In their first season of play, the Flandreau Indians joined the league on June 20, 1902, playing under player/manager Arthur Hillebrand, who also served as a college football and baseball coach while managing Flandeau. The Indians were given a record of 9–9 to begin the season, which made its overall first–half record 31–22 (22–13 in actual games played). Flandreau won the second–half title with a 29–6 record. Flandreau placed 2nd in the 1902 Iowa–South Dakota League overall standings, but won the second split–season title. The overall standings featured the 1st place Sioux Falls Canaries (65–24), followed by the Flandreau Indians (51–19), Sioux City Cornhuskers (56–40), Le Mars Blackbirds (43–48), Rock Rapids Browns 39–52 and Sheldon (14–71).
