Evansville Braves
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Evansville Braves 1938–1957 (1938-1942; 1946-1957) Evansville, Indiana | |||
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| Class-level | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Previous | B (1938-1942: 1946–1957) | ||
| Minor league affiliations | |||
Previous leagues | Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (Three-I League) (1938-1942; 1946–1957) | ||
| Major league affiliations | |||
| Previous |
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| Minor league titles | |||
| League titles | 4 1946, 1948, 1956, 1957 | ||
| Team data | |||
Previous names |
Braves (1941-1942; 1946–1957) Bees (1938-1940) | ||
Previous parks | Bosse Field (1938-1942; 1946–1957) | ||
The Evansville Braves was the primary nickname of a minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana 1938-1942 and 1946-1957 and playing in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. Hall of Fame Inductees Bob Uecker and Warren Spahn played for Evansville during this era.
History
The Evansville Bees and Braves played the Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (the "Three-I" League) from 1938-1957, interrupted when the league ceased play during World War II. They played home games at Bosse Field, which is currently the third oldest baseball stadium in regular use in the United States.
Evansville of the Three-I League had a single affiliation with the Major League Braves franchise, playing as affiliates of the Boston Bees (1938-1940), Boston Braves (1941–42 and 1946–1952) and the Milwaukee Braves (1953–1957). The Evansville Bees (1938-1940) took their name when the Boston Braves changed their nickname to the Bees for a few seasons.
The team ceased after the 1957 season and Evansville was without baseball until the Evansville White Sox began play in the Class AA Southern League in 1966.[1] Today, Evansville and Bosse Field are home to the Frontier League's Evansville Otters.[2]
The ballpark
The franchise played at Bosse Field, located at 1701 Main Street & Morgan Street. Bosse Field was built in 1915 and had a capacity of 7,200 during the Braves era.[3] Historic Bosse Field is still in use today, serving as the home park for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.[4] Next to Fenway Park (1912) and Wrigley Field (1914), Memorial Stadium in the third oldest professional park in existence, opening on June 17, 1915.[5]
Championships
- The franchise won four Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League Championships: 1946, 1948, 1956 and 1957.
Major League Affiliations
- 1938-1942; 1946–1952, Boston Braves/Bees
- 1953–1957, Milwaukee Braves
Notable alumni
- Bob Uecker (1957) Recipient: Ford C. Frick Award (2003)
- Claude Raymond (1957) MLB AS
- Lee Maye (1955-1956)
- Jim Frey (1951-1952) MLB MGR
- Del Crandall (1949) MLB AS
- Dick Donovan (1948) MLB AS
- Chuck Tanner (1946) MGR: 1979 World Series Champion - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Warren Spahn (1941) 17 x MLB AS; 8 × NL wins leader (1949, 1950, 1953, 1957–1961); 3 × NL ERA leader (1947, 1953, 1961); 4 × NL strikeout leader (1949–1952); 1957 Cy Young Award; Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame (1973)
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 68-51 | 3rd | Bob Coleman | League Champs |
| 1947 | 70-55 | 5th | Bob Coleman | NA |
| 1948 | 67-54 | 3rd | Bob Coleman | League Champs |
| 1949 | 74-51 | 1st | Bob Coleman | Lost League Finals |
| 1950 | 56-70 | 6th | Ernie White | NA |
| 1951 | 69-60 | 2nd | Bob Coleman | Lost in 1st round |
| 1952 | 74-47 | 1st | Bob Coleman | Lost League Finals |
| 1953 | 70-59 | 3rd | Bob Coleman | Lost League Finals |
| 1954 | 81-54 | 1st | Bob Coleman | Lost in 1st round |
| 1955 | 60-66 | 5th | Bob Coleman | NA |
| 1956 | 84-36 | 1st | Bob Coleman | League Champs |
| 1957 | 81-49 | 1st | Bob Coleman | League Champs |
References
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Evansville&state=IN&country=US
- ↑ http://www.frontierleague.com/teams/evansville-otters/
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/park.cgi?id=IN004
- ↑ http://www.frontierleague.com/teams/evansville-otters/
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080705054531/http://www.evansvilleotters.com/bosse_field.html