Wichita Braves
Encyclopedia
The Wichita Braves were a Class AAA minor league baseball
franchise based in Wichita, Kansas
, that played in the American Association
during the 1956
-57
-58
seasons as a top affiliate of the then-dominant Milwaukee Braves
of the National League
.
In effect, the Wichita Braves were the successor of the Milwaukee Brewers
, the Braves' predecessors in the Beer City
. When the major-league Braves shifted from Boston to Milwaukee in March of 1953
, they displaced their highly successful AAA affiliate, the Brewers. With Toledo, Ohio
, without baseball (the original Toledo Mud Hens
had pulled up stakes for Charleston, West Virginia
, on June 23, 1952
), the Brewers moved to Toledo and played three seasons there. But attendance fell by 50 percent — from 344,000 to 156,000 — during those three years, and the Braves moved the club to Wichita for the 1956 season. They displaced a Class A Western League
franchise and affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
— ironically called the Wichita Indians.
While the parent Milwaukee club was setting attendance marks and winning two NL pennants in three years (missing the 1956 flag by only a single game), the Toledo-Wichita minor league transfer was a flop. Attendance for the Wichita Braves fell by another 50 percent over Toledo's gate, to 101,000, for 1956, as the team finished below .500. It climbed to 145,000 fans for a pennant-winning Wichita team in '57, led by legendary minor league manager
Ben Geraghty
. But when the W-Braves fell to second place the following year, attendance dropped to 1956 levels. The Braves then moved their AAA affiliation to the Louisville Colonels
, and the Wichita franchise transferred to Fort Worth, Texas
, for 1959
as the American Association reorganized.
Professional baseball returned to Wichita when the Wichita Aeros
joined the American Association as an expansion franchise in 1970
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
franchise based in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, that played in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
during the 1956
1956 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers ; Don Larsen, MVP*All-Star Game, July 10 at Griffith Stadium: National League, 7-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cienfuegos *College World Series: Minnesota...
-57
1957 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Milwaukee Braves over New York Yankees ; Lew Burdette, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Busch Stadium: American League, 6-5-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: California...
-58
1958 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Milwaukee Braves ; Bob Turley, MVP*All-Star Game, July 8 at Memorial Stadium: American League, 4-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: USC...
seasons as a top affiliate of the then-dominant Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
.
In effect, the Wichita Braves were the successor of the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
, the Braves' predecessors in the Beer City
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. When the major-league Braves shifted from Boston to Milwaukee in March of 1953
1953 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 14 at Crosley Field: National League, 5-1-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce *College World Series: Michigan...
, they displaced their highly successful AAA affiliate, the Brewers. With Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, without baseball (the original Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
had pulled up stakes for Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, on June 23, 1952
1952 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Shibe Park: National League, 3-2 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: La Habana *College World Series: Holy Cross...
), the Brewers moved to Toledo and played three seasons there. But attendance fell by 50 percent — from 344,000 to 156,000 — during those three years, and the Braves moved the club to Wichita for the 1956 season. They displaced a Class A Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
franchise and affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
— ironically called the Wichita Indians.
While the parent Milwaukee club was setting attendance marks and winning two NL pennants in three years (missing the 1956 flag by only a single game), the Toledo-Wichita minor league transfer was a flop. Attendance for the Wichita Braves fell by another 50 percent over Toledo's gate, to 101,000, for 1956, as the team finished below .500. It climbed to 145,000 fans for a pennant-winning Wichita team in '57, led by legendary minor league manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Ben Geraghty
Ben Geraghty
Benjamin Raymond Geraghty was an American infielder in Major League Baseball and one of the most successful and respected minor league managers of the 1950s....
. But when the W-Braves fell to second place the following year, attendance dropped to 1956 levels. The Braves then moved their AAA affiliation to the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels (minor league baseball team)
The Louisville Colonels was the name of several minor league baseball teams that played in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 20th century. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels.-Twentieth century minor league teams:...
, and the Wichita franchise transferred to Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, for 1959
1959 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox ; Larry Sherry, MVP*All-Star Game , July 7 at Forbes Field: National League, 5-4*All-Star Game , August 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: American League, 5-3...
as the American Association reorganized.
Professional baseball returned to Wichita when the Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
joined the American Association as an expansion franchise in 1970
1970 in baseball
-Major Leagues:*World Series MVP: Brooks Robinson*All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 ; Carl Yastrzemski, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Navegantes del Magallanes *College World Series: USC...
.