Houston Buffaloes

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The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that played in the Texas League from 1907-58 (excluding 1943-45, when the league suspended operations during World War II) and in the American Association from 1959-61.

From 1921-58, the Buffaloes were an important farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals at the Class A, A1 and AA levels. During that period, star players such as Dizzy Dean, Harry Brecheen and Howie Pollet prepped in Houston on their way to the major leagues. The Buffaloes' most notable period came between 1939-41, when, as a Cardinal farm laden with talent, they won three straight Texas League pennants, winning 97, 105 and 103 regular-season games in the process.

In 1959, the Buffs severed ties with the Cardinals to move up to the AAA level. At the same time, Houston was selected as one of the eight members of a planned "third major league," the Continental League. However, in 1960 the city was granted an expansion franchise in the National League, to begin play in 1962. The Buffs played one last minor league season as the top farm team of the Chicago Cubs in 1961 before being succeeded by the city's NL club, the Colt .45s (known since 1965 as the Houston Astros).