Seminole Oilers

Minor league baseball began in Seminole, Oklahoma with the 1947 Seminole Oilers. The Oilers were charter members of the six–team Sooner State League in 1947, along with the Ada Herefords, Ardmore Indians, Duncan Cementers, Lawton Giants and McAlester Rockets.[1][2][3]

In their first season of play, the 1947 Seminole Oilers finished 5th in the Sooner State League standings with a record of 48–90. Playing under managers John Taber and Hugh Willingham, the Oilers finished 49.0 games behind the 1st place Lawton Giants. Playing home games at Oiler Park, Seminole's home attendance for the 1947 season was 30,003, an average of 435 per game.[4][1][5]

The Seminole Oilers won the 1948 Sooner State League Championship. Seminole became an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and finished the regular season with a 75–62 record, placing 3rd in the regular season standings under manager Hugh Willingham. The Sooner State League, expanded to eight teams, with the addition of the Chickasha Chiefs and the Pauls Valley Raiders. In the 1948 Sooner State League playoffs, the Seminole Oilers defeated the Lawton Giants 3 games to 2. In the Finals, Seminole defeated the McAlester Rockets 4 games to 2 to win the championship. The Oilers drew 40,053 in attendance for the season.[1][6][3][1][7][3]

Remaining as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, the 1949 Seminole Oilers finished last in the Sooner State League. With a 54–84 record under managers Hugh Willingham and Paul Shoendienst, Seminole placed 8th and finished 33.0 games behind the 1st place Pauls Valley Raiders. The Oilers drew 33,258 fans to Oiler Park.[8][1][9]

In 1950 Seminole began Sooner State League play as the Seminole Ironmen. The 1950 Seminole Ironmen finished in 6th place with a 55–83 record under managers Kelly Wingo, Lloyd Giger and Dennis Rackley. With Seminole drawing 21,366 for the 1950 season, the Ironmen finished 41.5 games behind the 1st place Ada Herefords. The 1952 Seminole Ironmen finished last in the league. Placing 8th with a 37–103 record, Seminole finished 62.5 games behind the 1st place Ardmore Indians under managers James "Ripper" Collins and Dutch Prather. The franchise drew 16,915 for the season. Seminole folded following the 1952 season. The franchise was replaced by the Sherman Twins in the 1953 Sooner State League.[1][10][11][1][12][13]

Seminole returned to the eight–team Sooner State League in 1954. The Seminole Oilers returned and finished with a 61–79 record under managers Tommy Warren and Ray Taylor. The Oilers finished in 7th place, 31 games behind the 1st place Shawnee Hawks. Seminole had total season attendance of 16,840.[14][1][15]

The 1955 Seminole Oilers became an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. The 1955 Seminole Oilers finished 7th in the Sooner State League standings, with a 56–83 record. Under managers Charles Hopkins and Al Evans, Seminole finished 39.0 games behind the 1st place Lawton Braves. The Seminole season attendance was 26,775 in 1955.[16][17]

The Seminole Oilers won their second franchise championship in 1956. Under manager Burl Storie, the Oilers finished the 3rd in the Sooner State League regular season standings with a 74–66 record. In the 1956 playoffs, the Seminole Oilers defeated the Lawton Braves 3 games to 1, to advance. In the Finals, Seminole defeated the Ardmore Cardinals 4 games to 3 to win the 1956 Sooner State League Championship. Attendance was 31,249, an average of 446 per game.[18][1][19]

1957 was the final season for the Seminole franchise. The Sooner State League, now under the direction of league President George Barr, a former major league umpire, folded after the season. The 1957 Oilers finished last in the league. With a 46–79 record, the Oilers finished in 8th place in the league, 28 games behind the Paris Orioles playing under manager Lee Anthony. In their final season, Seminole had season attendance of 17,379. Seminole folded along with the Sooner State League after the season. Minor league baseball has not returned to Seminole.[1][20][21][1][22]

Seminole teams played at Oiler Park. Oiler Park was also called "Municipal Park" and "Ironmen Park". The ballpark had a capacity of 2,200 (1948) and 3,000 (1955). Oiler Park is still in use today as the home field for Seminole State College. It is part of a public park that is still referred to as Municipal Park. The address is 1510 Lloyd Simmons Boulevard. The road next to the ballpark is named after Lloyd Simmons, the record-setting former Seminole State College baseball coach who was inducted into the National Junior College Hall of Fame in 1997.[23][24][25][26]

(from Baseball Reference)

Seminole Oilers players

Beseball Reference