1962 Wichita Dreamliners baseball bat
Date: 1962
These photographs show the commemorative baseball bat received by Gil Carter as a member of the Wichita Rapid Transit Dreamliners semi-pro baseball team in 1962. That year, the Dreamliners won state and national semi-pro tournaments sponsored by the National Baseball Congress. Both tournaments were held in Wichita. In the state tournament, the Dreamliners defeated Wichita Instant Glass by a 2-1 score in the twelfth inning of the final game. In the 33-team national tournament, the Dreamliners advanced through the loser's bracket to win the title by defeating the Fairbanks Goldpanners, 7-6, in the championship game. Gil Carter, the Dreamliners' left fielder, had a .484 batting average and six home runs during the national tournament, which earned him a spot on the all-tournament team. Carter played for the Dreamliners again in 1963, when the team successfully defended its state and national semi-pro titles (see Kansas Memory number 310424). Digital images of the commemorative bat were created through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

1963 Wichita Dreamliners baseball bat
Date: 1963
These photographs show the commemorative baseball bat received by Gil Carter as a member of the Wichita Rapid Transit Dreamliners semi-pro baseball team in 1963. That year, the Dreamliner team successfully defended its state and national semi-pro titles by winning tournaments at both levels sponsored by the National Baseball Congress. In the state tournament, the Dreamliners defeated Wichita Service Auto Glassmen by a 6-5 score in the eleventh inning of the final game. In the national tournament, the Dreamliners bested Ponchatoula, Louisiana by a score of 5-4 in the title game. Both tournaments were held in Wichita. Gil Carter was an outfielder for the 1963 Dreamliners. He also was in the starting lineup for the Dreamliners in 1962, when the team won its first state and national semi-pro titles (see Kansas Memory number 310423). Digital images of the commemorative bat were created through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

1969 SCABA baseball yearbook, Topeka, Kansas
Creator: Shawnee County Amateur Baseball Association, Inc.
Date: 1969
Shown here is the 1969 yearbook published by the Shawnee County Amateur Baseball Association, Inc. (SCABA), a youth baseball organization with facilities at Lake Shawnee in Topeka, Kansas. The yearbook includes photos of teams who participated in each of the SCABA age divisions offered in 1969--Minor League, Midget, Gopher, Pony, and Pony Express. Also identified are the championship teams in each league, as well as the team sponsors. Among the players pictured in the yearbook is Lon Kruger, the Silver Lake native who would become well-known for his basketball career, first as a player at Kansas State University, and later as a collegiate and NBA coach. In the summer of 1969, Kruger played for the Bluejays, the co-champions in SCABA's Pony Express League, and winner of the league tournament. Digital reproduction of the yearbook was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

1972 Gold Glove awarded to Topekan Ken Berry
Date: 1972
This photograph features the Gold Glove awarded to Topekan Ken Berry for his defensive excellence as a center fielder for the 1972 California Angels. It was Berry's second Gold Glove, his first having been received in 1970 as a member of the Chicago White Sox. In 1972, Berry had an error-free season and led all American League outfielders in fielding percentage (1.000) and assists (13). He also was the league's co-leader in double plays turned by an outfielder (5). His adeptness in making difficult plays earned Berry the nickname "The Bandit," and he was especially known for spectacular catches at the wall which robbed many hitters of a home run. Ken Berry's major league career spanned 14 seasons, during which he played in 1,383 games for four teams, including the Chicago White Sox (1962-1970), California Angels (1971-73), Milwaukee Brewers (1974), and Cleveland Indians (1975). His career fielding percentage was .989. Offensively, Berry hit for a career average of .255, with his best year being 1972 when he batted .289. In 1967, he was named to the American League's All-Star Team. Following his major league career, Berry was the field manager for eight minor league teams; he also worked in several organizations as a minor league instructor and coach. Berry graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1959, and attended Wichita State University. Digital images of Ken Berry's 1972 Gold Glove were created through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

Abilene Ikes baseball team, Abilene, Kansas
Date: 1949
This photograph features the 1949 Abilene Ikes, the team that won the pennant in the Amateur Baseball League of America with a record of 28-20. The ABLA, which was established in 1947 as a successor to the Central Division of the Kansas Ban Johnson League, consisted of five teams in 1949, including Abilene, Beloit, Clay Center, Junction City, and Manhattan. Standing in the photo are (l to r): Jim Schlesener, Lonnie Golden, Leo Christopher, Tex Seymour, Chick Gordon, Gus Carmack, Clyde Girrens, Wayne Platz, and Mike Gulino. Seated are (l to r): William Bell, Jack Sullivan, Carrol Bryant, Sonny Hancks, Von Price (manager), Dale Hatfield, Bob Stewart, Bob Tomchak, and Neale Henderson. The photo appeared in the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle on August 9, 1949. Digital reproduction of the photograph was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

Academy baseball team, Hiawatha, Kansas
Date: Between 1905 and 1915
This postcard is a studio portrait of the Hiawatha Academy baseball team. The image is undated, but it was likely made between 1905 and 1915. The Hiawatha Academy was an educational institution that accepted its first students in the fall of 1888. It ceased operation at the close of the school term in May 1915.

