Nebraska Minor League Baseball
Nebraska State League
1959
Nebraska State League
Standings 1959
President: Mike Hollinger
|
| Standings |
Win-- |
Loss-- |
GB--- |
Attendance |
Manager |
|
| McCook Braves (MIL) |
43 |
19 |
- |
19,788 |
Bill Steinecke |
| Holdrege White Sox (CHI) |
39 |
23 |
4 |
11,963 |
Frank Parenti |
| Grand Island A's (KC) |
32 |
30 |
11 |
16,716 |
Art Mazmanian |
| Kearney Yankees (NYY) |
27 |
35 |
16 |
13,141 |
Jimmy Gleeson |
| Hastings Giants (SF) |
23 |
39 |
20 |
10,235 |
Leo Schrall |
| North Platte Indians (CLE) |
22 |
40 |
21 |
14,275 |
Mark Wylie |
|
| BA: Ike Futch, Kearney, .319 |
| Runs: Frank Saia, McCook, 63 |
| Hits: Woody Huyke, Hastings, 71 |
| RBIs: Boyd Coffie, Kearney, 63 |
| HRs: Woody Huyke, Hastings, 12 |
| Wins: Anthony Filicchia, Grand Island,
11 |
| SOs: Dennis Overby, McCook, 136 |
| ERA: Paul Chenger, McCook, 2.13 |
|
|
Phil Niekro
McCook Braves 1959
(1966 Topps card)
|
Although this was to be the last year for the Nebraska State League and
attendance was nothing to write home about. In some ways it was the best
year the league ever had. The McCook Braves were a team with a number of
future major league stars and other teams had their quota of future major
league players also. Lexington and Superior were dropped from the league
and the remaining six teams played a 62 game schedule. At the end of the year the league was
disbanded as the minor league underwent serious contraction. This was also the last year
for the Omaha Cardinals.
The league financials gives a good look into the status of minor league baseball at that time
The league wound up with a surplus of
$300 for the year.
Revenue:
Each of the 6 cities was expected to sell at least 500 books of tickets at $10.00 each
with all the revenue going to the league. .
That would provide $30,000 to the league in advanced ticket sales. From 500 to 600 the
league took 75% and over 600 the league took 50%. McCook sold the most tickets with
Kearney and Grand Island also selling over 600 books The league reported $34,000 in
total advance ticket sales. Gate receipts brought in another $10,000 and concessions
brought in $1,800. Advertising sales on the outfield walls netted #1,000 fines brought in
$60.00 and radio rights brought in another $250 per station. Total revenue was close to
$49,000.
Expenses
Travel expenses for buses and gas ran $9,600. Rooms added $1,700 (note a hotel room
in central Nebraska averaged $5.00 a night in 1959. Printing for tickets, programs and
other materials ran $371.00.
For comparison, The minimum wage in 1959 was $1.00 an hour. Average hourly wage was around $1.50 and
auto workers were making $2.37 an hour. Teachers made about $4,000 a year, nurses $4,500 a
year. Less than 1% made more than $15,000 a year with 70% of the workforce earning between
$2,000 and $5,000 a year.
The year
McCook under Bill Steinecke was loaded with talent. They split with
Holdrege 6-6 during the year but won every other series. Holdrege also
won every series but a game here and a game there resulted in them winding
up in second place.
With future hall of fame pitcher Phil Niekro, future
major league all star Ron Hunt and future long term
Baltimore catcher
Ellie Hendricks the Braves had quite a team for class
"D". Paul Chenger
led the Braves with a 10-1 record and William Stevens led the team with a
.317 average.
In addition to these future major league stars, McCook had bonus baby Pat
Jordan pitching for the Braves. He is best known for his sports memoir "A
False
Spring", a great baseball book about his experiences in the minor leagues.
Future major league pitcher Bruce Brubaker joined Phil
Niekro on the McCook staff.
Future major league all star Jose Santiago was a 19
year old pitcher with Grand Island in 1959 and Fred "Bubby"
Talbot was a newly signed amateur free agent with the Holdrege
White Sox. He had an 8 year major league career.
Holdrege also had Al Weis who led the NSL in assists in
1959 and made it to the majors with the Sox in 1962. Duke Sims
caught for North Platte in 1959 and was promoted to the parent
Indians in 1964.
The Kearney Yankees had future major league all star Jim
Bouton on their roster. After an injury to his pitching thumb
while with the Auburn Yankees in the NY-Penn League he was assigned to
Kearney to finish the year.
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