History
In 1887, the Des Moines Hawkeyes played in the Northwestern League - against such teams as the Minneapolis Millers and the Duluth Freezers - to mark the inaugural season of professional baseball here.
And for parts of three centuries - the 19th, 20th, and now the 21st - the national pastime would be an important part of life in the capital city.
Professional baseball would come and go as leagues and teams rose and folded. The Hawkeyes became the Colts and Prohibitionists of the Western Association. The Western League teams had nicknames that included Midgets, Undertakers, Underwriters, Champions, Champs, Boosters, Demons and Bruins. Since 1969, Des Moines has been fortunate to lay claim to a Triple-A franchise. The Iowa Oaks were among the six American Association teams that year. And in 1982, the Oaks became the Cubs - one year after they became the Chicago Cubs' top minor league team.
But there is more to the history of professional baseball in Des Moines than names and dates.
The first games in 1887 were played at Athletic Park on the old Polk County Fairgrounds in front of Seventh Street along the Raccoon River. And according to baseball historian Jay Sanford, here are some interesting anecdotes of the early years:
• In 1890, to attract fans to the ballpark, the team owners tried novelties such as balloon ascensions, Ladies' Day, parachute jumps and even a May Day festival. But because of low attendance, the franchise moved to Lincoln, Neb., in August that season.
• In 1894, baseball returned to Des Moines. Although the team was known as the Prohibitionists, one newspaper account noted that "Gambling syndicates are numerous and players are heavy drinkers."
• In 1896, Des Moines won an all-time Western League record 26 straight games, and many of the league teams pulled out. Still, because of lack of attendance, Des Moines' home games were moved to Ottumwa.
• In 1905 and 1906, Des Moines won the Western League pennant. The 1906 team included Eddie Cicotte, one of eight Chicago White Sox players later convicted of throwing the 1919 World Series.
• In 1910, the Des Moines team was forced to play on the road for six weeks due to poor support at home games.
• In 1914, Des Moines won four straight exhibition games from the Chicago White Sox.
• On May 2, 1930, the first night professional baseball game under permanent lights was played in Des Moines. The Demons defeated Wichita, 13-6.
•In 1947, professional baseball return after a 10-year absence as Pioneer Memorial Stadium was built on the current site of the stadium.
• On Sept. 2, 1959, Pioneer Memorial Stadium was renamed for long-time Des Moines Register sports editor Sec Taylor.
• In 1969, after seven years without professional baseball, the Iowa Oaks made their debut.
• In 1970, Iowa pitcher Vida Blue led the American Association with 165 strikeouts, including 16 in one game. Both records still stand.
• In 1973, the Oaks won 22 games in July en route to the American Association Eastern Division title.
• In 1981, the Oaks became an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. A year later the team changed name to the Iowa Cubs.
• On Aug. 21, 1984, Reggie Patterson threw a no-hitter against Omaha - the last Iowa pitcher to do so.
• In August 1990, Des Moines voters approved a bond issue to rebuild Sec Taylor Stadium. The new stadium opened in April 1992.
• In 1993, the Iowa Cubs won the American Association title.
• In 1997, the Iowa Cubs won the American Association Western Division title.
• In 1998, the Iowa Cubs won the Pacific Coast League Central Division title. A crowd of 13,660, then the largest ever at Sec Taylor, watched a Fourth of July fireworks show.
• In 2000, the Iowa Cubs set a franchise record with an attendance of 483,176.
• The Iowa Cubs won 24 of their last 32 regular season games to win the PCL Central Division title in 2001.
• In 2002, the Iowa Cubs broke the franchise record for attendance, topping the half-million mark for the first time. A total of 509,384 fans saw the Iowa Cubs play.
• On Aug. 5, 2004, Sec Taylor Stadium was renamed Principal Park. The Iowa Cubs won the PCL Central Division and American Conference titles.
• On June 24, 2005, a crowd of 13,669 - then the largest in stadium history - watches Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood in a rehab assignment start and a post-game fireworks show.
• In 2007, the Iowa Cubs set a new franchise record with 576,310 people passing through the gates at Principal Park.
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