Aerial view of Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Date: 1966
This is an aerial view of Garden City, Kansas. This photograph was donated by the Kansas Industrial Development Commission. A baseball field is in the foreground.

Aidan Ives and the Midget 9 Blue Jays baseball team in Topeka, Kansas
Creator: Wichers Studio
Date: 2012
These two photographs show Aidan Ives, age 9, and the Midget 9 Blue Jays baseball team he played for in the Ken Berry League in Topeka, Kansas. Digital reproduction of the photographs was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

All-State team semi-pro baseball certificate
Date: 1948
This certificate was presented to Charles (Chick) Gordon in recognition of his selection to the 1948 All-State Baseball Team at the state semi-pro baseball tournament in Wichita, Kansas. Gordon participated in the tournament as the starting right-fielder for the Topeka Decker Oilers, the team that won the state championship that year. He was one of 16 players named to the All-State team by the National Baseball Congress of America, the tournament sponsor. Digital reproduction of the certificate was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1992
This photograph from 1992 shows the American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Baxter Springs, 11-2, in the title game played in Ottawa. In the front are (l to r): Derek Bahner; Scott Wichman; Robert Nordyke; Lance Smith; Blake Smith; Jason Allen; Justin Shaw; and, Jason Hogle. In the back are (l to r): Jess Adams (head coach); Colin Russell (assistant coach); Mark Keller; Brad Lindstrom; Jody Mitchell; Michael Walker; Matthew Harrington; Shawn Denton; Mike Burton (manager); and, Will Burton (assistant coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1979
This photograph from 1979 shows the American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Manhattan in the title game played in Concordia. Pictured in the back row are (l to r): Tim Cunningham; Ron Drake; Shane Saia; Jerry Kruger; Billy Childs; Jon McCormick; Vic Saia (coach); and, Sheldon Pokorney (head coach). In the front are (l to r): Tom Hinson; David Workman; Dudley Brooks; Bruce Ferguson; Alan Cunningham; Shannon Saia; Bryan Ferguson; and, Alan Martinek. Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1981
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 1981. The team won its third consecutive Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Smith Center in the title game played in Seneca. The Post 160 team then defeated a team from Hays, the Class AAA Legion champions, for the right to represent Kansas in the American Legion's multi-state regional tournament held in Ralston, Nebraska. Standing in the photo are (l to r): David Dodge; Scott Abbott; Steve Brady; Jerry Kruger; Bryan Ferguson; Jess Adams; and, Deron Johnson. Kneeling in the front are (l to r): Mike Burton (manager); David Workman; Brent Lilley; Doug McDaniel; Bruce Ferguson; Tom Hinson; Alan Martinek; and, Sheldon Pokorney (coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1975
These photographs feature the 1975 American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The photos were taken during the American Legion's Class AA state baseball championship tournament held in Seneca. The Post 160 team won the state championship that year by defeating Lyndon in the title game. Members of the 1975 Post 160 team were: Bobby Bowers; Randy Brown; Alan Cunningham; Mark Elliott; Donald Francis; Brett Hamilton; Darrel Harden; Mike Kruger; Ken Martinek; Ronnie Martinek; Jon McCormick; Chuck Ross; Kevin Ward; Cecil Hamilton (manager and head coach); C.J. Hamilton (assistant coach); Kent Hamilton (assistant coach); and, David Boyd (batboy). Digital reproduction of the photos was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1982
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 1982. The team won its fourth consecutive Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Norton, 10-0, in the title game played in Elkhart. Seated at the front in the photo is batboy Will Burton. Kneeling behind him are (l to r): Kasey Kirkwood; Brent Lilley; Monte Ellis; Gary Workman; Kevin Scott; Deron Johnson; John Cowan; and, Steve Brady. Standing are (l to r): Mike Burton (manager); David Kruger; Bruce Ferguson; Tim Cunningham; Jess Adams; Joe Booth; Brian Sage; Scott Sage; and, Sheldon Pokorney (coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 2005
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 2005. The team won the American Legion Class AA state championship by defeating Marysville, 14-2, in the title game played in Pratt. Pictured in the front are (l to r): Luke Perry; Chris Linnemann; Chris Graves; Tyler Wegele; Adam Simone; and, Tanner Fritz. In the back are (l to r): Kirk Simone (head coach); Brett Hamilton (assistant coach); Josh Corpening; Derek Graves; Josh Maike; Curtis Hamilton; Eric Esparza; and Scott Graves (assistant coach). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1980
The American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas is shown in this photograph from 1980. The team won the 1980 Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Lawrence in the title game played in Osborne. It was Post 160's second consecutive state championship. Pictured in the front row are (l to r): Craig Cox (coach); David Workman; Tom Hinson; Doug McDaniel; Bob Pfannenstiel; Bruce Ferguson; Steve Brady; and, Sheldon Pokorney (head coach). In the back row are (l to r): Dudley Brooks, Scott Abbott, Jerry Kruger, Ron Drake, Bryan Ferguson, Shannon Saia, and, Tim Cunningham. Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1976
This photograph from 1976 shows the Post 160 American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team finished first in the West division of the American Legion Tri-District League. Pictured in the front are (l to r): Brett Hamilton; Alan Cunningham; Roger Page; and, Craig Cox. In the middle are (l to r): Mike Kruger; Bob Bowers; Shawn Saia; Duane Martinek; Greg Marney; and, Chuck Ross. In the back are (l to r): Kent Hamilton (coach); Mark Elliott; Jon McCormick; Ron Martinek; Carl French; Jerry Dolezilek; and, Lon Kruger (manager). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team in Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1989
This photograph from 1989 shows the American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Concordia in the title game played in Concordia. Seated in the front are Jason Allen (on the left) and Blake Smith. Kneeling are (l to r): Colin Russell; Brad Lindstrom; Cory Graves; Scott Vande Velde; Bryan Lindstrom; and, Tavis Desormiers. Standing are (l to r): Jess Adams (head coach); Brent Adams (assistant coach); Monte Blanding; Matt Harrington; Mike Bush; Will Burton; and, Mike Burton (manager). Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team in Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1975
This photograph shows the 1975 American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The team won the Class AA American Legion state championship by defeating Lyndon in the title game played in Seneca. Seated in the front row of the photo is batboy David Boyd. Kneeling behind him are (l to r): Chuck Ross; Brett Hamilton; Randy Brown; Alan Cunningham; Mike Kruger; and, Bobby Bowers. In the back are (l to r): Cecil Hamilton (manager and head coach); Darrel Harden; Jon McCormick; Kevin Ward; Ronnie Martinek; Mark Elliott; Don Francis; and, Ken Martinek. Not pictured are coaches C.J. Hamilton and Kent Hamilton. Digital reproduction of the photo was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

