Eureka Oilers

The Eureka Oilers were a minor league baseball team based in Eureka, Kansas. In 1924, the Oilers played the season as members of the Class D level Southwestern League before folding. In 1926, Eureka returned to the Southwestern League for a partial season when the Ponca City Poncans team relocated to Eureka during the season. Eureka hosted home minor league games at Fairgrounds Park.

Eureka Oilers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1924, 1926)
LeagueSouthwestern League (1924, 1926)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (0)None
Team data
NameEureka Oilers (1924, 1926)
BallparkFairgrounds Park (1924, 1926)

History

Minor league baseball began in Eureka, Kansas in the 1924 season, when the Eureka "Oilers" became members of the eight-team, Class D level Southwestern League.[1][2] The Arkansas City Osages, Coffeyville Refiners, Emporia Traders, Enid Harvesters, Independence Producers, Newton Railroaders and Salina Millers teams joined the Oilers in beginning league play on May 1, 1924 [3][4]

The "Oilers" nickname corresponds to local history and industry. In 1916, the first of numerous crude oil strikes was made in the area leading to an oil production industry in the region.[5][6]

At their home opener in 1924, Eureka drew 1,250 fans, hosting the game at the Fairgrounds Park.[7]

In their first season of league play, Eureka placed fifth in the regular season standings. The Oilers finished the Southwestern League season with an overall record of 51–79 in the regular season, placing fifth overall standings. Managed by Ross Crawford and Frank Sherman, the Oilers finished 26.5 games behind the first place Newton Railroaders. The league completed the season with six teams, after the Coffeyville and Independence franchises folded during the season.[1] In the Southwestern League Finals, the Arkansas City Osages defeated Newton in seven games for the league championship.[8][1][9]

The Eureka Oilers did not return to play in the 1925 Southwestern League, as the league continued play as a six–team Class D level league.[10][1]

In 1926, the Southwestern League member Ponca City Poncans relocated to Eureka during the final season of the six-team league.[11] On June 22, 1926, Ponca City relocated to Eureka with an 11–33 record. After compiling an improved 38–36 record while based in Eureka, the Ponca City / Eureka team ended the season with a 49–69 overall record placing fifth in the Southwestern League regular season standings. The team finished 27.5 games behind the first place Salina Millers, who eventually won the league playoff against the Enid Boosters. Ponca City/Eureka was managed by Tiny Simmons, Cal Stewart and Bob Brown.[12][13][1][11]

The Southwestern League permanently folded after the conclusion of the 1926 season.[1] Eureka has not hosted another minor league team.[14]

The ballparks

The Eureka Oilers hosted home minor league home games at Fairgrounds Park. Fairgrounds Park was at the old fairgrounds, with a new grandstand built for the Oilers at ballpark, located in Eureka. The team hosted "ladies day" on Saturdays and played scheduled home games on Sundays.[7][15] Today, the Greenwood County Fair is still held annually at the Fairgrounds in Eureka.[16][17]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1924, 19262Eureka OilersClass DSouthwestern LeagueFairgrounds Park

Season–by–season
Year Record Manager(s) Finish Playoffs/Notes
192451–75Ross Crawford / Frank Sherman5thDid not qualify
192649–69Tiny Simmons / Cal Stewart
Bob Brown		5thPonca City (11-33) moved to Eureka June 22
Did not qualify

[1]

Notable alumni

See also

Eureka Oilers players

References
  1. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "1924 Eureka Oilers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1924 Southwestern League (SL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1924 Southwestern League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "Eureka, Kansas – Legends of Kansas".
  6. "A Century of Greenwood County, KS History - Eureka Herald". www.ksgenweb.org.
  7. "Fair Grounds Park in Eureka, KS minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1924 Eureka Oilers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "Major Place For Minors State Has Storied Past In Professional Baseball". Oklahoman.com. July 4, 1993.
  10. "1925 Southwestern League (SL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1926 Ponca City Poncans/Eureka Oilers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1926 Ponca City Poncans/Eureka Oilers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1926 Southwestern League (SL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "Eureka, Kansas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "Fairgrounds in Eureka, Kansas - Kansas Memory - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org.
  16. "Greenwood County Fair - Eureka, Kansas". www.lasr.net.
  17. "Greenwood County Fair". www.greenwood.k-state.edu.
  18. Eberle, Mark E. (April 21, 2017). Kansas Baseball, 1858–1941. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700624409 – via Google Books p.106.
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