Downtown in Des Moines in Polk County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Des Moines Bruins

1947-1958

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 7, 2024

1. Des Moines Bruins Marker

Inscription. For a time in 1955, the Bruins were managed by Pepper Martin. Pepper Martin was a colorful ball player who was called the "Wild Horse of the Osage". He played for the "Gashouse Gang", as the 1930's St. Louis Cardinals were called. He was the hero of the 1931 World Series where he batted .792.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.

Location. 41° 34.837′ N, 93° 37.002′ W. Marker is in Des Moines, Iowa, in Polk County. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Line Drive. The marker is in the open-air concourse beneath Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs baseball team. The marker is on the third-base side near the Bruins Classics concession stand. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Line Drive, Des Moines IA 50309, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian

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Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Iowa Oaks (within shouting distance of this marker); Iowa Cubs (within shouting distance of this marker); Dragoon Trail Historical Site Marker #13 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Des Moines Demons (about 400 feet away); Site of Old Fort Des Moines (about 400 feet away); Des Moines Champions (about 400 feet away); Birthplace of Des Moines (about 500 feet away); Ronald W. Reagan (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Des Moines.

More about this marker. The Bruins played on this site at a predecessor ballpark, called Pioneer Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1947. The stadium, renamed Sec Taylor Park in 1959, was torn down and replaced with the current park after the 1991 season.

Regarding Des Moines Bruins. The Des Moines Bruins were members of the 1947 incarnation of the Western League, a Class A league that was three levels below the majors. For all but the last of their 12 seasons, the Bruins were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. The team's

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 7, 2024

2. Des Moines Bruins Marker

managers included some all-time Cubs greats who also served as manager or coach with the Cubs, including Stan Hack, a Cubs standout in the 1930s who would manage the team from 1954 to 1956; Charlie Root, a 201-game winner as a pitcher who gave up Babe Ruth's "Called Shot" in 1932 and would also have stints as a Cubs pitching coach; and Martin, the legendary St. Louis Cardinals third baseman and outfielder. The Bruins were a Dodgers affiliate in 1958; the Western League disbanded after that season.

While Martin's performance in the 1931 World Series, which the Cardinals won four games to three over the Philadelphia A's, was indeed legendary, this sign exaggerates about how great he was. He batted .500 (12 hits in 24 at-bats), but had a slugging percentage of .792 (19 total bases in 24 at-bats). Martin would have another great series in 1934, batting .355 as the Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers in seven games. Martin retired from baseball in 1944 and soon thereafter became a fiery minor league manager. As player-manager for the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 1945, he was reported to have punched a player for underperformance.

Des Moines Bruins Marker and the concourse beneath the stands at Principal Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 7, 2024

3. Des Moines Bruins Marker and the concourse beneath the stands at Principal Park

Leading the Miami Sun Sox of the Florida International League in 1949, he was suspended for choking an umpire. In 1951 with the Sun Sox, he was arrested for going into the stands to punch a spectator. Martin was enlisted as manager of Bruins mid-way through the 1955 season, at which point the Bruins were below .500 after having won the previous two league titles. The team went 40-29 under Martin and lost in the league finals. Martin joined the Cubs that September as a coach under Hack, a role he held until Hack and the whole coaching staff were fired after finishing in last place in 1956. His final managerial role was in 1959 as leader of the Miami Marlins of the Triple-A International League. He died of a heart attack in 1965 at age 61.

Also see . . .
1. Des Moines Bruins (Wikipedia). (Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Pepper Martin. A biography of Pepper Martin from the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) (Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. Iowa Cubs History. From MiLB.com (Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Principal Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 7, 2024

4. Principal Park

Principal Park in Des Moines is home of the Iowa Cubs, AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Bruins played on this same site at a predecessor ballpark, called Pioneer Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1947. The stadium, renamed Sec Taylor Park in 1959, was replaced with the current park after the 1991 season.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.