American Legion baseball team, Topeka, Kansas
Date: Between 1930 and 1939
Topeka's Capitol Post 1 American Legion baseball team is shown in this photograph believed to have been taken in the 1930s. The only person identified is the coach, Claude Hays, who is standing on the far right. The Capitol Post 1 teams were very successful from the late 1920s through the mid-1950s. Between 1928 and 1957, teams sponsored by Capitol Post 1 captured 16 state American Legion baseball titles. Digital reproduction of the photograph was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ancient Order of United Workmen baseball team in Shawnee, Kansas
Date: October 04, 1903
This is a photograph of the AOUW (Ancient Order of United Workmen) 394 baseball team in Shawnee, Kansas. People in the photograph are (standing left to right) Dan Bousman, Theo. Wertz, Chas. Van Bebber, Dr. Harvey Maloney, Bert Keeran, Carl Gillespie and seated (left to right) Earl Hughes, Frank Keeran, Harvey Kiser, and Frank Wendt. The Ancient Order of United Workmen was a fraternal, charitable, beneficial, benevolent society, organized for the promotion of the welfare of its members and those dependent on them. It was formed in response to individuals moving from farms into urban areas during the late nineteenth century, providing a social network among those migrants. The organization held lectures, read essays, discussed news, encouraged research and the arts, and provided financial aid for the support and improvement of its members.

Andrew Frank Schoeppel, Kansas Governor
Date: April 17, 1946
This photograph shows Kansas Governor Andrew Schoeppel pitching at a Kansas City Blues vs Minneapolis Millers baseball game.

Annual fair of the Saline County Agricultural, Horticultural & Mechanical Association
Creator: Saline County Agricultural, Horticultural, and Mechanical Association
Date: September 23 - 28, 1884
This poster announces a fair to held in Salina, Kansas, sponsored by the Saline County Agricultural, Horticultural & Mechanical Association. Highlights of the fair include speed trials each day, fine fruits and vegetable displays, and reduced railroad rates. The poster includes many color illustrations of livestock, produce, and horse and high wheel bicycle racing. Activities include baseball games, bands, and running races. The fair is held in Oakdale Park, Salina, Kansas.

Appanoose township baseball team in Franklin County, Kansas
Date: 1932
This photograph from 1932 shows the Appanoose township baseball team in Franklin County, Kansas. Only two individuals in the photo have been identified. John Montgomery is standing in the back row on the far left. Louie Maag is standing in the back row, fourth from the left.

Argonia baseball team, Argonia, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1899
A photograph of the Argonia Baseball team, Argonia, Kansas. The members of the team are: (standing) Charles Harlan, John Pennybaker, Brent Harlan, Mark Pennybaker, Otto Riggs, (seated) John Dunham, Austin, Newbold, George Cease, Gene Springer, Marshall Henderson, and Roy Ford.