Minor league baseball began with the
Hastings Hustlers in the 1887 Western League. Hastings was a member of the
Nebraska State League from 1910 to 1915 and 1922 to 1923, playing as the Reds, Cubs, Third Citys and Brickmakers. The
Hastings Cubs joined the
Tri-State League in 1924. The Hastings Giants were a minor league affiliate of the
New York Giants from 1956 to 1957 and
San Francisco Giants in 1958 and 1959.
Baseball Hall of Fame member
Fred Clarke began his professional career with
Hastings in 1892, hitting .302 with 14 stolen bases in 41 games. The
Hastings Third Citys won the 1912 Nebraska State League Championship, finishing first in the regular season with a record of 67–44. The
Kearney Buffaloes playoff win over Hastings was later reversed at the Nebraska State League 1913 spring meeting and Hastings was awarded the championship. The Hastings Giants were an affiliate of the
New York Giants/San Francisco Giants, playing from 1956 to 1959. The Giants played their home games at Duncan Field. The Nebraska State League permanently folded following the 1959 season. The 1959 league member Hastings Giants,
Holdrege White Sox,
Grand Island Athletics,
Kearney Yankees,
McCook Braves and
North Platte Indians franchised permanently folded as well. ==The ballpark==