North Platte Indians

Last updated
North Platte Indians
Minor league affiliations
Class Class D (1928–1932, 1956–1959)
League Nebraska State League (1928–1932, 1956–1959)
Major league affiliations
Team Cleveland Indians (1956–1959)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1958
Team data
NameNorth Platte Buffalos (1928–1932)
North Platte Indians (1956–1958)
BallparkUnion Pacific Park (1928–1932)
Bill Wood Field (1956–1959)

The North Platte Indians were a minor league baseball team based in North Platte, Nebraska. Preceded by the North Platte Buffalos, the North Platte teams played as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League from 1928 to 1932 as the Buffalos and from 1956 to 1959 as the Indians. The North Platte Indians were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1956 to 1959, winning the 1958 league championship. The Buffalos played home games at the Union Pacific Park and the Indians hosted home games at Bill Wood Field.

Contents

History

Based in North Platte, Nebraska, the North Platte Indians were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, playing as members of the Nebraska State League. [1] Previously, the North Platte Buffalos played as members of the Nebraska State League from 1928 to 1932. [2] The North Platte Indians finished 41–22 in 1958 and captured the 1958 Nebraska State League Championship, playing under manager Mark Wylie. [2] [3]

On July 29, 1928, North Platte pitcher Joe Smith threw a no–hitter in a 7–inning game against the Beatrice Blues. North Platte won the game 3–0. [4] [5]

The Nebraska State League folded permanently after the 1959 season. The 1959 league member franchises folded as well, the Hastings Giants, Holdrege White Sox, Grand Island Athletics, Kearney Yankees, McCook Braves and North Platte Indians all folded. [6] [3]

The ballparks

The Union Pacific Park was noted to have hosted the North Platte Buffalos from 1928 to 1932 for minor league home games. The ballpark within the park was called Jeffers Field, located 7th and Jeffers, North Platte, Nebraska. The ballpark was destroyed by fire in 1955. [7] [8] [9]

After the fire, Bill Wood Field was constructed in 1956, within Cody Park. Bill Wood Field was referenced to have hosted the North Platte Indians. The ballfield is still in use today, located within Cody Park, near the National Guard building. Today, Bill Wood Field is home to American Legion baseball and the North Platte 80s, a 2024 Pecos League expansion team. It is located at 18th & Jeffers, North Platte, Nebraska. [10] [11] [12]

(2007) Union Pacific Challenger. Cody Park. North Platte, Nebraska. Up3977.JPG
(2007) Union Pacific Challenger. Cody Park. North Platte, Nebraska.

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1928–19325North Platte Buffalos Class D Nebraska State League
1956–19583North Platte Indians

Year–by–year record

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
195624–397th Spence Harris No playoffs held
195711–458th Rudy York No playoffs held
195841–221stMark WylieLeague Champions
195922–406thMark WylieNo playoffs held

Notable alumni

Rudy York 1945 Rudy York 1945.JPG
Rudy York 1945

See also

North Platte Indians players

Related Research Articles

The Nebraska State League (NSL) was an American professional minor league baseball league with five incarnations between 1892 and 1959. The Nebraska State League formed five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959. League teams were based in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The 1892 league was a Class B level league, and the league was a Class D level league in all subsequent seasons.

The Kearney Yankees were a minor league baseball team that played in the Class D level Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959. Hosting home games at Kearney Memorial Field, Kearney was a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees.

The Plainview Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Plainview, Texas. The Plainview Ponies played as members of the West Texas-New Mexico League from 1953 to 1955 and Southwestern League in 1956 and 1957, before the Plainview Athletics, playing as a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, became members of the Sophomore League in 1958 and 1959. Plainview hosted minor league home games at Jaycee Park.

The McCook Braves were a minor league baseball team based in McCook, Nebraska. From 1956 to 1959, the McCook Braves played as members of the short-season Class D level Nebraska State League as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves for their duration. The Braves won the 1959 league championship and were preceded in minor league play by the McCook Generals of the previous edition of the Nebraska State League from 1928 to 1932. The Braves hosted home games at the Ciabola Field, which was within the Red Willow County Fairgrounds.

The Holdrege White Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Holdrege, Nebraska. The White Sox played as members of the short–season Class D level Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959 as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Holdrege first fielded a team in the 1903 Central Nebraska League, winning the league title. The White Sox hosted home minor league games at Holdrege Fairgrounds Park.

The Hastings Giants was the final nickname of the minor league baseball teams, based in Hastings, Nebraska between 1887 and 1959. The Hastings Giants played in the short-season Class D level Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959. Earlier Hastings teams played as members the Western League (1887), Nebraska State League and Tri-State League (1924).

The Norton Jayhawks were a minor league baseball team based in Norton, Kansas. The "Jayhawks" played in the 1929 and 1930 seasons as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League and were the first and only minor league team based in Norton. The Jayhawks hosted home minor league games at Elmwood Park.

The York Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in York, Nebraska. Between 1911 and 1931, York teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League. The York Prohibitionists preceded the Dukes, playing in the Nebraska State League from 1911 to 1915. The Prohibitionists played home Nebraska State League games at Parks Park, and the Dukes hosted home games at Leavitt Stadium.

