Denver Zephyrs

Denver Zephyrs
Denver Zephyrs
1955 – 1992 ; Denver, Colorado ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	Triple-A (1955–1992)
League	American Association (1969–1992); Pacific Coast League (1963–1968); American Association (1955–1962);
Major league affiliations
Team	Milwaukee Brewers (1987–1992); Cincinnati Reds (1985–1986); Chicago White Sox (1983–1984); Texas Rangers (1982); Montreal Expos (1976–1981); Chicago White Sox (1975); Houston Astros (1973–1974); Texas Rangers (1972); Washington Senators (1970–1971); Minnesota Twins (1965–1969); Milwaukee Braves (1963–1964); Detroit Tigers (1960–1962); Unaffiliated (1959); New York Yankees (1955–1958);
Minor league titles
Class titles (2)	1957; 1991;
League titles (7)	1957; 1971; 1976; 1977; 1981; 1983; 1991;
Team data
Name	Denver Zephyrs (1984–1992); Denver Bears (1955–1983);
Ballpark	Mile High Stadium (1955–1992)

Last updated December 03, 2023

The Denver Zephyrs (formerly the Denver Bears) were a Minor League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They were a Triple-A team that played in the American Association from 1955 to 1962, the Pacific Coast League from 1963 to 1968, and the American Association again from 1969 to 1992. They played their home games at Mile High Stadium.

History

Origins

Denver, Colorado, had been the home of numerous minor league baseball teams dating back to 1885 with an unnamed team of the Colorado State League. Off and on from 1901 to 1954, the city was represented by the Denver Bears of the Western League. In 1955, the Class A Bears were replaced by a Triple-A team of the American Association.^[1] This came about when the Kansas City Blues were forced to relocate after the American League's Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City, Missouri, to become the Kansas City Athletics.^[2]

Denver Bears (1955–1983)

Although naming a team for its uniform color had been popular in the 19th century, it was not fashionable in the 20th. As Denver had no connection to the original Blues, and in recognition of the new location in the Rockies, the team became known as Bears.^[1]

The new Denver team played at what became known later as Mile High Stadium, but was originally known as Bears Stadium, after the team. This ballpark was one of the largest venues in history to host minor league baseball on a routine basis, and had the additional draw of being in one of the largest minor league markets at the time. For many years, the biggest crowds were on Independence Day fireworks nights, and the American Association scheduled the Bears for a home game every year. It was on these nights that the Bears drew the largest crowds in minor league baseball history. On July 4, 1982, the Bears drew an all-time minor league record of 65,666 for a game against the Omaha Royals, breaking their own record of 59,691 set on July 4 of the previous year.^[3]

The Triple-A Bears were affiliated with the New York Yankees at the outset, with Ralph Houk managing many players who would reach the majors and play in the World Series. The team had some early success, winning the American Association championship in 1957.^[4] League MVPs in this period included Marv Throneberry in 1956 and Steve Boros in 1960.^[5]

Although the team had been a member of the American Association since the league's inception 60 years before, it was a Midwestern circuit, so for the 1963 season, the Bears transferred to the Pacific Coast League.^[1] The mid-1960s Bears included such future big-leaguers as César Tovar and Ted Uhlaender, but lacked overall success. It also turned out that with the PCL otherwise all but confined to the actual Pacific Coast, Denver was now located too far east. In 1969, the franchise returned to the American Association.^[1]

The Denver Bears had some good teams from the 1970s to the mid-1980s, producing such players as Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, Warren Cromartie, Tim Raines, Graig Nettles, Terry Francona, Wallace Johnson, Danny Morris, Pat Rooney, and Bill Gullickson. Denver players Richie Scheinblum (1971), Cliff Johnson (1973), Roger Freed (1976), Frank Ortenzio (1977), and Randy Bass (1980) were league MVPs.^[5] The managing careers of both Billy Martin and Felipe Alou began with the Bears. The team won the Association's championship with some regularity, topping the league in 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, and 1983.^[4] The 1980 Bears were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.^[6]

Denver Zephyrs (1984–1992)

In 1984, the team name was changed to the Denver Zephyrs,^[1] after the famous passenger train. Barry Larkin (1986) was league MVP while with the Zephyrs, as were Greg Vaughn (1989), Jim Olander (1991), and Jim Tatum (1992).^[5] ESPN broadcaster Orestes Destrade also played for the Zephyrs. On June 3, 1987, Zephyrs player Joey Meyer hit the longest verified home run in American professional baseball history at 582 feet.^[7]

The Zephyrs' only championship under the new nickname was the 1991 American Association title.^[4] They went on to win the 1991 Triple-A Classic against the International League's Columbus Clippers, 4–1.^[8]

Major League Baseball came to Denver with the arrival of the Colorado Rockies expansion team of the National League in 1993. After 39 seasons of play, the Zephyrs relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, after the 1992 season where they continued as the New Orleans Zephyrs.^[9]

Notable players

Narciso Elvira - played with the Zephyrs after his stint in the Majors with Milwaukee Brewers in 1990

Related Research Articles

The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norfolk Tides</span> Minor League Baseball team

The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapeake Bay. The team plays their home games at Harbor Park, which opened in 1993. The Tides previously played at High Rock Park in 1961 and 1962, Frank D. Lawrence Stadium from 1961 to 1969, and at Met Park from its opening in 1970 until the end of the 1992 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Clippers</span> Minor League Baseball team

The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy merchant sailing vessels known as clippers. The team has played their home games at Huntington Park since 2009. They previously played at Cooper Stadium from 1977 to 2008.

