Lafayette Drillers

Texas League (1975-1976)

Tombstone

Born: October 1974 – The Amarillo Giants relocate to Lafayette, LA
Moved: January 1977 (Tulsa Drillers)

First Game: April 11, 1975 (W 1-0 vs. Alexandria Aces)
Last Game: September 6, 1976 (W 2-0 vs. Jackson Mets)

Texas League Champions: 1975 (Co-Champions)

Stadium

Clark Field

Dimensions (1976): 309′ – 341′ – 307′¹

Ownership & Affiliations

Owner: Al Stuckeman

Major League Affiliation: San Francisco Giants

Attendance

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Print Download

Source: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.), Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, 2007

The Texas League Baseball Almanac

By David King & Tom Kayser

Since forming in 1888, the Texas League has produced some of the most beloved American baseball players and seen more than its fair share of colorful events. In 1931, Houston pitcher Dizzy Dean pitched and won both ends of a double-header in Fort Worth, throwing a three-hit shutout in the second game. In 1906, center fielder Tris Speaker pitched for Cleburne to beat Temple 10-3. In 1998, Arkansas’ Tyrone Horne hit for the “homer cycle” in San Antonio, finishing to a standing ovation. “The Texas League Baseball Almanac” delivers day by day the record-breaking events, personal triumphs and memorable games that helped to shape baseball in the region. Join authors David King and Tom Kayser on a nine-inning trip down one of minor-league baseball’s most historic institutions, both in season and off.

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Background

The Lafayette Drillers were a Class AA farm club of the San Francisco Giants in southwestern Louisiana during the mid-1970’s.

The Drillers lasted for two seasons and ultimately sent nine players to the Major Leagues. Of this group, the most distinguished was Jack Clark. The 19-year old third baseman hit .303 with 23 homers and 77 RBIs for Lafayette during the summer of 1975. Clark was in San Francisco by the end of the season and would spend 18 seasons in The Show with 4 All-Star selections.

1975 Co-Champions

In their first season in Lafayette, the Drillers won their division and advanced to the Texas League championship series against the Midland Cubs. The Drillers won two on the road to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. But Lafayette dropped both ends of a double-header at home to send the series to a deciding Game 5 on September 8, 1975. The game never started due to steady rains and Texas League president Bobby Bragan declared Lafayette and Midland co-champions of the 1975 season.

Field Manager Denny Sommers was named the 1975 Texas League Manager-of-the-Year. Jack Clark, Gary Alexander and left-handed pitcher Frank Ricceli were named to the league All-Star team. All three later made the Major Leagues.

Move To Tulsa

In 1976 the Drillers finished in last place and the team was beset by front office turnover and poor attendance. The Texas Rangers purchased the moribund franchise in late 1976 and moved the Drillers to Tulsa, Oklahoma in January 1977.

The Tulsa Drillers continue to play in the Texas League to this day and serve as a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time of this update in 2022.