Kokomo Dodgers
The Kokomo Dodgers were a minor league baseball team based in Kokomo, Indiana that was a charter member of the Midwest League. They were affiliated with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and the franchise operated from 1955 through 1961. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Orlando Cepeda played for Kokomo.
Kokomo Dodgers 1955–1961 Kokomo, Indiana | |
Minor league affiliations | |
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Previous classes | Class D |
League | Midwest League (1956–1961) |
Previous leagues | Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1955) |
Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
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Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks | Highland Park Stadium |
In 1955, Kokomo replaced the Danville Dans in the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League, playing as the Kokomo Giants, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.[1] The next season, Kokomo became an initial member of newly formed Midwest League, which grew out of the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. The other Midwest League charter franchises were: Clinton Pirates, Dubuque Packers, Decatur Commodores, Michigan City White Caps, Paris Lakers, Lafayette Red Sox and Mattoon Phillies.[2][3]
Former Dodger Pete Reiser was the team's manager during the 1956 and 1957 seasons.[4][5] The team won the Midwest League pennant in 1957, but lost in the playoffs.[6][7][8]
The Ballpark
The team played at Highland Park Stadium.[8][9]
Notable Alumni
- Clarence Jones (1961)
- Bill Kelso (1961)
- Hector Valle (1960)
- Rod Miller (1959)
- Pete Reiser (1956–1957, MGR) 3 x MLB AS; 1941 NL Batting Champion; 2 × NL Stolen Base Leader (1942, 1946)
- Mike Brumley (1957)
- Tommy Davis (1957) 3 x MLB AS; 2 × NL Batting Champion (1962, 1963); 1962 NL RBI Leader
- Tim Harkness (1957)
- Don Miles (1956)
- Ed Palmquist (1956)
- Nate Smith (1956)
- Orlando Cepeda (1955) 11 x MLB AS; 1958 NL Rookie of the Year; 1961 NL Home Run Leader; 2 × NL RBI Leader (1961); 1967 National League MVP; Baseball Hall of Fame (1999)
References
- http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/danville/
- https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=0c107f1f
- https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=f8b5cab2
- (27 October 1981). Reckless Reiser Dead at 62, Windsor Star, Retrieved December 10, 2010 ("for two years managed the Kokomo Dodgers in the Class D Midwest League")
- (24 January 1956). Sports in short, Milwaukee Journal, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- Cox, Don (29 November 1957). Sports salutes, The Gadsden Times, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- Cox, Don. (15 March 1958). Sports salutes, The Gadsden Times, Retrieved December 10, 2010
- Boyle, Robert H. (2 September 1957). Pete In The Bush, Sports Illustrated, Retrieved December 10, 2010 (detailed article profiling Reiser at Kokomo)
- Highland Park Stadium, Midwest League Guide, Retrieved December 10, 2010