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 Blue Jays
1898–1952
(1898, 1908–1910, 1912–1914, 1922–1926, 1938–1941, 1946–1952)
Salina, Kansas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class C (1922-1923, 1938–1941, 1946–1952)
    Class D (1898, 1908–1910, 1912–1914, 1924–1926)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 2 1895, 1926
Conference titles 1925, 1947
Team data
Previous names
  • Salina Blues (1898)
  • Salina Trade Winners (1908–1910)
  • Salina Insurgents (1912–1913)
  • Salina Coyotes (1914)
  • Salina Millers (1922–1926, 1938–1941)
  • Salina Blue Jays (1946–1952)
Previous parks
  • Athletic Park (1898–1914)
  • Oakdale Park (1922–1926)
  • Kenwood Field (1938–1952)

Salina was an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (1941) and Philadelphia Phillies (1946–1952).

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 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 finished 4th with a 24–23 record in 1908 under managers Bobby Cassell and Dick Brown. Salina placed 2nd in the league standings with a 40–28 record in 1909. In 1909, Salina was 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 finished 6th with a 60–72 record in the 1923 Southwestern League under manager Benny Meyer. In 1924, Salina finished 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 73–55, 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 76–41, placing 1st in the regular season. 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 1938–1941. 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]

1946, playing as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Blue Jays finished 51–77, 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 finished 1st in the regular season at 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 finished 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, 37.0 games behind the 1st place Joplin Miners. The 1950 season 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]

Salina did not host another minor league team until the Salina Stockade began play in the 2016 Independent Pecos League.[74][75]

The ballparks

Early Salina teams played at Athletic Park between 1898–1914.[76]

The Salina Millers played at Oakdale Park from 1922–1926. The ballpark was located on Oakdale Drive & 2nd Street. Oakdale Park is near Kenwood Park. Still in use today as a public park, the address of Oakdale Park is 730 Oakdale Drive, Salina, Kansas.[77][78]

Beginning in 1938, Salina teams played at Kenwood Field. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,500 (1938), 2,100 (1939) and 2,200 (1950). The field dimensions were (Left, Center, Right) 360-380-360 (1939). Kenwood Park is still in use, the address is 821 Kenwood Park Drive, Salina, Kansas.[79][80]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliate
18981Salina BluesClass DKansas State LeagueNone
1908–19103Salina Trade WinnersCentral Kansas League
19121Salina Insurgents
19131Kansas State League
19141Salina Cowboys
1922–19232Salina MillersClass CSouthwestern League
1924–19263Class D
1938–19403Class CWestern Association
19411Cleveland Indians
1946–19527Salina Blue JaysPhiladelphia Phillies

Notable alumni

See also

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

References
  1. "Kansas State League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  2. "Salina Blues Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1898 Salina Blues Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1898 Kansas State League (KSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Central Kansas League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. "1898 Salina Blues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1898 Kansas State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "Salina Trade Winners - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  9. "1908 Salina Trade Winners Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "Central Kansas League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  11. "1908 Salina Trade Winners Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1909 Salina Trade Winners Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1908 Central Kansas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
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  20. "1913 Salina Insurgents Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. "1913 Kansas State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
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  26. "Southwestern League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
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  42. "1926 Southwestern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  43. "Western Association - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  44. "1938 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  45. "1938 Salina Millers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  46. "Salina Millers - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  47. "Salina Millers Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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  53. "1946 Salina Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  54. "1946 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
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  58. "1947 Salina Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  59. "1948 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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  63. "1949 Salina Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  64. "1949 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  65. "1950 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  66. "1950 Salina Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  67. "1950 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  68. "1951 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  69. "1951 Salina Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  70. "1951 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  71. "1952 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  72. "1952 Salina Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  73. "1952 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  74. "Salina, KS - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  75. "Pecos League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  76. "Athletic Park in Salina, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  77. "Oakdale Park in Salina, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  78. "Welcome to the City of Salina, Kansas - Oakdale Park". Salina-ks.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  79. "Kenwood Field in Salina, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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External references

Baseball Reference

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