system that ran from Class D up to Class Triple-A. The 1955 Keokuk Kernels are ranked #30 in the Top–100 All–Time minor league teams by MiLB.com. The Kernels finished with a 92–34 record and were led by Russ Nixon and Mudcat Grant. Since 1956 its territory had largely been supplanted by the Midwest League, which began play in 1947 as the Class D level Illinois State League. After 1956 there were no Illinois or Indiana teams in the league. The final 1961 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League franchises were the Fox Cities Foxes, Burlington Bees, Topeka Reds, Lincoln Chiefs, Cedar Rapids Braves and Des Moines Demons. In 1962, Appleton (Fox Cities), Burlington, and Cedar Rapids joined the Midwest League and the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League folded operations when those franchises switched leagues. The league's unique name made it a convenient reference point for any mention of the minor leagues. Casey Stengel made the following comment in later life, evidently still feeling stung from having been traded by the New York Giants to the Boston Braves in the 1923–1924 off-season, despite having hit 2 game-winning home runs in the World Series: "It's lucky I didn't hit 3 home runs in three games, or McGraw would have traded me to the 3-I League!" Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League teams (1901–1961) Year-by-year (1901–1932) 1901 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League Terre Haute won the title behind the impressive pitching of Mordecai Brown, future Chicago Cubs mound star. 1902 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League 1903 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League Evansville and Terre Haute joined the Central League. New teams in Dubuque, Iowa and Joliet, Illinois formed. Joliet, with a record of 14–19, moved to Springfield, Illinois on June 12, where they had a record of 28–61. 1904 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League 1905 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League The Rockford team folded, and a new team in Peoria, Illinois formed. After the season ended, Cedar Rapids lost to the Burlington, Iowa team from the Iowa State League 4 games to 3. 1906 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League 1907 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League The Davenport team folded. The team from Clinton, Iowa joined after leaving the Iowa State League. 1908 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League 1909 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League The Clinton team folded. A new team in Davenport, Iowa formed. 1910 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League After the previous disappointing season, Cedar Rapids folded. The Decatur team moved to the Northern Association. The team from Waterloo, Iowa left the Central Association to join here. A new team from Danville, Illinois formed and joined the league as well. 1911 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League