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38-512: After the Tulsa Oilers , a Triple-A team, left Tulsa in 1976 due to the continuing deterioration of Oiler Park, followed by the partial collapse of the Oiler Park grandstand during a 1977 exhibition game, Tulsa County 's long-delayed efforts to build a new stadium were accelerated. The new 8,000 seat stadium was completed in 1981 and named Robert B. Sutton Stadium, in honor of its chief benefactor,

76-623: A Major League team – the Pittsburgh Pirates . That affiliation lasted that year only, however. The 1932 Oilers were recognized as number 83 on Minor League Baseball's list of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time . From 1933 to 1942, the Oilers played in the Texas League . In 1936, they won the league championship and the Dixie Series , a postseason interleague championship between

114-476: A baseball stadium, monster truck rallies and concerts were also held there. On December 19, 2008, construction began on ONEOK Field , a new ballpark in downtown Tulsa . The Drillers played their final game in Drillers Stadium on September 7, 2009, and moved to the new ballpark before the 2010 baseball season. The University of Tulsa conducted a formal study in 2009 to consider whether the school might use

152-523: A local oil executive. However, Sutton was convicted in 1982 on obstruction of justice charges, and the ballpark was renamed Tulsa County Stadium. The stadium received the name Drillers Stadium in 1989. The stadium eventually seated 10,997, making it the largest stadium in Double-A baseball. Originally a multi-purpose stadium with an artificial surface playing field, it later acquired a Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT) grass surface. Though it primarily served as

190-646: A record of 16–24, moved to Hutchinson, Kansas , on July 12, where their record was 39–60. 1907 Western Association 1908 Western Association The Leavenworth team folded, and a new team in Enid, Oklahoma , formed and joined the league. 1909 Western Association Topeka and Wichita moved to the Western League . Oklahoma City moved to the Texas League . Hutchinson moved to the Kansas State League . Bartlesville, Oklahoma , and Muskogee, Oklahoma , joined from

228-522: A record of 2–10, and then to Henryetta, Oklahoma on July 22, where they had a record of 11–36. Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 2 for the championship. 1915 Western Association Henryetta folded. Teams from Denison, Texas , and Paris, Texas , joined from the Texas–Oklahoma League . A new team formed in Sherman, Texas , and joined the league. Oklahoma City beat Muskogee 4 games to 3 for

266-521: A team in the Western Association called the Tulsa Producers . ) In 1919, the Oilers joined the Western League , where they played from 1919 until 1929, and in 1932. Their performance during those years can be seen in the following chart. From 1922 to 1924, Oilers star Lyman Lamb hit 68, 71 and 100 doubles, respectively – the latter of which is a minor league record. In 1930, McNulty Park

304-1476: The Missouri Valley League , it existed for 42 years during that half century, suspending operations during both world wars and for one season (1933) during the Great Depression . It was largely a Class C circuit, meaning it was a lower minor league, above only the Class D level. 1888 Western Association - schedule St. Louis disbanded June 20; Sioux City began play July 4 and later disbanded; Minneapolis moved to Davenport August 25 1889 Western Association - schedule 1890 Western Association - schedule Des Moines (31-52) moved to Lincoln August 1. 1893 Western Association The League disbanded June 20. Playoff: Kansas City 4 games, St. Joseph 2. 1894 Western Association 1895 Western Association - schedule Jacksonville moved to Springfield; Omaha moved to Denver July 22; Burlington and Dubuque entered August 30 1896 Western Association - schedule Quincy disbanded July 16; St. Joseph disbanded July 18; Dubuque, Peoria and Rockford disbanded July 25. League disbanded August 1. 1897 Western Association - schedule President: Thomas Hickey 1898 Western Association President: Thomas Hickey Burlington disbanded June 5; Cedar Rapids disbanded June 9; Rock Island-Moline disbanded June 26, causing

