Blackwell Broncos

The Blackwell Broncos was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Blackwell, Oklahoma between 1924 and 1954. Blackwell teams played as members of the Oklahoma State League in 1924, Southwestern League from 1924 to 1926, Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League in 1952 and Western Association in 1954. The Blackwell Broncos won the 1954 Western Association championship.

The Blackwell Broncos were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 1952 and 1954.

History[]

Minor league baseball began in Blackwell, Oklahoma with two separate teams in the 1924 season.^[1][2]

First, the 1924 Blackwell Gassers began play as members of the Class D level Oklahoma State League, before the league folded during the season. On July 8, 1924, Blackwell had a record of 20–53 and were in 7th place when the Oklahoma State League permanently disbanded. Blackwell played under managers J. Rustenhaven and Hal Grun, finishing 32.0 games behind the 1st place Ardmore Bearcats. The Gassers' home field in Blackwell was Fairgrounds Park.^{[3][4][5][1][6]}

After the Oklahoma State League folded, Blackwell quickly gained a second team in 1924. On July 26, 1924, the Newton Railroaders of the Class D level Southwestern League briefly moved to Blackwell after a windstorm damaged their stadium in Newton. The team played 11 total games for Blackwell (7–4) before the team moved to Ottawa, Kansas on August 5, 1924. The team was 13–11 in Ottawa before being able to move back to Newton on August 28, 1916. On the field, Newton/Blackwell/Ottawa team finished with an overall record of 79–50 in the regular season, placing 1st overall in the Southwestern League to capture the league pennant. In the Southwestern League Finals, the Arkansas City Osages defeated Newton/Blackwell/Ottawa team 4 games to 3.^{[7][6][1][8][9]}

The Blackwell Gassers returned to play in the 1925 Southwestern League. In the six–team Class D level Southwestern League, Blackwell had a record of 61–66, placing 5th. The Gassers finished 11.5 games behind the Salina Millers in the Southwestern League final standings, playing under manager Ralph Heatley.^{[10][11][1][6][12][13]}

With Blackwell continuing play in 1926, the Southwestern League played their final season. The Blackwell Gassers ended the season with a 45–71 record placing 6th and last in the Southwestern League regular season standings, finishing 30.5 games behind the Salina Millers. Blackwell was managed by Stormy Kromer and Mike Balenti. The Southwestern League permanently folded after the conclusion of the 1926 season.^{[14][15][1][6][16][13]}

Minor league returned to Blackwell when the franchise joined the 1952 Class D level Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Blackwell had regained a franchise when the Carthage Cubs franchise relocated to Blackwell. The Blackwell Broncos were also known as the Blackwell Cubs. With a regular season record of 57–69, Blackwell placed 5th in the six–team Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League, finishing 22.0 games behind the 1st place Iola Indians. The manager was Al Reitz. The team began play at Blackwell's Morgan Field, drawing a total season attendance of 51,000. The Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League permanently folded after the 1952 season.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

In 1954, the Blackwell Broncos returned to minor league play and won the league championship. Blackwell became members of the Class C level Western Association as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Blackwell finished the 1954 Western Association regular season with a record of 79–61, placing 4th, finishing 9.0 games behind the 1st place Topeka Owls. Managed by Joe Consoli and Al Kubski, Blackwell qualified for the playoffs behind a league leading 37 home runs and 144 RBI from player/manager Kubski. In the first round playoffs, Blackwell swept the Topeka Owls in three games. In the Western Association Finals, the Blackwell Broncos defeated the St. Joseph Saints 4 games to 1 to win the championship. Season attendance at Morgan Field was 39,637. Blackwell was unable to defend their title, as the Western Association permanently folded after the 1954 season.^{[22][23][24][25][26][27]}

Blackwell, Oklahoma has not hosted another minor league team.^[28]

The ballparks[]

The Blackwell Gassers of 1924 to 1926 were noted to have played minor league home games at Fairgrounds Park. Fairgrounds Park was located at South Main & East Lawrence Avenue in Blackwell Oklahoma.^[29]

The Blackwell Broncos played at Morgan Field in 1952 and 1954. The ballpark was on the same lot as Farigrounds Park and had a capacity of 2,500 (1952) and 3,500 (1954). Morgan Field was located at 900 South Main & Adams, Blackwell, Oklahoma. Today, the site is still in use as home to the B Street Baseball Complex, named for the other street connecting to Adams. The present location is 915 S B Street, Blackwell, Oklahoma.^{[30][31][32][33][34][35][36]}

Season-by-season[]

(from Baseball Reference)

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Blackwell Gassers players

References[]

External references[]

Baseball Reference