Grand Forks Chiefs

Last updated

Grand Forks Chiefs
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1963–1964)
  • Class C (1941–1942, 1946–1962)
  • Class D (1934–1940)
League Northern League
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 3 (1940, 1948, 1951)
Team data
Previous names
Previous parks
Municipal Ballpark

The Grand Forks Chiefs were a minor league baseball team from Grand Forks, North Dakota. They played in the Northern League from 1934 to 1964, with a couple breaks in between.

Contents

History

Minor league baseball first began in Grand Forks when the 1897 Grand Forks Senators became members of the Red River Valley League. They were followed by the Grand Forks Forkers who played as members of the Northern League (1902-1905) and Northern-Copper Country League (1906). The Grand Forks Flickertails played as members of the Central International League (1912) and Northern League (1913-1915). [1]

The Grand Forks Chiefs began play in 1934, after Grand Forks had hosted the two previous teams in the Northern League. The Chiefs were a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers (1964), Cleveland Indians (1963, Pittsburgh Pirates (1956–1962), Philadelphia Phillies (1951–1952), New York Yankees (1948–1950), Brooklyn Dodgers (1946) and Chicago White Sox (1939–1942). [2] [1]

Ballparks

The Chiefs played at home games at the Grand Forks Municipal Ballpark, which was located at 1124 Demers Avenue. Today, the site is the Central Fire Station. [3] [4]

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame Alumni

Notable alumni

Year-by-year record

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
193459–606thJohnny Anderson
193546–666thJohnny Anderson
193849–666th Johnny Mostil
193949–687th Johnny Mostil
194079–441st Fred Williams League Champs
194164–482nd Larry Bettencourt Lost in 1st round
194231–848th Bruno Haas
194650–566th Glenn Chapman / Rae Blaemire
194728–928t Claude Jonnard
194880–391st Gordon Hinkle League Champs
194955–708th Ed Kearse / Joe McDermott / Wally Berger
195052–736th Jack Farmer / Cedric Durst
195164–624th Eddie Murphy League Champs
195238–868th Eddie Murphy
195355–706th Carl Hosler / Frank Calo
195443–918th Virl Minnis / Frank Calo / Frank Major
195539–858th Johnny Hopp / Joe McDermott / Ray Fletcher
195659–657th Al Kubski
195752–728th Al Kubski / Jack Paepke
195851–687thJames Adlam
195957–686thJames Adlam
196061–625th Bob Clear
196160–664th Bob Clear Lost in 1st round
196272–521st Tom Saffell Lost in 1st round
196354–645th Ray Dabek 1st 17–11*
196469–502nd James Williams 15–13 (3rd)*

* Baukol Playoffs based on last 30 days of season

References

  1. 1 2 "Grand Forks, North Dakota Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "SABR".
  3. "History | City of Grand Forks, ND". Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  4. "Municipal Ball Park - Grand Forks North Dakota - Former Home of the Grand Forks Chiefs". www.digitalballparks.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2006.