Mattoon: Baseball
"Win or loose, We're Rooting for Mattoon"
Mattoon's legacy cherishing baseball unfolded into a professional team during the mid nineteenth century. From 1928 - 1940's a semi-professional baseball team "Mattoon Boosters" was part of the 3-I-League (Illinois, Indiana and Iowa).
After World War II, the Mattoon ball teams joined the new Official Illinois State League. The original name in 1947 was "Mattoon White Sox." Between 1948 and 1952, the team was called "Mattoon Indians" and, from 1953 to 1956 the "Mattoon Phillies."
"An awful lot of people worked hard collectively...baseball was instrumental in bringing together many facets of the community and many people." (Norm Spear, catcher and community baseball leader; stated in 1999)
Although the professional league was dissolved by 1957, declaring no dividends, the spirit and love for baseball was not defeated. Today, baseball is still in the heart of the community with the celebrated teenage team "Mattoon-Charleston Twins."
This score card announces the league and home schedules, concession prices, the ball players rooster, and a lot of advertising to help cover costs.
