Salina Blue Jays

The Salina Blue Jays was the final moniker of minor league baseball teams based in Salina, Kansas between 1898 and 1952. Salina teams played as members of the Kansas State League (1898), Central Kansas League (1908–1910, 1912), Kansas State League (1913–1914), Southwestern League (1922–1926) and Western Association (1938–1941, 1946–1952).

Salina was an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1941 and Philadelphia Phillies from 1946 to 1952.

History[]

Minor league baseball began in 1898 with the Salina Blues, who moved twice and played championship baseball as members of the Class D level Kansas State League. The Blues won the league championship with a 9–5 record, having the best overall record when the league folded. The franchise moved to Junction City, Kansas on August 4, 1989 and back to Salina on August 8, 1898 before the league disbanded on Aug 19, 1898.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

The Salina Trade Winners joined the 1908 Class D level Central Kansas League as charter members in the new league. Other 1908 charter members were the Ellsworth Blues, Little River, Kansas, McPherson Merry Macks, Minneapolis Minnies and Newton Browns.^[8][5][9]

Playing in the Central Kansas League, Salina placed 4th with a 24–23 record in 1908, playing under managers Bobby Cassell and Dick Brown. Salina placed 2nd in the league standings with a 40–28 record in 1909. Salina placed 4th in the standings with 44–34 record in 1910. The league had expanded to an eight–team league in 1909. After the 1910 season, four teams in the Central Kansas League folded, including Salina.^{[10][11][12][13][9][14][15]}

The Salina Insurgents returned to membership in the six–team Central Kansas League in 1912. The Salina Insurgents finished last with a 31–59 record, to place 6th under manager Burt Lamb in the final season of the league. The Central Kansas League folded permanently after the 1912 season.^{[10][5][16][17]}

In 1913, the Salina Insurgents continued play and joined the six–team Class D level Kansas State League. The Manhattan Giants and Junction City Soldiers folded from the league mid–season. The Salina Insurgents completed the season and finished with a 26–63 record, placing 4th in the Kansas State League. The managers were Mike Welday and Lon Ury.^{[1][18][19][20][21]}

Continuing play in the four–team Class D level Kansas State League in 1914, Salina renamed as the Salina Coyotes. The Salina Cowboys finished 2nd at 47–41 in 1914, 8.0 games behind the 1st place Emporia Bidwells under manager Dick Rohn. The Kansas State League folded permanently after the 1914 season.^{[1][22][23][19][24][25]}

Salina was without a team until the Salina Millers joined the 1922 Class C level Southwestern League. The 1922 Salina Millers, managed by John McCloskey and Chester Olson finished 8th in the eight–team league with a 45–88 record.^{[26][27][28][29][30][31]}

The Salina Millers placed 6th with a 60–72 record in the 1923 Southwestern League under manager Benny Meyer. In 1924, Salina placed 2nd in the league with at 72–56 final record.^{[32][26][33][28][29][34][35][36]}

The 1925 Salina Millers captured the Southwestern League pennant. The Millers finished with a 73–55 record, placing 1st in the Southwestern League regular season. In the Finals, the Topeka Senators defeated the Salina Millers 4 games to 1. Jim Payton was the Salina manager.^{[37][28][29][38][39]}

The Salina Millers won the 1926 Southwestern League Championship. Under returning manager Jim Payton, the Salina Millers finished with a record of 76–41, placing 1st in the regular season standings. In the Finals, the Salina Millers defeated the Enid Boosters 3 games to 1 to claim the Championship. The Southwestern League permanently folded after the season.^{[26][40][28][29][41][42]}

In 1938, the Salina Millers joined the Western Association, which was expanding from six–teams to eight–teams.^{[43][44][28][45]}

The Salina Millers finished in the lower division of the Western Association, playing in the league from 1938 to 1941. The Millers finished 8th (47–87) under manager Harry Suter, 7th (55–79) under Riley Parker and 6th (60–75) in their first three seasons of playing in the Western Association. In 1941, Salina became an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and finished 7th at 46–88 under manager Red Rollings. After the 1941 season, the Carthage Browns and the Salina Millers franchises both folded, as the Western Association reduced to a six–team league.^{[46][47][28][48][49][45][50][51]}

