Sedgwick County KS Archives Biographies.....Isbell, Frank 1875 - 
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Author: O. H. Bentley (1910)

   Frank Isbell, proprietor and sole owner of the Wichita baseball team, with
headquarters at 127 South Main street, Wichita, Kan., is one of her citizens in
whom Wichita takes a justifiable pride. "Izzy," as he is familiarly known, has
won his fame in the baseball world, in which he takes high rank as an important
figure. He is a native of the Empire state, having been born at Delevan, N. Y.,
on August 21, 1875. His parents were John N. and Julia B. (Lawton) Isbell, who
were natives of New York. They removed to Minnesota in 1880 and after a
residence there of ten years decided to locate in Kansas. Young Isbell's
education was acquired in the public schools of North Branch, Minn., and
McAlister College, St. Paul, Minn. As a boy he was always devoted to athletic
sports. He began his baseball career as a pitcher at Virginia City, Minn., in
1896, with the Iron Range team, where he won thirteen out of fourteen games in
which he played. His brilliant work attracted the attention of Charles Comiskey,
who was then manager of the St. Paul club in the Western Association, and the
latter signed young Isbell in the fall of 1896, playing him in the outfield. In
1898 Comiskey sold Isbell to the Chicago National League, where he was utilized
as pitcher and utility man. In August of the same year Isbell was sold back to
the St. Paul team and remained with the club until the end of the season of
1899. In the spring of 1900 the American League was organized and Comiskey took
his team to Chicago. Isbell remained with this club during the years 1900 to
1909, inclusive, and in the latter year came to Wichita.

   In the spring of 1905 Dr. Shively, president of the Western Association,
endeavored to raise capital for the purchase of the Pittsburg, Kan., franchise,
on condition that Isbell would take charge of the club. Several prominent
citizens were interested and the necessary capital was quickly subscribed and
the franchise turned over to Isbell, but it was impossible for the latter to
leave Chicago. So he called W. J. Kimmell, of Enid, Okla., who came to Wichita
and assisted by the business men organized a stock company and took over the
franchise. In the fall of 1907 Mr. Isbell and John Holland paid $7,100 for the
club and Mr. Holland took charge. Kansas was placed in the Western Association
territory in 1905. Holland and Isbell got busy, put a deal through and got into
the Western League in the spring of 1909. In the spring of 1908 Isbell remained
with the club until June 25, when he went to Chicago and played with the White
Sox during the seasons of 1908 and 1909. In the spring of 1910 Comiskey, through
friendship, granted Isbell an unconditional release, and he returned to Wichita
and bought Holland's interests. Thus he was able to hold the fort at Wichita and
is now sole owner and proprietor of the club. "Izzy" made a record in the world
series of 1906, making four successive two-base hits in one game, which has
never been equaled. In selecting a site for a home for himself he was able to
secure and build on the spot occupied by the diamond in the early eighties. Mr.
Isbell is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the thirty-second
degree, and is a Shriner. He is also a member of the Young Men's Christian
Association, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of
Maccabees, and the Chamber of Commerce of Wichita. He was married in 1898 to
Miss Addie A. Baker, of Wichita, and is the father of one child, James LaFloyd
Isbell.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 

History of Wichita and Sedgwick County: past and present, including an account
of the cities, towns and villages of the county

Editor in chief: O. H. Bentley
Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co. (1910)


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