The team began the 1897
Central League season as the
Nashville Centennials of
Nashville, Tennessee, but suffered financial problems brought on principally by poor attendance. They played their final game in Nashville on June 3. The Centennials left town in second place with a 18–14 (.563) record. League president George Simons announced the league's intention to transfer the club to
Decatur, Illinois. The league took possession of the team and placed it in the hands of
catcher Frank Belt. the team played a series each against the
Cairo Egyptians and
Paducah Little Colonels, where they were still referred to as Nashville. Meanwhile, Simons was still trying to place the former Nashville franchise in a new city. Decatur, the intended spot, refused to accept the team and its over $400 debt in unpaid player salaries and forthwith demolished their ballpark. Simons next turned to
Springfield, Illinois; and
Henderson, Kentucky. The league gave Nashville a five-day window to get together the funds to guarantee finishing the season, but it failed to do so. Their first game as the Henderson club was played on June 13 on the road against the
Evansville Brewers. They won, 5–4, with the battery of Will Geralds and Belt. was named the new
manager. They defeated Evansville, 6–2, in their Henderson home opener on June 22. On the morning of July 20, the
Washington Browns disbanded amid poor attendance and severe debt. Evansville and the
Terre Haute Hottentots dropped out of the league later that day. The Central League was finished. Henderson played its final league game on July 19 at Terre Haute, a 5–4 loss. == Season results ==