Nebraska Minor League Baseball
Nebraska State League
Fairbury Shaners 1915

Fairbury replaced Superior in 1915. The club payed $400.00 for the franchise which included bats, balls and uniforms. The club sold the uniforms for $100.00. During the season they sold Eddie Brown to Mason City Iowa for $500.00.

The club acquired a number of Superior players at the beginning of the year and there was a spirited competition between the veterans and a number of men who came to Fairbury for tryouts at City Park. Included in the tryouts was former major league pitcher from Fremont Harry Smith.

Opening day was a success as over 1,000 fans were present for the opening day festivities. Mayor Mason threw out the first pitch and club president Wes Crawford was the catcher.

The town supported the team but the league did not survive the season. The club was called the Shaners by the Beatrice papers and most baseball references. The team was 22-31 when the league folded.

Roster:
Since the Fairbury paper was a weekly during 1915, finding a roster of players for the year was difficult. Some of the players were: Harry Smith had pitched for Fremont in 1910 and 1911, Lincoln in the Western League in 1912 and in the major leagues. He showed up in Fairbury in 1915.

Edward William "Glass Arm Eddie" Brown was a 20 year old from Milligan Nebraska. He made his professional debut with Superior in 1913. He played short stop and in the outfield for the Brickmakers and averaged .427 in 18 games. In 1914 he was a regular for Superior and in 1915 he played for Fairbury until the league collapsed. After the league collapsed Eddie wound up with Mason City for the remainder of the year.

Laymon Lamb was from Lincoln Nebraska. He played 40 games for Keokuk and 38 games for Fairbury in 1915. He averaged .289 for Fairbury while playing in the outfield. He had a few years in Joplin before making his major league debut with the St. Louis Browns in 1920. He played most of the 1921 season with St. Louis then had stops with Kansas City, Tulsa, Portland Oregon, Wichita Falls, Beaumont, Mobile, Dallas, Oklahoma City and finished back in Joplin in 1931.

Dutch Scholl was a pitcher in 1915.

Conley first.
Hildebrandt right field.
Purcell infield.
Booth utility.

Nebraska Minor League Baseball Home