Yakima Valley Braves | |
---|---|
| |
Minor league affiliations | |
Previous classes |
|
League | Northwest League (1955-1966) |
Previous leagues | Western International League (1937-1941, 1946-1954) |
Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
|
Minor league titles | |
League titles (7) |
|
Team data | |
Previous names |
|
Previous parks | Parker Field |
The Yakima Valley Braves, was the final name of a minor league baseball club, located in Yakima, Washington, playing from 1955 to 1966 as members of the Northwest League. Yakima hosted professional baseball beginning in 1913 through 1965 with a brief hiatus between 1942 and 1945 due to World War II. Playing under various names, Yakima was a member of the Western International League.
The Pippins were the club to represent Yakima, starting in 1937. The franchise used the Pippins name through 1941 when the club suspended operations. Likewise, the Western International League suspended play after the 1942 season. The Pippins name was resurrected in by the Yakima Valley Pippins of the collegiate wood bat West Coast League.
The League resumed play in 1946 with Yakima returning to the field under a new name, the Stars. The Stars were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946. In 1948 the club changed names again to the Yakima Packers. The Packers finished the season in last place.
In 1949 the club adopted a new moniker, the Yakima Bears. In their first season the Bears advanced to the post-season. The Bears defeated the Spokane Indians in the semi-final series, but were swept by the Vancouver Capilanos in the championship. The following season the Bears posted a record on 92–58 to claim the league championship. In 1956 won their second league title, finishing the year at 86–45.
Professional baseball returned to Yakima in 1990. The Northwest League franchise revived Yakima Bears playing as an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks until 2012.
Season | PDC | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | Post-season | Manager | Attendance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yakima Pippins | ||||||||||
1937 | 1st | 80 | 61 | .567 | Ray Jacobs | 54,000 | ||||
1938 | 1st | 77 | 55 | .583 | Defeated Wenatchee in semi-final series 3-1 Lost to Bellingham in championship series 4-3 | Ray Jacobs | No record | |||
1939 | 5th | 72 | 73 | .497 | Ray Jacobs | No record | ||||
1940 | 2nd | 79 | 67 | .541 | Lost to in semi-final series to Tacoma 2-1 | Goldie Holt | No record | |||
1941 | 3rd | 70 | 64 | .522 | Goldie Holt | No record | ||||
Yakima Stars | ||||||||||
1946 | PIT | 5th | 71 | 69 | .507 | Spencer Harris | No record | |||
1947 | 8th | 59 | 95 | .383 | Harlond Clift | 86,004 | ||||
Yakima Packers | ||||||||||
1948 | 8th | 52 | 109 | .323 | Hub Kittle | 73,600 | ||||
Yakima Bears | ||||||||||
1949 | 1st | 99 | 51 | .660 | Defeated Spokane in semi-final series 3-1 Lost to Vancouver in championship series 3-0 | Joe Orengo | 133,917 | |||
1950 | 1st | 92 | 58 | .613 | League champion by virtue of record | Joe Orengo | 117,790 | |||
1951 | 5th | 63 | 80 | .441 | Bill Brenner | 60,018 | ||||
1952 | 4th | 73 | 79 | .480 | Dario Lodigiani | 64,044 | ||||
1953 | 6th | 70 | 74 | .486 | Dario Lodigiani | 59,100 | ||||
1954 | 1st | 80 | 57 | .584 | Lou Stringer | 66,571 | ||||
1955 | 5th | 59 | 69 | .461 | Hub Kittle | 36,314 | ||||
1956 | 1st | 86 | 45 | .656 | League champion by virtue of record | Hub Kittle | 66,370 | |||
1957 | 3rd | 69 | 66 | .511 | Hub Kittle | 56,718 | ||||
1958 | MLN | 2nd | 76 | 60 | .559 | Defeated Lewiston in championship series 4-1 | Hub Kittle | 64,974 | ||
1959 | MLN | 4th | 70 | 69 | .504 | Defeated Salem in championship series 4-1 | Hub Kittle | 43,895 | ||
1960 | MLN | 1st | 85 | 57 | .599 | League champion by virtue of record | Buddy Hicks | 60,166 | ||
1961 | MLN | 2nd | 79 | 60 | .568 | Lost to Lewiston in championship series 4-1 | Buddy Hicks | 42,806 | ||
1962 | MLN | 4th | 69 | 71 | .493 | Buddy Hicks | 35,059 | |||
1963 | MLN | 1st | 84 | 56 | .600 | Defeated Lewiston in championship series 3-1 | Buddy Hicks | 40,628 | ||
1964 | MLN | 3rd | 72 | 68 | .514 | Defeated Eugene in championship series 3-0 | Hub Kittle | 39,300 | ||
Yakima Valley Braves | ||||||||||
1965 | MLN | 5th | 62 | 77 | .446 | Hub Kittle | 36,050 | |||
1966 | MLN | 3rd | 39 | 44 | .470 | Eddie Haas | 13,262 | |||
Division winner | League champions |
The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Northwestern United States and Western Canada. A Class A Short Season league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The league operated as the High-A West in 2021, then resumed its original moniker in 2022.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels are owned by Cedar Rapids Ball Club, Inc..
