Baseball
Dubuque County, Iowa, and the Tri-State area have a rich baseball history going back to the mid-nineteenth century. Sports writer Ed Prell of the Chicago Tribune called Dubuque an early cradle for baseball during the nineteenth century. In 1865, the Julien Base Ball Club of Dubuque hosted the North West Base Ball Tournament; the second-ever multi-state championship baseball tournament in baseball history. In 1878, Ted Sullivan, Tom Loftus, and Charley Comiskey began a lifelong journey in Dubuque that would result in the creation of the American League and modern Major League Baseball as we know it today.
From 1860 to present, Dubuque County, Iowa, helped produce four MLB Hall of Famers, five MLB team owners, seven MLB player-managers plus five MLB managers, collectively winning twelve pennants and six World Championships. Add to that numerous players who started their professional careers in Dubuque, or the eight born Dubuquer’s who made it to the major leagues, and you have an impressive list for small-town America. Four Dubuquers have also served as minor league presidents. And finally, six league pennants where captured by Dubuque minor league teams in 1879, 1905, 1923, 1929, 1955, and 1962. All of this early American baseball history foreshadowed Dubuque County’s Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.
Articles
Historian John T. Pregler periodically publishes articles on this website and through other publications. Click on a link below to access an article.
The article below was published in the Spring 2020 edition of the Baseball Research Journal. Tom Loftus – The American League’s Forgotten Founding Father
The article below was published on The Lens of History October 16, 2020, as part of the FROM THE ARCHIVES series. The article is about two images from the archives of baseball Hall of Famer and Dubuque County native Urban “Red” Faber. FROM THE ARCHIVES: Red Faber and Babe Ruth
The article below was published on The Lens of History November 8, 2020, as part of the FROM THE ARCHIVES series. The article is about an image of Dubuque’s League Park, often mistaken for Comiskey Park in Dubuque. FROM THE ARCHIVES: Dubuque’s League Park
The article below was published on The Lens of History January 1, 2021, as part of the FROM THE ARCHIVES series. The article is about a Western Union telegram that shows the 1968 Dubuque Packers were the Kansas City Royals first minor league team. FROM THE ARCHIVES: Dubuque Packers-Kansas City Royals first farm club.
Audio & Video
Historian John T. Pregler periodically gives lectures in person and on 1370 AM KDTH. Click on the link(s) below to access a lecture.
On March 30, 2020, John T. Pregler did the first episode of TALKIN’ BASEBALL on KDTH Voices of the Tri-States. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
On May 28, 2020, John T. Pregler did the second episode of TALKIN’ BASEBALL on KDTH Voices of the Tri-States. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
On July 16, 2020, John T. Pregler did the third episode of TALKIN’ BASEBALL on KDTH Voices of the Tri-States. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
On August 11, 2020, John T. Pregler appeared on Warren Rogan’s Sports’ Forgotten Heroes. Rogan is a former producer, writer, and director at NHL Productions and The Golf Channel, among a long list of other titles. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
On August 19, 2020, John T. Pregler did the fourth episode of TALKIN’ BASEBALL on KDTH Voices of the Tri-States. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
On October 2, 2020, John T. Pregler did the fifth episode of TALKIN’ BASEBALL on KDTH Voices of the Tri-States. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
On April 2, 2021, John T. Pregler discussed the HOMETOWN HOME RUNS exhibit at the National Mississippi River Museum on KDTH Voices of the Tri-States. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.
On April 6, 2021, John T. Pregler conducted an online lecture for the Dubuque County Historical Society’s HOMETOWN HOME RUNS virtual museum tour, highlighting the 2021 exhibit at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.
