Founded 1946 No. of teams 9 | Ceased 1952 Country USA | |
Most titles 3 : Ponca City Dodgers (1948, 1950-1951) |
The Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League (or KOM League) was a name of an American minor league baseball league which was established in 1946. It existed for seven seasons (1946-1952) as a Class D League. Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee Mickey Mantle played in the league for the Independence Yankees in 1949, hitting .313 with 7 HR, 63 RBI.
Contents
Teams
Year by Year
1946
The League and all of its member teams were created. Teams were formed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Carthage, Missouri, Chanute, Kansas, Iola, Kansas, Miami, Oklahoma, and Pittsburg, Kansas.
Chanute beat Pittsburg by 3 games to 2 in the first round of the playoffs. Iola beat Miami by the same number. The championship series between Chanute and Iola ended tied at three games apiece, although Chanute won 4 games. A dispute arose between the Chanute and Iola club officials regarding Chanute selecting Dave Dennis from the Miami club for the playoffs. Although Iola owner Earl Sifers originally agreed to the arrangement he later changed his mind. By the time the dispute was settled it was too late in the fall, young men had to go back to school, the rodeo took over the ball park playing area and then the rains came.
1947
Teams from Independence, Kansas and Ponca City, Oklahoma joined.
Miami beats Bartlesville in the first round of the playoffs 3 games to 1. Iola beat Pittsburgh by the same number. Miami won the championship over Iola, 4 games to 1.
1948
The Independence Yankees defeated Pittsburg Browns 4 games to 1.
1949
Independence beat Ponca City 3 games to 1 in the first playoff round. Iola beat Bartlesville by the same number. Independence beat Iola three games to none for the championship.
1950
Ponca City beats Pittsburgh 3 games to 2 in the first round of playoffs. Bartlesville beat Carthage 3 games to one. Ponca City won the championship, defeating Bartlesville 3 games to 1.
1951
The teams in Chanute and Independence folded.
Carthage beat Ponca City 3 games to 2 in the first round. Miami beat Bartlesville 3 games to 1. Carthage beat Miami for the championship, winning the series 3 games to none.
1952
The Carthage Cubs moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma. The Pittsburg Brownies moved to Independence, Kansas. The Bartlesville Pirates moved to the now-vacant Pittsburg on July 7.
Miami and Ponca City started a playoff series, with Miami winning both games. Then all the teams, and the league itself, folded.