Oklahoma City Dodgers

Oklahoma City Dodgers Founded in 1962 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Current	Triple-A (1962–present)
Minor league affiliations
League	Pacific Coast League (1963–1968, 1998–present)
Conference	American Conference
Division	Northern Division
Previous leagues	American Association (1962, 1969–1997)
Major league affiliations
Current	Los Angeles Dodgers (2015–present)
Previous	Houston Colt .45s/Astros (1962–1972, 2011–2014) Texas Rangers (1983–2010) Philadelphia Phillies (1976–1982) Cleveland Indians (1973–1975)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)	1963 1965 1992 1996
Conference titles (2)	1999 2008
Division titles (13)	1963 1965 1979 1985 1992 1999 2002 2004 2005 2008 2010 2013 2015
Team data
Nickname	Oklahoma City Dodgers
Previous names	Oklahoma City RedHawks (2009–2014) Oklahoma RedHawks (1998–2008) Oklahoma City 89ers (1962–1997)
Colors	Dodger blue, white, red
Mascot	Brix and Brooklyn
Ballpark	Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (1998–present)
Previous parks	All Sports Stadium (1962–1997)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Peter Guber / Los Angeles Dodgers
Manager	Bill Haselman

The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They play at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, located in the Bricktown Entertainment District in downtown Oklahoma City.

The team was originally known as the Oklahoma City 89ers from 1962 to 1997 when the team played at All Sports Stadium (now demolished) at the state fairgrounds. The franchise's original name made reference to the Land Run of 1889, which led to the founding of Oklahoma City. Following the 1997 season, the team became the Oklahoma RedHawks. The city's first professional baseball name change in 35 years corresponded to the team's move to its current home, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, and to the team's return to the Pacific Coast League in 1998.^[1] The team was renamed the RedHawks after the red-tailed hawk, a bird of prey commonly seen throughout Oklahoma. When announcing the new name, team officials noted the raptor's four-foot wingspan and migration patterns, which always return the bird to Oklahoma. A hawk is also part of the state's official song.^[2]

Prior to the 2009 season, the team once again named itself after its home city. The minor renaming was accompanied by new logos and a new color scheme.^[3] The team's name change to Oklahoma City RedHawks was made to honor the Oklahoma City fans who paid for the ballpark through a temporary one-cent sales tax to fund the Metropolitan Area Projects Plan or MAPS.^[4]

The team was bought by the Dodgers after the 2014 season and renamed the Oklahoma City Dodgers.^[5]

History

Oklahoma City has been home to professional baseball for all but a few years since 1904, when the Metropolitans (Mets) started competing there.^[6] Oklahoma City's teams and names have changed numerous times since. Oklahoma City's team became known as the Indians in 1909 before returning to the original Mets name in 1910 and reverting again to the Indians name in 1911. Oklahoma City was home to the Senators in 1912. After one year without a baseball team, Oklahoma City's squad became the Boosters in 1914. The Senators name returned from 1915–16 and the Boosters name came back in 1917. The Oklahoma City Indians name returned in 1918 and the team name stuck until 1957 (the team did not compete during World War II).^[7]

Oklahoma City's current baseball franchise began competing in 1962 as the 89ers following a four-year period without professional baseball in the area.^[8] After the Houston Buffaloes of the American Association were purchased for territorial rights by the Houston Colt .45s (later the Houston Astros) of the National League, the big league club decided to move their minor league club elsewhere. In July 1961, Spec Richardson, who was then general manager of the Houston Buffs, met with Oklahoma City officials and boosters, and agreed to move the team.^[9][10][11] After a unanimous approval from the American Association's board of directors, the current franchise began play in 1962 as the top affiliate of the Houston Colt .45s.^[12] Eventually, the Astros sold the team to Tulsa businessman, P. C. Dixon, in November 1970.^[13] In 1973, a three-year connection with the Cleveland Indians was established. A later affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies lasted from 1976 until 1982.

In 1983, the Texas Rangers became the parent club, a relationship that would continue as the 89ers adopted new colors and uniforms along with the nickname "RedHawks" in 1998.