Photographs & Images
LJTP 100.069 – Red Faber No. 22 with Billy Sullivan Signature – 1929
LJTP 100.067 – Dubuque Tigers with Red Faber – 1910
LJTP 100.068 – Red Faber and Babe Ruth – 1929
LJTP 100.070 – St. Joseph College Baseball Field – circa 1910
LJTP 100.071 – Dubuque League Park – circa 1910
LJTP 100.072 – Joe McGinnity – Dubuque Climbers – 1923
LJTP 100.073 – Humeston, Iowa Baseball Team – 1894
LJTP 100.074 – Unknown Cream City Baseball Player – 1880
LJTP 100.075 – Red Faber Autographed Postcard – 1973
LJTP 100.076 – Charles Comiskey – Spink Sport Stories – 1921
LJTP 100.077 – Thomas J. Loftus – Spink Sport Stories – 1921
LJTP 100.078 – Deion Sanders – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Baseball Card – 1991
LJTP 100.079 – Red Faber Perez-Steele #96 from Stan Musial Collection – 1981
LJTP 100.080 – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Team – 1991
LJTP 100.081 – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Team – 1990
LJTP 100.082 – 1914 Dubuque Dubs Three I League
LJTP 100.083 – 1903 Dubuque Shamrocks
LJTP 100.084 – 1905 Dubuque Shamrocks club
LJTP 100.085 – 1905 Dubuque Shamrocks
LJTP 100.086 – 1906 Dubuque Dubs
LJTP 100.087 – 1908 Dubuque Dubs
LJTP 100.088 – 1909 Dubuque Dubs
LJTP 100.089 – 1923 Dubuque Climbers
LJTP 100.090 – 1929 Dubuque Tigers
LJTP 100.092 – Red Faber 1933 Goudey #79 Baseball Card
LJTP 100.093 – 1976 Dubuque Packers with Bruce Bochy
LJTP 800.016 – Red Faber 1961 Fleer #24 Baseball Card
LJTP 100.095 – Dubuque Packers – 1957
LJTP 100.095 – Dubuque Packers – 1957
LJTP 100.097 – Ron Gant – Atlanta Braves – Dubuque Plumpers – 1989
LJTP 100.097 – Ron Gant – Atlanta Braves – Dubuque Plumpers – 1989
LJTP 100.123 – Tom Loftus – Old Judge Baseball Card – 1888
LJTP 100.124 – Dubuque Red Stockings – 1879 North West Champions
LJTP 100.125 – 1975 Dubuque Packers Baseball Cards
LJTP 100.126 – 1976 Dubuque Packers Baseball Cards
LJTP 100.127 – Kevin Rhomberg Minor League Baseball Card
LJTP 100.030 – Charles Comiskey and Arlie Latham – 1888
LJTP 100.142 – Ray Schalk with Red Faber 1964
LJTP 100.143 – Match between Red Stockings and Atlantics – Harper’s Weekly – 1870
LJTP 100.144 – Red Faber 1st HR – 1923
LJTP 100.189 – Red Faber, Joe Benz, and Bob Buckeye – c1960
LJTP 100.190 – Galena Independents – Glass Negative – 1890
LJTP 100.191 – Galena Youth Base Ball – Glass Negative – c1890
LJTP 100.192 – Galena Independents – Glass Negative – 1904
LJTP 100.193 – Galena Independents – Glass Negative – 1905
LJTP 100.194 – Galena Independents – Glass Negative – c1906
LJTP 100.328 – Dubuque Climbers – c1922
LJTP 100.329 – Dubuque Climbers – c1922
LJTP 100.330 – Dubuque Climbers – c1922
LJTP 100.331 – Tom Loftus Old Judge Baseball Card – 1888
LJTP 100.332 – Dubuque Hustlers – Allen and Rowland – 1911
LJTP 100.333.001 – 1879 Dubuque Rabbits – Frank Loftus – c1925
LJTP 100.345 – Max Lanier and Johnny Petrakis – 1968
LJTP 100.357 – Dubuque Plumpers – Dale Murphy – Signed – 1989
LJTP 100.358 – Dubuque Plumpers – Tom Glavine – 1989
