In April, Joe Engel signed a seventeen year old girl, Jackie Mitchell as a pitcher for the Southern League. She pitched in one exhibition game. A few days later Judge Landis ruled her contract void as he stated that life in baseball was too strenuous for women.
Western League
Standings 1931 President:Dale Gear |
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Standings | Wins----- | Losses--- | GB |
Des Moines Demons | 94 | 51 | -- |
Wichita Aviators | 92 | 58 | |
St. Joseph Saints | 79 | 64 | |
Pueblo Braves | 76 | 69 | |
Oklahoma City Indians | 79 | 80 | |
Denver Bears | 64 | 77 | |
Topeka Senators | 58 | 86 | |
Omaha Packers | 49 | 79 | |
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BA:Stan Keys, Des Moines, .369 | |||
Runs:Arky Vaughn, Wichita, 145 | |||
Hits:Stan Keyes, Des Moines, 203 | |||
RBIs:Stan Keyes, Des Moines, 140 | |||
HRs:Stan Keyes, Des Moines, 38 | |||
Wins:Bud Tinning, Des Moines, 24 | |||
SOs:Rufus Meadows, Topeka, 177 | |||
ERA:Bud Tinning, Des Moines, 3.14 |
The league went to a split season again in 1931. Wichita won the first half 44-27 and Des Moines won the second 55-25. Des Moines won the playoffs 4 games to two. Omaha was next to last for the first half and in last place the second half.
Omaha was so bad that they lost both ends of a double header to Des Moines 29-6 and 22-9. During this series in September Omaha lost all five games. Scores of 16-5, 12-2 before the double header and 18-5 to end the series. A cumulative 97-27 in runs scored in a five game streak of losses. Stanley Keyes of Des Moines had 15 hits and 23 rbi's during the series.
Omaha did not place one player on the all star team in 1931.