Photographs courtesy of the G.E. Archives - Schenectady Science Center and Planetarium
Upon completion of the new ballpark, Moline's Plow Boys continued on in the Triple-I League (Illinois-Iowa-Indiana League) where they had previously been playing at "Three I Park" (which sat 3,500 according to Gord Brown SABR). After the 1919 season, they PlowBoys moved to Browning Field where they would remain for the rest of Moline's professional baseball history. The Triple-I League was a Class B system (somewhat like Double-A is today). At the time, Bloomington, Evansville (of which Bosse Field is the only ballpark still standing), Rockford, Cedar Rapids, Rock Island, Terre Haute and Peoria were also in the league. Moline's first Plowboys team at the new ballpark, were underachievers thanks to a lineup which featured not a single double-digit HR hitter or any regulars who would hit over .300. This inaugural Browning Field team would finish a game under .500 due to this, despite Raleigh Aitchison putting up a 19-11, 2.31; Alex Pierson (14-20, 3.18) leading the league in strikeouts with 209 and George Beck putting up a 2.05 ERA (13-16). Howie Jones who's paltry 9 HR had led the team, would return in 1921 and not only doubled his output... but led the league as well slamming 17 HR while batting .319. Nearly as impressive was Lee Gooch who nearly tied Howie Jones with his 26 2B, 12 3B, 16 HR, .332 season. Fred Heimach's amazing 24-8, 2.37 meanwhile, led the league in Wins and ERA. After a lackluster inaugural season, this sophomore version of Browning Field's PlowBoys would jump to a 78-55 record to take 1st place and bring home their first III League Championship to their new ballpark.