342-633: The Missouri Valley League . Teams from Guthrie, Oklahoma , and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma joined from the Southwestern League . A new team in Wichita, Kansas formed and joined the league. 1906 Western Association The teams in Guthrie and Sedalia folded. The St. Joseph, Missouri team moved from the Western League . A new team in Webb City, Missouri formed and joined the league. The St. Joseph team, with

380-653: The Oklahoma–Kansas League . New teams in Guthrie, Oklahoma , and Pittsburg, Kansas formed and joined the league. The Joplin team, with a record of 20–43, moved to El Reno, Oklahoma on July 4, where their record was 16–46. The Webb City team, with a record of 35–39, moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma on July 18, where their record was 29–20. 1910 Western Association The Pittsburg and Springfield teams folded. New teams in Joplin, Missouri , and Tulsa, Oklahoma , formed and joined

418-579: The Pawtucket Red Sox . The Oilers repeated as league champions in 1974, again winning the West Division and then beating the Indianapolis Indians 4 games to 3. (There was no Junior World Series that year.) The following chart lists their performance during their final eight years of existence: Through their many years of existence, the Oilers had had many big names both play for and manage

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456-534: The Southwestern League . The Bartlesville team, with a record of 19–23, moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma on June 8, where their record was 56–59. The Joplin team, with a record of 25–24, moved to Bartlesville on June 16, where their record was 44–63. 1925 Western Association The teams in Bartlesville and Hutchinson folded. Topeka moved to the Southwestern League . A new team in Independence, Kansas , formed and joined

494-640: The Spokane Indians . Oiler outfielder Jim Hicks was named MVP of the PCL . During their final eight years of existence, the Oilers were members of the American Association . They won the league championship twice. In 1973, the Oilers led the West Division, then won the league playoff 4 games to 3 over the Iowa Oaks . The Oilers went on to play in the 1973 Junior World Series , where they lost 4 games to 1 to

532-553: The Texas–Oklahoma League ) beat Chickasha 2 games to none 1922 Western Association Chickasha moved to the Oklahoma State League . Drumright folded. The team from Joplin, Missouri joined from the Western League , and a new team in McAlester, Oklahoma formed and joined. The Pawhuska team folded on August 16, forfeiting the remainder of their games. 1923 Western Association The team from Ardmore, Oklahoma joined from

570-506: The Texas–Oklahoma League . The team in McAlester folded July 19, and the Henryetta team folded July 21. Ardmore beat Okmulgee 4 games to 2 for the championship. 1924 Western Association Ardmore moved to the Oklahoma State League , and Enid moved to the Southwestern League . Teams from Bartlesville, Oklahoma , Hutchinson, Kansas , Muskogee, Oklahoma , and Topeka, Kansas , joined from

608-575: The Tulsa Drillers . The Drillers have been a mainstay of the Texas League ever since; they played at Oiler Park from 1977 to 1980 until Robert B. Sutton Stadium, later Tulsa County Stadium and then Drillers Stadium , opened in 1981. They now play at ONEOK Field . Western Association The Western Association was the name of five different leagues formed in American minor league baseball during

646-538: The Western Association . On July 22, the Tulsa Oilers team disbanded. From 1911 to 1913, the Tulsa Oilers were not involved in organized baseball. However, in 1914 they rejoined the Western Association, leading the league with a 74–49 record under manager Howard Price. Even after such an impressive season, the Oilers disbanded again, and baseball would not be played under that name until 1919. (Until 1917 Tulsa had

684-594: The 1976 season. For one year they were the New Orleans Pelicans , then moved on to Springfield, Illinois , and in 1982 to Louisville, Kentucky , where the team set minor league attendance records and is now called the Louisville Bats . Tulsa was not without baseball for long, however; shortly after the Oilers announced they were leaving town, the Lafayette Drillers of the Texas League moved to Tulsa as

722-630: The 19th and 20th centuries. The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887. It began operations in the 1888 season and lasted through the 1891 season. A separate Western Association was formed in January 1894 with clubs in Iowa , Nebraska , Illinois and Missouri – with a team in faraway Denver, Colorado , added in 1895. This league ceased operations in 1898, but

