Hobbs Pirates
The Hobbs Pirates was the final name of a minor league baseball club based in Hobbs, New Mexico from 1955 through 1961.
Hobbs Pirates (1937-1938, 1955–1961) Hobbs, New Mexico | |
Minor league affiliations | |
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Previous classes |
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Previous leagues |
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Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
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Minor league titles | |
League titles | 3 (1957, 1960, 1961) |
Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks | Bender Park |
History
The first team in Hobbs was the 1937 Hobbs Dillers of the West Texas-New Mexico League, who also played in 1938. The franchise revived in 1955 with the Hobbs Sports, an affiliate of the Washington Senators and was a member of the Longhorn League and the Southwestern League. In 1958 the club joined the Sophomore League, became an affiliate with the St. Louis Cardinals and became known as the Hobbs Cardinals. In 1960, the club was finally named the Pirates, after the Pittsburgh Pirates began an affiliation with the team. Under the Pirates, Hobbs won league titles in 1960 and 1961. The Sophomore League folded after the 1961 season. [1]
The ballpark
Hobbs teams played at Bender Park. The site is a now a park located at 1100 West Marland Boulevard Hobbs, NM 88240. [2][3][4]
Notable alumni
- Gene Michael (1961)
- Thurman Tucker (1957, 1959) MLB All-Star
- Ron Woods (1961)
- Gary Waslewski (1960-1961)
Season-by-season
(from Pirates' Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Sports' Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Cardinals' Baseball Reference Bullpen)
Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
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1955 | 62-77 | 6th | Pat Stasey | |
1956 | 90-52 | 1st | Pat Stasey | Lost in 1st round |
1957 | 73-52 | 1st | Thurman Tucker | League Champs |
1958 | 59-61 | 4th | Wayne Wallace | |
1959 | 70-54 | 3rd | Thurman Tucker | Lost in 1st round |
1960 | 70-58 | 2nd | Al Kubski | League Champs |
1961 | 77-48 | 1st | Al Kubski | League Champs |
References
- "Hobbs, New Mexico Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "Hobbs Pirates - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- "Bender Park Hobbs, NM - - Park Reviews, Amenities, Locations, and More!". www.parkgrades.com.
- "Bender Park - Hobbs New Mexico - Former Home of the Hobbs Sports". digitalballparks.com.