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Chickasha Chiefs
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1904, 1920–1922, 1948–1952)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles 2 1920, 1921
Team data
Previous names
  • Chickasha Indians (1904)
  • Chickasha Chicks (1920–1922)
  • Chickasha Chiefs (1948–1952)
Previous parks
  • Borden Park (1948–1952)
  • Grady Field (1921–1922)
  • University Park (1920–1921)
  • Rock Island Ball Park (1904)

The Chickasha Chiefs was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Chickasha, Oklahoma between 1904 and 1952. Chickasha teams played as members of the Class D level Southwestern League (1904), Western Association (1920–1921), Oklahoma State League (1922) and Sooner State League (1948–1952).

History

Minor league baseball in Chickasha began when Chickasha briefly had a team in 1904. The Shawnee Browns of the Southwestern League moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma on June 30, 1904. The team became the Chickasha Indians and continued play in the Southwestern League. However, the franchise returned to Shawnee, Oklahoma on August 3, 1904. The franchise then disbanded on September 5, 1904.[1][2][3]

Baseball returned in 1920, when the Chickasha Chicks began play in the eight-team Western Association. The Western Association had just reformed after a two-year hiatus. Other 1920 league members were the Drumright Drummers, Enid Harvesters, Fort Smith Twins, Henryetta Hens, Okmulgee Drillers, Pawhuska Huskers and Springfield Merchants.[4][5]

In their first full season of play, the Chickasha Chicks finished with a 52–72 record, placing 7th in the 1920 Western Association.[4]

The Chickasha Chicks won the 1921 Western Association Championship. The Chicks finished with a record of 74–74, placing 5th overall in the regular season, but capturing the first-half pennant. In the playoff Finals, the Chickasha Chicks defeated the Fort Smith Twins 4 games to 3 to win the 1921 championship.[5][6][7]

Chickasha left the Western Association to join the newly formed Oklahoma State League in 1922 and won their second straight championship. Other charter members of the six–team 1922 Oklahoma State League were the Clinton Bulldogs, Duncan Oilers, El Reno Railroaders, Guthrie, Oklahoma and Wilson Drillers.[8][9]

Playing in the new league in 1922, the Chickasha Chicks finished 3rd in the regular season standings with a 55–55 record. They qualified for the playoffs by winning the first half championship with a 33-17 record.[10] In the second half, however, low finances and low attendance during a losing streak caused the team to miss payroll and forfeit several games, culminating with a league takeover of the franchise. The team was renamed the "Orphans" and forced to play its remaining schedule on the road.[11][12][13] Despite limited success over the remainder of the regular season, the team defeated the Clinton Bulldogs in the playoff finals, 4 games 0, to win the 1922 championship.[14] After the 1922 championship season the franchise folded.[15][9]

In 1948, the Chickasha Chiefs began play in the Sooner State League. The Chiefs and Ada Herefords were expansion teams in the league as it expanded from six–teams to eight–teams after forming in 1947. The other 1948 Sooner State League members were the Ardmore Indians, Duncan Cementers, Lawton Giants, McAlester Rockets, Pauls Valley Raiders and Seminole Oilers.[16][17]

Chickasha qualified for the Sooner State League playoffs in 1948. The Chicks finished 73–63, placing 4th in the regular season standings. In the playoffs, the McAlester Rockets defeated the Chickasha Chiefs 3 games to 1. The Chiefs 1948 attendance was 35,640, an average of 524 per game.[16][18]

Returning to the playoffs in 1949, the Chickasha Chicks finished the regular season with a 78–61 record, placing 3rd in the regular season. In the 1949 playoffs, the Lawton Giants defeated Chickasha 3 games to 0. The Chicks 1949 attendance was 59,306, an average of 853.[17][19]

The 1950 Chickasha Chiefs finished 80–59, to place 3rd in the Sooner State League regular season. Qualifying for the playoffs, the McAlester Rockets defeated the Chiefs 3 games to 0. The 1950 season attendance was 43,759 (3rd in the league).[20][17]

In 1951, the Chickasha Chiefs used five managers in placing 7th and finishing with a 46–94 record in the Sooner State League. The 1951 season attendance was 21,107.[21]

The Chickasha Chiefs returned to the Sooner State League playoffs in 1952. The Chiefs finished 78–62, placing 3rd in the 1952 regular season standings. In the playoffs, the Pauls Valley Raiders defeated the Chickasha Chiefs 3 games to 1. Season attendance was 27,494, an average of 393 per game.[22][17]

the Chickasha Chiefs folded after the 1952 season and were replaced by the Gainesville Owls in the 1953 Sooner State League. Chickasha has not hosted another minor league baseball team.[17]

