Tri-City Atoms

The Tri-Cities in southeastern Washington, which include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, have fielded a number of minor league baseball teams in the Northwest League and its predecessor, the Western International League.

"Tri-Cities Triplets" redirects here. For the team that played in the Alabama–Tennessee League in 1921, see Tri-Cities Triplets (Alabama–Tennessee League).
Tri-City Atoms
1950–1986
(1950–1974, 1983–1986)
Kennewick, Washington
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Short season A (1983–1986)
  • Short season A (1966–1974)
  • Class A (1963–1965)
  • Class B (1955–1962)
  • Class A (1952–1954)
  • Class B (1950–1951)
Previous leagues
Northwest League
(1955–1974, 1983–1986)
Western International League
(1950–1954)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 5 (1965, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1984)
Team data
Previous names
  • Tri-Cities Triplets (1983–1986)
  • Tri-City Ports (1974)
  • Tri-City Triplets (1973)
  • Tri-City Padres (1970–1972)
  • Tri-City A's (1969)
  • Tri-City Atoms (1965–1968)
  • Tri-City Angels (1963–1964)
  • Tri-City Braves (1962)
  • Tri-City Atoms (1961)
  • Tri-City Braves (1950–1960)
Previous parks
  • RHS baseball field (1983–1986)
  • Sanders-Jacobs Field (1950–1974)

The Tri-City Braves were a member of the WIL from 1950 through 1954, then became a charter member of the new Northwest League in 1955. The Tri-Cities were continually represented through 1974 under various names (Braves 1955–60, 1962; Angels 1961, 1963–64; Atoms 1965–68; A's 1969; Padres 1970–72; Triplets 1973; Ports 1974).

In 1974, the Ports were an independent team and went 27–57 in front of 21,611 fans. The team was managed by owner Carl W. Thompson, Sr. before folding.

Notable players with the Atoms included Doyle Alexander, Ron Cey, Joe Ferguson, and Ted Sizemore, the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1969.

From 1950 through 1974, home games were held at Sanders-Jacobs Field in Kennewick,[1][2] located at the northeast corner of Clearwater Avenue and Neel Street (46.213°N 119.169°W / 46.213; -119.169).[3] The field was aligned to the northeast and named for Harry Sanders, a Connell farmer, and Tom Jacobs, a former manager and the general manager of the Atoms at the time of his death at age 64 in 1968.[2][3] The ballpark was demolished in the mid-1970s, shortly after the Ports folded.

The Tri-Cities were without baseball until 1983, when the Tri-Cities Triplets (an homage to the 1973 name) formed, though they only lasted for four summers. The Triplets had relocated from Walla Walla and were an affiliate of the Texas Rangers for the first two years, independent for the final two. They played their home games at Richland High School baseball field, adjacent to the Bomber Bowl football stadium.[4] The team was bought by the Brett brothers in February 1986,[5] then sold that autumn to Diamond Sports, a group headed by the general manager, Mal Fichman. The Triplets relocated to Boise, Idaho prior to the 1987 season and became the Boise Hawks.[6]

The Tri-Cities was also home to the Tri-City Posse of the independent Western Baseball League from 1995 to 2000. The Posse were founded in the WBL's first year in 1995,[7] won the league title in 1999, but were forced to fold with the arrival of the former Portland franchise of the NWL, after the 2000 season.

The current Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League arrived in 2001, moving up the Columbia River after six seasons in Portland as the Rockies.[8]

Former players
  • Tri-Cities Triplets players   (1983–1986)
  • Tri-City Padres players   (1970–1972)
  • Tri-City A's players   (1969)
  • Tri-City Atoms players   (1961, 1965–1968)
  • Tri-City Angels players   (1963–1964)
  • Tri-City Braves players   (1950–1960, 1962)
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References
  1. "Tri-City stadium for sale". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 18, 1968. p. 24.
  2. "Tri-City's leader taken by death". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. July 27, 1968. p. 8.
  3. Morrow, Jeff (March 22, 2013). "Charlie Petersen, Tri-Cities' first professional baseball manager, still kicking at 100". Tri-City Herald. Pasco, Washington. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  4. ballparkreviews.com – Bomber Bowl – Richland, WA – accessed 2011-10-19
  5. "Bretts purchase Tri-Cities team". Spokane Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. February 19, 1986. p. C2.
  6. Stalwick, Howie (June 16, 1987). "Indians open season tonight". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B1.
  7. "Trebelhorn to manage Tri-Cities team". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Idaho-Washington. November 24, 1994. p. 2D.
  8. "Portland stadium name changed". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. July 28, 2000. p. 5D.
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