The Watertown Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, South Dakota. The unaffiliated Cubs played as members of the Class D level Dakota League in 1921 and 1922 and South Dakota League in 1923. Watertown hosted minor league home games at Riverside Park.
History Minor league baseball began in Watertown, South Dakota when the 1921 Watertown "Cubs" became members of the eight–team Class D level Dakota League. In their first season of play, the Cubs finished the 1921 season with a 44–53 record, placing sixth, playing the season under manager Mattie McGrath. Watertown finished 20½ games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels.
Watertown hosted their home minor league games at Riverside Park in Watertown.
In 1922, the Watertown Cubs played in the final season of the Dakota League, which continued as an eight–team, Class D level league. Watertown Watertown finished in sixth place with a 42–54 regular season record. Playing under manager John Mokate, the Cubs finished 17.5 games behind the first place Mitchell Kernels.
To minimize travel, the Dakota League was divided into two Class D level leagues in 1923. The two new leagues, each with four teams, were the South Dakota League and the North Dakota League in 1923. The Watertown Cubs played in the 1923 South Dakota League and finished last as the league folded during the season. When the South Dakota League folded on July 17, 1923, the Cubs ended the season with a record of 15–41 record under manager Wib Smith, placing fourth, finishing 19½ games behind the first place Sioux Falls Soos.
The Watertown Cubs were followed in organized baseball by the Watertown "Lake Sox," a Basin League collegiate summer team, that played from 1954 to 1962. The Watertown Expos resumed minor league play in 1971 as an affiliate of the Montreal Expos, playing in the Northern League.
The ballpark The Watertown Cubs played home minor league games at Riverside Park. Today, Riverside Park is still in use as a public park.
Timeline Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level LeagueBallpark 1921–1922 2 Watertown Cubs Class D Dakota LeagueRiverisde Park 1923 1 South Dakota League
Year–by–year records Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs/Notes 1921 44–53 6th Mattie McGrath No playoffs held 1922 42–54 6th John Mokate No playoffs held 1923 15–41 4th Wib Smith League disbanded July 17
Notable alumni
Wib Smith (1923, MGR) Jerry Standaert (1922) Lefty Taber (1921)
See also Watertown Cubs players
References
External links Watertown - Baseball Reference