760-555: The Coffeyville and Independence teams June 14, and all other teams and the league itself on June 19. 1914 Western Association New teams in Fort Smith, Arkansas , Joplin, Missouri / Webb City, Missouri , McAlester, Oklahoma , Muskogee, Oklahoma , Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , and Tulsa, Oklahoma formed and created the new league. 1914 Joplin-Webb City, with a record of 22–46, moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma on July 10, where they had

798-529: The Eastern Division, then lost the championship series to the Seattle Angels , 4 games to 3. The following year, future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn took over as manager; he would ultimately become the winningest manager in Oilers history. After a poor 1967 season, in 1968 the Oilers had one of their best seasons ever, winning the Eastern Division, then winning the PCL championship series 4 games to 1 over

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836-684: The Oilers played in the Oklahoma–Arkansas–Kansas League in 1907. They finished with a 37–60 record, under Hall of Fame manager Jake Beckley . The Oklahoma–Arkansas–Kansas League saw two teams leave, so in 1908 the Oilers played in the Oklahoma–Kansas League , which was just the aforementioned Oklahoma–Arkansas–Kansas League minus a couple teams. They finished with the second best record in the league – 69–55 under managers Harry B. "Deacon" White and Stu McBirney. The league folded after only one year of existence as well. The Tulsa Oilers did not organize in 1909. However, in 1910, they played in

874-475: The Reds until 1954. In 1955, they were a Cleveland Indians affiliate; in 1956, they were again a Cubs affiliate. From 1957 to 1958, they were a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate. For the rest of their existence, they were a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate. In their second year in the Texas League, the Oilers got a new home, Texas League Park. However, it was not well maintained over the years; its dilapidated condition

912-605: The championship. 1916 Western Association Denison beat Tulsa 4 games to 2 for the championship. 1917 Western Association Paris, with a record of 16–12, moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma , on May 10, where they had a record of 41–86. All teams, and the league itself, folded. 1920 Western Association New teams in Chickasha, Oklahoma , Drumright, Oklahoma , Enid, Oklahoma , Fort Smith, Arkansas , Henryetta, Oklahoma , Okmulgee, Oklahoma , Pawhuska, Oklahoma , and Springfield, Missouri were formed. The new American Association

950-414: The deteriorating condition of Oiler Park. Smith had poured significant resources into keeping the park at something approaching Triple-A standards. However, it was obvious that the park was nearing the end of its useful life. When Smith was unable to get commitments for a new park, or at least further public or private funding for badly-needed upgrades to Oiler Park, he moved the team to New Orleans after

988-594: The empty stadium to restore its baseball program , which had been terminated in 1980; but the university concluded that the financial demands of adding a new sport were more than it could accept. In 2011 the stadium was used as a location for a faith-themed baseball film entitled Home Run . Beginning in May 2013, it is the home stadium for the Tulsa Athletics of the National Premier Soccer League . In 2014,

1026-504: The league to disband. 1899 Western Association - schedule President: Thomas Hickey Quincy (3-10) moved to Dubuque May 19. Dubuque disbanded June 13. The league disbanded June 16. 1901 Western Association - schedule Grand Rapids (22-13) moved to Wheeling June 3; Louisville (38-23) moved to Grand Rapids July 2. 1905 Western Association Teams in Joplin, Missouri , Leavenworth, Kansas , Sedalia, Missouri , Springfield, Missouri , and Topeka, Kansas joined from

1064-502: The league. The Muskogee and Tulsa teams both folded on July 22, and the Bartlesville and El Reno teams both folded on July 31. 1911 Western Association The teams in Enid and Guthrie folded. New teams in Coffeyville, Kansas , Fort Smith, Arkansas , Independence, Kansas , Muskogee, Oklahoma , and Tulsa, Oklahoma formed and joined the league. The Joplin and Springfield teams folded May 10,

