| Miami Indians | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1921) |
| League | Southwestern League (1921) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Miami Indians (1921) |
| Ballpark | League Park (1921) |
The Miami Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Miami, Oklahoma. In 1921, the Indians played the season as charter members of the Class D level Southwestern League, finishing in seventh place. Miami hosted home minor league games at Miami Field, that lied within Riverview Park, which is still in use today. The Indians were succeeded in minor league play by the 1946 Miami Blues of the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League.
Beginning minor league play in 1921, the Miami "Indians" became a charter member of the eight team, Class D level Southwestern League. [1] The Bartlesville Braves, Coffeyville Refiners, Independence Producers, Muskogee Mets, Parsons Parsons, Pittsburg Pirates and Sapulpa Sappers teams joined Miami in beginning league play on April 21, 1921. [2] [3]
The "Indians" nickname corresponds with local and regional history. The city of Miami was founded in 1891 and is named for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, with the city still serving today as the capital of the federally recognized Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. [4] [5] [6]
The president of the Miami Indians franchise was former major league player Benny Meyer. [7] [8] Meyer gained control of the team in March 1921 with no players on the roster. He put ads for players in The Sporting News and held a tryout at Robison Field in St. Louis, Missouri, where over 30 players showed up. Meyer left the team during the season to become a minor league scout. [9]
At the Indians' opening day at Miami Field on April 27, 1921, there were 2,500 in attendance at the 2,000-seat ballpark. [10] The game against Muskogee was preceded by a luncheon for the team and a parade leading to the ballpark. [7] [8]
In their first season of play in the league, the Miami Indians placed seventh. [11] With a record of 59–84, playing the season under the direction of manager Bobby Byrne, Miami finished 43.5 games behind the first place Independence Producers (103–38), who finished 19.0 games ahead of the second place Muskogee Mets. [1] The 1921 final standings featured the Independence Producers, followed by the Muskogee Mets (93–56), Pittsburg Pirates (87–63), Coffeyville Refiners (71–72), Sapulpa Sappers (68–76), Bartlesville Braves (64–80), Miami Indians (59–84) and Parsons Parsons / Cushing Oilers (34–110). [12] [1]
Miami players Ray Flaskamper and Bill Walker advanced to play major league baseball. [11] [12] Invited by Benny Meyer, Walker was discovered by scouts at a tryout at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis in 1921. After the tryout, Walker was put under contract and assigned to play for Miami at age 17. Walker later won the National League ERA title in 1929 and 1931, making the 1935 All-Star team. [13] Miami Player/manager Bobby Byrne had previously played eleven seasons in the major leagues. [14]
In 1922, the Southwestern League became a Class C level League, however the Miami franchise did not return to league play. [1] Miami next hosted minor league baseball with the 1946 Miami Blues, an affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers, began a seven-year stretch as members of the Class D level Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League. [1] [15]
The Miami Indians played 1921 home minor league games at League Park. League Park was located on North Main Street, within walking distance of the intersection of Main and Central in the middle of downtown. [16] [17] Based on later maps, the precise location of this ball park appears to have been the northeast corner of Main Street and Third Avenue NE. [18] No remnants of the former ballpark currently exist. [19]
| Year | Record | Manager | Finish | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 59–84 | Bobby Byrne | 7th | No playoffs held |
The Southwestern League was the name of four former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The second league, also known as the Oklahoma State League, was in operation for the 1904 season. The third league operated from 1921 to 1926. The fourth league, formerly the Longhorn League, operated from 1956 to 1957 before changing its name to the Sophomore League.
The Pittsburg Browns were a minor league baseball team based in Pittsburg, Kansas. From 1946 to 1951, the Browns played as members of the Class D level Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, winning the 1946 league championship. The Browns hosted home minor league games at Jaycee Park.
The Pauls Valley Raiders were a minor league baseball team based in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. From 1948 to 1954, the Valley Raiders played exclusively as members of the Class D level Sooner State League, winning the 1949 pennant. The Raiders hosted home games at Wacker Park. The Pauls Valley Raiders were a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants in 1952 and 1953.
The Chickasha Chicks were a minor league baseball team based in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Preceded by the short lived 1904 Chickasha Indians of the Class D level Southwestern League, the Chicks played as members of Western Association from 1920 to 1921 and Oklahoma State League in 1922, winning two league championships.
The Salina Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team based in Salina, Kansas. The Salina Blue Jays and their immediate predecessor, the Salina "Millers" played as members of the Southwestern League (1922–1926) and Western Association, winning the 1926 league championship and two league pennants. The Salina Millers were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1941 and the Blue Jays were a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate from 1946 to 1952. Salina hosted home minor league games at Oakdale Park from 1922 to 1926 and Kenwood Field from 1938 to 1952. The 1922 Salina Millers team was preceded by the 1914 Salina Coyotes of the Kansas State League.