The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry, specifically the "Nashville sound", a subgenre of country music which originated in the city and became popular in the mid-1950s. The team plays their home games at First Horizon Park, which opened in 2015 on the site of the historic Sulphur Dell ballpark. The Sounds previously played at Herschel Greer Stadium from its opening in 1978 until the end of the 2014 season. They are the oldest active professional sports franchise in Nashville.

The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the winged mammal and baseball bats, such as those manufactured locally under the Louisville Slugger brand. The team plays their home games at Louisville Slugger Field, which opened in 2000. The Bats previously played at Cardinal Stadium from 1982 to 1999.

The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. The Cubs have played their home games at Principal Park since 1992, which was named Sec Taylor Stadium from 1969 to 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Association (1902–1997)</span> Defunct baseball class-AAA minor league from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997

The American Association (AA) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated primarily in the Midwestern and South Central United States from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997. It was classified as a Triple-A league, which is one grade below Major League Baseball, for most of its existence.

The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field, which opened in 2014 and is located in Uptown Charlotte. The team previously played at Knights Park (1976–1988), Knights Castle (1989), and Knights Stadium (1990–2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Orleans Baby Cakes</span> Minor league baseball team

The New Orleans Baby Cakes were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They were located in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, and played their home games at the Shrine on Airline.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, and play their home games at Werner Park, which opened in 2011. The team previously played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium from 1969 to 2010.

Mile High Stadium was an outdoor multi-purpose stadium located in Denver, Colorado from 1948 to 2001.

Gold Mine on Airline, formerly Shrine on Airline, is a 10,000-seat stadium in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. It is home field for the New Orleans Gold team in Major League Rugby. Known as Zephyr Field when built in 1997 as the home ballpark for the New Orleans Zephyrs, the stadium was renamed when the Minor League Baseball team's name changed from Zephyrs to Baby Cakes in 2017. Shrine on Airline had been an unofficial name for Zephyr Field used by the public address announcer since the stadium opened and it became the new name.

The Kansas City Blues were a minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Midwestern United States. The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association.

Robert Lee Howsam was an American professional sports executive and entrepreneur. In 1959, he played a key role in establishing two leagues—the American Football League, which succeeded and merged with the National Football League, and baseball's Continental League, which never played a game but forced expansion of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 16 to 20 teams in 1961–62. Howsam then became a prominent MLB executive as the highly successful general manager (GM) and club president of the Cincinnati Reds during the Big Red Machine dynasty between 1967 and 1977, when his team won four National League pennants and two World Series titles. He also served as GM of the St. Louis Cardinals from August 17, 1964, until January 1967, where he inherited a team that would win the 1964 World Series, but made material contributions to the Redbirds' 1967 world champions and 1968 pennant-winners.

The Triple-A World Series was an interleague postseason championship series between the league champions of the affiliated Triple-A leagues of Minor League Baseball to determine an overall champion of the classification held in 1983 and from 1998 to 2000.

The Western League was the name of several American sports leagues in Minor League Baseball. This article concentrates on the Western Leagues that operated from 1900 to 1937 and from 1947 to 1958.

Jaime Navarro Cintrón is a former Puerto Rican baseball player and current pitching coach for the Uni-President Lions for the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan. Navarro was a 6-foot, 4-inch tall right-handed pitcher in the major leagues from 1989 to 2000, playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians. He is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Julio Navarro.

The Triple-A Classic was an interleague postseason championship series held annually between the league champions of the American Association (AA) and International League (IL) Triple-A leagues of Minor League Baseball from 1988 to 1991.

The Wichita Wind Surge are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Wichita, Kansas, and began play in 2021 at Riverfront Stadium.

The Wichita Indians were a Class A level minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wichita Indians played as members of the Western League from 1950 to 1955. Wichita won the 1955 Western League Championship. The Wichita Indians were an affiliate of the 1950 St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians from 1951 to 1952, 1953 St. Louis Browns and Baltimore Orioles in 1954 and 1955.

References

1 2 3 4 5 "Denver, Colorado Encyclopoedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
↑ "Denver replaces Kansas City in American Association". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. November 29, 1954. p. 17.
↑ Stivers, Melinda (August 11, 1982). "Denver Bears doing well, but city still wants a big league baseball team". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
1 2 3 "American Association Playoff Results". Triple-A Baseball.com. Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
1 2 3 "American Association Special Award Winners". Triple-A Baseball.com. Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
↑ "Top 100 Teams". Minor League Baseball. 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
↑ Monagan, Matt (March 2, 2021). "Longest HR ever is not one you think". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
↑ "Triple-A Baseball Interleague Post-Season Play Results". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
↑ "New Orleans, Louisiana Encyclopoedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[BR-Denver-1] 1 2 3 4 5 "Denver, Colorado Encyclopoedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

[replkc-2] "Denver replaces Kansas City in American Association". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. November 29, 1954. p. 17.

[3] Stivers, Melinda (August 11, 1982). "Denver Bears doing well, but city still wants a big league baseball team". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 23 March 2023.

[AAChamps-4] 1 2 3 "American Association Playoff Results". Triple-A Baseball.com. Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

[AAMVP-5] 1 2 3 "American Association Special Award Winners". Triple-A Baseball.com. Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

[6] "Top 100 Teams". Minor League Baseball. 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

[mlbcom-2021-7] Monagan, Matt (March 2, 2021). "Longest HR ever is not one you think". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 March 2021.

[8] "Triple-A Baseball Interleague Post-Season Play Results". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved May 20, 2016.

[9] "New Orleans, Louisiana Encyclopoedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]