Hastings Giants

The Hastings Giants was the final nickname of the minor league baseball teams, based in Hastings, Nebraska between 1887 and 1959. The Hastings Giants played in the short-season Class D level Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959. Earlier Hastings teams played as members the Western League (1887), Nebraska State League (1892, 1910–1915, 1922–1923) and Tri-State League (1924).

Baseball Hall of Fame members Fred Clarke (1892) and Dazzy Vance (1914) played for Hastings.

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.

History
Minor league baseball began with the Hastings Hustlers of 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 Third Citys won the 1912 Nebraska State League Championship, finishing 1st in the regular season at 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.

In 1956, it was announced that major league baseball had plans to sponsor a new Class D League in Nebraska with affiliate teams. Requirements for a franchise in the Nebraska State League included: cities having a lighted ballpark; selling $5,000 in season tickets and providing another $2,500 for incidental expenses, and the ability to provide transportation to away games. Eleven Nebraska cities agreed to these provisions. The eleven names were put into a hat to draw for one of eight franchises. Hastings was one of the cities selected for the new league, along with Superior, Grand Island, Hastings, Lexington, McCook, Holdrege, North Platte and Kearney.

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 all permanently folded as well.

The ballpark
The Hastings Giants played home minor league games at Duncan Field. Constructed in 1940 as a federal W.P.A. Project, the ballpark was considered one of the best in the Nebraska State League. Duncan Field is still in use today, having hosted multiple American Legion World Series. Duncan Field is located at 601 East South Street in Hastings, Nebraska.

Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Dazzy Vance pitched for the Hastings Reds in 1914 with a 17–4 record. Hall of Famer Fred Clarke began his professional career with Hastings in 1892, hitting .302 with 14 stolen bases in 41 games.

Notable alumni

 * Fred Clarke (1892) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1945
 * Dazzy Vance (1914) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1955
 * Jesus Alou (1959)
 * Bob Barton (1959)
 * Harry Cheek (1923)
 * Jake Gettman (1914)
 * Bill Hands (1959)
 * Lou Koupal (1923)
 * Bill Piercy (1914)
 * Leo Schrall (MGR, 1957–1959)
 * Jose Tartabull (1958)
 * Gene Thompson (MGR, 1956)
 * Jose Vidal (1958)
 * Johnny Weekly (1956)