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Enid, Oklahoma minor league baseball history

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Enid, Oklahoma
minor league baseball teams
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1904)
Class C (1908–1910)
Class D (1920–1921)
Class C (1922–1923)
Class D (1924)
Class C (1924-1926, 1950–1951)
LeagueSouthwestern League (1904)
Western Association (1908–1910, 1920–1923)
Oklahoma State League (1924)
Southwestern League (1924–1926)
Western Association (1950–1951)
Major league affiliations
TeamNew York Giants (1950)
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1909
  • 1920
Conference titles (1)1922
Team data
NameEnid Evangelists (1904)
Enid Railroaders (1908–1910)
Enid Harvesters
(1920–1924)
Enid Boosters (1925–1926)
Enid Giants (1950)
Enid Buffaloes (1951)
BallparkLeague Park (1908–1910)
Association Park (1920–1926)
City Stadium (1950–1951)

Minor league baseball teams were based in Enid, Oklahoma in various seasons between 1904 and 1951. Enid minor league teams played as members of the Southwestern League (1904), Western Association (1908–1910, 1920–1923), Oklahoma State League (1924), Southwestern League (1924–1926) and Western Association (1950–1951), winning two league championships.

The 1950 Enid Giants were a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants.

The 1922 Enid Harvesters finished with a 104–27 record, a .794 winning percentage. The 1922 Harvesters are listed as one of the best all–time minor league teams.

History

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Minor league baseball began in Enid, Oklahoma in 1904. The 1904 Enid Evangelists began play as members of the reformed Class D level Southwestern League. The 1904 Evangelists finished with a record of 46–37, placing second in the four–team Southwestern League. Enid was managed by Howard Price and Walter Frantz. The Southwestern League had reformed in 1904 and folded after the 1904 season.[1][2][3]

In 1908, minor league baseball returned as the Enid Railroaders became members of the Class C level Western Association. The Railroaders finished the season with a 38–99 record and placed eighth and last in the Western Association standings. Enid played home games at Traction Park. Enid was managed in 1908 by Walter Frantz, William Kimmell, George Hulbert and Red Wright.[4][5][3]

The 1909 Enid Railroaders were the Western Association champions. Enid finished with a record of 82–41 to capture first place in the standings, playing under manager Ted Price. With no playoffs, Enid finished 7.5 games ahead of the second place Muskogee Navigators in the final Western Association standings to capture the championship.[6][7][3]

Enid continued play in the 1910 Western Association and had a runner up finish in defending their title. The Enid Railroaders finished with a record of 64–53 and in second place in the eight–team Western Association. The 1910 Enid manager was Bob Kennedy. The Enid franchise folded after the 1910 season.[8][9][3]

In 1920, Enid rejoined the eight–team Western Association, which was reformed after folding in 1917, and won a disputed league championship. Playing in the Western Association, the 1920 Enid Harvesters finished the regular season with an overall record of 71–53 and in fourth place overall, winning the split–season second half pennant, playing under manager Ted Waring. In the 1920 playoffs, the Okmulgee Drillers and Enid Harvesters were tied 3 games to 3. Enid then won the seventh game, but the Western Association president later invalidated the victory.[10][11][3]

In the 1921 Western Association, the Enid Harvesters ended the season with a 77–74 record, placing fifth overall. The 1921 manager was Barney Cleveland. On August 21, 1921, Enid pitcher Albert Miller pitched a no-hitter against the Henryetta Hens in a 5–1 victory.[12][13][3]

The 1922 Enid Harvesters were a historically successful team. The Harvesters finished the regular season with a record of 104–27, for a .794 winning percentage. Enid finished 13.0 games ahead of the second place Joplin Miners (93–42) in the regular season standings. The 1922 Enid Harvesters have been ranked as one of the top 20 of The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams.[14][15] Enid was defeated in the 1922 league championship playoff by Joplin, but remain historically noted because of their overall 1922 season under manager Tom Downey.[16][3]

The Enid Harvesters finished with a 80–65 record in the 1923 Class C Western Association, finishing in fourth place. The Enid manager was again Tom Downey.[17][18][3]

In 1924, Enid simultaneously hosted two teams in two leagues. First, the Enid Harvesters continued play, moving from the Western Association to become members of the 1924 Class D level Southwestern League.[19][3] Playing in the 1924 Southwestern League, the Enid Harvesters finished with a record of 65–67, placing fourth in the league. The managers were Babe Ellison and George Dye.[20][21][3]

Enid also briefly hosted a second team in the 1924 season. The Guthrie team (8–18) of the Oklahoma State League moved first to McAlester, Oklahoma on May 24, 1924. McAlester then moved to Wewoka–Holdenville on June 8, 1924. The franchise then moved to Enid in late June and finished the 1924 season playing in Enid. On July 8, 1924, the Oklahoma State League Enid team had an overall record of 18–48 and were in seventh place under managers M. H. Robertson and Ted Lipps when the Oklahoma State League permanently folded.[22][3]

