Category: American Association 1902-1997

1983 Omaha Royals baseball program from the American Association

Omaha Royals / Omaha Golden Spikes

March 23, 2018

Omaha, Nebraska has hosted the top farm club of the Kansas City Royals since the Major League club’s inception in 1969. Initially known as the Omaha Royals, the Class AAA club won four league championships of the American Association, including back-to-back titles in their first two seasons in 1969 and 1970. The Royals survived the closure of the American Association, joining the Pacific Coast League in 1998. From 1999 until 2001, the team was briefly known as the “Golden Spikes” before returning to the Royals nickname. In 2011, the club re-branded as the Omaha Storm Chasers while simultaneously moving into the new $36M Werner Park.

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1968 Oklahoma City 89ers Baseball Program from the Pacific Coast League

Oklahoma City 89ers

December 22, 2017

The “89ers” (1962-1997) is the best known appellation of Oklahoma City’s long-running Class AAA minor league baseball team. The team’s name derives from the Land Rush of 1889, the same frenzied appropriation and settlement of Native American lands that inspired the University of Oklahoma’s “Sooners” nickname. Following the 1997 season, the 89ers changed leagues, stadiums and names all at once. The franchise became the Oklahoma RedHawks in 1998 and, after another re-brand in 2015, plays on today as the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

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1973 Wichita Aeros program from the American Association

Wichita Aeros

June 8, 2016

The Aeros were Wichita, Kansas’ Class AAA baseball club from 1970 through 1984.  For majority of their run, the Aeros were the top farm club of the Chicago Cubs (1972-1980). Future Major League stars Buddy Bell, Eric Davis, John Franco, Bruce Sutter and Lee Smith all spent time with the Aeros on their way up to the Bigs.

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1982 Evansville Triplets baseball program from the American Association

Evansville Triplets

October 3, 2015

American Association (1970-1984) Born: 1970 – American Association expansion franchise Moved: 1985 (Nashville Sounds) First Game: April 17, 1970 (L 3-0 @ Omaha Royals) Last

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1978 Springfield Redbirds baseball program from the American Association

Springfield Redbirds

October 12, 2014

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.

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