Chickasha Chiefs

Minor league baseball in Chickasha began when Chickasha briefly had a team in 1904. The Shawnee Browns of the Southwestern League moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma on June 30, 1904. The team became the Chickasha Indians and continued play in the Southwestern League. However, the franchise returned to Shawnee, Oklahoma on August 3, 1904. The franchise then disbanded on September 5, 1904.[1][2][3]

Baseball returned in 1920, when the Chickasha Chicks began play in the eight-team Western Association. The Western Association had just reformed after a two-year hiatus. Other 1920 league members were the Drumright Drummers, Enid Harvesters, Fort Smith Twins, Henryetta Hens, Okmulgee Drillers, Pawhuska Huskers and Springfield Merchants.[4][5]

In their first full season of play, the Chickasha Chicks finished with a 52–72 record, placing 7th in the 1920 Western Association.[4]

The Chickasha Chicks won the 1921 Western Association Championship. The Chicks finished with a record of 74–74, placing 5th overall in the regular season, but capturing the first-half pennant. In the playoff Finals, the Chickasha Chicks defeated the Fort Smith Twins 4 games to 3 to win the 1921 championship.[5][6][7]

Chickasha left the Western Association to join the newly formed Oklahoma State League in 1922 and won their second straight championship. Other charter members of the six–team 1922 Oklahoma State League were the Clinton Bulldogs, Duncan Oilers, El Reno Railroaders, Guthrie, Oklahoma and Wilson Drillers.[8][9]

Playing in the new league in 1922, the Chickasha Chicks finished 3rd in the regular season standings with a 55–55 record. They qualified for the playoffs by winning the first half championship with a 33-17 record.[10] In the second half, however, low finances and low attendance during a losing streak caused the team to miss payroll and forfeit several games, culminating with a league takeover of the franchise. The team was renamed the "Orphans" and forced to play its remaining schedule on the road.[11][12][13] Despite limited success over the remainder of the regular season, the team defeated the Clinton Bulldogs in the playoff finals, 4 games 0, to win the 1922 championship.[14] After the 1922 championship season the franchise folded.[15][9]

In 1948, the Chickasha Chiefs began play in the Sooner State League. The Chiefs and Ada Herefords were expansion teams in the league as it expanded from six–teams to eight–teams after forming in 1947. The other 1948 Sooner State League members were the Ardmore Indians, Duncan Cementers, Lawton Giants, McAlester Rockets, Pauls Valley Raiders and Seminole Oilers.[16][17]

Chickasha qualified for the Sooner State League playoffs in 1948. The Chicks finished 73–63, placing 4th in the regular season standings. In the playoffs, the McAlester Rockets defeated the Chickasha Chiefs 3 games to 1. The Chiefs 1948 attendance was 35,640, an average of 524 per game.[16][18]

Returning to the playoffs in 1949, the Chickasha Chicks finished the regular season with a 78–61 record, placing 3rd in the regular season. In the 1949 playoffs, the Lawton Giants defeated Chickasha 3 games to 0. The Chicks 1949 attendance was 59,306, an average of 853.[17][19]

The 1950 Chickasha Chiefs finished 80–59, to place 3rd in the Sooner State League regular season. Qualifying for the playoffs, the McAlester Rockets defeated the Chiefs 3 games to 0. The 1950 season attendance was 43,759 (3rd in the league).[20][17]

In 1951, the Chickasha Chiefs used five managers in placing 7th and finishing with a 46–94 record in the Sooner State League. The 1951 season attendance was 21,107.[21]

The Chickasha Chiefs returned to the Sooner State League playoffs in 1952. The Chiefs finished 78–62, placing 3rd in the 1952 regular season standings. In the playoffs, the Pauls Valley Raiders defeated the Chickasha Chiefs 3 games to 1. Season attendance was 27,494, an average of 393 per game.[22][17]

the Chickasha Chiefs folded after the 1952 season and were replaced by the Gainesville Owls in the 1953 Sooner State League. Chickasha has not hosted another minor league baseball team.[17]

The Chickasha Chiefs played at Memorial Park, also referred to as Borden Park. Borden Park burned in August 1950 and was rebuilt for the following season.[23][24] The ballpark had a capacity of 1,700 (1950) and 2,500 (1952). Borden Park, which is now called Elliott Field and is used for high school baseball, was located at 200 North 19th Street.[25]

From 1920 through May 1921, the Chickasha Chicks played at University Park.[26] University Park, which had previously hosted exhibition games featuring Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson, was located at the terminus of the street railway line near present-day Shannon Springs Park.[27][28][29]

In the middle of the 1921 season, the Chicks moved to a newly constructed ballpark named Grady Field. The new ballpark was located on East Choctaw Avenue, just east of the viaduct that carries that road over the railroad tracks, where the Grady County Fairgrounds are now located. University Park was demolished immediately upon completion of the new field.[30][31][32]

The 1904 Chickasha Indians played at Rock Island Ball Park.[33] This facility was built at the site of the former Rock Island stockyards, south of the Rock Island Railroad machine shop and the Crystal Ice Company plant, on land donated by the railroad.[34][35][36][37] The location was half a block east of South First Street, along the railroad tracks between East Minnesota and East Dakota Avenues.[38]

Baseball Reference