Columbus Foxes
The Columbus Foxes were a minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Georgia.
Columbus Foxes 1909–1958 (1909–1917, 1926–1932, 1936–1942, 1946–1959) Columbus, Georgia | |
Minor league affiliations | |
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Previous classes |
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League | South Atlantic League (1959) |
Previous leagues |
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Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
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Minor league titles | |
League titles (6) |
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Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks | Golden Park |
History
The team originally played in the South Atlantic League from 1909–1917, then reformed in the Southeastern League from 1926–1932.
They resurfaced as a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate known first as the Columbus Red Birds and then the Columbus Cardinals from 1936–1955 in the South Atlantic League. As the Red Birds, they won two league championships. Their first came in 1936 under manager Eddie Dyer, and their second came in 1940 under manager Clay Hopper.
They returned to the Foxes after the Cardinals left in 1956 and became affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles in 1956, the Cardinals again in 1957, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. The team played in the Alabama–Florida League in 1958.
As a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate in 1959, they were known as the Columbus Pirates. They moved to Gastonia, North Carolina on July 6, 1959 and became the Gastonia Pirates.
The ballpark
Beginning in 1926, the Foxes played at Golden Park, located at 100 4th Street Columbus, Georgia 31901. Golden Park is still in use today and was renovated and used in the 1996 Olympic Games for softball. [1]
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni
- Walter Alston (1939) Inducted, 1983
- Bob Gibson (1957) Inducted, 1981
- Enos Slaughter (1936) Inducted, 1985
Notable alumni
- Luis Arroyo (1954) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Jackie Brandt (1954) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Hub Collins (1885) 1890 NL Hits Leader; Died Age 28
- Eddie Dyer (1936, MGR) Manager: 1946 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals
- Lenny Green (1956)
- Jim Hearn (1942) MLB All-Star; 1950 NL ERA Title
- Ray Jablonski (1950) MLB All-Star
- Oscar Judd (1936) MLB All-Star
- Eddie Kazak (1946) MLB All-Star
- George Kissell (1954)
- Clyde Kluttz (1940)
- Denny Lyons (1885)
- Skeeter Newsome (1956)
- Rip Repulski (1949-1950) MLB All-Star
- Dick Sisler (1941) MLB All-Star
- Dave Wickersham (1959)