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, one of the Quad Cities.
Several different minor league baseball teams have called the city of Orlando, Florida home from 1919–2003. Most have played in the Florida State League.
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels and, during 1919, the Seattle Purple Sox, were a Minor League Baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 to 1906 and 1919 to 1968. They were initially named for the indigenous Native American population of the Pacific Northwest, and changed their name after being acquired by the Rainier Brewing Company, which was in turn named for nearby Mount Rainier.
The Stockton Ports are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Stockton, California, and are named for the city's seaport. The team plays its home games at Banner Island Ballpark which opened in 2005 and seats over 5,000 people.
The Spokane Indians are a Minor League Baseball team located in Spokane Valley, the city immediately east of Spokane, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest. The Indians are members of the High-A Northwest League (NWL) as an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Spokane plays its home games at Avista Stadium, which opened in 1958 and has a seating capacity of 6,752.
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a Minor League Baseball team based in Pasco, Washington. The Dust Devils are members of the Northwest League and are affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels. Tri-City plays their home games at Gesa Stadium, which opened in 1995 and has a seating capacity of 3,654.
The Idaho Falls Chukars are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and play their home games at Melaleuca Field.
The Eau Claire Bears was the primary nickname of the minor league baseball teams from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Eau Claire was a member of the Class C Northern League and were affiliates of the Boston Red Sox (1936), Chicago Cubs (1937-1939) and the Boston Braves (1947-1962). The team played its home games at Carson Park in Eau Claire. Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Hank Aaron, Joe Torre and Ford C. Frick Award recipient Bob Uecker played for Eau Claire.
The Tampa Tarpons were a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. Their home ballpark was Al Lopez Field, and they were a member of the Class A Florida State League (FSL) from 1957 until 1988, mostly as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. In 1988, they were sold, relocated, and renamed the Sarasota White Sox. During their run in Tampa, they won three FSL league championships, in 1957, 1959 and 1961.
The Beaumont Exporters was the predominant name of a minor league baseball team located in Beaumont, Texas that played between 1920 and 1957 in the Texas League and the Big State League. Beaumont rejoined the Class AA Texas League (1983-1986) and evolved into today's Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Pocatello, Idaho, has been home to minor league baseball teams who competed in 35 seasons of Minor League Baseball, between 1900 and 1993.
The Kokomo Dodgers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Kokomo, Indiana, between 1955 and 1961. After playing the 1955 season as the Kokomo Giants, a New York Giants, the 1956 "Dodgers" became charter members of the Midwest League, as the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, as the changed Mississippi–Ohio Valley League names following the 1955 season. The Dodgers were an affiliate of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956 to 1961. The Kokomo teams hosted minor league home games at Highland Park Stadium.
The Quincy Gems was the primary name of the minor league baseball team in Quincy, Illinois, that played in various seasons from 1883 to 1973.
The Sioux City Packers was the primary name of the minor league baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa playing in various seasons between 1888 and 1960.
The Wenatchee Chiefs were a minor league baseball team in the northwest United States, based in Wenatchee, Washington.
The Yakima Bears were a minor league baseball team in the northwest United States, located in Yakima, Washington. The Bears competed at the Class A Short Season level as members of the Northwest League from 1990 to 2012. Following the 2012 season, the franchise relocated to Hillsboro, Oregon, and became Hillsboro Hops.
The Salem Senators are the longest lasting name used by several minor league baseball teams based in Salem in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team name derived from Salem being the capital of Oregon. The team was founded in 1940. The current incarnation competes in the Mavericks Independent Baseball League.
Minor league baseball teams have operated in the city of Dubuque, Iowa under a variety of names in various leagues, playing in 52 seasons between 1879 and 1976. Dubuque teams were an affiliate of the Houston Astros (1975–1976), Kansas City Royals (1968), Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians (1961–1966), Pittsburgh Pirates (1959–1960) and Chicago White Sox (1954–1958).