Seminole Oilers

The Seminole Oilers was the final and primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Seminole, Oklahoma from 1947–1951 and 1954–1957. Seminole was a member of the Class D Sooner State League, winning league championships in 1948 and 1956.

Seminole Oilers
(1947–1951, 1954–1957)
Seminole, Oklahoma
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1947–1951, 1954–1957)
Previous leagues
Sooner State League (1947–1951, 1954–1957)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsChicago White Sox (1948–1949)
Kansas City A's (1955–1957)
Minor league titles
League titles 2 (1948, 1956)
Team data
Previous names
Seminole Oilers (1947–1949)
Seminole Ironmen (1950–1951)
Seminole Oilers (1954–1957)
Previous parks
Oiler Park (1947–1951, 1954–1957)

Seminole was an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox (1948–1949) and Kansas City A's (1955–1957).

History

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]

In their first season, the Seminole Oilers finished 5th in the Sooner State League with a record of 48–90. Their attendance for the 1947 season was 30,003, an average of 435 per game, playing at Oiler Park.[3][1]

The 1948 Seminole Oilers became an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Oilers won the 1948 Sooner State League Championship. Seminole finished the regular season 75–62, 3rd place in the Sooner State League, which had 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][4][5]

In 1949, remaining as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, the Seminole Oilers finished 54–84, last (8th) in the Sooner State League. The Oilers drew 33,258.[6]

In 1950–1951, Seminole changed their moniker and played as the Seminole Ironmen. The 1950 Seminole Ironmen finished in 6th place with a 55–83 record, drawing 21,366 for the season. The 1952 Seminole Ironmen finished last (8th), with a 37–103 record, 62.5 games behind. 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][7][8]

The Seminole Oilers returned to the eight–team Sooner State League in 1954. Seminole finished 61–79, 7th place, with a season attendance of 16,840.[9]

In 1955, the Oilers became an affiliate of the Kansas City A's. The 1955 Seminole Oilers finished 7th in the Sooner State League, with a 56–83 record. The Seminole season attendance was 26,775 in 1955.[10]

The Seminole Oilers won their second franchise championship in 1956. The Oilers finished the 3rd in the Sooner State League regular season 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.[11][1]

1957 was the final season of the Sooner State League, now under the direction of league President George Barr, a former major league umpire. The Oilers finished 46–79, last (8th) in the league, with a 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][12][13]

The ballpark

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.[14][15][16][17]

Notable alumni

Season-by-season

(from Baseball Reference)

Year Record Manager Finish Playoffs/Notes
194748–90John Taber/Hugh Willingham5thNone
194875–52Hugh Willingham3rdLeague Champions
194954–84Hugh Willingham/ Paul Shoendienst8thNone
195055–83Kelly Wingo/Lloyd Giger/Dennis Rackley6thNone
195137–103"Rip" Collins/Charles Stumborg/Dutch Prather8thNone
195461–79Tom Warren / Ray Taylor7thNone
195556–83Charles Hopkins/Al Evans7thNone
195674–66Burl Storie3rdLeague Champions
195746–79Lee Anthony8thNone
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References
  1. "Sooner State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "1947 Sooner State League (SSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1947 Seminole Oilers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1948 Seminole Oilers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Sooner State League | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". www.okhistory.org.
  6. "1949 Seminole Oilers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1950 Seminole Ironmen Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1951 Seminole Ironmen Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1954 Seminole Oilers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1955 Seminole Oilers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1956 Seminole Oilers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "George Barr - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  13. "1957 Seminole Oilers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "Oiler Park in Seminole, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "Seminole State College Athletics". www.stateuniversity.com.
  16. "Municipal Park". www.mapquest.com.
  17. "Lloyd Simmons". www.baseball-reference.com.
  18. "Jerry McKinnis: Moments of Magic". www.bassmaster.com.

Beseball Reference

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