Baseball in Defiance
Baseball has played an important role in the lives of St. Charles County residents. According to the St. Charles News, the first recorded local game was played July 1, 1875 between the St. Charles Browns and the St. Charles Acadia. Eventually local leagues formed throughout the county with towns sending their best men to compete against other towns' heralded nine. Fans from all over the county would flock to their local stadium every Sunday to cheer their fathers, sons and favorite players.
In 1935, the town of Defiance joined with the teams from St. Charles, St. Peters, Wentzville, and Washington to compete in the East Missouri League. Defiance would finish this first season at 3-13.
After finishing 2-15 in 1936 and missing the 1937 and 38 seasons, the Defiance team returned in 1939 and finished 14-1. At the end of the season, Defiance advanced to the State Tournament in Sedalia.
At the State Tournament Defiance played against the team's first ever night game on a lighted field. According to reports the meager lighting system created dark shadows that made fielding difficult. Having played all season on the field, the Sedalia team was used to the shadows and used them to their advantage to defeat the Defiance team.
Defiance returned to play the following years going 12-5 in 1940, and 8-9 in 1941,
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1875.
Location. 38° 38.132′ N, 90° 46.545′ W. Marker is in Defiance, Missouri, in St. Charles County. Marker is at the intersection of Missouri Avenue (State Highway 94) and Walnut Springs Drive, on the right when traveling north on Missouri Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2876 Missouri Ave, Defiance MO 63341, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. School Days In Defiance (approx. 0.4 miles away); A Defiant Tale (approx. 0.4 miles away); Isaac McCormick House (approx. 1.6 miles away); Daniel Boone Judgment Tree Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Matson to Weldon Spring (approx. 2.1 miles away); Daniel Boone's Missouri Golden Years (approx. 2.1 miles away); Matson to Augusta (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Boone Trace (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Defiance.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