LJTP 100.359 – Dubuque Plumpers – Tom Glavine – 1990
LJTP 100.360 – Dubuque Plumpers – John Smolz – 1990
LJTP 100.361 – Dubuque Plumpers – Bobby Cox – 1990
LJTP 100.362 – Dubuque Plumpers – Phil Niekro – Signed – 1990
LJTP 100.363 – Dubuque Plumpers – Tom Glavine – Signed – 1991
LJTP 100.364 – Dubuque Plumpers – Mike Stanton – Signed – 1991
LJTP 100.365 – Dubuque Plumpers – Jeff Treadway – Signed – 1991
LJTP 100.366 – Dubuque Plumpers – Rafael Belliard – Signed – 1991
LJTP 800.017.001 – Field of Dreams Cast Signatures
LJTP 800.018 – Fleer – Phil Niekro – Signed – 1983
LJTP 100.370 – Dubuque Pack – Dale Murphy – 1989
LJTP 100.383 – Clevland Infield – Trosky, Mack, Boudreau, Keltner – circa 1940-41
LJTP 100.384 – Cleveland Indians – Mel Harder – circa 1940s
LJTP 100.385 – Cleveland Indians Rowe Postcard – Mel Harder -circa 1940
LJTP 100.386 – Baseball Magazine – M114 Premium Poster – Mel Harder – 1935
LJTP 100.387 – Baseball Magazine – M114 Premium Poster – Hal Trosky – 1936
LJTP 100.393 – Dubuque Pack – Francisco Cabrera – Signed – 1990
LJTP 100.395 – Dubuque Pack – Homer the Brave – Signed – 1991
LJTP 100.397 – Dubuque Pack – Dale Murphy – 1990
LJTP 100.398 – Dubuque Pack – Dale Murphy – 1989
LJTP 100.399 – Press Photo – Red Faber with Wife Retires – 1934
LJTP 100.400 – Houston Colts Rookie Stars – Joe Hoerner – 1964
LJTP 100.401 – Topps St. Louis Cardinals – Joe Hoerner – 1968
LJTP 100.402 – Hall of Fame Sheet – Red Faber – 1964
LJTP 100.403 – Reach Baseball Guide – Charles Comiskey – 1917
LJTP 100.404 – Harper’s Weekly Athletics vs Atlantics – 1865
LJTP 100.405 – RPPC Postcard – Red Faber – 1932
LJTP 100.406 – Pants Rowland and John McGraw – 1917
LJTP 100.407 – Harper’s Weekly – Baseball at Hoboken – 1859
LJTP 100.408 – Harper’s Weekly – Guelph Maple Leaf Club – 1874
LJTP 100.409 – Harper’s Weekly – Baseball on Skates – 1884
LJTP 100.410 – Harper’s Weekly – Famous Atlantic Nine – 1865
LJTP 100.411 – Harper’s Weekly – Providence Baseball Club – 1882
LJTP 100.412 – Pants Rowland Pres PCL and Harridge AL Pres – 1954
LJTP 100.413 – Wirephoto – Pants Rowland – Chicago Cubs VP – 1954
LJTP 100.414 – Yankees First-ever Draft Pick – Bill Burbach – 1969
LJTP 100.415 – Press Photo – Chicago White Sox Coach – Red Faber – 1952
LJTP 100.416 – Press Photo -Chicago White Sox – Red Faber – circa 1929
LJTP 100.417 – Press Photo Type 1 – Chicago White Sox Mgr Clarence Rowland – 1917
LJTP 100.418 – Press Photo – Pants Rowland Buys Reading Keystones – 1930
LJTP 300.020.001 – Baseball Magazine – Bob Feller – Feb 1937
LJTP 100.419 – 3.5×5 Photo – Ford Frick & Clarence Rowland (Signed) – July 1961
LJTP 100.420 – Press Photo – Leslie O’Connor & PCL Pres. Clarence Rowland – 1951
LJTP 100.421 – Press Photo – PCL Pres. Clarence Rowland First Pitch – 1952
LJTP 100.422 – Press Photo – Chicago Cubs Vice President Clarence Rowland – 1956
LJTP 100.423 – Press Photo – Happy Chandler & Clarence Rowland – 1945
LJTP 100.424 – Press Photo – William Mulligan & Clarence Rowland – 1948
