Wichita Aviators (baseball)

The Wichita Aviators were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas from 1905-1933. Wichita was a member of the Western Association (1905-1908) and Western League (1909-1933).

Wichita Aviators
(1905-1933)
Wichita, Kansas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class-A (1909-1933)
  • Class-C (1905-1908)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 4 (1905, 1907, 1921, 1930)
Team data
Previous names
Ballpark
  • Island Park (1918-1933)
  • Unknown (1905-1917)
The 1907 Wichita Jobbers


History

The club played mostly in the Western League. However, the club began play as the Wichita Jobbers, a member of the Western Association. The Jobbers played in the Western Association from 1905-1908, winning the league championship in 1905 and 1907. The 1907 Jobbers were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.[1] The Jobbers then moved to the Western League, where they played until midway through their 1911 season. That year, the team relocated to Pueblo, Colorado, where they finished out the year as the Pueblo Indians.

However, a team representing Wichita was fielded in 1912 to compete in the Western League. The Wichita Witches played continuously in the league until 1916. The team finished their 1916 season in Colorado Springs, Colorado as the Colorado Springs Millionaires, before returning to Wichita in 1917. The team was again renamed the Jobbers from 1918-1920, before retaking the Witches moniker as they won their third league title, the first in the Western League, in 1921. From 1923-1926, the club was renamed the Wichita Izzies, and they took the name the Wichita Larks from 1927-1929.

In 1919, Jobbers outfielder Joe Wilhoit posted the longest hitting streak in professional baseball history. The 33-year-old, who had spent much of the previous three seasons in the majors, hit safely in 69 consecutive games. Wilhoit's streak lasted from June 14 to August 19, during which he was 153-for-297 for a .515 batting average. He would lead the Western League with a .422 batting average and 211 hits before finishing the season (and his big league career) with the Boston Red Sox.

Multiple Izzies players had or would go on to have major league experience.

1923: Johnny Butler, Joe Casey, Jocko Conlan, Howie Gregory, Ed Hovlik, Ernie Maun, Hugh McMullen, Paul Musser[2]

1924: Fred Beck, Butler, Archie Campbell, Chuck Corgan, Gregory, Hovlik, McMullen, Musser[3]

1925: Campbell, Chet Chadbourne, Corgan, Fred Graf, Gregory, Raymond Haley, Don Hankins, Hovlik, McMullen, Ray Morehart, Ken Penner, Bill Sweeney[4]

1926: Jack Berly, Fred Brickell, Campbell, Pete Compton, Bill Doran, Gregory, Haley, Sweeney[5]

In 1920, the club was renamed the Wichita Aviators, and from 1930-1931 they became an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1931, the Aviators won their second Western league title, and fourth overall league title. The Aviators affiliation changed in 1932 from the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs.

Former Aviators include Indian Bob Johnson, Woody Jensen, Vern Kennedy, Jack Mealey, and Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan.[6]

In 1933 the Wichita Aviators became the Wichita Oilers. After beginning the year 6-13, the club moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where they became the Muskogee Oilers. Overall the Oilers were 26-95, one of the worst records ever posted in the Western League. The club was just 20-82 after leaving Wichita, and only went 8-57 in the second half. The Oilers did not return in 1934 and Wichita would not have another team until the Wichita Indians began play in 1950.

Season records

(from Jobbers Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Witches Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Larks Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Izzies Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Aviators Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Oilers Baseball Reference Bullpen)

YearRecordFinishManagerNotes
190579-561stWilliam KimmellLeague Champs
190675-653rdWilliam Kimmell / Jack Holland
190798-351stJack HollandLeague Champs
190887-532ndJack Holland
190971-825thJack Holland
191089-784thFrank Isbell
191115-9--Frank IsbellTeam moved to Pueblo (77-66) May 22
191275-897thGeorge Hughes
191365-1018thGeorge Hughes / Charlie Babb / Nick Maddox
191463-1028thNick Maddox / George Graham
191557-807thClyde "Buzzy" Wares / Ham Patterson
191655-84--Jimmy JacksonTeam moved to Colorado Springs (2-10) September 10
191761-878thFrank Isbell / Bobby Wallace / Joe Berger
191841-241stJoe BergerLeague suspended operations July 7
191975-653rdJoe Berger
192092-622ndJoe Berger
1921106-611stJoe BergerLeague Champs
192294-733rdJoe Berger / Howie Gregory
1923100-683rdHowie Gregory
192479-886thHowie Gregory
192580-844thHowie Gregory
192658-1088thHowie Gregory / Pat Haley
192791-632ndDoc Crandall
192894-703rdDoc Crandall / Art Griggs
192977-794thArt Griggs
193089-561stArt GriggsLeague Champs
193192-582ndArt Griggs / Howie GregoryLost League Finals
vs. Des Moines Demons 4 games to 2.
193263-866thJimmy Payton
19336-13--Rube MarquardTeam moved to Muskogee (20-82) on June 6, 1933

References

  1. "Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  2. Roster
  3. Roster
  4. Roster
  5. Roster
  6. Wichita, KS page
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