Kokomo Dodgers
Kokomo Dodgers 1955–1961 Kokomo, Indiana | |
Minor league affiliations | |
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Previous classes | Class D (1955–1961) |
League | Midwest League (1956–1961) |
Previous leagues | Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1955) |
Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
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Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks | Highland Park Stadium (1955–1961) |
The Kokomo Dodgers was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball team based in Kokomo, Indiana between 1955 and 1961. The 1956 Kokomo Dodgers were a charter member of the Midwest League, as the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League changed names. Kokomo was an affiliate of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1956 to 1961, after initially playing as a New York Giants affiliate in 1955.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Orlando Cepeda played for the 1955 Kokomo Giants.
History[]
In 1955, Kokomo replaced the Danville Dans in the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League, playing as the Kokomo Giants, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.[1] The next season, Kokomo became an charter member of newly formed Midwest League, which grew out of the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. The other seven Midwest League charter franchises were the Clinton Pirates, Dubuque Packers, Decatur Commodores, Michigan City White Caps, Paris Lakers, Lafayette Red Sox and Mattoon Phillies.[2][3]
Former Dodger Pete Reiser was the team's manager during the 1956 and 1957 seasons.[4][5] The team won the Midwest League pennant in 1957, but lost in the playoffs.[6][7][8]
The Ballpark[]
The team played at Highland Park Stadium.[8]
Notable alumni[]
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni[]
- Orlando Cepeda (1955) Inducted, 1999
Notable alumni[]
- Mike Brumley (1957)
- Tommy Davis (1957) 3x MLB All–Star; 2× NL Batting Champion (1962, 1963); 1962 NL RBI Leader
- Tim Harkness (1957)
- Clarence Jones (1961)
- Bill Kelso (1961)
- Don Miles (1956)
- Rod Miller (1959)
- Ed Palmquist (1956)
- Pete Reiser (1956–1957, MGR) 3x MLB All–Star; 1941 NL Batting Champion; 2× NL Stolen Base Leader (1942, 1946)
- Nate Smith (1956)
- Hector Valle (1960)
See also[]
Kokomo Dodgers players
References[]
- ^ http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/danville/
- ^ "1956 Midwest League".
- ^ "1955 Kokomo Giants Statistics".
- ^ (27 October 1981). Reckless Reiser Dead at 62, Windsor Star, Retrieved December 10, 2010 ("for two years managed the Kokomo Dodgers in the Class D Midwest League")
- ^ (24 January 1956). Sports in short, Milwaukee Journal, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- ^ Cox, Don (29 November 1957). Sports salutes, The Gadsden Times, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- ^ Cox, Don. (15 March 1958). Sports salutes, The Gadsden Times, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- ^ a b Boyle, Robert H. (2 September 1957). Pete In The Bush, Sports Illustrated, Retrieved December 10, 2010 (detailed article profiling Reiser at Kokomo)
External links[]
- Defunct Midwest League teams
- Los Angeles Dodgers minor league affiliates
- Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliates
- New York Giants minor league affiliates
- Kokomo, Indiana
- 1956 establishments in Indiana
- 1961 disestablishments in Indiana
- Sports in Kokomo, Indiana
- Defunct baseball teams in Indiana
- Baseball teams disestablished in 1961
- Baseball teams established in 1956