The Salina Blue Jays were formed in 1946, rejoining the eight–team Class C level Western Association, which was reforming after a hiatus during World War II. Playing as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, Salina would remain both as a Phillies affiliate and a Western Association member through 1951. Salina joined the Fort Smith Giants, Hutchinson Cubs, Joplin Miners, Leavenworth Braves, Muskogee Reds, St. Joseph Cardinals and Topeka Owls in the reformed 1946 Western League.^{[52][43][48][53][54]}

In the 1946 season, playing as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Blue Jays finished last in the standings. Salina finished with a 51–77 record, placing 8th in the Western Association regular season standings. The manager was Edwin Ralls. Season attendance was 44,050, an average of 688 per home game.^{[55][48][53][54]}

The Salina Blue Jays won the 1947 Western Association pennant. The Blue Jays placed 1st in the regular season with a record of 85–53, as Edwin Ralls returned as manager. In the Finals, the Muskogee Reds defeated the Salina Blue Jays 3 games to 2. The 1947 attendance was 60,369, an average of 875 per home game.^{[56][57][43][48][58]}

Under manager Vance Dinges, the 1948 Blue Jays placed 7th in the Western Association, with a 58–80 regular season record. Salina drew 41,850 for the season.^{[59][43][48][60][61]}

The 1949 Salina Blue Jays finished with a 69–69 overall record with manager Joe Gantenbein, ending 27.0 games behind the 1st place St. Joseph Cardinals. The Blue Jays placed 6th in the Western Association regular season standings, as Salina had season attendance of 50,145.^{[62][43][48][63][64]}

Salina continued as a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in 1950. Under manager John Davenport, Salina finished with a 53–83 overall record to place 8th and last in the 1950 Western Association standings, finishing 37.0 games behind the 1st place Joplin Miners. The 1950 season home attendance was 44,773, an average of 658 per home game.^{[65][43][48][66][67]}

In 1951, the Salina Blue Jays finished with a record of 63–58, placing 4th in the Western Association regular season, 12.5 games behind the 1st place Topeka Owls. Salina was managed by Pat Patterson. The Blue Jays had home season attendance of 47,550.^{[68][43][48][69][70]}

The 1952 season was the final season for the Salina Blue Jays. The 1952 Blue Jays finished with a record of 61–77, as Pat Patterson returned as manager, placing 5th in the Western Association regular season, 22.5 games behind the 1st place Joplin Miners. Their season attendance of 35,984 was last in the league. Actor and game show host Bert Convy played for the 1952 Blue Jays. The Salina Blue Jays folded after the 1952 season and were replaced in the 1953 Western Association by the St. Joseph Cardinals.^{[71][43][72][73]}

After the Blue Jays folded in 1952, Salina did not host minor league team until 2016. The Salina Stockade began play in the 2016 Independent level Pecos League.^[74][75]

The ballparks[]

Early Salina minor league teams played reportedly home minor league games at Athletic Park between 1898 and 1914.^[76]

The Salina Millers were noted to have played minor league home games at Oakdale Park in the baseball seasons from 1922 to 1926. The ballpark was located on Oakdale Drive & 2nd Street. Oakdale Park is located near Kenwood Field. Still in use today as a public park, Oakdale Park is located at 730 Oakdale Drive, Salina, Kansas.^[77][78]

Beginning in 1938, Salina minor league teams reportedly hosted home games at Kenwood Field. The ballpark was noted to have had a capacity of 3,500 in 1938, 2,100 in 1939 and 2,200 in 1950. The field dimensions were (Left, Center, Right) 360-380-360. Kenwood Park is still in use as a public park, located at 821 Kenwood Park Drive, Salina, Kansas.^[79][80]

(2016) Statue of Liberty replica. Oakdale Park, Salina, Kansas.

Timeline[]

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Salina Blue Jays players
Salina Blues players
Salina Insurgents players
Salina Millers players
Salina Trade Winners players

References[]

External references[]

Baseball Reference Bullpen