday, September 19. The cold conditions made controlling the ball a difficult task for Schumansky, who walked ten Great Northern batters. But he may have survived his wildness if not for the eighth inning. In the eighth frame, Schumansky allowed five consecutive singles as the Great Northern club extended their lead from two runs to six. The Northern Pacific men couldn't make up any of the deficit, and fell 12-6.

Meanwhile, the woeful Minneapolis Millers scored two ninth inning runs to defeat the equally woeful Kansas City Blues in the Millers' home finale. The teams finished sixth and seventh respectively in the standings of the eight team Western League. Minneapolis would lose its season finale 20-3 to Connie Mack's Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 21, the season's final day. Deacon Phillippe pitched poorly for the Millers, though only seven of the runs he surrendered were earned. The St. Paul Saints held onto third place in the standings, just a half game ahead of the Brewers.

The final Western League standings
1) Indianapolis 98-37
2) Columbus 89-47
3) St. Paul 86-51
4) Milwaukee 85-51
5) Detroit 70-66
6) Minneapolis 43-95
7) Kansas City 40-99
8) Grand Rapids 35-100.

St. Paul Globe Sept. 19, 1897 p.8 "Fun for Railway Fans"
St. Paul Globe Sept. 20, 1897 p.5 "Safe on Third" and "Great Northern Won"
St. Paul Globe Sept. 22, 1897 p.5 "It Was Sufficiently Easy"

On This Date: Lucky 13 for Munch; Phillippe Hit Hard in Loss

Sept. 6, 1897 - Gus Munch took the mound for the Brainerd, MN team as they hosted Staples, MN. In a 9-5 Brainerd win, the crafty young lefty allowed just three hits and struck out an impressive 13.

In Indianapolis, the Minneapolis Millers faced a tough test in a doubleheader against the first place Indians. After being blown out in the first game 14-1, the Millers hoped their luck would turn with Deacon Phillippe on the mound in game two. It was not to be, as Phillippe surrendered 16 hits, and the defense behind him committed eight errors. The Indianapolis club scored just six earned runs, but Phillippe put an additional five men on base with walks. Being swept in the doubleheader by a combined score of 30-6, Minneapolis fell to a record of 40-84.

St. Paul Globe Sept. 7, 1897 p.5 "Munch's Good Record"; "Millers Drop Two"

On This Date: Phillippi Plays Right Field in a Pinch

Sept. 2, 1897 - Minneapolis traveled to Columbus to face the second place Senators, putting Bill Hutchison on the mound. Hutchison didn't last long, giving up five runs in the first inning, and adding insult to injury, "Wild Bill" was ejected for talking back to the umpire. Since the Millers planned to start Deacon Phillippe in the next game, pitcher Art Herman was brought in to replace Hutchison. However, when right fielder Art Ball couldn't continue playing due to a previous injury, Phillippe was called upon. He played right field from the third inning on, going 1 for 3 at the plate with two strikeouts. Amazingly, the Deacon went the remainder of the game without a single ball being hit his way. The Millers lost the game 14-9, falling to a record of 39-80.

St. Paul Globe September 3, 1897 p.5 "Willie Bill Fired"

On This Date: Phillippe Helps His Own Cause in Win

August 15, 1897 - Deacon Phillippe went the distance for the Minneapolis Millers, scattering ten hits and allowing just three runs to the Columbus Senators in a 9-3 win. The Senators, from Columbus, OH, featured a club filled with former and future major leaguers, and stood in second place in the Western League standings coming into the game. The Millers, conversely, were sitting in sixth place out of eight teams, nearing the end of a disappointing season in which their manager was fired. But Minneapolis was the superior team in this Sunday afternoon match up, giving the home fans at Nicolett Park plenty to cheer. Phillippe helped his own cause by garnering three hits in four at bats, including a double for the Millers, who jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four innings and never looked back.

Things wouldn't get better for the Millers and the Nicolett faithful, however. Hosting first place Indianapolis August 16-18, the Minneapolis nine quickly found themselves on the losing end of a three game sweep. Phillippe pitched the August 18 contest for the Millers, and allowed only three earned runs, but the Miller defense made six errors and Indianapolis prevailed 12-8 to complete the series sweep.

The Sporting Life August 28, 1897 p.12 "Western League"

On This Date: Scattered Play Locally

August 13, 1897 - The Moorhead Independent reported in their Sunday weekly that, with the Red River Valley League now disbanded, six Barmaids had gone to play for a team in Perham, MN. Pitcher Bob Brush went to Winona to play for their local team, and several other Moorhead players were reported to have gone home for the summer.