LJTP 100.425 – Press Photo – Chicago White Sox Coach – Red Faber – circa 1948
LJTP 100.426 – Press Photo Type 1 – Chicago White Sox Pitcher – Red Faber – 1921
LJTP 100.427 – Dubuque Pack – John Smoltz – Signed – 1991
LJTP 100.428 – Dubuque Pack – Rally – Signed – 1991
LJTP 300.028 – McGinnity Quits Baseball at 52 – 1923
Letters & Documents
LJTP 200.034 – North West Base Ball Tournament Letter – 1865
LJTP 400.014 – Dubuque Base Ball Association Stock Certificate – 1895
LJTP 200.052 – Western Union KC Royals to Max Lanier – 1st Farm Team – 1968
LJTP 200.053 – Max Lanier Batavia Ball Club – 1966
LJTP 200.059 – Chas. Comiskey Bio by Ted Sullivan – 1919
LJTP 700.070 – DBBC Envelope – CH Rowland – 1912
LJTP 200.065 – PCL L.A. Angels Contract – Signed Clarence Rowland – 1942
Books & Newspapers
LJTP 600.003 – 1979 San Francisco Giants Photo Album Compliments Dubuque Plumpers – 1979
LJTP 600.004 – Dubuque Packers Game-Day Program – 1976
LJTP 600.010 – 1983 Official Program for MLB 50th All-Star Game
LJTP 300.013.001 – Chicago Record – Loftus and Comiskey – 1900
LJTP 300.014 – Red Faber Baseball Magazine Cover – 1933
LJTP 300.015 – Dubuque T-H MLB-FOD Newspaper – Aug 12 2021
LJTP 300.016 – Dubuque T-H MLB-FOD Newspaper – Aug 13 2021
LJTP 300.017 – Dyersville Gazette MLB-FOD Newspaper – Aug 18 2021
LJTP 600.014 – Plantations and Up to Date Humorous Negro Stories by Ted Sullivan – 1915
LJTP 600.015 – Field of Dreams Commemorative Program – 1991
LJTP 600.016 – Field of Dreams Festival Program – 1994
LJTP 600.017 – Dubuque Packers Game Day Program – 1960
LJTP 600.018 – Dubuque Packers Game Day Program – 1960.jpg
LJTP 600.019 – 2021 MLB at Field of Dreams Sox v Yankees Program
LJTP 300.020 – Baseball Magazine – Hal Trosky – Feb 1937
LJTP 600.020 – MLB FOD Program- Cubs v Reds – 2022
LJTP 600.021 – MiLB FOD Program- Davenport v Cedar Rapids – 2022
LJTP 600.022 – Dubuque Packers Official Score Book – 1966
LJTP 600.023- Dubuque Packers Official Score Book – 1959
LJTP 600.024- Dubuque Packers Official Score Book – 1961
LJTP 300.023 – The Reach Official American League Baseball Guide – 1903
LJTP 300.024 – Spalding’s Official Baseball Guide – 1904
LJTP 300.025 – The Reach Official American League Baseball Guide – 1902
LJTP 300.026 – The Reach Official American League Baseball Guide – 1911
Misc. Artifacts
LJTP 700.020 – Dubuque Plumpers – San Francisco Giants Rain Jacket – circa 1979
LJTP 700.021 – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Pocket Schedule – 1981
LJTP 700.022 – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Pocket Schedule – 1989
LJTP 700.023 – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Pocket Schedule – 1990
LJTP 700.024 – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Pocket Schedule – 1991
LJTP 700.024 – Last Seen Ticket – Shoeless Joe Movie
LJTP 700.025 – Shoeless Joe Last Shot Button
LJTP 700.026 – Field of Dreams Ertl Toys Tractor – 1990
LJTP 700.027 – Field of Dreams Universal Studios Bat – 1989
