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.
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
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 Charleston Senators of 1949-1960 (actually two different franchises) were the last in a spate of minor league baseball clubs to operate under the “Senators” nickname in the West Virginia city during the first half of the 20th century. Previous incarnations of the Sens played from 1910-1916 and again from 1931-1942.
The Iowa Oaks baseball team was a triple-A minor league club that played from 1969 to 1981 at Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines. During the Oaks era, the club was never especially competitive. The Oaks only made the American Association playoffs once in thirteen seasons, advancing to the championship series in 1973, which they lost to the Tulsa Oilers. The former Oaks franchise continues to exist today under the Iowa Cubs name.
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