Davenport River Rats

On January 30, 1901, a meeting was held in Peoria, Illinois to form a new minor league.

[3] In 1901, the newly formed Davenport "River Rats" became charter members of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, which also included a team in neighboring Rock Island, Illinois.

[4] The Bloomington Blues, Cedar Rapids Rabbitts, Decatur Commodores, Evansville River Rats, Rock Island Islanders, Rockford Red Sox and Terre Haute Hottentots teams joined Davenport as the league's charter teams.

The River Rats finished 13.0 games behind the first place Rockford Red Sox in the final standings.

[14] Davenport ended the season with a record of 65–53, finishing 6.5 games behind the first place Bloomington Bloomers, as Jim Hayes returned as manager.

In the Class B level Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League final standings, the River Rats ended the season with a record of 52–69 and placed seventh.

In the eight-team league, Davenport ended the season 20.5 games behind the first place Springfield Hustlers in the final standings.

Albert Kennedy and Peter Burg served as managers, as Davenport ended the season 32.5 gamed behind the first place Cedar Rapids Rabbitts.

[10] After losing their minor league team, Davenport baseball supporters, led by J.T.

[19] With Charlie Shaffer returning as manager, Davenport ended the season with a 59–80 record, finishing 31.0 games behind the first place Springfield Senators team.

[20][10] In 1911, Dan O'Leary began a tenure as the Davenport manager, as the Prodigals continued play as members of the Class B level Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League.

[27] The ballpark was built in time for the 1901 season, as community leaders sought to upgrade baseball facilities in order to support a minor league team.

The ballpark was located at the end of the Third Street trolly line at Telegraph Road in Davenport.

The ballpark became known as "Blue Sox Park" and hosted the Davenport minor league teams through 1916.