After the "Vincennes" team was briefly a member of the 1896 Kentucky-Indiana League, the "Alices" played as members of the Class D level Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League in the league's seasons of play between 1903 and 1913, with one season in the 1908 Eastern Illinois League. The Alices won three league championships in 1905, 1906 and 1910. The Vincennes team played single seasons known as the "Reds" (1904) and Hoosiers" (1911).
The "Alices" nickname corresponds with the popular 1900 novel, Alice of Old Vincennes, the story of which was based in the city.
In the era, Vincennes hosted home minor league games at Columbia Park.
History
1903 to 1906 KITTY League
Minor league baseball in Vincennes, Indiana began in 1896. The "Vincennes" team briefly joined the Kentucky–Indiana League as members before folding. The league itself had folded and then restarted on June 22, 1896, with the Vincennes team as a league member on the restart. The Vincennes franchise quickly folded, and the Hopkinsville, Madisonville and Washington teams were added before the league restarted on July 1, 1896 without Vincennes.[1][2]
The use of the "Alices" nickname corresponds with a popular book in the era, "Alice of Old Vincennes." The novel was written in 1900 by author Maurice Thompson. The setting in the novel was based in Vincennes, Indiana during the American Revolutionary War.[4] Popular in the era of the minor league team, It was the tenth bestselling book in the United States in 1900, and the second best selling book in 1901.[5][6] A native of the region, Maurice Thompson died in 1901, shortly after the publication of the book, at age 56.[7][8] The "Alices" nickname was later given to the Vincennes Lincoln High School teams, beginning in 1923 and continues today.[9][10]
In the first season of play in the new league, the Alices did not finish the league schedule. On June 22, 1903, Vincennes folded. At the time the team folded the Alices had a 11–18 record, playing the season under managers Harry Chaney and Jack Tuite. Owensboro also disbanded during the season and the Cairo Egyptians won the league championship.[1][11][12]
Despite folding the previous season, the Vincennes "Reds" returned to play the 1904 six–team Class D level Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League and ended the season in last place. The Alices placed sixth in the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League standings and compiled a record of 50–73, playing the season under managers Bill Popp and Luke Duffy. The Paducah Indians won the league championship and finished 23.5 games ahead of last place Vincennes.[1][13]
In 1905, the Vincennes "Alices" continued Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League play and improved to finish as the league runner up, before winning a playoff for the championship. The Alices had a record of 65–41 under manager Eddie Kolb. With permission from the National Association, the league halted play on August 17, 1905, due to the Yellow Fever epidemic. The Paducah Indians were in first place, 4.5 games ahead of second place Vincennes when the league halted play.[1][14] After the league stopped play, Vincennes and Paducah played a series for the championship. Vincennes defeated Paducah 7 games to 6 to win the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee title.[1]
In the 1906 season, the Vincennes Alices again won the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League championship in the six-team league. Vincennes won the league championship with a record of 79–49, led by returning manager Eddie Kolb. The Alices finished 9.0 games behind the second place Jacksonville Jacks in the final standings, as the league held no playoffs.[1][15] Vincennes pitcher Hub Perdue led the league with 25 wins and 260 strikeouts and Phil Chenault had a 14-6 record.[1]
The Alices ended their 1908 season with a 47–48 record and in second place, playing the season under managers Harry Lloyd and Orville Wolfe. Vincennes finished 19.5 games behind the first place Staunton Speakers in the final standings of the eight-team league.[16] Vincennes pitcher Chet Carmichael had a league leading 16-4 record.[1] The Eastern Illinois league folded following the 1908 season.[1]
In returning to the Class D level Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League, the Vincennes Alices were the league champions.[18] Vincennes placed first in the six-team standings, with a 64–54 record. Led by manager John Nairn, the Alices ended the season 7.5 games ahead of the second place Clarksville Volunteers team.[1][19] Lyman Johnson led the league with both 20 victories and 182 strikeouts. Vincennes player/manager John Nairn led the league with a .285 batting average, teammates Arista DeHaven scored 54 runs and Walter Jantzen had 99 hits to top the league.[1]
The Vincennes "Hoosiers" continued play as the 1911 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League as expanded to become an eight-team league.[20] On June 20, 1911, the McLeansboro Miners, with a 19–15 record moved to Henderson. The Hens placed third in the eight–team league with an overall record of 46–43. The team finished 12.0 games behind the first place Hopkinsville Hoppers. Miles Bradshaw and Stelle managed the McLeansboro/Henderson team in 1911.[1][21]
Vincennes did not return to the 1912 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League as the league reduced to a six-team league, won by the Clarksville Rebels in the six–team league.[1]
Continuing Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League play, the league expanded into an eight-team league in 1913. The Vincennes Alices finished in a distant last place. With a record of 34–92, the team placed eighth in the standings under managers Ollie Pickering, Bob Anderson, William McAndrews and John Nairn. The Alices finished 45.5 games behind the champion Paducah Chiefs.[1][22]
In 1914, the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League reduced to six teams and the Vincennes franchise did not return to the league.
Vincennes hosted minor league home games at Columbia Park, which was adjacent to Riverside Park in the era.[26] The park sites were renamed to Kimmell Park in 1938. Today, Kimmel Park is still in use as a public park and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[27][28]
