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27-560: The league was represented by eight teams in 1912: the Anadarko Indians , Holdenville Hitters , McAlester Miners , Muskogee Indians , Oklahoma City Senators , Okmulgee Glassblowers , Tulsa Terriers and Guthrie Spas . The league disbanded on July 29, with the Glassblowers in first place and the Guthrie team in last. Another incarnation of the league came about in 1922, represented by

54-623: 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

81-629: A minor league baseball team based in Anadarko, Oklahoma for one shortened season. In 1912, the Indians played briefly as members of the Class D level Oklahoma State League before permanently folding during the season. Jim Thorpe had a tryout stint for the Indians and was released, leading him to resume football. In 1912, Anadarko became new members of the Class D level Oklahoma State League , beginning league play in

108-616: A 1–4 record when the Oklahoma State League officially disbanded on July 1, 1912. The standings when the league folded had Anadarko in third place, playing under managers Roy Ellison, Thomas Reed and Ted Price. The final standings were led by Okmulgee Glassblowers (38–10), followed by the Tulsa Terriers (33–15), Anadarko Indians (24–23), Holdenville Hitters (21–23), McAlester Miners (21–25), McAlester Miners (21–25), Guthrie (15–33) and Oklahoma City Senators (15–33). The Eufaula team

135-588: 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

162-406: A football field subsequently occupied the same general area. Construction on the new facility on that site, known as Anadarko Stadium, began in 1936. The stadium hosted high school football games through 1979, but was abandoned after a brief attempt to convert it to a greyhound racing track. The site today, which is now known as First Street north of Kansas Avenue, contains no traces of the either

189-577: 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

216-613: Is included in the outdoor walkway of the Hall. Jim Thorpe had tried out for the Andarko Indians as a pitcher, but was released. Thorpe subsequently ran into Carlisle Indian Industrial School classmate and Andarko native Albert Exendine on the street in Andarko, Oklahoma. After a talk, Exendine convinced Thorpe to return to Carlisle to attend school and play football. The Oklahoma State League began play on April 30, 1912. On June 21, 1912, both

243-674: The Chickasha Chicks , Clinton Bulldogs , Duncan Oilers , El Reno Railroaders , Wilson Drillers and Guthrie Linters team. The Duncan Oilers finished first in the league regular season standings, with the Chickasha Chicks becoming the league champions, winning the league's playoff series. In 1923, the league was represented by the Cushing Refiners , Bristow Producers , Duncan Oilers, Clinton Bulldogs, El Reno Railroaders, Shawnee Indians , Drumright Boosters / Ponca City Poncans and

270-650: The Guthrie Linters . The Refiners finished in first in the regular season and Bristow won the league championship. The league played its final season in 1924, represented by the Ardmore Bearcats / Pawhuska Huskies , Bristow Producers, Cushing Refiners , Shawnee Indians , Duncan Oilers, Ponca City Poncans , Blackwell Gassers and the McAlester Diggers , also based in Guthrie, Wewoka and Enid . The league disbanded on July 8, with Ardmore/Pawhuska in first and

297-579: 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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324-640: 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

351-538: 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

378-649: 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

405-520: The Anadarko Indians and Oklahoma City Senators teams disbanded. Anadarko had a 24–23 record when the team folded. After the two teams folded the league continued play. A second Oklahoma State League schedule was created with replacement clubs placed in Enid, Oklahoma and Eufaula, Oklahoma . Anadarko was relocated to Enid and Oklahoma City to Eufala. The new schedule started and the new Enid team had compiled

432-529: 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

459-1010: The Guthrie/McAlester/Wewoka/ Enid Harvesters team in last place. 1912 Oklahoma State League schedule League played a split–season schedule. Oklahoma City disbanded June 21. Andarko moved to Enid June 28; Oklahoma City moved to Eufaula June 28; Okmulgee folded June 29 The league officially disbanded July 2. 1922 Oklahoma State League schedule Chickasha became a road team in the second half. Playoff: Chickasha 4 games, Clinton 0. 1923 Oklahoma State League schedule Drumright (11–21) moved to Ponca City June 7. Playoff: Bristow 4 games, Duncan 0. 1924 Oklahoma State League schedule Guthrie (8–18) moved to McAlester May 24; Ardmore (30–13) moved to Pawhuska June 8; McAlester (3–13) moved to Wewoka-Holdenville June 8, Wewoka-Holdenville moved to Enid in late June; Duncan disbanded July 6. The league disbanded July 8. Anadarko Indians The Anadarko Indians were

486-629: 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 the Oilers played in the Oklahoma–Arkansas–Kansas League in 1907. They finished with

513-475: 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

540-414: 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

567-467: The eight–team league. The Guthrie Spas , Holdenville Hitters , McAlester Miners , Muskogee Indians , Oklahoma City Senators , Okmulgee Glassblowers and Tulsa Terriers teams joined Anadarko to begin the 1912 season. The Anadarko use of the "Indians" moniker ties to local history. Today, Anadarko is home to the National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians , where a sculpture of Jim Thorpe

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594-516: The former ballpark or the football stadium. Tulsa Terriers 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 was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and Sandusky Avenue. In 1905,

621-411: 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

648-652: 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

675-578: Was 2–2 and Enid 1–4 under manager Ted Price. Hi Jasper played for the 1912 Anadarko, Indians. Anadarko, Oklahoma has not hosted another minor league team. The name of the 1912 Anadarko home ballpark is not directly referenced, but it was located at what was then known as Sixth Street just north of North Boundary Avenue. By 1916, the street formerly known as North Boundary Avenue had been renamed Kansas Avenue. By 1941, Anadarko's north-south numbered streets had been renumbered, causing Sixth Street to become First Street. Historic aerial photos show that

702-523: 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

729-568: 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

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