Paris Lakers
Paris Lakers | |
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Minor league affiliations | |
Previous classes | Class D (1950-1959) |
Previous leagues | Midwest League (1956–1959) Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1950–1955) |
Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
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Minor league titles | |
League titles | 1 (1956) |
Team data | |
Previous parks | Laker Stadium (1950-1959) |
The Paris Lakers were a minor league baseball team in Paris, Illinois, playing from 1950 to 1959. The Lakers played in the Midwest League (1956–1959), Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1950–1955) and Eastern Illinois League (1907–1908). The Paris Lakers were an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1955–1959).
History
The Paris Lakers were an original franchise in the 1956 Midwest League, having previously had played in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, the predecessor of the Midwest League.[1]
From 1950 to 1954, the Lakers played as an independent team, and from 1955 to 1959, they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.[1]
Paris finished 85-42 in the 1952 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League.[2]
The Lakers won the first ever Midwest League championship in 1956, defeating the Dubuque Packers 3 games to 1.[3]
On August 18, 1957 Kenneth Rollins threw a no-hitter against the Michigan City White Caps, winning 12-0.[4]
The ballpark
The Lakers' home field was Laker Stadium. Laker Stadium hosted the 1951 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League All-Star Game. The ballfield and part of the original stands are still in use today at the stadium, which sits within Twin Lakes Park. The address is 137 West Steidl Road, Paris, Illinois.[5] [6][7]
Notable MLB alumni
- Tony Balsamo (1959)
- Harvey Branch (1958–1959)
- Dick Burwell (1959)
- Nelson Mathews (1959)
- Moe Morhardt (1959)
- Johnnie Seale (1959)
- Morrie Steevens (1959)
- Rube Walker (1957–1959, MGR)
- Lou Johnson (1958)
- Don Prince (1958)
- Jack Curtis (1956)
- Joe Schaffernoth (1956)
- John Buzhardt (1955)
- Harry Taylor (1955)
- Mike Krsnich (1950–1951)
References
- ^ a b "Baseball in Paris, Illinois". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "1952 Paris Lakers". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "Midwest League 1956". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "Baseball in Paris". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ Kathleen Stephens. "Paris Lakers". Northern Illinois University. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
- ^ "Laker Stadium in Paris, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- Defunct Midwest League teams
- Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates
- Professional baseball teams in Illinois
- 1950 establishments in Illinois
- 1959 disestablishments in Illinois
- Mississippi-Ohio Valley League
- Defunct minor league baseball teams
- Baseball teams established in 1950
- Sports clubs disestablished in 1959
- Defunct baseball teams in Illinois
- Illinois sports team stubs
- Midwestern United States baseball team stubs