Enid Harvesters

The Enid Harvesters was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Enid, Oklahoma. Enid minor league teams played as members of the Southwestern League (1904), Western Association (1908–1910, 1920–1923), Oklahoma State League (1924), Southwestern League (1924–1926) and Western Association (1950–1951). Enid was an affiliate of the New York Giants (1950).

Enid Harvesters
(1904, 1908–1910, 1920–1926, 1950–1951)
Enid, Oklahoma
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass C 1908–1910, 1922-1926, 1950–1951)
Class D (1904, 1920–1921, 1924)
Previous leagues
Southwestern League (1904)
Western Association (1908–1910, 1920–1923)
Oklahoma State League (1924)
Southwestern League (1924–1926)
Western Association (1950–1951)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNew York Giants (1950)
Minor league titles
League titles 2 1909, 1920*
Division titles 1922
Team data
Previous names
Enid Evangelists (1904)
Enid Railroaders (1908–1910)
Enid Harvesters
(1920–1924)
Enid Boosters (1925–1926)
Enid Giants (1950)
Enid Buffaloes (1951)
Previous parks
Traction Park (1908–1910)
Association Park (1920–1926)
City Stadium (1950–1951)

The 1922 Enid Harvesters finished 104-27, for a .794 winning percentage. The 1922 Harvesters have been listed as one of the best all–time minor league teams.

History

Minor league baseball began in Enid, Oklahoma in 1904. The 1904 Enid Evangelists began play as members of the reformed Class D Southwestern League. The 1904 Evangelists finished 46–37, 2nd in the four–team Southwestern League. Enid was managed by Howard Price and Walter Frantz. The Southwestern League had reformed in 1904 and folded after the 1904 season.[1][2][3]

In 1908, the Enid Railroaders became members of the Class C Western Association. The 1908 Enid Railroaders finished with a 38–99 record and were last (8th) in the Western Association. Enid played at Traction Park. Enid was managed in 1908 by Walter Frantz, William Kimmell, George Hulbert and Red Wright.[4][5][6][7]

The 1909 Enid Railroaders were the Western Association Champions. Enid finished 82–41 to capture 1st place in the standings, playing under Manager Ted Price. With no playoffs, Enid finished 7.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Muskogee Navigators in the Western Association standings to capture the championship.[8][4][9]

Enid continued play in the 1910. Western Association. The Enid Railroaders finished 64–53 and in 2nd place in the eight–team Western Association. The 1910 Enid manager was Bob Kennedy. The Enid franchise folded after the 1910 season.[10][7][4][11]

In 1920, Enid rejoined the eight–team Western Association, which was reformed after folding in 1917, and won a disputed league championship.[7]

Playing in the Western Association, the 1920 Enid Harvesters finished 71–53 and in 4th place overall, winning the split–season 2nd half pennant under Manager Ted Waring. In the playoffs, the Okmulgee Drillers and Enid Harvesters were tied 3 games to 3. Enid then won the seventh game, but the Western Association president later invalidated the victory.[12][7][13][14]

In the 1921 Western Association, the Enid Harvesters finished with a 77–74 record, 5th place overall. The 1921 Manager was Barney Cleveland.[15][16][14]

The 1922 Enid Harvesters finished 104–27, for a .794 winning percentage. Enid finished 13.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Joplin Miners (93–42) in the regular season standings. The 1922 Enid Harvesters have been ranked as one of the top 20 of The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams. Enid was defeated in the 1922 league championship playoff by Joplin, but remain noted because of their overall 1922 season under Manager Tom Downey.[17][18][19][14][20][7]

The Enid Harvesters finished 80–65 in the 1923 Class C Western Association, for 4th place. The Enid manager was again Tom Downey.[21][7][14][22]

In 1924, Enid hosted two teams in two leagues. First, the Enid Harvesters continued play, moving from the Western Association to become members of the 1924 Class D Southwestern League.[23][24]

Playing in the 1924 Southwestern League, the Enid Harvesters finished 65–67 4th in the league. The Managers were Babe Ellison and George Dye.[25][26]

