The second iteration of the Nebraska State League began with the 1922 season and lasted two years. The Fairbury team played on a diamond in city park, just west of the main business section. The park is still there, and is still being used for baseball. It is at the end of a tree lined boulevard and the park entrance is currently framed by two brick arches.

The Fairbury franchise followed the league suggestions and set admission to 35 cents for the bleachers and 55 cents for the grandstands. The team was run by George Segrist who was originally from Sioux City. While most of the teams travelled by train, George acquired a number of automobiles and Fairbury was one of the first teams to use this form of transportation for away games. The town was completing a growth spurt caused by the railroad. The 1920 census showed the town with 5,424 people. The 1930 census had the town at 6,192. Today there are about 4,200 people who call Fairbury home.

Fairbury started fast and won the first half of the split season with a 37-32 record. They fell to a 21-28 record for the second half of the season but they were assured a playoff spot with their first half finish. The playoffs went to seven games with the seventh and deciding game being played in Fairbury. The Jeffs were behind 3-2 going into the bottom of the ninth. Rooney started the Fairbury half of the ninth with a single to center. Wimbush put down the sacrifice to move Rooney to second. With the Jeffs two outs away from elimination, McDermott singled scoring Rooney to tie the game. The next man up, Bliss smacked another single and McDermott moved to third on some fancy base running. In a daring play, Reichle put down the squeeze bunt and McDermott scored giving Fairbury the championship.

Doyle "Porky" Lade was a one year old Fairbury fan in 1922. The Fairbury native made his major league debut in 1946 with the Chicago Cubs. The right handed pitcher pitched in 126 games in his four year major league stint. He died in Lincoln in 2000.

The Fairbury Journal was a weekly newspaper during this era. This limited the amount of information that is available about the team.

Roster:
Roscoe Albert "Wattie" Holm was a regular for Fairbury during the 1922 season. The Peterson Iowa native played for the University of Iowa. He was signed to a Cardinals contract at the end of the year. He made it to the show in 1924. He played for Syracuse, Houston, Rochester and St. Louis through the 1932 season. He had a lifetime .275 average with St. Louis over 7 years. He managed Springfield in 1932 and finished his career in Columbus. In 1935 he was running a sporting goods store in Storm Lake Iowa and was featured in a "Where are They Now" series by the Sporting News. He died in 1950 in Everly Iowa.

Thirty nine year old Ed Reichle was a regular for Fairbury in 1922 and averaged .325 in 112 games. He started in Sioux City Iowa. His first pro job was with Keokuk in the Iowa State League in 1908. He played for Keokuk for four years. He was bought by Pittsburg, but assigned to Utica in 1912. His career included stints in Wilkes Barre, Harrisburg and Hartford. In 1923 he was with Norfolk he also was with Beatrice in 1924. From 1925-1928 he managed Burlington. In 1929 he managed Davenport in the Mississippi Valley league.

Wimbush averaged .309 while tending first base in 1922.

Rooney played in 105 games at second base and averaged .308.

Joe Goodwin averaged .292 and was sold to Wichita at the end of the season. That did not pan out and he was back playing for Fairbury in 1923.

Dick Cleveland held down the hot corner and averaged .295.

Pat O'Conner was a young catcher from Sioux City. He caught 78 games and averaged .299. He was hit in the head by a pitch in July and missed a number of games.

Ernest Lovich averaged .245 in 45 games.

George Bliss averaged .351 while tending the garden for 108 games.

Jenney led the team with a 17-5 record.

Woolfolk was right behind Jenney with a 17-7 record.

Hilton was 12-7, Bittendorf was 12-10 and Willey was 14-12 in 1922.

Ernest Lovich was 13-13, Pugh was 2-1, Brown was 1-2 and Coshow was 0-3 for the year. Nebraska State League 1922

Nebraska Minor League Baseball