1102-554: The stadium and the adjacent offices have been demolished leaving nothing of the former stadium remaining. 36°8′22.73″N 95°55′25.20″W  /  36.1396472°N 95.9236667°W  / 36.1396472; -95.9236667 Tulsa Oilers (baseball) The Tulsa Oilers , located in Tulsa, Oklahoma , were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park , which opened on July 11, 1934, and

1140-537: The stadium was renamed Athletics Stadium after further renovations were complete to make the stadium more soccer friendly for the Tulsa Athletics. Notable changes include the demolition of the former first-base side bleachers, in order to lengthen the soccer field's length to 110 yards, as well as the removal of Drillers' signage and a coat of green paint. On April 5, 2016, Proposition 3 of the Tulsa "Vision 2025" initiative

1178-411: The team. Jake Beckley, Gus Weyhing, Deacon White, Gus Mancuso , Marty McManus , Whitey Kurowski , Warren Spahn and Ken Boyer all managed for the team at one point or another. Steve Carlton, Mike Torrez, Ted Simmons , Nelson Briles , Jerry Reuss , Keith Hernandez , Bob Forsch , Dal Maxvill and Mike Easler all played for the team. By the end of the 1976 season, the Oilers were again faced with

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1216-652: The winners of the Southern Association and the Texas League. From 1940 to 1942, they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs . The Texas League was shut down from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II, but when it started up again in 1946, the Oilers again played in the league until 1965. In 1946 and 1947, they were affiliated with the Cubs, but in 1948 they became affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds . They stayed affiliated with

1254-568: Was approved by Tulsa voters, paving the way for the demolition of Athletics Stadium as the new site of the USA BMX "Epicenter" facility. The stadium was to be replaced by a multimillion-dollar indoor BMX arena, but those plans hit a snag in mid-2017 when a disagreement over soft drink "pouring rights" derailed the negotiations and saw the BMX project move to an alternate location on a parcel of city-owned industrial property, northwest of downtown. As of March 2019

1292-523: Was declared unsuitable by the city. The team opted to move Topeka, Kansas for a spell while plans for a replacement were drawn up. In 1930 and 1931, they were known as the Topeka Senators . They returned to Tulsa in 1932, temporarily playing at Fairgrounds Park. Although 1932 was the Oilers' final season in the Western League, it was also the first season in which they were actually affiliated with

1330-427: Was formed. The team with the best record in the first half of the season played against the team with the best record in the second half of the season for the championship. 1920 Enid and Okmulgee tied 3 games to 3 in the championship round. 1921 Western Association Chickasha beat Fort Smith 4 games to 3 for the championship. Springifled beat Independence (of the Southwestern League ) 2 games to 1 Ardmore (of

1368-565: Was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and Sandusky Avenue. In 1905, the Oilers were part of the Missouri Valley League . They finished 44–58 under manager Charley Shafft. The Missouri Valley League folded after 1905, and the Oilers became a charter member of the South Central League. Under managers Frank Smith and Bill Rupp, the Oilers finished the 1906 season with a 45–42 record. The League folded, and

1406-568: Was obvious as early as the 1950s. In 1961, the team was nearly moved to Albuquerque partly due to the stadium's poor state of repair, but A. Ray Smith bought out the previous owner and heavily renovated the park, renaming it Oiler Park . The following shows the Oilers' performance during their years in the Texas League: In 1966, the Oilers moved up to AAA baseball as part of the Pacific Coast League . In their first year, they won

1444-601: Was revived again for the following season. It was renamed the Central League in 1900. In 1901, two leagues were called the Western Association. One had eight teams in Ohio , Michigan , Kentucky , West Virginia , and Indiana ; it folded after only one year. The other loop, confusingly located in the same geographic area, was the former Interstate League ; it reverted to its original identity in 1902. The most long-lived Western Association played between 1905 and 1954. Originally

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