The 1913 season was one of hope and promise in Seward in 1913. The weather however, had a different idea.
A devastating tornado in the spring of 1913 led to the demise of the Seward franchise. After the tornado, the attention of the town turned to reconstruction and entertainment took a backseat.
The Seward franchise moved to Beatrice in the middle of the season and a Seward never again hosted a professional team. The York team did play a number of their games in Seward.
Beatrice started the 1913 year as a member of the MINK league. They signed John Gonding as their manager but later determined that John had also signed with Columbus in the Nebraska State League. The Mink league did not last the season and folded on June 17th. When the Seward franchise looked like it was going under in June due to a lack of attendance, Beatrice stepped in to take over the franchise. They already had the ball park, management, balls, bats and uniforms left over from their MINK league days. The switch was made and the Seward team was moved to Beatrice. The in town ball park was not in any condition to host games so all games were held at the driving park.
Roster:
George Brannon played in 104 games for Beatrice in 1913.
Van Tappen played 112 games and averaged .259.
W.T. Hicklin averaged .304 while tending the garden for 111 games.
Percy Ling averaged .290 and was also a regular in the garden for York.
Tom Poteet averaged .243 in 98 games. The team captain was in Beatrice in the MINK league in 1912, moved to Seward to play for the Statesmen in 1913, then moved back to Beatrice when the franchise was relocated to Beatrice.
Pitchers:
Woods was 7-7 in 14 games.
Erret was 16-11 in 27 games.
Walters was 5-11.
O'Connor was 3-8. (also spelled Conners, Ol'Conner and Coner)
Clarke was 1-3.