The 1888
Danville Browns were the first professional team in Danville, playing in the
Central Interstate League and the
Illinois–Indiana League in 1889. The
Danville Champions played in the
Central League in 1900 and the
Danville Old Soldiers in the
Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League in 1906. The
Danville Speakers played in the
Eastern Illinois League in 1908 and in the
Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (Three-I League) from 1910 to 1914. Major leaguers
Medric Boucher,
Cecil Coombs,
Bob Fisher,
Buck Hopkins,
Pete Hildebrand,
Hosea Siner,
Bert Graham,
Rube Sellers,
Connie Walsh,
Otto Vogel,
Walt Devoy and
Hod Eller played for the Speakers in its short time in existence under that moniker. They moved to
Moline, Illinois and became the
Moline Plowboys during the 1914 season. The
Danville Veterans rejoined the Three-I League in 1922–1932, winning league championships in 1927 and 1930. Danville was an affiliate of the
St. Louis Cardinals from 1927–1932. After World War II, the
Brooklyn Dodgers came to town with their
Danville Dodgers affiliate in the Three-I League. In 1946 the Dodgers looked to have
Roy Campanella and
Don Newcombe play for the
Danville Dodgers. Campanella and Newcombe signed contracts with Danville, but never played there after the idea of integrating received push back. Instead, the players went to the
Nashua Dodgers. After the Dodgers left, the team remained as the
Danville Dans, joining the
Mississippi–Ohio Valley League and winning the
1951 Championship and later capturing the
Midwest League Championship in 1954, reflecting the new league name of the old Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. The Dans were affiliated with the
Boston Braves (1952),
Chicago White Sox (1953) and
New York Giants (1954). After a period of fifteen seasons without a minor league team, the 1970
Danville Warriors rejoined the
Midwest League, playing at
Danville Stadium. The Warriors were a co-op club in 1970, before becoming a
Milwaukee Brewers affiliate in 1971 and remained a Brewers farm club through 1974. The Warriors experienced their share of success in their five years. They were Southern Division first half champions in 1971 (losing to
Quad Cities in the playoffs); won the Southern Division in both halves in 1972, going on to win the
Midwest league championship; again won the division first half championship in 1973, beating Decatur in the first round of the playoffs but losing in the championship round to Wisconsin Rapids; and winning the second half division championship in 1974, going on to win the
league title by defeating Quad Cities and Appleton in succession. The
Danville Dodgers name was reborn in 1975, when it became a
Los Angeles Dodgers farm club for two seasons. The franchise folded after the 1976 season. The 1982
Danville Suns rejoined the league for one season as an affiliate of the
California Angels. The franchise relocated to
Peoria, Illinois to become the
Peoria Chiefs in 1983. The
Danville Dans of the summer collegiate
Prospect League have played since 1989, utilizing Danville Stadium. ==Ballparks==