Kokomo Dodgers
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Kokomo Dodgers 1954–1961 (1890, 1896, 1899–1900, 1907, 1909) Kokomo, Indiana | |
| Class-level | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Class D |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| League | Midwest League (1956–1961) |
Previous leagues | Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1955) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Previous |
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| Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks | Highland Park Stadium |
The Kokomo Dodgers was a minor league baseball team based in Kokomo, Indiana that was a charter member of the Midwest League. They were affiliated with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and the franchise operated from 1955 through 1961. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Orlando Cepeda played for Kokomo, as did Tommy Davis, a 2-time National League Batting Title winner.
History
At the turn of the century, from 1890 to 1909, Kokomo had various minor league teams, but none were sustained. Then, in 1955, Kokomo replaced the Danville Dans in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, playing as the Kokomo Giants, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.[1] The next season, Kokomo became an initial member of newly formed Midwest League, which grew out of the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League. The other Midwest League charter franchises were: Clinton Pirates, Dubuque Packers, Decatur Commodores, Michigan City White Caps, Paris Lakers, Lafayette Red Sox and Mattoon Phillies. The Kokomo Dodgers folded after the 1961 season.[2][3]
Former Dodger Pete Reiser was the team's manager during the 1956 and 1957 seasons.[4][5] The team won the Midwest League pennant in 1957, but lost in the playoffs.[6][7][8]
On 5-19-58 Scott Breeden pitched a no-hitter against the Keokuk Cardinals, winning 3-0.[9]
The Ballpark
The team played at Highland Park Stadium.[8][10] Still in use as a ballpark, the park is located at 900 W. Deffenbaugh Street as part of the Kokomo Parks and Recreation Department and is now known as known as CFD Investments Stadium in Highland Park.[11] The stadium originally seated 7000 with the capacity was reduced to 3000-3500 in 1985 and 2014 renovations.[12][13]
Notbale Kokomo Alumni
- Clarence Jones (1961)
- Bill Kelso (1961)
- Hector Valle (1960)
- Rod Miller (1959)
- Pete Reiser (1956–1957, MGR) 3 x MLB AS; 2 × NL Stolen Base Leader (1942, 1946); 1941 NL Batting Champion
- Mike Brumley (1957)
- Tommy Davis (1957) 3 x MLB AS; 1962 NL RBI Leader; 1962–1963 NL Batting Champion
- Tim Harkness (1957)
- Don Miles (1956)
- Ed Palmquist (1956)
- Nate Smith (1956)
- Orlando Cepeda (1955) 11 x MLB AS; 1958 NL Rookie of the Year; 1961 NL Home Run Leader; 2 × NL RBI Leader (1961); 1967 National League MVP; Baseball Hall of Fame (1999)
- Everett Scott (1909) 4 x World Series Champion (1915–16, 1918, 1923); Third longest MLB streak of consecutive games (1,307); 7 x AL Fielding Percent Leader
- Ed Smith (1900)
- Cal Vasbinder (1900)
References
- ↑ http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/danville/
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=0c107f1f
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=f8b5cab2
- ↑ (27 October 1981). Reckless Reiser Dead at 62, Windsor Star, Retrieved December 10, 2010 ("for two years managed the Kokomo Dodgers in the Class D Midwest League")
- ↑ (24 January 1956). Sports in short, Milwaukee Journal, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- ↑ Cox, Don (29 November 1957). Sports salutes, The Gadsden Times, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- ↑ Cox, Don. (15 March 1958). Sports salutes, The Gadsden Times, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- 1 2 Boyle, Robert H. (2 September 1957). Pete In The Bush, Sports Illustrated, Retrieved December 10, 2010 (detailed article profiling Reiser at Kokomo)
- ↑ http://mwlguide.com/reference/nohitters.html
- ↑ Highland Park Stadium, Midwest League Guide, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- ↑ http://www.cityofkokomo.org/departments/parks_and_amenities.php
- ↑ http://www.leaguelineup.com/miscinfo.asp?menuid=35&url=kokomoknights
- ↑ http://www.kokomotribune.com/news/local_news/highland-park-stadium-due-for-makeover/article_e32fa90e-27fa-5657-8015-a9677f7008b8.html