The Grand Forks Chiefs were a minor league baseball team from Grand Forks, North Dakota. They played in the Northern League from 1934 to 1964, with a couple breaks in between.
History Minor league baseball first began in Grand Forks when the 1897 Grand Forks Senators became members of the Red River Valley League. They were followed by the Grand Forks Forkers who played as members of the Northern League (1902-1905) and Northern-Copper Country League (1906). The Grand Forks Flickertails played as members of the Central International League (1912) and Northern League (1913-1915).
The Grand Forks Chiefs began play in 1934, after Grand Forks had hosted the two previous teams in the Northern League. The Chiefs were a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers (1964), Cleveland Indians (1963, Pittsburgh Pirates (1956–1962), Philadelphia Phillies (1951–1952), New York Yankees (1948–1950), Brooklyn Dodgers (1946) and Chicago White Sox (1939–1942).
Ballparks
The Chiefs played at home games at the Grand Forks Municipal Ballpark, which was located at 1124 Demers Avenue. Today, the site is the Central Fire Station.
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame Alumni
Willie Stargell (1960) Inducted, 1988
Notable alumni
Bob Clear (1960-1961) Dave Garcia (1941) Dale Hackbart (1960) Became NFL football player. Ramon Hernandez (1959-1960) Johnny Hopp (1955) MLB All-Star Dick Jamieson (1958) Became NFL player Rex Johnston (1960) Played in NFL Bob Lee MLB All-Star Morrie Martin (1941) Jose Martinez (1961) Gene Michael (1959-1960) Johnny Mostil (1938-1939) 2× AL stolen base leader (1925, 1926) Glen Selbo (1947) Became NBA basketball player Dave Wickersham (1956)
Year-by-year record Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs 1934 59–60 6th Johnny Anderson 1935 46–66 6th Johnny Anderson 1938 49–66 6th Johnny Mostil 1939 49–68 7th Johnny Mostil 1940 79–44 1st Fred Williams League Champs 1941 64–48 2nd Larry Bettencourt Lost in 1st round 1942 31–84 8th Bruno Haas 1946 50–56 6th Glenn Chapman / Rae Blaemire 1947 28–92 8t Claude Jonnard 1948 80–39 1st Gordon Hinkle League Champs 1949 55–70 8th Ed Kearse / Joe McDermott / Wally Berger 1950 52–73 6th Jack Farmer / Cedric Durst 1951 64–62 4th Eddie Murphy League Champs 1952 38–86 8th Eddie Murphy 1953 55–70 6th Carl Hosler / Frank Calo 1954 43–91 8th Virl Minnis / Frank Calo / Frank Major 1955 39–85 8th Johnny Hopp / Joe McDermott / Ray Fletcher 1956 59–65 7th Al Kubski 1957 52–72 8th Al Kubski / Jack Paepke 1958 51–68 7th James Adlam 1959 57–68 6th James Adlam 1960 61–62 5th Bob Clear 1961 60–66 4th Bob Clear Lost in 1st round 1962 72–52 1st Tom Saffell Lost in 1st round 1963 54–64 5th Ray Dabek 1st 17–11* 1964 69–50 2nd James Williams 15–13 (3rd)*
* Baukol Playoffs based on last 30 days of season
References
External links Baseball Reference