American Association (1978-1981)
Tombstone
Born: 1978 – The New Orleans Pelicans relocate to Springfield, IL
Moved: November 11, 1981 (Louisville Redbirds)
First Game: April 14, 1978 (L 6-5 vs. Indianapolis Indians)
Last Game: September 1, 1981 (L 9-7 @ Omaha Royals)
American Association Champions: 1980
Stadium
Lanphier Park (5,000)11981 Iowa Oaks Progam
Opened: 1928
Dimensions (1981): Left: 320′, Center: 410′, Right: 320′21981 Iowa Oaks Progam
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: A. Ray Smith
Major League Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals
Attendance
Background
The Springfield Redbirds were the top farm club of the St. Louis Cardinals for a four summer stretch at Springfield, Illinois’ Lanphier Park.
Key future Major Leaguers who came through Springfield during this era included Leon Durham (1979-1980), Tom Herr (1978-1980), Terry Kennedy (1978-1979), Donnie Moore (1980-1981) and Ken Oberkfell (1978) among others.
The Redbirds won the 1980 championship of the American Association, with Hal Lanier as field manager.
Goodbye Redbirds, Hello Cardinals
Prior to the Redbirds final season in Springfield in 1981, team owner A. Ray Smith signed a six-year contract with the city of Springfield to lease Lanphier Park for $50,000 per season through 1986. But at the end of that summer, smelling a sweeter deal in Louisville, Kentucky, Smith broke the lease and uprooted his club for the second time in five years. The American Association owners voted 7-1 to allow the move in November 1981. The city of Springfield responded with a lawsuit against Smith and the league in December.
Ultimately, Smith paid a six-figure settlement to the city of Springfield and was allowed to run off to Kentucky. In Louisville, the Redbirds became one of the top minor league attractions of the 1980’s and the first minor league team to attract one million fans in a single season in 1983. Springfield, meanwhile, received a Class A Midwest League farm club – the Springfield Cardinals – in 1982 to replace the departing Redbirds. The Cardinals played from 1982 until 1993.
Springfield Redbirds Shop
Links
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3 Responses
I enjoyed many Redbird games at Lanphier Park. I was hoping to find a source for Redbirds memorabilia at this site. I am looking for hats, baseball cards, scorecards, programs, etc. Please respond to this if you have any leads.
Hi John,
Wondering if you have any Springfield Cardinal memorabilia for sale?
Hello John,
I know it has been a while since you last posted here but I wanted to let you know that the Lucky Horseshoes, the collegiate baseball team that just took over the Sliders, has some redbird merchandise if you are interested. I believe they have hoodies, but I am not sure what else.