In January of 1936 Pug Griffin was suspended from baseball. While no official reason was announced the Sporting News reported that gambling was involved in his suspension. Thirty one year old Pid Purdy made a bid for the franchise and eventually was successful in taking over from Cy Lingle and Pug. Purdy went to Cincinatti to try to arrange a working agreement with the Reds.
The Lincoln team did reach an agreement with the Reds and with Nashville. Attendance was poor from the start. When the temperature in Lincoln peaked at over 100 degrees for most of the summer attendance further dropped. Purdy made a last minute attempt to move the franchise to Grand Island without success. The franchise folded and the Sporting News reported that they were over $3,800 in debt. Purdy moved on to play in the Western League for Rock Island for the rest of the season.
A number of players were picked up by Nashville and others moved to the remaining teams in the NSL.
Roster:
Donald Toraason was an eighteen year old rookie.
He played first for 17 games and averaged
.157. He played for Eau Claire in 1938, Crookston in 1939, and Appleton
and Crookston in 1940.
Chas Barnhart was a 20 year old who played 64 games at second and averagd .287.
At third was George Lowinger. He averaged .237 in 12 games.
Harold Ludwig averaged .258 in 44 games. His contract was picked up by Nashville when the Lincoln franchise folded.
Manager Pid Purdy played in 27 games and averaged .333. He moved to Rock Island in the Western League after the franchise folded.
Steve (perhaps Martin) Chiado averaged .328 in 64 games and was picked up by Nashville in July.
Mike Simons averaged .355 in 64 games. He was also picked up by Nashville.
Todd Poynter was a catcher in 1936. He played in 51 games and averaged .269.
Fred Millican caught 61 games and averaged .250.
Robert Austin caught in 21 games and averaged .218.
Louis Delatine played in 20 games and averaged .220
Loyal Hodge played short stop for 23 games and 32 games total and averaged .267.
Pitchers:
Norman Tarantola was 7-6 in 15 appearances. He moved to Nashville when the franchise folded but as far as I can tell he did not play for Nashville in 1936. He played for Terre Haute, Peoria and Johnstown in 1937.
Goodwin Toraason was 9-10 in 21 games. He also moved to Nashville but eventually wound up in DeLand in the Florida State League where he was 0-3.
Fisher was 2-0 in 16 games.
Clayton Cook pitched in 15 games and was 0-7.
Alva Pearson was 2-7 in 16 games.
Louis Delatine was 6-8 as a pitcher in 17 games.