Oklahoma City RedHawks logo

On September 14, 2010, the Texas Rangers ownership announced that they were moving their Triple-A affiliation to the Round Rock Express (formerly the Astros' Triple-A affiliate).^[14] On September 15 the RedHawks were sold to Mandalay Baseball Properties, which also owns or operates four other minor league baseball teams, and is part of the Mandalay Entertainment conglomerate chaired by entertainment industry executive Peter Guber. On September 20, Mandalay entered into a formal agreement for the RedHawks to become the Astros' new Triple-A affiliate.^[15][16]

Crowds are consistently large at the ballpark and the RedHawks have been very competitive, winning seven division titles in their 16 PCL seasons.

On August 22, 2014, it was revealed that Mandalay would be selling the team and that the team's affiliation would be changing to the Los Angeles Dodgers for 2015.^[17]

On September 17, 2014, the RedHawks announced the sale of the franchise to a partnership between Mandalay Entertainment Chairman and CEO Peter Guber, other current principals of Mandalay Baseball Properties, Jason Sugarman,^[18] and the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a result of the purchase agreement, the RedHawks will be the Triple-A affiliate of the Dodgers beginning in 2015 and be renamed as the Oklahoma City Dodgers.^[19]

Notable performances

Pitchers Dustin Nippert and Luis Mendoza recorded the two no-hitters in team history (since 1998). Nippert recorded the RedHawks' first no-hitter June 29, 2008 at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. They won the seven-inning game, the first of a doubleheader, 2–0. Nippert walked two and struck out five in the first Oklahoma City professional baseball no-hitter since Aug. 13, 1996 (when Rick Helling recorded a perfect game for the 89ers).^[20]

Mendoza pitched the teams first nine-inning no-hitter Aug. 14, 2009 against Salt Lake. He threw 125 pitches, including 74 for strikes. He walked six and struck out six batters in the 5–0 win.^[21]

Six players have hit three home runs in a single game. Adrian Gonzalez became the first to accomplish the offensive feat May 24, 2005 at Albuquerque. He went 3-for-4 with five RBI. All three of Nelson Cruz's hits July 19, 2008 against Memphis were home runs. He went 3-for-5 with five RBI in the game. Nate Gold went 4-for-5 with three homers and four RBI July 28, 2008 at Colorado Springs. Chad Tracy hit three homers June 27, 2010 against Omaha, finishing the game 3-for-3 with five RBI. Mike Hessman went 4-for-4 with three homers June 3, 2012 against Iowa.^[22] Matt Duffy went 3-for-4 with three homers and three RBI June 9, 2014 against Salt Lake.

The 2013 Redhawks made numerous entries into the club's record book. The RedHawks set the team record for most runs scored in a game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and tied the club record for most runs scored in a game overall in a 24–5 win against Colorado Springs Aug. 3, 2013.^[23]

The 2013 squad also compiled the longest overall and home winning streaks in club history. The RedHawks won 12 straight games overall July 26 through Aug. 6. They continued winning at home, stringing together 17 consecutive wins at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark July 26 through Aug. 20.^[24]

Notable former players

Scott Feldman

Ian Kinsler

Notable broadcasters

The team has had multiple broadcasters who advanced to the major league level.

• Curt Gowdy (late 1940s): worked as a broadcaster for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, MLB on NBC and MLB on CBS Radio; Ford C. Frick Award winner
• Bob Murphy (1949–1952): later broadcast for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, MLB on CBS Radio, The Baseball Network; Ford C. Frick Award winner
• Dewayne Staats (1973–1974): later worked for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, The Baseball Network, MLB on ESPN, Tampa Bay Rays, MLB on Fox
• John Rooney (1980–82): later worked for MLB on CBS Radio, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, The Baseball Network, MLB on Fox, MLB on ESPN Radio, St. Louis Cardinals
• Brian Barnhart (1988–94): broadcast for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Joe Simpson (1985): worked for the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, TBS Superstation, MLB on TBS

2015 Roster

Gabe Kapler

Radio

The team broadcasts its games on the radio on 1340 The Game.

See also

Ian Kinsler

• Current and former players (2009—)
• Former players (1998–2008)
• Former players (1962–1997)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oklahoma City RedHawks.

• Official website
• Justin Smoak named 2009 International Senior Athlete of the Year. Cassandra Sedgman, "Paul Hyham IBAF 2009 Umpire of the Year". Baseball Australia, 7 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-07. See: International Baseball Federation#Awards and Texas Rangers award winners and league leaders#Minor-league system.

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