Duncan Oilers

The Duncan Oilers were a minor league baseball team based in Duncan, Oklahoma. From 1922 to 1924, the Oilers played as members of the Class D level Oklahoma State League, winning two league pennants. Duncan hosted minor league home games at the Duncan Baseball Park.

Duncan Oilers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1922–1924)
LeagueOklahoma State League (1922–1924)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Conference titles (2)
  • 1922
  • 1923
Team data
NameDuncan Oilers (1922–1924)
BallparkDuncan Baseball Park (1922–1924)

History

Minor league baseball began in Duncan, Oklahoma when the 1922 Duncan Oilers began play as members of the six–team, Class D level Oklahoma State League. The Chickasha Chicks, Clinton Bulldogs, El Reno Railroaders, Guthrie and Wilson Drillers teams joined Duncan in beginning league play on May 20, 1922.[1][2]

The Duncan "Oilers" nickname corresponds to local industry. Duncan has a long history of oil production and in the era, Duncan was home to numerous oil related production companies. Specifically, the Rock Island Oil & Refining Company was established in Duncan in 1922, corresponding with the Oilers minor league team beginning play.[3]

In their first season of play, the Duncan Oilers ended the Oklahoma State League season with the best overall regular season record. Duncan then missed qualifying for the league Finals, as the league played a split-season schedule. Duncan ended the 1922 regular season with a record of 67–43, finishing 4.5 games ahead of the second place Clinton Bulldogs.[2] With the league playing a split-season schedule, Duncan did not win either half-season, as Clinton and the Chickasha Chicks captured the two spilt-season titles and met in the Finals, where Chickasha won the championship.[4][5][2]

In their second season of play, the 1923 Duncan Oilers again had the best record in the league, as the Oklahoma State expanded to eight teams. The Oilers ended the 1923 season with a record of 71–53, playing the season under manager Larry McLean.[6] Duncan finished 2.0 games ahead the second place Cushing Refiners in the final standings. With the league again playing a split-season schedule, Duncan won the first-half title and met the Bristow Producers in the Final, where Bristow swept Duncan in four games.[7][2]

In their final season of play, the 1924 Duncan Oilers were in fifth place when the eight-team Oklahoma State League permanently folded following during the season. On July 8, 1924, the league "suspended operations." The Oilers had a 33-37 record when the league folded.[2] Playing under returning manager John Fant, Duncan was 17.5 games behind the first place Pawhuska Huskies when the league folded.[8][9][2]

Duncan next hosted minor league baseball when the 1941 "Duncan Cememters" began play as members of the Class D level Sooner State League.[10][2]

Duncan, Oklahoma. 1920s

The ballpark

The Duncan Oilers hosted home minor league games at the "Duncan Baseball Park."[11]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1922–19243Duncan OilersClass DOklahoma State LeagueDuncan Base Ball Park

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
192267–431stJohn FantDid not qualify
192371–531stLarry McLeanLost in Final
192433–375thJohn FantLeague folded July 8

Notable alumni

See also
  • Duncan Oilers players

References
  1. "1922 Oklahoma State League (OSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  3. "Duncan | the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture".
  4. "1922 Duncan Oilers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1922 Duncan Oilers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1923 Duncan Oilers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1923 Duncan Oilers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "1924 Oklahoma State League (OSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1947 Duncan Cementers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "Duncan Base Ball Park in Duncan, OK minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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