North Platte Indians

North Platte Indians
North Platte Indians
1928–1959; (1928–1932, 1956–1959); North Platte, Nebraska ;
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Class D (1928–1932, 1956–1959)
Previous leagues	Nebraska State League (1928–1932, 1956–1959)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Cleveland Indians (1956–1959);
Minor league titles
League titles	1958
Team data
Previous names	North Platte Buffalos (1928–1932); North Platte Indians (1956–1958);
Previous parks	North Platte Baseball Stadium (1928–1932); Bill Wood Field (1956–1959);

The North Platte Indians were a minor league baseball team, based in North Platte, Nebraska. The North Platte Indians played as members of the Class D Nebraska State League from 1956 to 1959. Previously, the North Platte Buffalos had played in the Nebraska State League.

The North Platte Indians were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (1956–1959).

History

Based in North Platte, Nebraska, the North Platte Indians were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, playing as members on the Nebraska State League. Previously, the North Platte Buffalos played as members of the Nebraska State League from 1928-1932. The North Platte Indians finished 41-22 in 1958 and captured the 1958 Nebraska State League Championship.^[1]

The Nebraska State League folded permanently after the 1959 season. The 1959 league member franchises folded as well: Hastings Giants, Holdrege White Sox, Grand Island Athletics, Kearney Yankees, McCook Braves and North Platte Indians.^[2]

The ballpark

The North Platte Baseball Stadium hosted the North Platte Buffalos from 1928–1932. The ballpark was located 7th and Jeffers, North Platte, Nebraska. The ballpark was destroyed by fire in 1955.

After the fire, Bill Wood Field was constructed in 1956, within Cody Park. Bill Wood Field hosted the North Platte Indians. The ball field, is still in use today, located within Cody Park, near the National Guard building. Today, Bill Wood Field is home to American Legion baseball. It is located at 18th & Jeffers, North Platte, Nebraska.^[3]^[4]

Notable alumni

Bob Allen (1956)
Doc Edwards (1958)
Spence Harris (MGR, 1956) Holds minor league career records for runs (2,287), doubles (743), and hits (3,617)^[5]
Ramon Lopez (1958)
Jim Perry (1956) 3x MLB All-Star; 1970 AL Cy Young Award; Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame
Duke Sims (1959)
Dave Vineyard (1959)
Rudy York (MGR, 1957) 7x MLB All-Star

Year-by-year record

(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1956	24–39	7th	Spence Harris	none
1957	11–45	8th	Rudy York	none
1958	41–22	1st	Mark Wylie	League Champions
1959	22–40	6th	Mark Wylie	none

References

^ "North Platte, Nebraska Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
^ "Nebraska State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
^ "North Platte First Nationals baseball - New". www.ballcharts.com.
^ "North Platte Indians". nebaseballhistory.com.
^ "Spencer Harris - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[1] "North Platte, Nebraska Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.

[2] "Nebraska State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[3] "North Platte First Nationals baseball - New". www.ballcharts.com.

[4] "North Platte Indians". nebaseballhistory.com.

[5] "Spencer Harris - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

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