The Corpus Christi Clippers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Corpus Christi, Texas between 1910 and 1959. Corpus Christi teams played as members of the Southwest Texas League (1910–1911), Gulf Coast League (1926), Texas Valley League (1927–1928), Rio Grande Valley League (1931), Texas Valley League (1938), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950), Gulf Coast League (1951–1953), Big State League (1954–1957), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950) and Texas League (1958–1959).

The Midland Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas. Between 1937 and 1959, Midland teams played as members of West Texas-New Mexico League (1937–1940), Longhorn League (1947–1955), Southwestern League (1956–1957) and Sophomore League (1958–1959), while hosting minor league games at City Park and then Christensen Stadium. Midland teams played as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals (1937–1938), Milwaukee Braves (1958–1959) and Washington Senators (1957).

The Omaha Packers were a minor league baseball team based in Omaha, Nebraska. Between 1879 and 1935, Omaha minor league teams had a long tenure as members of the Western League and Western Association, winning five league championships. Omaha teams played under numerous other nicknames prior to the becoming the "Packers" in 1930.

The Statesville Owls were a minor league baseball team located in Statesville, North Carolina. Statesville minor league teams played a member of the North Carolina Association (1900), Tar Heel League (1939–1940), North Carolina State League,, Tar Heel League (1953), Western Carolina League (1960–1962) and Western Carolinas League, winning three league championships.

The Greenville Greenies was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Greenville, North Carolina between 1928 and 1951. Greenville teams played as members of the Eastern Carolina League from 1928 to 1929 and Coastal Plain League from 1934 to 1941 and 1946 to 1951.

The Minot Mallards were a minor league baseball team based in Minot, North Dakota. Earlier Minot teams preceded the Mallards and played as members of the 1917 Northern League and 1923 North Dakota League. Beginning play in 1950, the Mallards played as members of the Manitoba-Dakota League (1950–1957), Northern League and Prairie League (1995–1997), winning seven league championships in their history. The Mallards hosted minor league home games at Corbett Field and were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1958 to 1960 and Kansas City Athletics in 1962.

The Norfolk Elk Horns or the shortened "Elks" was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Norfolk, Nebraska between 1914 and 1941. The Norfolk minor league teams played as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League, Tri-State League (1924), Nebraska State League (1928–1938) and Western League (1939–1941), winning league championships in 1935 and 1938. The Norfolk minor league teams hosted home games at Athletic Park.

The Columbus Pawnees were a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Nebraska. From 1910 to 1915, Columbus teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League for their six seasons of minor league play. The "Pawnees" played in the 1914 and 1915 seasons, after the team was called Columbus "Discovers" from 1910 to 1913. After placing second in their first season, Columbus did not finish above fourth place in their remaining seasons, before the franchise folded during the 1915 season.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Grand Island, Nebraska in various seasons between 1892 and 1959. Grand Island teams played as members of the Nebraska State League, Tri-State League (1924) and Nebraska State League, winning three league championships.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Roswell, New Mexico, in various seasons between 1923 and 1959, before resuming play in 2011. Roswell teams played as members of the Panhandle-Pecos Valley League in 1923, West Texas–New Mexico League in 1937, Longhorn League from 1949 to 1955, Southwestern League in 1956, Sophomore League in 1959 and Pecos League from 2011 to present. The 1959 Roswell Pirates were a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rosewll hosted home games at League Park in 1937 and Fair Park Stadium.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Hastings, Nebraska in various seasons between 1887 and 1959, playing under numerous nicknames. The Hastings Giants played in the short-season Class D level Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959. Earlier Hastings teams had played as members the Nebraska State League in 1892, Western League in 1887, the Nebraska State League from 1910 to 1915 and 1922 to 1923 and the Tri-State League in 1924. The Hastings Giants were a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants from 1956 to 1957 and San Francisco Giants in 1958 and 1959 while hosting home minor league games at Duncan Field.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Norfolk, Nebraska in various seasons between 1914 and 1941. The Norfolk minor league teams played as members of the Class D level Nebraska State League in 1914 to 1915 and 1922 to 1923, the Tri-State League in 1924, the Nebraska State League from 1928– to 1938 and the Western League from 1939 to 1941. The 1936 Norfolk Elks were a St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliate, before Norfolk teams played as an affiliate of the New York Yankees from 1937 to 1941, with Norfolk hosting minor league home games at Athletic Park.

References

  1. ↑ "1956 North Platte Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. 1 2 "North Platte, Nebraska Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. 1 2 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  4. ↑ "Minor League No Hitters". Google Docs.
  5. ↑ "Searching for missing Minors no-hitters". MiLB.com.
  6. ↑ "1959 Nebraska State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ↑ "Union-Pacific RR Park in North Platte, NE minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ↑ Burke, Marresa (7 July 2022). "Jeffers Park and Pavilion increased the entertainment scene". knopnews2.com.
  9. ↑ Bottrell, Andrew (April 1, 2013). "Playing ball in Flat Rock". The North Platte Telegraph.
  10. ↑ "North Platte First Nationals baseball - New". www.ballcharts.com.
  11. ↑ "North Platte Indians". nebaseballhistory.com.
  12. ↑ "Cody Park in North Platte, NE minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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.