Cocoa Colts
| Cocoa Colts 1964 Cocoa, Florida | |
| Minor league affiliations | |
|---|---|
| Class | Rookie (1964) |
| League | Cocoa Rookie League (1964) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | Houston Colt .45's (1964) |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Cocoa Colts (1964) |
| Ballpark | Cocoa Expo Sports Center (1964) |
The Cocoa Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Cocoa, Florida in 1964. The Cocoa Colts played exclusively as members of the four–team Rookie level Cocoa Rookie League, with all league games played at the Cocoa Expo Sports Center.
The Cocoa Colts were so named as the team was a minor league affiliate of the Houston Colt .45's in 1964.
History[]
The Cocoa Rookie League began play in the 1964 season, with all games based in Cocoa, Florida. The Cocoa "Colts" became members of the four–team Rookie level Cocoa Rookie League. The Cocoa Mets, Cocoa Tigers and Melbourne Twins joined the Colts in the four–team league, beginning league play on July 1, 1964.[1][2]
The Colts were on the losing end of two no–hitters in 1964. On July 3, 1964, Cocoa Met pitcher Tug McGraw threw a 7–inning no-hitter in his professional debut against the Cocoa Colts. McGraw defeated the Colts 4–0 in the victory.[3] On August 30, 1964, Gene Melton and Jerry Lyscio of the Melbourne Twins threw a combined 5–inning no–hitter in defeating the Colts by the score of 2–1.[4]
In their only season of play, the Cocoa Colts placed 3rd in the Cocoa Rookie League final standings. With a record of 23–29, playing under manager Dave Philley, the Colts finished 11.0 games the 1st place Melbourne Twins (34–18) in the final regular season standings. The Colts finished behind the 2nd place Cocoa Mets (28–22) and ahead of the 4th place Cocoa Tigers (17–33) in the final standings, as the league had no playoffs. The Cocoa Rookie League permanently folded after one season of play.[5][6][7][2]
The complex–based Colts and other Cocoa Rookie League teams charged fans no admission to games and individual attendance records were not kept. The Cocoa Rookie League games drew 1,683 total fans for the 1964 season schedule.[8]
In the next season, Cocoa, Florida hosted the 1965 Cocoa Astros, who began play as members of the Class A level Florida State League.[9]
The ballparks[]
The Cocoa Rookie League teams played games at the Cocoa Expo Sports Center.
Year–by–year records[]
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 23–29 | 3rd | Dave Philley | None held |
Notable alumni[]
- Larry Dierker (1964) Houston Astros Hall of Fame
- Gene Ratliff (1964)
- Don Wilson (1964) Houston Astros Hall of Fame
See also[]
Cocoa Rookie League Colts players
References[]
- ^ "1964 Cocoa Rookie League (CRL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b "1964 Cocoa Rookie League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Tug McGraw – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ "Minor League No-Hitters 1960-1969 - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- ^ "1964 Cocoa Colts minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1964 Colts Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Cocoa Rookie League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- ^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd ed. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007, page 527
- ^ "Cocoa, FL - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
External references[]
- Defunct minor league baseball teams
- Baseball teams established in 1964
- Baseball teams disestablished in 1964
- Defunct baseball teams in Florida
- Houston Colt .45s minor league affiliates