Enid also hosted a second team to finish the 1924 season. Guthrie (8–18) of the Oklahoma State League moved first to McAlester, Oklahoma on May 24, 1924. McAlester then moved to Wewoka–Holdenville on June 8, 1924. The franchise then moved to Enid in late June and finished the 1924 season playing in Enid. Overall, the 1924 Oklahoma State League Enid team had a record of 18–48 and were in 7th place under managers M. H. Robertson and Ted Lipps when the Oklahoma State League permanently folded on July 8, 1924.[27][28]

Enid continued play as the Enid Boostersin 1925. Enid became members of the 1925 Class D Southwestern League. The Enid Boosters were 20–27 on June 17, 1925, when the franchise relocated to Shawnee, Oklahoma and finished the season playing as the Shawnee Braves. Enid/Shawnee finished the 1925 Southwestern League 52–76 and in 6th place under managers Ben Dimond and George Dye.[29][30]

In 1926, Enid regained a franchise and the Enid Boosters returned to Southwestern League play. The Boosters had a record of 70–49, finishing 2nd in the Southwestern League under Manager George Dye, while playing at Association Park. In the 1926 playoffs, the Salina Millers defeated the Enid Boosters 3 games to 1. The Southwestern League folded after the 1926 season.[31][32][33]

After a 24–year span, minor league baseball returned to Enid, Oklahoma in 1950. The Fort Smith Giants of the Class C Western Association relocated and theEnid Giants became members of the eight–team league, playing as an affiliate of the New York Giants. The 1950 Enid Giants finished 71–63, for 4th place in the Western Association under Manager Harold Kollar, playing at Enid Baseball Park. Enid's 1950 season home attendance was 40,713, an average of 608 per game.[34][35][7][36][37]

The Enid Buffalos continued play in the 1951 Western Association. The Enid Buffalos finished the regular season with a 45–79 record, 7th in the Western Association. The Buffalos were managed by Ray Honeycutt. Enid had season attendance of 39,584, an average of 638 per game. Enid folded after the 1951 season, as the Western League played in 1952 as a six–team league[38][39][39][40]

The ballparks

Early Enid teams played at Traction Park.[41]

The Enid teams from 1920–1926 played at Association Park. Association Park was located at East Pine Avenue & North 2nd Street and East Oak Avenue & North 3rd Street.[42][43]

In 1950–1951, teams played at the Enid Baseball Park, also known as City Stadium. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,200 and has been destroyed.[44][45][45][36][46]

Notable alumni
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References
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  2. "Enid Evangelists - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  3. "1904 Enid Evangelists Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "Enid Railroaders - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "1908 Enid Railroaders Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1908 Enid Railroaders Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "Western Association - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "1909 Enid Railroaders Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1909 Enid Railroaders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1910 Enid Railroaders Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1910 Enid Railroaders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1920 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1920 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Enid Harvesters - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  15. "1921 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "1921 Enid Harvesters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. "Top 100 Minor League Baseball Teams". www.stevetheump.com.
  18. "100 Best Minor League Baseball Teams - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  19. "Harvesters' Record Still Stands But Title of Best Team in State's Minor League History Is Debatable". Oklahoman.com. July 11, 1993.
  20. "1922 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. "1923 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "1923 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "Southwestern League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  24. "Enid, Oklahoma Encyclopedia | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  25. "1924 Enid Harvesters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. "1924 Enid Harvesters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. "Oklahoma State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  28. "1924 Guthrie/McAlester/Wewoka-Holdenville/Enid Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  29. "1925 Enid Boosters/Shawnee Braves Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  30. "1925 Enid Boosters/Shawnee Braves Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com".
  31. "1926 Enid Boosters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  32. "Enid Boosters - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  33. "1926 Enid Boosters Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  34. "1950 Enid Giants Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  35. "Enid Giants - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  36. "Buffaloes Stadium/City Park - Enid Oklahoma - Former home of the Enid Buffaloes". www.digitalballparks.com.
  37. "1950 Enid Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  38. "1951 Enid Buffalos Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  39. "Enid Buffaloes - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  40. "1951 Enid Buffaloes Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  41. "Traction Park in Enid, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  42. "Association Park in Enid, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  43. "Association Park (Enid, OK) - SABR Encyclopedia". encyclopedia.sabr.org.
  44. "Enid Baseball Park in Enid, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  45. "Enid Baseball Park - SABR Encyclopedia". encyclopedia.sabr.org.
  46. "Buffaloes Stadium/City Park - Enid Oklahoma - Former home of the Enid Buffaloes". www.digitalballparks.com.
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