Roswell Rockets

Minor league baseball started in Roswell when the Roswell Giants began play as charter members the 1923 four–team Panhandle-Pecos Valley League. The Panhandle-Pecos Valley League had evolved from the West Texas League. The Roswell Giants joined the Amarillo Gassers, Clovis Cubs and Lubbock Hubbers as franchised in the new league. Roswell was 41–63 and in 4th place when the Panhandle-Pecos Valley League permanently folded on August 15, 1923.[1][2][3]

In 1937, the Roswell Sunshiners were founding members of the six–team Class D West Texas-New Mexico League. Roswell joined the Hobbs Drillers, Midland Cardinals, Monahans Trojans, Odessa Oilers and Wink Spudders in the West Texas-New Mexico League.[4][5]

The Roswell Sunshiners finished 55–62, 2nd in the 1937 West Texas-New Mexico League, as the Odessa and Midland franchises withdrew during the season. In the playoffs, Roswell defeated the Monahans Trojans 3 games to 2. In the Finals, the Wink Spudders swept Roswell in three games. Roswell did not return to the league in 1938.[4][5][6]

The Roswell Rockets joined the eight–team Longhorn League in 1949, playing with fellow members Ballinger Cats, Big Spring Broncs, Midland Indians, Odessa Oilers, San Angelo Colts, Sweetwater Swatters, and Vernon Dusters.[7]

The Roswell Rockets finished last in their first Longhorn League season with a 57–82 record. The Rockets drew 43,584 fans for the season.[8]

In 1950, the Roswell Rockets finished 89–62, 2nd in the Longhorn League regular season standings. In the playoffs, the Big Spring Broncs swept Roswell in four games. The Rockets had home a season attendance total of 82,671, an average of 1,095.[9][10]

Roswell advanced to the Longhorn League finals in 1951, as the Longhorn League became a Class C league. The Rockets finished 79–61 (3rd) in the 1951 regular season. In the playoffs, Roswell defeated the Big Spring Broncs 4 games to 2. In the finals the Odessa Oilers defeated Roswell 4 games to 2. They drew 65,361.[11][10]

In 1952, Roswell finished 65–75 (6th), followed by 60–70 (5th) in 1953. They missed the playoffs in both seasons.[12][13]

The 1954 Roswell Rockets finished 87–51 (2nd) in the regular season. In the playoffs, the Carlsbad Potashers defeated Roswell 4 games to 2. They drew 53,280 for the season.[14]

Joe Bauman hit 72 home runs for Roswell in 1954, setting a single season minor-league home run record. Bauman also hit .400 with 150 walks, 188 runs and 224 RBI in 1954.[10][15][16][17]

Bauman had been acquired from the Artesia Drillers after the 1953 season. Bauman owned and operated a filling station in Roswell in 1954 and resided there the rest of his life. Besides hitting 72 home runs in 1954, Bauman hit four in one game at home on August 31, 1954, in a 15–4 win over the Sweetwater Spudders. The four home runs gave him 68 on the season and came one night after Bauman hit a home run on "Joe Bauman Night" on August 30. Bauman hit 13 home runs in the last 14 games of the 1954 season to reach 72. As was common in the Longhorn League, fans would push money through the backstop fence to players after home runs. Bauman often made several hundred dollars through the practice.[18][19][20]

In 1955, the Rockets were 79–56, 2nd in the Longhorn League. In the playoffs, they defeated the Artesia Numexers 4 games to 3. In the Finals, the San Angelo Colts swept the Rockets in 4 games. Joe Bauman followed his record setting season by hitting .336 with 46 home runs and 132 RBI. The Rockets' 1955 attendance was 39,911.[21][22]

The Roswell Rockets played in a newly named league in 1956. They finished 53–90 in 1956, 9th in the ten-team Southwestern League, as the Longhorn League expanded and was renamed. Roswell drew 18,367, an average of 257. The franchise folded after the 1956 season.[23][24]

Roswell briefly regained a team on June 9, 1959, when the San Angelo Pirates of the Sophomore League moved to Roswell. The Roswell Pirates finished the season in Roswell. The San Angelo/Roswell Pirated finished 48–77 overall. The franchise folded after the season. Baseball Hall of Fame member Willie Stargell played for the Pirates in 1959 and hit .274 with 7 home runs and 87 RBI. Joe Bauman briefly managed the 1959 Roswell Pirates.[25][26]

In 1937, the Roswell Sunshiners played at League Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 1,200 and dimensions (left, center, right) of 330-500-425.[27]

Beginning in 1949, the Roswell Rockets played at Fair Park Stadium. The ballpark was also called "Rocket Park" at times. Fair Park Stadium is still in use. The ballpark is now called Joe Bauman Baseball Stadium. The address is 900 Block East Poe, Roswell, New Mexico, 88201.[28][29][17][30]

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