Enid continued play as the Enid Boosters in 1925. Enid became members of the 1925 Class D level Southwestern League. The Enid Boosters were 20–27 on June 17, 1925, when the franchise relocated to Shawnee, Oklahoma and finished the season playing as the Shawnee Braves. Enid/Shawnee finished the 1925 Southwestern League 52–76 and in sixth place under managers Ben Dimond and George Dye.[23][24][3]

In 1926, Enid regained a franchise and the Enid Boosters returned to Southwestern League play. The Boosters had a record of 70–49, placing second in the Southwestern League under manager George Dye, while playing at Association Park. In the 1926 playoffs, the Salina Millers defeated the Enid Boosters 3 games to 1. The Southwestern League folded after the 1926 season.[25][26][3]

After a 24–year span, minor league baseball returned to Enid, Oklahoma in 1950. The Fort Smith Giants of the Class C level Western Association relocated and the Enid Giants became members of the eight–team league, playing as an affiliate of the New York Giants. The 1950 Enid Giants finished with a record of 71–63, for fourth place in the Western Association under manager Harold Kollar, playing at Enid Baseball Park. Enid's 1950 season home attendance was 40,713, an average of 608 per home game.[27][28][29][3]

The Enid Buffalos continued play in the 1951 Western Association as an affiliate of the Class A Houston Buffaloes, who were themselves owned by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Enid Buffalos finished the regular season with a 45–79 record, placing seventh in the Western Association final standings. The Buffalos were managed by Ray Honeycutt. Enid had season attendance of 39,584, an average of 638 per game. Enid folded after the 1951 season, as the Western League played in 1952 as a six–team league.[30][31][3]

Enid, Oklahoma has not hosted another minor league team.[3][32]

(2007) Broadway Avenue. Enid, Oklahoma

The ballparks

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Early Enid teams were noted to have played minor league home games at League Park.[33] The League Park grounds were located at the southeast corner of West Market Street (now Owen K. Garriott Road) and South Van Buren Street, and could be accessed by the Enid street railway system.[34][35]

The Enid teams from 1920 to 1926 were referenced to have played at Association Park. Association Park was located at East Pine Avenue & North 2nd Street and East Oak Avenue & North 3rd Street.[36][37][38]

In 1950 and 1951, teams were noted to have played home games at the Enid Baseball Park. Also known as "City Stadium," the ballpark had a capacity of 3,200 and has been destroyed.[39][40][28][41]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "1904 Enid Evangelists Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. ^ "1904 Enid Evangelists Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  4. ^ "1908 Enid Railroaders Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. ^ "1908 Enid Railroaders Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ^ "1909 Enid Railroaders Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "1909 Enid Railroaders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "1910 Enid Railroaders Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ^ "1910 Enid Railroaders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "1920 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ "1920 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1921 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. ^ "1921 Enid Harvesters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ^ "Top 100 Minor League Baseball Teams". www.stevetheump.com.
  15. ^ "Harvesters' Record Still Stands But Title of Best Team in State's Minor League History Is Debatable". Oklahoman.com. July 11, 1993.
  16. ^ "1922 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "1923 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. ^ "1923 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. ^ "Enid, Oklahoma Encyclopedia | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "1924 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. ^ "1924 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. ^ "1924 Guthrie/McAlester/Wewoka-Holdenville/Enid Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  23. ^ "1925 Enid Boosters/Shawnee Braves Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. ^ "1925 Enid Boosters/Shawnee Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  25. ^ "1926 Enid Boosters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. ^ "1926 Enid Boosters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. ^ "1950 Enid Giants Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. ^ a b "Buffaloes Stadium/City Park - Enid Oklahoma - Former home of the Enid Buffaloes". www.digitalballparks.com.
  29. ^ "1950 Enid Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  30. ^ "1951 Enid Buffalos Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  31. ^ "1951 Enid Buffaloes Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  32. ^ "Enid, Oklahoma Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  33. ^ "Base Ball Season Will Open in Enid Friday, April 30, Will Be a Holiday, Enid Daily Eagle, Apr. 22, 1909, p. 1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  34. ^ "Image 1 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma, 1908". www.loc.gov.
  35. ^ "Active Work on Street Railway Extension Is On, Enid Daily Eagle, Apr. 22, 1909, p. 1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  36. ^ "Association Park in Enid, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  37. ^ "Association Park (Enid, OK) - SABR Encyclopedia". encyclopedia.sabr.org.
  38. ^ "Image 10 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma, 1925". www.loc.gov.
  39. ^ "Enid Baseball Park in Enid, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  40. ^ "Enid Baseball Park - SABR Encyclopedia". encyclopedia.sabr.org.
  41. ^ "Buffaloes Stadium/City Park - Enid Oklahoma - Former home of the Enid Buffaloes". www.digitalballparks.com.
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