The ballparks

The Chickasha Chiefs played at Memorial Park, also referred to as Borden Park. Borden Park burned in August 1950 and was rebuilt for the following season.[23][24] The ballpark had a capacity of 1,700 (1950) and 2,500 (1952). Borden Park, which is now called Elliott Field and is used for high school baseball, was located at 200 North 19th Street.[25]

From 1920 through May 1921, the Chickasha Chicks played at University Park.[26] University Park, which had previously hosted exhibition games featuring Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson, was located at the terminus of the street railway line near present-day Shannon Springs Park.[27][28][29]

In the middle of the 1921 season, the Chicks moved to a newly constructed ballpark named Grady Field. The new ballpark was located on East Choctaw Avenue, just east of the viaduct that carries that road over the railroad tracks, where the Grady County Fairgrounds are now located. University Park was demolished immediately upon completion of the new field.[30][31][32]

The 1904 Chickasha Indians played at Rock Island Ball Park.[33] This facility was built at the site of the former Rock Island stockyards, south of the Rock Island Railroad machine shop and the Crystal Ice Company plant, on land donated by the railroad.[34][35][36][37] The location was half a block east of South First Street, along the railroad tracks between East Minnesota and East Dakota Avenues.[38]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Shawnee Browns - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  2. ^ "Chickasha Indians - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  3. ^ "Shawnee/Chickasha Indians/Shawnee Browns Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ^ a b "1920 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. ^ a b "Western Association - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  6. ^ "1921 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "1921 Chickasha Chicks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "1922 Oklahoma State League (OSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ^ a b "Oklahoma State League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. 2016-12-29. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  10. ^ "Chicks Defeat Guthrie, 6 to 4, Chickasha Daily Express, July 14, 1922, p.2". gateway.okhistory.org.
  11. ^ "Local Team on Financial Rocks, Chickasha Daily Express, Aug. 9, 1922, p.1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  12. ^ "Another Game Is Forfeited, Chickasha Daily Express, Aug. 11, 1922, p.5". gateway.okhistory.org.
  13. ^ "Oklahoma State League Will Continue With Orphans From Chickasha Playing 'On Road', Chickasha Daily Express, Aug. 12, 1922, p.2". gateway.okhistory.org.
  14. ^ "M'Lean's Crew Has Easy Time Winning State League Flag, Chickasha Daily Express, Sep. 18, 1922, p.2". gateway.okhistory.org.
  15. ^ "1922 Chickasha Chicks Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. ^ a b "1948 Sooner State League (SSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Sooner State League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  18. ^ "1948 Chickasha Chiefs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. ^ "1949 Chickasha Chiefs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  20. ^ "1950 Chickasha Chiefs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. ^ "1951 Chickasha Chiefs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. ^ "1952 Chickasha Chiefs Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  23. ^ "Photograph Taken at Night of Crowd Standing Near Charred Ruins". gateway.okhistory.org.
  24. ^ "Sports Briefs, Sapulpa Daily Herald, Nov. 13, 1950, p.3". gateway.okhistory.org.
  25. ^ "Borden Park". encyclopedia.sabr.org.
  26. ^ "Fans Ready For Big Clash With Enid Team Here, Chickasha Daily Express, Apr. 21, 1920, p.1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  27. ^ "McGraw Electric Railway Manual (1910), p.239". books.google.com. 1914.
  28. ^ "Grady County Historical Society Museum, Daily Oklahoman, Dec. 10, 2010". oklahoman.com.
  29. ^ "Getting Near Glimpse of Premier Pitcher, Chickasha Daily Express, Oct. 26, 1914, p.1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  30. ^ "Chicks To Play Opener on New Ball Field, Chickasha Daily Express, May 26, 1921, p.1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  31. ^ "Complete Plans For Big Doin's in Park Opener, Chickasha Daily Express, May 28, 1921, p.1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  32. ^ "Leeds Will Ask Town to Close, Chickasha Daily Express, July 11, 1921, p.1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  33. ^ "Base Ball,Chickasha Daily Express, May 4, 1904, p.1". gateway.okhistory.org.
  34. ^ "Chickasha Daily Express, Mar. 1, 1904, p.4". gateway.okhistory.org.
  35. ^ "Base Ball, Chickasha Daily Express, Mar. 16, 1904, p.2". gateway.okhistory.org.
  36. ^ "Chickasha Daily Express, Mar. 16, 1904, p.3". gateway.okhistory.org.
  37. ^ "Will Not Lose Out,Chickasha Daily Express, Apr. 29, 1904, p.2". gateway.okhistory.org.
  38. ^ "Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma, Jan. 1904, panel 5". www.loc.gov.

External references

Baseball Reference

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