Plainview Athletics

The Plainview Athletics (or "A's") was the final moniker of the minor league baseball franchise based in Plainview, Texas from 1953 through 1959. The Plainview Athletics and Plainview Ponies played as members of the Sophomore League (1958–1959), Southwestern League (1956–1957) and West Texas-New Mexico League (1953–1955). Plainview was an affiliate of the Kansas City A's (1958–1959).

Plainview A's
(1953–1959)
Plainview, Texas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class D (1958–1959)
  • Class B (1955–1957)
  • Class C (1953–1954)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsKansas City Athletics (1958–1959)
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
  • Plainview Athletics (1958–1959)
  • Plaiview Ponies (1953–1957)
Previous parks
Jaycee Park (1953–1959)

History

The Plainview Ponies of the West Texas-New Mexico League began play in 1953. The franchise disbanded on June 15, 1957. Planiview reformed in 1958 with the Plainview Athletics, an affiliate of the Kansas City A's.[1]

Plainview was a member of the Sophomore League (1958–1959), Southwestern League (1956–1957) and the West Texas-New Mexico Leagueha (1953–1955).[2]

The Plainview Ponies became members of the Class C West Texas-New Mexico League in 1953. Plainview finished the regular season with a record of 80–62. The Ponies were 4th in the standings,finishing 7.0 games behind the 1st place Albuquerque Dukes. Jackie Sullivan was the Plainview manager. Playing at Jaycee Park, Plainview had total season attendance of 79,780, an average of 1,124 per game. In the Playoffs, the Clovis Pioneers defeated the Plainview Ponies 4 games to 2.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

The Plainview Ponies continued play in the 1954 Class B West Texas-New Mexico League. The Ponies had a record of 60–73, finishing 6th in the West Texas-New Mexico League, 20.0 games behind the champion Pampa Oilers. Season attendance at Jaycee Park was 56,071, an average of 843.[9][10][5][6][11][12]

The Plainview Ponies of the West Texas-New Mexico League ended the 1955 season with a record of 73–67, 4th in the WTNML, 7.0 games behind the 1st place Amarillo Gold Sox. Manager: Jackie Sullivan and Jodie Beeler. Jaycee Park Attendance: 63,269, Avg. 904.1955 Playoffs - Amarillo Gold Sox 4 games, Plainview Ponies 2[13][14][5][6][15][16]

The Plainview Ponies of the Southwestern League ended the 1956 season with a record of 76–68 losses, 5th in the SL, 15.0 games behind the Hobbs Sports in the 15–team league. Jodie Beeler and Frank Tornay served as manager. The Ponies hit 238 home runs as a team, led by 60 from Frosty Kennedy. Jodie Beeler and Frank Tornay served as manager. Attendance: 43,892, Avg. 610.[17][18][5][19][20][21]

In 1957, the Plainview Ponies folded from the Southwestern League during the season. The Ponies had a record of 16–27 under manager Art Bowland when the franchise folded on June 16. 1957. At the time of their folding, Plainview had total season attendance of 5,321, an average of 247 per game. The Southwestern League folded after the season.[22][23][5][19][24][25]

Plainview regained a franchise in 1958, when the Plainview Athletics became members of the newly formed Class D Sophomore League. An affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, Plainview ended the 1958 season with a record of 50–7, The Athletics were 6th in the Sophomore League standings, finisheing 22.0 games behind the first place Midland Braves. The Plainview manager was Vincent Plumbo. Plainview had season attendance of 21,640, an average of 361 per game.[26][27][28][29][30][31]

In their final season of play, the 1959 Plainview Athletics ended the Sophomore League season with a record of 60–65. Plainview was 4th in the Sophomore League standings, 11.5 games behind the 1st place Carlsbad Potashers, playing under manager Bobby Hofman. Plainview had season attendance of 12,329,an average of 197 per game. The franchise permanently folded after the 1959 season.[32][33][28][29][34][35]

60 Home Run Season

Frosty Kennedy hit 60 Home Runs and had 184 RBI for the Plainview Ponies in 1956.[36][37]

The ballpark

Plainview teams played at Jaycee Park. The ballpark site is still in use today within Broadway Park and is located at 100 South Broadway Plainview, Texas, 79072.[38]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Plainview Ponies - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Plainview, Texas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1953 Plainview Ponies Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1953 West Texas-New Mexico League (WTNML) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Plainview Ponies - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. "West Texas-New Mexico League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  7. "1953 Plainview Ponies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "1953 West Texas-New Mexico League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1954 Plainview Ponies Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1954 West Texas-New Mexico League (WTNML) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1954 West Texas-New Mexico League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1954 Plainview Ponies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "1955 West Texas-New Mexico League (WTNML) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "1955 Plainview Ponies Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "1955 Plainview Ponies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. "1955 West Texas-New Mexico League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. "1956 Plainview Ponies Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. "1956 Southwestern League (SL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. "Southwestern League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  20. "1956 Plainview Ponies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. "1956 Southwestern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. "1957 Plainview Ponies Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  23. "1957 Southwestern League (SL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. "1957 Southwestern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  25. "1957 Plainview Ponies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. "1958 Sophomore League (SL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  27. "1958 Plainview Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. "Plainview Athletics - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  29. "Sophomore League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  30. "1958 Sophomore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  31. "1958 Plainview A's Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  32. "1959 Plainview Athletics Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  33. "1959 Sophomore League (SL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  34. "1959 Sophomore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  35. "1959 Plainview A's Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  36. Kennedy 111, Forrest E. (29 July 2007). "60 Homers Club: Frosty Kennedy".
  37. Editor, DOUG McDONOUGH | Herald (22 September 2012). "Baseball great Frosty Kennedy played with Plainview Ponies". Plainview Daily Herald.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  38. McDonough, Doug; Herald, Plainview (10 October 2017). "Baseball, softball fields due for updates". Plainview Daily Herald.
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