Expectations were high as the 1914 season started in Grand Island. The first game of the season featured a speech by mayor Ryan and the first pitch was thrown by Mrs. Arthur Glade with Mrs. Walter Schortop behind the plate and Miss Marie Rourke at the bat. Beatrice was the foe. Vance the Grand Island catcher had four hits for the day and led GI to a 14-4 victory over the Blues.

Grand Island was considered to be one of the best teams in the league before the season began. In July it looked like the hot stove season predictions were wrong. The team was in 6th place at the end of July. They then won 10 out of 12 games in early August and by August 8th they were in 2nd place. They continued their winning ways and won the league championship.

Roster:

C. "Harry" Clair handled the first base chores for GI during the 1914 season. He was also the manager. He was in 113 games and averaged .257. He played for Nebraska city in 1912, Kearney in 1910 and Kewanee in 1909 and 1910.

In the dirt at second base was Ed Roben. He also played in 113 games and averaged .224. He started in the MINK league in 1912 with Hiawatha.

The hot corner saw Frank Synek with the glove. He averaged .261. He played for McPherson in 1909-1910, Kearney in 1911 and 1913 and Muskogee in 1915.

At short stop was Chuck Ward He averaged .305. He started with MINK league in 1912. He made it to the National League in 1917 with Pittsburg and played for Pittsburg and Brooklyn through the 1922 season.

Catcher for GI in 1914 was Vance. He averaged .246.

Outfield:

Payne was a regular in the garden in 1914. He averaged .304 and led the league with 40 stolen bases.

A. Downey was in his fourth year in the NSL. He played for Kearney for two years and was in his second year for Grand Island. He played in 102 games and averaged .235.

Clay Schoonover played for Omaha in 1910 and 1911. He then played for Grand Island from 1911 through 1914. He averaged .330 in 59 games.

Paul Obst played in 100 games and averaged .172.

Wallace played in 40 games and averaged .270.

Joseph Varney was in 46 games and averaged . 286.

Pitchers:

Berney Everdon was 20-8 in 29 games. His success in 1914 was noticed by Pa Rourke and he was bought by Omaha for the 1915 season.

Guy Hoffman averaged .263 as a hitter and had a 19-8 record in 35 games. He had a 1 hit game vs Beatrice on June 19th but lost the game. He was picked up by Lincoln in the Western League for the 1915 season.

Stevens was 9-7 in 18 games.

Buck Thiessen was 1-1, Sidney Hatch was 9-14 and Bob Irion was 2-6 for Grand Island in 1914.

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