Author: Drew Crossley

1975 Hawaiians Program from the World Football League

The Hawaiians

May 24, 2022

The Hawaiians pro football team was the first North American major pro sports franchise based outside the continental United States and Canada. The team was part of the rebel World Football League (1974-1975), formed to challenge the NFL in the mid-1970’s. Thanks to solid ownership and an alluring locale, the Hawaiians persuaded nearly a dozen NFL veterans to jump to the WFL, including All-Pros John Gilliam, Calvin Hill and Ted Kwalick. But only Hill would ever suit up for the team.

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1971 Cocoa Astros baseball program from the Florida State League

Cocoa Astros (1965-1972)

May 22, 2022

The Cocoa Astros were a Brevard County, Florida farm club of the National League’s Houston Astros from 1965 through 1972. Cocoa Stadium also played host to Houston’s spring training operations from 1964 until 1984. Cocoa produced several top stars of the 1970’s including Don Wilson, Bob Watson, Cesar Cedeno and J.R Richard.

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1973 Visalia Mets baseball program from the California League

Visalia Mets

May 21, 2022

The Visalia Mets were a Class A farm club of the National League’s New York Mets for eight summers between 1968 and 1975. The Mets’ arrival in 1968 marked the return of professional baseball to Visalia’s Recreation Park for the first time in five seasons, following the departure of the Visalia White Sox at the end of the 1962 season. In their finest season as a Mets’ affiliate, Visalia the 1971 California League championship, sweeping the Fresno Giants in two games.

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Stockton Mariners

May 19, 2022

The Stockton Mariners were a One-Year Wonder that played in Minor League Baseball’s Class A California League during the summer of 1978. During a postseason franchise and affiliation shuffle, the Stockton club changed hands and went back to the city’s traditional “Stockton Ports” identity prior to the 1979 California League season.

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1982 Butte Copper Kings baseball program from the Pioneer League

Butte Copper Kings

May 15, 2022

The Butte Copper Kings were a Montana-based minor league baseball entry in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Founded in 1978, the Copper Kings endured for nearly a quarter of a century despite a revolving door of owners and Major League working agreements. Notable Copper Kings included Cecil Fielder, Julio Franco, Francisco Rodriguez & Omar Vizquel.

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