The Mitchell Kernels first played as members of the Class D level 1920 South Dakota League, winning the first of their three consecutive championships.
Future major league players Frank Carpin, Doug Clemens, Doc Daugherty, Eddie Fisher, Dick Green, Dave Giusti, Dean Look, Jim O'Toole and Don Schwall played for the Mitchell Kernels' Basin League teams.
In the eight–team league, Mitchell finished 3.0 games ahead of the Sioux Falls Soos (58–40), followed by the Huron Packers (56–40), Wessington Springs Saints (49–48), Redfield Reds/Red Sox (46–49), Madison Grays (42–50), Aberdeen Boosters (42–54) and Miller Climbers/Jugglers (28–65).
In his first professional season, Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Bottomley played for Mitchell in 1920, hitting .312 with 7 home runs in 97 games.
They were followed in the standings by the Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins (55–43), Redfield Red Sox (47–46), Madison (45–50), Watertown Cubs (44–53), Aberdeen Grays (35–62) and Huron Packers (34–64).
Mitchell finished 4.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Aberdeen Grays (56–42) and Fargo Athletics (56–42), followed by the Sioux Falls Soos (55–42), Jamestown Jimkotans (46–51), Watertown Cubs (42–54), Wahpeton-Breckenridge Twins (42–55) and the Valley City Hi-Liners/Bismarck Capitals (30–64).
Playing as an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Kernels ended the six–team Nebraska State League regular season with a record of 68–50, placing 2nd in the standings, 2.0 games behind the Sioux Falls Canaries.
[23][24][25][3][26] From 1920 to 1923, Mitchell teams were noted to have played minor league home games at Hitchcock Park.
Joe Quintal Field is still in use as home to Mitchell High School and Dakota Wesleyan University sports teams.