| Paris Orioles | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1955–1957) |
| League | Sooner State League (1955–1957) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | Baltimore Orioles (1955–1957) |
| Minor league titles | |
| Conference titles (1) |
|
| Wild card berths (2) |
|
| Team data | |
| Name | Paris Orioles (1955–1957) |
| Ballpark | City Ball Park (1955–1957) |
The Paris Orioles were a minor league baseball team based in Paris, Texas. From 1955 to 1957, the Orioles played as members of the Class D level Sooner State League League as a minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Hosting home games at the City Ball Park, the Orioles qualified for the playoffs in all three seasons of play, winning the 1957 pennant. The Orioles were the final minor league team based in Paris. There were numerous prior Paris minor league teams, after Paris first hosted a minor league baseball in 1896.
Minor League baseball began in Paris, Texas with the 1896 Paris Midlands of the Texas Association. [1] [2]
The Orioles were immediately preceded by the Paris Indians, who played in 1952 and 1953, as members of the Class D level Big State League. [3] [2]
The Paris "Orioles" were members of the eight-team Class D level Sooner State League from 1955 to 1957. After making the playoffs with fourth place finishes in their first two seasons, the Orioles captured the 1957 Sooner State League pennant. [2] Paris joined the Ardmore Cardinals, Gainesville Owls, Lawton Braves, McAlester Rockets, Muskogee Giants, Seminole Oilers and Shawnee Hawks in beginning league play on April 19, 1955. [4]
In 1955, the Orioles placed fourth in the Sooner State League regular season with a record of 68–69 and finished 26.0 games behind the pennant winning Lawton Braves. In the first round of the four–team playoffs, Paris was eliminated by the eventual champion Lawton Braves 3 games to 1. [5] Paris was managed by Jimmy Adair. [6] [2]
Continuing Sooner State League play in 1956, the Orioles again finished the regular season in fourth place in the Sooner State League regular season standings, playing under returning manager Jimmy Adair and Barney Lutz. [7] Paris ended the regular season with a 72–67 record and finished 11.0 games behind the pennant winning Ardmore Cardinals. In the playoffs, the Ardmore Cardinals defeated Paris 3 games to 2 in the 1st round. [8] [2]
In their final season of play, the 1957 Paris Orioles won the Sooner State League pennant and advanced to the league Finals. After a 74–51 1957 regular season record, under returning manager Barney Lutz and Billy Capps, the Paris Orioles finished 0.5 games ahead of the second place Ardmore Cardinals. In the playoffs, the Orioles defeated the Shawnee Hawks 3 games to 1 in their first-round playoff series. The Orioles were swept by Ardmore 4 games to 0 in the championship series in the final games of the franchise. [9] [10] [2] [11]
The Sooner State League permanently folded following the completion of the 1957 season. [2] Paris, Texas has not hosted another minor league team. [3]
From 1946 to 1957, the Orioles and their predecessor Paris Red Peppers (1946–1947), Paris Rockets (1948), Paris Panthers (1949–1950), and Paris Indians (1952–1953) teams hosted home minor league games at City Ball Park. The ballpark had a noted capacity of 4,000. [12] [13]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Affiliate | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955–1957 | 3 | Paris Orioles | Class D | Sooner State League | Baltimore Orioles | City Ball Park |
| Year | Record | Manager | Finish | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 68–69 | Jimmy Adair | 4th | Lost 1st round |
| 1956 | 72–67 | Jimmy Adair / Barney Lutz | 4th | Lost 1st round |
| 1957 | 74–51 | Barney Lutz / Billy Capps | 1st | League pennant Lost in Finals |
The Sooner State League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the league folded on February 12, 1959. It was the last Class D league west of the Mississippi River. The league franchises were based in Oklahoma and Texas.
The Vidalia Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Vidalia, Georgia. With the exception of 1951, Vidalia teams between 1948 and 1956 played exclusively as members of the Class D level Georgia State League, winning Georgia State League championships in 1952 and 1954. From 1948 to 1950, Vidalia played as the "Vidalia-Lyons Twins," in partnership with neighboring Lyons, Georgia. The "Indians" nickname was adopted as Vidalia served as a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1952 to 1956. Vidalia hosted home games in all minor league seasons at Vidalia Municipal Stadium.
The Thomson Orioles were a minor league baseball team based in Thomson, Georgia. In 1956, the "Orioles" played as members of the Class D level Georgia State League in the last season of play for the league. The Orioles qualified for the league playoffs. Thomson hosted home minor league games at The Brickyard. The Thomson Orioles were so nicknamed, as the team was a minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.