On August 13, Moorhead ace Pike Mullaney pitched for Staples, MN against Wadena, MN, who put Fargo's Oscar Peterson on the mound. Mirroring the RRVL season, Mullaney's team bested Peterson's, as Staples won 4-0. Amateur games featuring town teams would fill the next few weeks in the Red River Valley, so hungry baseball fans weren't completely cut off. Also, a benefit game in appreciation of Fargo's Manager George Challis was scheduled, with local doctors slugging it out against the town's lawyers. But with a sparse schedule filled with exhibition games such as these, there is no doubt local "cranks" still lamented the loss of professional baseball that resulted from the RRVL's demise.

August 13, 1897 Moorhead Independent "Disbanded" Front page
August 14, 1897 Fargo Forum and Daily Republican p.5

On This Date: Bad Blood Boils Over

Saturday, August 7, 1897 - Tige Lyons apparently was not satisfied with just arguing with Fargo's catcher Ryan at Haas's saloon in downtown Moorhead Friday night. The Red River Valley League umpire and former Fargo player got into a disagreement with Ryan at the bar, and Ryan (or someone with him) knocked Lyons to the floor. The catcher may have hoped he had seen the last of "Tige", and migrated to Murphy's saloon later that night. But Lyons made an unwelcome appearance again, found Ryan, and knocked him out with a "blunt instrument." Interestingly, if it weren't for a followup confrontation Saturday afternoon between the men, the story may never have surfaced.

At about 2:30pm on Saturday, Lyons found Ryan on Broadway in Fargo. On this occasion, he had former Fargo catcher Hartman with him, who was no doubt recruited due to his reckless nature and the fact that Ryan had displaced him as the Fargo backstop. The two men ganged up on Ryan, and Hartman pulled out a razor while Tige cheered him on. As Hartman chased Ryan into Alex Stern's clothing store, Ryan picked up a brick and hurled it at Hartman in self-defense. By this point, officer Bingham of the Fargo police department was on the scene and arrested Hartman. Meanwhile, Lyons took off towards Moorhead in an attempt to escape arrest, but was chased down near the Great Northern bridge and taken in. Later that day, awaiting their appearance before municipal judge Hanson, Hartman made his own escape attempt, but was tracked down by Bingham in a slough on First avenue north.

The two embittered former Fargo players appeared in court before judge Hanson on Monday, but the bizarre chain of events would have a very anti-climactic ending. The cases against both men were dismissed, oddly, because Ryan failed to appear at the hearings. No reason was given for Ryan's absence, and the specific reasons that precipitated the assault were also unclear. The previous week Hartman had been let go in favor of Ryan. After this, Lyons apparently took a barrage of verbal abuse from the new Fargo catcher at the August 2 game between Fargo and Moorhead. What Ryan specifically did or said to Lyons during the game is unclear, but the Moorhead Independent amusingly observed that "the freak catcher yelled and gyrated like an escaped lunatic." The sole reason given in the Forum for the attack was the fact that Ryan had been bad-mouthing Lyons, who apparently was trying to stir up discord among the Fargo players. Ultimately, the resentment among the men, along with a likely liberal flow of alcohol, played a role in spurring the violence.

Lyons and Hartman left the area, and the following June, the men were said to be trying out for a Seattle club. Tige had not made the team, but Hartman was playing "magnificent ball" and had reportedly quit drinking.
 
Also on Saturday, August 7, second baseman Breuer's four errors hurt the Divorcees in a loss to the Barmaids. Breuer deserves some sympathy as he was likely a local man, called on to fill in after the release and blacklisting of Josh Reilly. The Forum also blamed poor umpiring as a contributing factor in the loss, though they shouldn't have expected much. The game was officiated by a Western Union operator who hadn't umpired a game all year in the Red River Valley League. The Moorhead nine scored two runs in the ninth inning to give pitcher Pike Mullaney yet another win, which fit the mold of a season in which the Barmaids dominated while Fargo struggled to find consistency. The loss went to Gus Munch, who surrendered just five hits, struck out six, and gave up no earned runs. 

