How many of you just collect minor league cards and why?

I'll see your Des Moines Prohibitionists and raise the 1923 Roslyn Yippers.



The town built Runje Field (pictured) in 1923. The grandstand held 2,500 in a town of 2,000. A very popular rural nine, they beat the Ellensburg Hawks, led by future Red Sox/Yankees outfielder Roy Johnson, for the 1924 Yakima-Kittitas League Championship. Jim Yourglich, manager/owner pictured far right, was a notorious bootlegger and owned "The Brick" tavern.... many Northern Exposure fans would recognize the bar. These are the stories I love about minor league ball.

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by pariah1107

I'll see your Des Moines Prohibitionists and raise the 1923 Roslyn Yippers.

We all know what a prohibitionist is but what's a Yipper?

There are two origins of the name Yippers, (1) "yip, yip" was a call the miners, supposedly, used to move mules, and (2) Yourglich, also known as "Father Hot-Whiskey" and his bootleg shine was called "Yipper Liquor" because profits from the sale/distribution during prohibition sponsored the local baseball team. It was well-known. That's how the team could afford such a nice ballpark, and needed extra seating beause a trip to Roslyn meant a Sunday of under-the-table drinking. They later hired African American great, Jimmy Claxton to pitch/manage the white semi-pro ballclub, from 1926-31.

Revenuers had tried to shut down Yourglich's operations for years (he was arrested more than 20 times). Finally, in August 1929, "The largest still in Washington state history was discovered" when it exploded and detsroyed more than 30 homes & city hall. The still was under City Hall, and a shaft to Yourglich's garage (across the street from The Brick) was dug to prevent detection. Car comes in for repairs, leaves with a trunk full of shine.