El Reno Railroaders

The El Reno Railroaders was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in El Reno, Oklahoma between 1904 and 1923. The El Reno minor league teams played as members of the Southwestern League in 1904, Oklahoma State League in 1908, Western Association in 1909 to 1910 and Oklahoma State League 1922 to 1923. El Reno teams hosted minor league home games at Adams Park.

El Reno Railroaders
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1904, 1908)
Class C (1909–1910)
Class D (1922–1923)
LeagueSouthwestern League (1904)
Oklahoma State League (1908)
Western Association (1909–1910)
Oklahoma State League (1922–1923)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
NameEl Reno Indians (1904, 1908)
El Reno Packers (1909–1910)
El Reno Railroaders (1922–1923)
BallparkAdams Park (1904, 1908–1910, 1922–1923)

History

Minor league baseball play began in El Reno, Oklahoma with the 1904 El Reno Indians who played briefly as members of the Southwestern League. On July 29, 1904, the Chickasha Indians franchise moved to El Reno and the franchise quickly folded after playing one game based in El Reno.[1]

In 1908, the El Reno Indians became members of the Class D level Oklahoma State League. The Indians had a 4–5 record replacing the Hennessey Merry Widows, who had folded on May 19, 1908. The league began play on May 3, 1908, and folded on June 19, 1908.[2][3][1]

El Reno gained a team in 1909 when the Joplin Miners relocated during the season to become the El Reno Packers. On July 4, 1909, Joplin moved to El Reno with a record 20-43 playing in the Class C level Western Association. The Joplin/El Reno team ended the 1909 season in last place with a record of 36–89. The team placed eighth under managers Thomas Hayden, Bailey Vinson and Jack McConnell, finishing 45.5 games behind the first place Enid Railroaders in the final standings.[4][5][6][1]

In 1910, the El Reno Packers folded during the Western Association season. On July 31, 1910, with a record of 65–43, the El Reno Packers franchise folded. The 1910 player/manager was Art Riggs.[7][8][9][1]

El Reno was without minor league baseball until the 1922 El Reno "Railroaders" rejoined the six–team, Class D level Oklahoma State League. The Railroaders of the Oklahoma State League ended the 1922 season with a record of 53–56. The Railroaders placed fourth in the final standings, finishing 16.0 games behind the first place Duncan Oilers as Virgil Moss served as manager.[10][11][1]

The El Reno use of the "Railroaders" moniker corresponds to local industry. El Reno was home to the Rock Island Depot beginning in 1907. El Reno was also home to a Rock Island Railroad rail yard.[12][13][14]

In their final season of play, the 1923 El Reno Railroaders placed seventh in the eight–team Oklahoma State League. The Railroaders ended the 1923 season with a record of 56–63 playing under manager Harry Burge. El Reno finished 12.0 games behind the first place Duncan Oilers in the final standings.[15][16][1]

El Reno permanently folded following the 1923 season. El Reno, Oklahoma has not hosted another minor league team.[17]

(2018) El Reno Heritage Express Trolley car in front of carbarn. El Reno, Oklahoma

The ballpark

The El Reno minor league teams were noted to have played home minor league games at Adams Park. Today, Adams Park is still in use as a public park with four ballfields. The location is 2001 Park Drive in El Reno, Oklahoma.[18]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
19041El Reno IndiansClass DSouthwestern LeagueAdams Park
19081Oklahoma State League
1909–19102El Reno PackersClass CWestern Association
1922–19232El Reno RailroadersClass DOklahoma State League

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
190425–42NAWilliam Hazlett / Lackey /
Van Ness / Palmer		Chickaska moved to El Reno Aug 1
team folded after 0–1 record
19084–53rdNAreplaced Hennessee May 19
190936–898thThomas Hayden /
Bailey Vinson / Jack McConnell		Joplin moved to El Reno July 4
16–46 in El Reno
191065–43NAArt RiggsTeam folded July 31
192253–564thVirgil MossDid not qualify
192356–637thHarry BurgeDid not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

El Reno Packers players

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. "1908 El Reno minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1908 Oklahoma State League (OSL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1909 Joplin Miners/El Reno Packers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1909 Western Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1909 Joplin Miners/El Reno Packers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1910 Western Association (WA) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1910 El Reno Packers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1910 El Reno Packers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1922 El Reno Railroaders minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1922 El Reno Railroaders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "Heritage Express Trolley". TravelOK.com - Oklahoma's Official Travel & Tourism Site.
  13. "Significant Dates in El Reno's History – Canadian County Historical Society Museum".
  14. "The Spirit of Rock Island Keeps Haunting El Reno". Oklahoman.com. May 6, 1984.
  15. "1923 El Reno Railroaders minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "1923 El Reno Railroaders Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. "El Reno, Oklahoma Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "Adams Park in El Reno, OK minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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