Fargo Forum and Daily Republican
August 7, 1897 Front page "Baseballists Scrap"
August 9, 1897 p.3 "City Locals"; p.4 "Saturday's Game"
August 10, 1897 p.3 "City Locals"
June 20, 1898 p.4 "Baseball"

Moorhead Independent
August 6, 1897 Front page "A Battle Royal"

Sunday Argus
August 8, 1897 p. 6 "Two Home Runs"

On This Date: Another Close One vs. Moorhead

August 6, 1897 - Oscar Peterson and Bob Brush both got roughed up on the mound, but only Brush survived nine innings as Moorhead bested Fargo 12-9. The Barmaids hung seven runs on Peterson in the fourth inning, and forced Fargo Manager George Challis to bring in Fred Steele in relief with two outs in the inning. Brush was not much better for Moorhead, as the Divorcees tallied thirteen hits off the 5'10" Iowa native, though he did strike out 11 Fargoans. The difference in the high scoring affair was sloppy play by the Fargo defense, specifically shortstop Bill Zink. He made two costly errors in the sixth inning that led to three unearned Barmaid runs, which proved to be enough as Moorhead made it four wins in the last six games against their crosstown rivals.

Though the afternoon game provided plenty of excitement, a story of even greater intrigue developed that evening, one that provided a fitting ending to a chaotic season of baseball in the Red River Valley...

Fargo Forum and Daily Republican August 7, 1897 Front page "12 to 9"

On This Date: Munch Shuts Down Moorhead

August 5, 1897 - Left-hander Gus Munch held Moorhead to just four hits and one run and struck out eight as the Divorcees stopped a three game skid with a 5-1 win. The Fargo lineup put three runs on the board in the first inning against Moorhead's Ed Jess, sparked by a home run from center fielder Hopkins on the first pitch of the game. Errors by the Barmaids' middle infielders led to two more tallies for Fargo in the first.

A three game weekend series between the crosstown rivals would wrap up the season for Fargo, Moorhead, and the now defunct Red River Valley League.

Fargo Forum and Daily Republican August 6, 1897 "The Wind-Up" p.4

On This Date: Munch Battles Jess for 16 Innings

Monday, August 2, 1897 - Despite Josh Reilly's erratic play, which ultimately meant the end of his career in Fargo, the Divorcees played well against the recent league champions from Moorhead. After three innings, the two teams were tied 2-2, but it would require thirteen additional innings to break the deadlock. For Fargo, Gus Munch started and pitched the entire sixteen innings, scattering nine hits and allowing four runs, just one of which was earned. Ed Jess was the marathon twirler for Moorhead, also going the distance, allowing eight hits and two runs, with neither run earned. Former Fargo outfielder Charles Jahnke helped break the tie in the sixteenth, doubling off Munch, moving to third on a sacrifice, and scoring on a Jack Page triple. Page later scored on an error by Fargo shortstop Bill Zink, one of four the husky Iowan made on the day. The contest was an exciting opener for the new version of the Red River Valley League.
 
Also on August 2, the Grand Forks Senators expected to host the Wahpeton-Breckenridge team, now set to be sponsored by the city of Crookston, MN. Manager Ed Corbett telegraphed the Senators in the morning, indicating he would not be able to have his team in Grand Forks to play the opening game until Tuesday afternoon. Though the series was scheduled to begin Monday, the W-B team's transfer apparently was not yet completed. To make up for lost time, the two teams would play a doubleheader Wednesday.

In other news, Lee Roberts was scheduled to return to pitch for the Fargo team August 4 or 5.


Fargo Forum and Daily Republican August 2, 1897 p.4 "Notes"; August 3, 1897 p.4 "Stuff Is Off" and "Sixteen Innings - 4 to 2"

On This Date: Hartman Ejected, O'Donnell Quits

August 1, 1897 - Fargo's 7-4 win over crosstown rival Moorhead was only part of the story on this date. Overshadowing Oscar Peterson's great pitching performance for the Divorcees was some extra-curricular nonsense from the game's catchers. Hartman started at catcher for Fargo, and wasted no time getting into trouble. He began arguing with the umpire, O'Donnell, for an unknown reason, and became so incensed that a policeman was called. The cop escorted Hartman, known to be a fan of hard drink, off the field. Hayes finished the game as the Fargo backstop.

In the fifth inning, Moorhead catcher Tim Keefe similarly lost his composure. According to the Forum, Keefe's conduct was even worse than Hartman's (however, bias from the home team's newspaper in its account is a distinct possibility). Again, the precipitating factor for Moorhead catcher's behavior is unknown. The Fargo paper criticized O'Donnell for not ejecting Keefe from the game, as he had with Hartman. At this point, the embattled umpire was fed up enough to quit the game. The well-respected George Challis assumed the umpiring duties for the remainder of the game, despite the fact that he was also Fargo's manager.