LJTP 700.044 – Dubuque Packers Fan – 1955
LJTP 700.045 – 50th All-Star Game Dubuque Plumpers Rain Jacket – 1983
LJTP 700.046 – National League Chicago Orphans Tom Loftus Flask – 1900
LJTP 700.048 – Dubuque Plumpers – Milwaukee Brewers – 1983
LJTP 700.049 – Dubuque Plumpers – Minnesota Twins – 1984
LJTP 700.050 – Dubuque Plumpers – Minnesota Twins – 1984
LJTP 700.051 – Dubuque Plumpers – Kansas City Royals-Chiefs – 1982
LJTP 700.052 – Chicago White Sox Field of Dreams Game-used – Brian Goodwin No. 18 – Aug 12 2021
LJTP 700.053 – Back the Packers Dubuque button – 1974
LJTP 700.054 – MLB at FOD Sox v Yankees Tickets – 2021
LJTP 700.055 – Dubuque Plumpers Atlanta Braves Baseball Card Holder – 1991
LJTP 700.056 – MLB at Field of Dreams Sox v Yankees Limited Edition Coin – 2021
LJTP 700.057 – MLB at Field of Dreams Sox v Yankees Pennant – 2021
LJTP 700.058 – MLB at Field of Dreams Sox v Yankees Limited Edition Pin
LJTP 700.059 – MLB at Field of Dreams Wheeties Box – 2021
LJTP 700.060 – 19th Century Dubuque Baseball – circa 1860
LJTP 700.061 – Topps Baseball Card Truck Tour – Final Destination Field of Dreams – 2021
LJTP 700.062 – Topps Baseball Card Truck Tour – Final Destination Field of Dreams – 2021
LJTP 700.063 – Bob Feller Roadmaster Bicycle Advertisement – 1941
LJTP 700.064 – Dubuque Plumpers – Milwaukee Brewers Ad – 1984
LJTP 700.065 – Dubuque Plumpers – Milwaukee Brewers Ad – 1984
LJTP 700.066 – Dubuque Plumpers – Atlanta Braves Baseball Card Holder – 1990
LJTP 700.067 MLB at FOD Cubs v Reds Pennant – 2022
LJTP 700.068 -Chicago Cubs Field of Dreams Game-used – No. 4 Nelson Velazquez – Aug 2023
LJTP 700.069 – Cincinnati Reds Field of Dreams Game-used Uniform – Buck Farmer – 2022
LJTP 700.071 – Ferguson Bakery Felt Pennant BF2 – Pants Rowland – 1916
LJTP 700.072 – FOD Ball – Joey Votto Signed – 2022
LJTP 700.073 – MLB@FOD – Nico Hoerner Signed – 2022
LJTP 700.074 – Pacific Coast League Ball – Pres. Clarence Rowland – circa 1940
LJTP 700.075 – Three-I League Ball – Waterloo Hawks – Signed – 1949
LJTP 700.076 – Universal Studio Field of Dreams Ball – 1989
LJTP 700.077 – MLB NY Mets – Jacob deGrom Game-used – Aug 7 2022
LJTP 700.078 – MLB NY Mets – Max Scherzer Game-used – Jul 22 2022
LJTP 700.079 – MLB@FOD Cubs v Reds Commemorative Ball – Aug 11 2022
LJTP 700.080 – MLB@FOD Cubs v Reds Commemorative Gold Ball – Aug 11 2022
LJTP 700.082 – MLB at FOD Limited Edition Cubs v Reds pin – 2022
LJTP 700.083 – 1916 Feguson Bakery Felt Pennat BF2 – Clarence Rowland
LJTP 700.084 – 1983 All Starr Game – 50th Anniversary Baseball – Signed Robin Yount
LJTP 700.085 – 1983 All Starr Game – 50th Anniversary Baseball
LJTP 700.086 – Wilson Pacific Coast League – Pres. Clarence Rowland – circa 1940
LJTP 700.087 – Field of Dreams Universal Studios Bat – 1989
LJTP 700.088 – Field of Dreams Universal Studios Yo-Yo – 1989
LJTP 700.089 – Field of Dreams Universal Studios Water Bottle – 1989
LJTP 700.090 – MLB at FOD – Tim Anderson Bobblehead – Wintrust – 2021