The Cushing Refiners were a minor league baseball teams based in Cushing, Oklahoma in 1921 and from 1923 to 1925. The "Refiners" played a members of the Class D level Oklahoma State League from 1923 to 1924 and Southwestern League in 1925. The Refiners were preceded in minor league play by the Cushing "Oilers, who played the season as members of the 1921 Southwestern League.
The Sapulpa Sappers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Between 1909 and 1923, Sapulpa teams played as members of the Western Association from 1909 to 1911, Southwestern League in 1921, Southwestern Association in 1922 and Southwestern League in 1923, capturing the 1922 league championship.
The Vinita Cherokees were a minor league baseball team based in Vinita, Oklahoma. In 1905 and 1906, Vinita teams played as members of the 1905 Missouri Valley League and 1906 Kansas State League. Vinita hosted minor league home games at Sportsman Park in both seasons of minor league play.
The Anadarko Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Anadarko, Oklahoma for one shortened season. In 1912, the Indians played briefly as members of the Class D level Oklahoma State League before permanently folding during the season. Jim Thorpe had a tryout stint for the Indians and was released, leading him to resume football.
The Coffeyville Refiners was the final nickname of the minor league baseball teams based in Coffeyville, Kansas. Between 1896 and 1911, Coffeyville teams played as members of the 1896 Kansas State League, 1902 Missouri Valley League, 1906 Kansas State League, 1907 Oklahoma-Arkansas-Kansas League and 1911 Western Association, with a different nickname in each season. The "Refiners" played as members of the Class D level Southwestern League from 1921 to 1924, winning the 1923 league championship. Coffeyville hosted home minor league games at Osborn Park in 1896, Mineral Park in 1902 and at Forest Park for the seasons from 1906 to 1924.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Ardmore, Oklahoma, playing in various seasons between 1904 and 1961. Ardmore teams played in the 1904 Texas League, Texas-Oklahoma League (1911–1914), 1917 Western Association, Texas-Oklahoma League (1921–1922), 1923 Western Association, 1924 Oklahoma State League, Western Association (1924–1926), Sooner State League (1947–1957) and Texas League (1961). Ardmore captured league championships in 1923, 1925 and 1957.
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, Oklahoma State League (1924), Southwestern League (1924–1926) and Western Association (1950–1951), winning two league championships.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Muskogee, Oklahoma in various seasons between 1905 and 1957. The final team, the Muskogee Giants, played as members of the Western Association (1951–1954) and the Sooner State League (1955–1957). Earlier Muskogee teams played as members of the Missouri Valley League (1905), South Central League (1906), Oklahoma-Arkansas-Kansas League (1907–1908), Western Association (1909–1911), Oklahoma State League (1912), Western Association, Southwestern League (1921–1923), Western Association (1924–1932), Western League (1933), Western Association and Sooner State League (1955–1957). Muskogee never captured a league championship, making league finals on multiple occasions.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Webb City, Missouri in various seasons between 1887 and 1912. Under numerous nicknames, Webb City teams played as members of the 1887 Southwestern League, 1891 Southwestern Missouri League, the Missouri Valley League in 1903 and 1905, Western Association from 1906 to 1909 and 1912 Missouri-Kansas League. Webb City hosted home minor league games at Sunset Park for the duration of their minor league play.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Bonham, Texas in various seasons between 1898 and 1922. Bonham teams played as members of the Independent level Southwestern League in 1898 and the Class D level Texas-Oklahoma League from 1911 to 1914 and 1921 to 1922. Bonham teams featured a different moniker each season.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1911 and from 1947 to 1957. Lawton teams played as a member of the Texas-Oklahoma League in 1911 and the Sooner State League from 1947 to 1957, winning league championships in 1949, 1954 and 1955. Lawton was a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves from 1954 to 1957, Cincinnati Reds in 1952 and 1953 and the New York Giants from 1947 to 1951. Lawton hosted home minor league games at Koehler Park in 1911 and Memorial Park from 1947 to 1957.
The Pittsburg Coal Diggers were a minor league baseball team based in Pittsburg, Kansas. From 1903 to 1906, Pittsburg teams played as a member of the Missouri Valley League from 1903 to 1905 before joining the 1906 Kansas State League. The Pittsburg "Miners" won the 1905 Missouri State League championship in the final season of league, before adopting the Pittsburg "Champs" nickname for the 1906 Kansas State League season.
The Fort Scott Giants were a minor league baseball team based in Fort Scott, Kansas. From 1901 to 1905, Fort Scott teams played as a member of the Missouri Valley League, before joining the 1906 Kansas State League. The 1901 team was known as the Fort Scott "Memphis Route."
The Bartlesville Reds were a minor league baseball team based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
The Bartlesville Bearcats were a minor league baseball team based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Bartlesville teams played as members of the Class D and Class C level Southwestern League from 1921 to 1923. After leaving the southwestern League, Bartlesville hosted two separate partial season teams in the 1924 Western Association. Bartlesville teams were known by a different nickname in each season.