Meanwhile, a game was played, and Fargo hit Pike Mullaney hard, tallying 13 hits and five earned runs off the Moorhead ace. The Divorcees were led by center fielder L. D. Hopkins, who went three for four with two doubles and three runs scored. Fargo's starter Oscar "Pete" Peterson surrendered just eight hits and two earned runs to the Barmaids. The rivarly would continue for the next three days, as Fargo and Moorhead were scheduled for three games in Fargo, followed by three games in Moorhead. The Grand Forks-Crookston series of six games was also scheduled to get underway. Only one of these series would be played...

Fargo Forum and Daily Republican August 2, 1897 p. 4 "Easy for Fargo"

On This Date: Moorhead Awarded Pennant, New Schedule

July 31, 1897 - Officials from each team met at the Columbia hotel in Moorhead to nail down details concerning the future of the Red River Valley League. A newly constructed league would play through September 11, with the existing Wahpeton-Breckenridge franchise being transferred to Crookston. The four teams re-committed to finishing the season by putting up $50 in forfeit money, helping ensure all the franchises would finish the season. The schedule would kick off August 2, with Fargo playing Moorhead in a six game series (three games in each city), and Grand Forks battling Crookston in the same six game format. As for the previously constructed league, Moorhead was awarded the pennant after building a large lead in the standings.

Meanwhile, in their final game in Wahpeton-Breckenridge, the Methodists hosted Fargo for an afternoon contest. The Divorcees put twelve hits on the board, while W-B drew six walks off Fargo pitcher Fred Steele. Third baseman George Keas went 4 for 4 (all singles) with a sacrifice fly for the visiting team. The game was tied 5-5 in the eighth inning when play was suspended to allow Fargo to catch the train back home. It was an inauspicious ending to a very eventful week for the league. The coming days would hold more surprises for the troubled RRVL.

Sunday Argus August 1, 1897 p.8 "All Fixed Up"

On This Date: League Instability Widespread

July 30, 1897 - The Forum, in their Friday evening edition, published an interesting piece of news from the paper across the river, the Moorhead News. The article highlighted just how unstable the league situation had become by the end of July. Wahpeton-Breckenridge was not the only team in trouble. In recent meetings, re-organization of the league was a topic on the table, but not solely because the W-B franchise was struggling. The News revealed rumors that both Fargo and Grand Forks had withdrawn their forfeit money from the league's coffers. Though this fact was rebuffed by the Moorhead daily, other problems remained for the league. The transfer of the W-B franchise to Crookston was still in question, but a change needed to be made. The current arrangement for the team in the southern Valley was no longer sustainable. W-B had withdrawn their forfeit deposit in order to keep their gates open, but this act of desperation couldn't change the fact that the franchise was failing.

Further trouble was brewing with the Moorhead franchise. The Barmaids were 25-10 and in first-place in the RRVL - in fact, they were the only team even above .500. Despite the franchise's clear superiority, attendance was lagging. In a late-July home contest for Moorhead, those identified as fans of the home team accounted for less than one-fourth of the total gate receipts. The attendance total of Moorhead supporters was regularly matched or outnumbered by the visiting team's fans. Struggling to break even, folding the franchise was not outside the realm of possibilities. Moorhead's Manager Bodkin and other league officials held out hope that a new schedule and a franchise in Crookston would keep them playing in 1897.

Fargo Forum and Daily Republican July 30, 1897 p.4 "Moorhead's Tale of Woe" (citing the Moorhead News)

On This Date: Fargo Playing Better Baseball

July 29, 1897 - Fargo 14, Wahpeton-Breckenridge 2. Behind the superior twirling of Oscar Peterson, who surrendered just five hits in nine innings, the Divorcees enjoyed a big Thursday afternoon win. Shortstop Bill Zink had three hits, including a double and a triple, and third baseman George Keas had a pair of two-base hits for the Fargo club. Hartman, Hopkins, and Josh Reilly had two hits each, as did Peterson, who helped his own cause by going two-for-four hitting in the nine hole.

Frustration surfaced again for Wahpeton-Breckenridge after the contest. When the Fargo nine recorded the final out to end the game, W-B first baseman James Hart showed his displeasure by charging onto the field and assaulting Lyons, the game's umpire. The reason for the outburst was not clear. It was yet another low moment for the troubled franchise.

Fargo Forum and Daily Republican July 30, 1897 p.4 "Slugged The Umpire"

On This Date: "Where Were We At?"

July 26, 1897 - Player/manager Ed Corbett returned from league talks in Crookston to tally two hits batting cleanup for the Methodists, who won the series finale against Fargo 6-1.  Oliver Berg pitched a great game, going nine innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Berg's fielders backed up his stellar performance with their own solid effort, not committing a single error just a day after bungling 12 chances.

