4 7 . ▁Mond ino ▁had ▁been ▁a ▁minor ▁league ▁player ▁and ▁the ▁manager ▁of ▁the ▁Pad uc ah ▁Indians ▁before ▁returning ▁to ▁his ▁h omet own . ▁The ▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁West ▁Frank fort ▁Card inals ▁became ▁an ▁expansion ▁team ▁and ▁char ter ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Class ▁D ▁Illinois ▁State ▁League . ▁Mond ino ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁team ' s ▁General ▁Manager . L ater , ▁the ▁Card inals ▁played ▁in ▁the ▁Mississippi – Oh io ▁Valley ▁League ▁( 1 9 4 9 – 1 9 5 0 ). ▁The ▁team ▁finished ▁ 7 1 – 4 8 ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁but ▁the ▁franch ise ▁fol ded ▁after ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁season ▁and ▁was ▁not ▁replaced . ▁ ▁West ▁Frank fort ▁finished ▁ 8 5 – 3 5 ▁en ▁route ▁to ▁winning ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁Illinois ▁State ▁League ▁Championship . ▁ ▁On ▁August ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁the ▁Southern ▁Illinois ▁Min ers ▁of ▁the ▁independent ▁Front ier ▁League , ▁based ▁in ▁nearby ▁Mar ion , ▁Illinois , ▁ ▁hon ored ▁the ▁West ▁Frank fort ▁Card inals . ▁ ▁The ▁ball park ▁The ▁Card inals ▁played ▁at ▁Memorial ▁Stadium ▁( 1 9 4 7 – 1 9 5 0 ). ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁own ers ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁franch ise ▁purchased ▁an ▁ 8 . 8 ▁a cre ▁site , ▁once ▁used ▁to ▁store ▁coal ▁and ▁dynam ite ▁from ▁nearby ▁mines ,