Nothing much would change in 1921 as Walter Altermatt (10 HR, .281) kept the team
exciting with power but the Islanders had very little else to show for itself...
finishing yet again in the basement, with 78 losses and 22 games out of 1st.
Rock Island looked overmatched against its competitors in the Triple-I League,
and all they could do was sit back and watch big brother Moline take 1st place
in the standings. It was obvious to the league that this team couldn't compete
in this Class B league and in 1922 they were dropped from the Triple-I League's
roster. While the loss of the Triple-I League could have been devastating for
this team, Rock Island was quite lucky that there was a brand new Class D system
starting up in the Iowa region. The Islanders (the only team represented by
Illinois) quickly hooked up as one of the inaugural teams of the Mississippi Valley
League, joining Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Ottuma and Dubuque...
all of which were located in the state of Iowa. In this Class D system, the Islanders
fared far better, still finishing 26 games out of 1st place, but finishing
in 3rd and finally above .500 with a 66-63 record. That was due in part to
the bats of Andrew McEwan (20 2B, 16 3B, 4 HR, .335) and Charles Stuvengen (25
2B, 10 3B, 8 team leading HR, .346). Former Cleveland Indians' Art Thomason also
hit 36 2B with a a.315 and Preston Gray hit 22 2B, 10 3B and a .342 (though
his 284 At Bats weren't enough to qualify for a batting record or title). |