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Lawton, Oklahoma minor league baseball history

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Lawton, Oklahoma
minor league baseball teams
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1911, 1947–1957)
LeagueTexas-Oklahoma League (1911)
Sooner State League (1947–1957)
Major league affiliations
TeamNew York Giants (1947–1951)
Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953)
Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957)
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 1949
  • 1954
  • 1955
Conference titles (2)
  • 1947
  • 1955
Wild card berths (4)
  • 1948
  • 1949
  • 1954
  • 1956
Team data
NameLawton Medicine Men (1911)
Lawton Giants (1947–1951)
Lawton Reds (1952–1953)
Lawton Braves (1954–1957)
BallparkKoehler Park (1911)
Memorial Park (1947–1957)

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.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Travis Jackson managed the Lawton Braves from 1954 to 1957.

History

Lawton first hosted minor league baseball in 1911, when the city briefly hosted a team in the Texas-Oklahoma League. The Lawton Medicine Men had a 17–31 record when the Lawton franchise folded on June 14, 1911.[1][2]

Lawton next played in the Class D level Sooner State League in 1947. Lawton remained in the league from 1947 to 1957. Lawton teams played as affiliates of the Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957), Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953) and New York Giants (1947–1951). Lawton took the moniker of their affiliates in each case. Lawton won Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League championships in 1949, 1954 and 1955. The 1954 and 1955 Lawton Braves championship teams were managed by Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Travis Jackson.The Sooner State League folded after the 1957 season.[1][3]

In their first season of play, the 1947 Lawton Giants won the league pennant. The Giants ended the regular season with a 98–42 record, finishing 10.5 games ahead of the second place Ada Herefords before losing in the playoffs.[4] In the playoffs, the Ardmore Indians defeated the Giants 3 games to 2.[1][5]

In 1949, the Lawton Giants won the Sooner State League championship. Lawton placed second in the regular season standings with a 87–52 record, finishing 0.5 games behind the first place Pauls Valley Raiders. In the playoffs, Lawton swept the Chickasha Chiefs in three games to advance. In the Finals, Lawton defeated Pauls Valley 4 games to 1 to claim the championship. Manager Louis Brower led Lawton to the title.[6][7][1]

In 1954, Baseball Hall of Fame member Travis Jackson, managed the Lawton Braves to their second Sooner State League championship in the eight–team league. Lawton finished the regular season in second place with an 81–58 record, finishing 10.5 games behind the Shawnee Hawks. In the first round of the playoffs, Lawton defeated the McAlester Rockets 3 games to 2 to advance. In the Finals, the Braves defeated the Ardmore Cardinals 3 games to 2, winning the championship.[8][9][1]

The Lawton Braves defended their Sooner State League championship in 1955, winning the league pennant in the process. Managed by the returning Travis Jackson, the Braves ended the regular season with a 95–44 record to win the pennant and finish 17.5 games ahead of the second place Shawnee Hawks in the eight–team league. In the first round of the playoffs, Lawton defeated the Paris Orioles 3 games to 1. In the Finals, the Braves defeated the Muskogee Giants 4 games to 2 to win their second consecutive league title.[10][11][1]

Following the completion of the 1957 season, the Sooner State League permanently folded.[12][1]

Lawton, Oklahoma has not hosted another minor league baseball team.[3][1]

The ballparks

In 1911, Lawton played at home games at Koehler Park. Koehler Park was located between S.W. A and C Avenues on the north and south and S.W. 14th and 15th Streets on the east and west in Lawton, Oklahoma.[13][14]

The 1947 to 1957 Lawton teams played home games at Memorial Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,600 (1947) and 2,000 (1953). Over their final four seasons, Lawton's season attendance had dropped from 47,000 in 1954 to 15,000 by 1957. The ballpark was located at 17th and G Streets, S.W., in the area that is now called Ahlschlager Park.[15][16][17][18]

Timeline

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League Affiliate Ballpark
1911 1 Lawton Medicine Men Class D Texas-Oklahoma League None Koehler Park.
1947–1951 5 Lawton Giants Sooner State League New York Giants Memorial Park
1952–1953 2 Lawton Reds Cincinnati Reds
1954–1957 4 Lawton Braves Milwaukee Braves

Season–by–season records

Year Record Win–loss % Manager Finish Playoffs/Notes
1911 17–31 .366 Clyde Pinkerton NA Team folded June 14
1947 98–42 .700 Louis Brower 1st Lost 1st round
1948 77–59 .566 Louis Brower 2nd Lost 1st round
1949 87–52 .625 Louis Brower 2nd League Champions
1950 37–101 .268 Louis Brower 8th Did not qualify
1951 46–94 .328 Ray Baker 7th Did not qualify
1952 63–77 .450 Tuck McWilliams 6th Did not qualify
1953 47–59 .443 Tuck McWilliams 7th Did not qualify
1954 81–58 .582 Travis Jackson 2nd League Champions
1955 95–44 .683 Travis Jackson 1st League Champions
1956 80–60 .571 Travis Jackson 2nd Lost 1st round
1957 59–66 .472 Travis Jackson 6th Did not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

Lawton Giants players
Lawton Reds players

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ "1911 Texas-Oklahoma League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ a b "Lawton, Oklahoma Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. ^ "1947 Sooner State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "1947 Sooner State League (SSL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ^ "1949 Sooner State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "1949 Lawton Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "1954 Sooner State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "1954 Lawton Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "1955 Sooner State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "1955 Lawton Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1957 Sooner State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ ""Texas-Oklahoma Ball Season Opens Tuesday," Lawton Constitution, Apr. 27, 1911, p. 3". gateway.okhistory.org.
  14. ^ ""Turf Wasn't Artificial, or Dry, For Early Day Cameron Students," Lawton Constitution, Sep. 14, 1975, p. 12". www.newspapers.com.
  15. ^ ""Braves Battle Shawnee Here Again Tonight," Lawton Constitution, May 17, 1956, p. 12". www.newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Memorial Park in Lawton, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. ^ "Parks and Recreation Map". Google My Maps.
  18. ^ "Lawton Braves Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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