The Texas City Texans were a minor league baseball team based in Texas City, Texas. Between 1951 and 1977, Texas City teams played as members of the Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953, Evangeline League in 1954, Big State League in 1955 and 1956 and the Lone Star League in 1977. Texas City won the 1953 league championship and hosted all minor league home games at Texan Park.
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 Wichita Indians were a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The "Indians" played as members of the Class A level Western League from 1950 to 1955, winning the 1955 league Championship. The Wichita Indians were an affiliate of the 1950 St. Louis Browns in 1950, Cleveland Indians from 1951 to 1952, St. Louis Browns in 1953 and Baltimore Orioles in 1954 and 1955.
The Seminole Oilers were a minor league baseball team based in Seminole, Oklahoma. Between 1947 and 1957, Seminole teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Sooner State League from 1947 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957, winning league championships in 1948 and 1956. The Oilers and Seminole Ironmen hosted minor league home games at Oiler 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 Ada Herefords was a minor league baseball team based in Ada, Oklahoma. From 1947 to 1954, the Herefords played exclusively as a member of the Class D level Sooner State League, winning the league pennant in 1950. The Herefords were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns from 1947 to 1953 and remained an affiliate when St. Louis relocated to become the Baltimore Orioles in 1954. Ada Hosted minor league home games at Hereford Park.
The Chickasha Chiefs were a minor league baseball team based in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The Chiefs played as members of the Class D level Sooner State League from 1948 to 1952, qualifying for the league playoffs on four occasions. The Chiefs teams hosted minor league home games at Borden Park.
The Bismarck-Mandan Pards were a minor league baseball team based in Bismarck, North Dakota in partnership with neighboring Mandan, North Dakota. The Bismarck–Mandan Pards played as members of the Northern League from 1962 to 1964 and in 1966. Previous Bismarck minor league teams played as members of the 1922 Dakota League, 1923 North Dakota League and the Manitoba-Dakota League from 1955 to 1957. The Bismarck–Mandan Pards were a minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins from 1962 to 1964 and Houston Astros in 1966. Bismarck hosted home minor league games at the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark
The Federalsburg A's were a minor league baseball team based in Federalsburg, Maryland. Federalsburg teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League from 1937 to 1941 and 1946 to 1949, winning the 1939 league pennant. The "A's" moniker was interchanged with the similar "Athletics" and "Little A's" before the franchise became the "Feds" for their final season of 1949. Hosting all minor league home games at Federal Park, Federalsburg played as a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics from 1937 to 1941 and 1946 to 1948.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Lafayette, Indiana in various seasons between 1909 and 1994. Lafayette teams played as members of the Northern State of Indiana League from 1909 to 1911, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League in 1955, the Midwest League in 1956 and 1957 and 1994 Great Central League, winning two league championships. Lafayette was a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1955 and Boston Red Sox in 1956 and 1957.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Lafayette, Louisiana between 1907 and 2000. Lafayette teams played as members of the 1907 Gulf Coast League 1920 Louisiana State League and Evangeline League. Lafayette teams won four league championships and one pennant in the era. The early Lafayette teams preceded the 1975 and 1976 Lafayette Drillers, who played as members of the Texas League and the 1998 to 2000 Bayou Bullfrogs of the Texas-Louisiana League.
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 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 Monroe Sports were a minor league baseball team based in Monroe, Louisiana. The Sports played as members of the Class C level Cotton States League from 1950 to 1955, winning the 1955 league championship. The Sports became a New York Yankees affiliate in 1955 and continued the affiliation in 1956, when the team joined the Class C level Evangeline Leaguefor one season after the Cotton States League folded. The Sports hosted home minor league games at Casino Park.
The Gainesville Blue Ribbons were a minor league baseball team based in Gainesville, Texas. In 1911, the Blue Ribbons played briefly as members of the Class D level Texas-Oklahoma League, before the team folded during the season. Gainesville hosted home minor league games at Fair Grounds Park. The Blue Ribbons preceded the Gainesville Owls, who began play as members of the Big State League in 1947.
The Durant Choctaws was the primary nickname of the minor league baseball teams based in Durant, Oklahoma, who played as members of the Class D level Texas–Oklahoma League from 1911 to 1914. The Durant Educators (1911), Durant Choctaws (1912–1913) and Durant Gladiators (1914) teams played exclusively in the Texas-Oklahoma League, hosting home minor league games at the Durant Base Ball Park. After placing second in their first season of play, Durant finished last during the next three seasons, before the league folded following the 1914 season, during World War I.
The Williston Oilers were a minor league baseball team based in Williston, North Dakota. The "Oilers" played as members of the Independent level Manitoba-Dakota League from 1954 to 1957, winning the 1956 league championship. The league folded following the 1957 season.