West Frankfort Cardinals

West Frankfort was a minor affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals for their duration, while hosting home games at Memorial Stadium.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Earl Weaver played for the 1948 West Frankfort Cardinals in his first professional season.

The formation of the West Frankfort Cardinals was led by local businessmen Pete Mondino, Charlie Jacobs and Tony Finazzo.

Vernon Braves teams joined West Frankfort in beginning Illinois State League play on May 4, 1947.

[8] West Frankfort placed fourth in their first season of play and led the Illinois State League in home attendance.

[10] West Frankfort finished 23.0 games behind the champion Belleville Stags, who placed first in both half–season standings, negating the need for a playoff.

The Cardinals played the season under manager Harold Contini and finished 9.5 games ahead of the second place Mattoon Indians.

[15] At age 17, Baseball Hall of Fame member Earl Weaver played for the champion West Frankfort Cardinals in 1948 in his first professional season.

[20][11] In their final season of play, the West Frankfort Cardinals again placed second and qualified for the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League playoffs.

[26] In 1947, owners of the new franchise purchased an 8.8-acre site, once used to store coal and dynamite from nearby mines, and construction began on the field and stadium.

[31][27] The team is the subject of the book: Season of Change: Baseball, Coal Mining, and a Small Town's Struggle to Beat the Odds (2011) by author Toby J. Brooks.