The History File: Industrial Leagues
Riverview was home to the Industrial League
By Bob Dalrymple (originally published in the 1987 Game Program)
Riverview Stadium was just a few years old when World War II loomed on the horizon. Only the major leagues and one or two of the high minor leagues continued operation. All other minor league clubs suspended action. This included the Three I League, and Clinton's Giants. Local industry representatives determined that Clinton baseball fans would not be deprived of their favorite pastime during the summer months. An association was formed called Clinton Sports Association, Inc., with Rodney Fitch as the President. A baseball league was formed from seven local industries, with games to be played in the Stadium during twilight hours, and if sufficient interest was evidenced, it was agreed that it would be possible to play some games under floodlights.
The first team sponsors were: Clinton Company (now ADM), Curtis Co. Inc., Collis Co., Clinton Bridge and Iron Works, E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Central Steel Tube Co. and the Savanna Ordnance Depot Officers School. Rosters were open to all company employees, and many area high school and college players, as well as veterans of American Legion and semi-pro ball attended the tryouts. Many of these players performed in the league both before and after their military service. The Opening Day of the Clinton Industrial League was scheduled for June 1, 1942 at 6:30 pm. Each team played a 14-game schedule in June, July and August of that year. All of the players were employed in vital war-related occupations in the various essential industries, on a three shift, 24-hour basis, and the juggling of lineups to field teams was a continual problem for the managers. The winner of the pennant in the initial 1942 season was Clinton Bridge and Iron Works. All-Star squads were selected from the league teams each year, for a post-season game at the end of the season at Labor Day. In 1942 the All-Stars played a strong team from the military base at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., losing 5-3. In 1944 the All-Stars defeated the Davenport Blackhawks 3-2. In other years the All-Star squads squared off against the Industrial League Champion of that year. All of these post-season games were played to a capacity house, and regular league games also drew very well, as the many employees of the industries supported their favorites and the competition between the plants became very heated.
Without the protection that the present dike system provides, games during the summer were frequently postponed due to high water, and the river did completely overflow Riverview Stadium in June of 1943 and June of 1944, when a high water mark of 18.5 feet was recorded, forcing postponements and rescheduling. Schick General Hospital, which had been under construction in 1942, fielded an excellent team comprised of military personnel attached to the Hospital, in time for the 1943 season. Many of the Schick players as well as the Savanna Ordnance team members, were veterans of play in the high minor leagues before their entry into the service. The DuPont Company won the Championship in 1943, and Schick Hospital won in both 1944 and 1945. In 1946, with the war over, Pillsbury Mills replaced Schick in the eight team league and Central Steel Tube Co. won the Championship, defeating Clinton Industries in a best-of-three playoff.
In 1947 the Stadium had a dual use, as both the Industrial League and the Clinton Cubs, now an entry of the Central Association, shared the Stadium, as professional ball returned to Clinton. The Industrial League played afternoons and on Sunday. When the Cubs played on Sunday afternoon, the Industrial teams played at night. Once again all June games had to be cancelled due to rain, and Central Steel won the 1947 Championship with a 12-3 record. 1947 proved to be the last season for the Industrial League. It had served its purpose by providing a fine caliber of baseball for the local fans, and the problems created by both the pros and the Industrials playing in the same park, were just too many to overcome to the satisfaction of both groups.
After the League disbanded, many of the All-Star players banded together. One portion of them re-grouped as the Camanche Indians once again, while the Clinton Players operated for several more years under the auspices of Clinton Industries, or the Collis Company, with their final name change being the Clinton Independents.
As the Independents, they once again played semi-pro ball against the surrounding town teams and played in both the Iowa and Illinois State Semi-Pro Tournaments. The Independents also brought into Riverview Stadium some of the top touring teams of that time, including the Tama Indians, the Indianapolis Clowns, the Arkansas Hillbillies and the Chicago Black Barons and many others. Many of the Industrial League players wound up their careers with teams in the Cornbelt League or the Illowa League, and many who started in the Industrial League went on to play a few seasons in the lower minor league classifications. No organization since has filled such a need, generated such enthusiasm, or produced so many quality ball players, as the Clinton Industrial League of the '40's.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between