In Grand Forks, the Senators dropped a doubleheader to Moorhead, as the Barmaids put aces Bob Brush and Pike Mullaney on the mound. With the two losses, Grand Forks fell further behind the first-place Moorhead club, and now only led W-B by a half game in the standings. Fargo was still in the league's cellar, despite playing better in recent weeks.

"Where Were We At?" and "Moorhead Wins Two" Fargo Forum and Daily Republican July 27, 1897 p.4

On This Date: Sunday Exhibition Slaughter

July 25, 1897 - Unfortunately for Fargo, their Sunday afternoon slaughter of Wahpeton-Breckenridge didn't count in the standings. Still, the Divorcees 22-5 exhibition win over the Methodists must have been satisfying. Fargo continued to languish in last place in the RRVL, despite playing better baseball in recent weeks. Sunday's game was a wild, error-filled contest, with the teams combining for a shockingly awful 21 errors. It is hard to fathom how so many fielding miscues could occur in a minor league game. Charles C. Alexander's biography on Ty Cobb provides some insight. He highlights several aspects of baseball at the turn of the century that were unique to that era. Though much of baseball has remained unchanged in the 115 years since the Red River Valley League of 1897, one key item of contrast is found in the equipment. The fielders worked with gloves that Alexander describes as "flimsy little devices", grossly ineffective when compared with today's options. Alexander also notes that scorekeepers of games didn't give the players any breaks despite the primitive equipment. Furthermore, the lack of regularly replaced baseballs made fielders throw with less accuracy, and the pitchers didn't help with their notorious doctoring of the ball. The playing fields didn't aid fielders either, and were not tended to by full-time grounds crews. Uneven ground was more the rule than the exception. Perhaps for the RRVL, the best example of a less than ideal playing field would be the home park of the Grand Forks club. On this field, the Senators and their opponents had to contend with a cement bicycle track that was part of the baseball diamond.

Fargo and Wahpeton-Breckenridge were slated to play the final game of their series Monday afternoon. Oscar Peterson was the starting pitcher for the Divorcees, and the Methodists countered with Oliver Berg. Unfortunately for Ed Corbett and his team, the end of the series would not mark the end of trouble for the W-B franchise. Corbett spent the day in Crookston discussing the possible transfer of his team. According to the Forum, there was considerable excitement about a new rivalry between Crookston and Grand Forks. The team's transfer from W-B to Crookston was scheduled for August 2.

Fargo Forum and Daily Republican July 26, 1897 p. 4 "An Awful Score"
Charles C. Alexander Ty Cobb Oxford University Press, 1984, p. 29-30.

On This Date: Quitters Never Win, Except Today

July 24, 1897 - Wahpeton-Breckenridge soundly defeated Fargo a day after manager Ed Corbett was ejected and marched his players off the field, forfeiting the game. The Divorcees managed just "three measly singles", and a five run outburst in the fourth inning was all the Methodists needed. Southpaw Gus Munch started on the mound for Fargo, but was "as wild as a March hare", walking six batters and throwing wild four times in the 9-1 defeat. Jack Murphy, a day after his release by the Fargo club, received a warm greeting from the Fargo fans in his first game with Wahpeton-Breckenridge.

"Base Ball: Fargo Easily Defeated by Wahpeton Yesterday." Sunday Argus July 25, 1897 p. 8

*Oh, and Amelia Earhart was born July 24, 1897!

On This Date: Corbett Boils Over Under the Pressure

July 23, 1897 - It certainly wasn't a good week for Ed Corbett. With rumors of his Wahpeton-Breckenridge team's impending collapse becoming stark reality, Corbett was not ready for another loss. But in the late afternoon on Friday the 23rd, his team trailed Fargo 4-2 in the eighth inning. A third-strike called on W-B second baseman Extrom sent Corbett over the edge. The Methodist's manager charged onto the field, and with some choice words, angrily berated the game's umpire O'Donnell for the call. The ump ejected Corbett, who was so frustrated by this point that he took his team with him and forfeited the game.

Interestingly, on this same date, Fargo outfielder Jack Murphy was released and elected to sign with the turbulent W-B franchise. The prevailing belief was that the transfer of the team to Crookston would succeed within the week, and that the club would finish the year playing in northern Minnesota. After all, Crookston had expressed strong interest in fielding a team to begin the 1897 RRVL season, but the league couldn't find a sixth team to join. Officials wanted to keep the league's membership at an even number in order to ensure a balanced schedule. With potentially thin profit margins for the teams of the RRVL, avoiding scheduled days off was a priority. As a result, Crookston was left on the outside looking in.