The Lincoln Links for 1930 looked forward to the 1930 campaign with great anticipation. Landis field, home of the Links had lights installed by the Giant Manufacturing Company of Council Bluffs Iowa and Trenton N.J. The Lincoln paper crowed that the first class "D" night game was going to be played in Lincoln. 170,000 watts of lighting were installed for the field which provided greater illumination than the field in Des Moines, home of the first night game under permanent lights.
Manager of the Links was long time major leaguer Les Nunamaker, a native of Aurora Nebraska. Les looked far and wide for baseball talent even acquiring the services of Justo Dominquez from Cuba. The Links started the year with only six veteran players and the revolving door of players tried and discarded started. The Links were not up to the challenge of the league and finished with a 56-66 record 29 ½ games out of first place.
The Links also struck a deal with KFOR radio and the Lincoln station broadcast the games. They joined Norfolk as listening to the games on the radio at night became a favorite activity for baseball fans. The author still remembers listening to the Cardinals games in the late 50's, lights out, hoping for a summer breeze, hoping for a Cardinals win.
The league spent the year in financial difficulty as the depression deepened as the summer wore on. By 1931 the league contracted to 6 teams with Norton Kansas and Fairbury dropping out of the league. Cy Sherman, writer for the Lincoln papers was in favor of Lincoln dropping out of the league as he did not like Lincoln competing with the smaller towns in the state. His writing certainly did not assist with attendance.
Players
At the end of the season Bob Russell of York selected an all star team to play against the McCook title team. As some of the players had moved up to a higher league the all star team did not include those players who had been sold during the year or anyone from McCook.
Ed Taylor led the league in runs scored with 125. The center fielder was chosen as one of the all stars to play against McCook. He batted .302 for the season.
Herman Cholcher returned to the Links after having a try out with the Columbia South Carolina Club of the South Atlantic League. He batted .331 in leading the Links in 1929. He wound up with Grand Island where he batted .333 for the year.
Leo Ogorek batted .338 in 116 games. He returned to Lincoln for 1931 then he was promoted to Des Moines in the Western League in 1932. He played in organized ball through the 1941 season.
John Gabler returned for the 1930 season. The infielder from Shawnee Oklahoma batted .312 for the season.
Cecil Eash batted .311. He played for Grand Island in 1929, Lincoln in 1930 and York in 1931.
Martin Hauser was the catcher for the Links. He played in the NSL for two years then was given a tryout with Oklahoma City in 1931.
Robert Roland played in 83 games and averaged .234.
G. H. Davison played in 43 games at third base and had a .208 average.
Ralph Hoerner played in 122 games and averaged .292.
Clay Christiansen was a pitcher from Council Bluffs Iowa. He was 8-8 for the Links in 1930 with an even 100 strike outs.
Elmer Lindahl was 10-6 with 101 strike outs.
Green was 3-2.
Smoky Joe Mysza graduated from Harrison Tech in Chicago and was given a tryout by Fairbury. Fairbury released him and he was picked up by Lincoln. He was 8-6 for the season. In 1931 he was released by Lincoln and picked up by Grand Island. His best season was 1932 when he led the league in winning percentage at 13-3. He was featured in a Sporting News article for his accomplishments in 1932.
Robert Pickering returned to Lincoln for the 1930 season. The left handed pitcher was 11-12.
Ernie Krenk a veteran in the league and a regular for Lincoln for a number of years. He was 8-9 for the season.
Howard Irvin had a 2-4 record for Lincoln.
Clair Sloan was 5-2 for Lincoln.