Evansville Braves

Evansville Braves
Evansville Braves
1938–1957; (1938–1942, 1946–1957); Evansville, Indiana ;
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Class B (1938–1942, 1946–1957)
Previous leagues	Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (Three-I League) (1938–1942, 1946–1957)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Milwaukee Braves (1953–1957); Boston Braves/Boston Bees (1938–1942, 1946–1952);
Minor league titles
League titles	4 1946, 1948, 1956, 1957
Team data
Previous names	Braves (1941–1942; 1946–1957); Bees (1938–1940)
Previous parks	Bosse Field (1938–1942, 1946–1957)

The Evansville Braves was the primary nickname of a minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana 1938–1942 and 1946–1957, playing in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Bob Uecker and Warren Spahn played for Evansville during this era.

History

The Evansville Bees and Braves played the Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (the "Three-I" League) from 1938 to 1957, interrupted when the league ceased play during World War II. They played home games at Bosse Field, which is currently the third oldest baseball stadium in regular use in the United States.

Evansville of the Three-I League had a single affiliation with the Major League Braves franchise, playing as affiliates of the Boston Bees (1938–1940), Boston Braves (1941–1942 and 1946–1952) and the Milwaukee Braves (1953–1957). The Evansville Bees (1938–1940) took their name when the Boston Braves changed their nickname to the Bees for a few seasons.

The team ceased after the 1957 season and Evansville was without baseball until the Evansville White Sox began play in the Class AA Southern League in 1966.^[1] Today, Evansville and Bosse Field are home to the Frontier League's Evansville Otters.^[2]

The ballpark

The franchise played at Bosse Field. Bosse Field was built in 1915 and had a capacity of 7,200 during the Braves era.^[3] Historic Bosse Field is still in use today, serving as the home park for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.^[2] Next to Fenway Park (1912) and Wrigley Field (1914), Memorial Stadium in the third oldest professional park in existence, opening on June 17, 1915. Bosse Field is located at 1701 Main Street & Morgan Street, Evansville, Indiana.^[4]

Championships

The franchise won four Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League Championships: 1946, 1948, 1956 and 1957.

Major League Affiliations

1938–1942; 1946–1952, Boston Braves/Bees
1953–1957, Milwaukee Braves

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Warren Spahn (1941) Inducted, 1973
Bob Uecker (1957) Ford C. Frick Award, 2003

Notable alumni

Claud Raymond (1957) MLB All-Star
Lee Maye (1955-1956)
Jim Frey (1951-1952)
Del Crandall (1949) MLB All-Star
Dick Donovan (1948) MLB All-Star
Chuck Tanner (1946) Manager: 1979 World Series Champion - Pittsburgh Pirates

Year-by-year record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1946	68-51	3rd	Bob Coleman	League Champs
1947	70-55	5th	Bob Coleman	NA
1948	67-54	3rd	Bob Coleman	League Champs
1949	74-51	1st	Bob Coleman	Lost League Finals
1950	56-70	6th	Ernie White	NA
1951	69-60	2nd	Bob Coleman	Lost in 1st round
1952	74-47	1st	Bob Coleman	Lost League Finals
1953	70-59	3rd	Bob Coleman	Lost League Finals
1954	81-54	1st	Bob Coleman	Lost in 1st round
1955	60-66	5th	Bob Coleman	NA
1956	84-36	1st	Bob Coleman	League Champs
1957	81-49	1st	Bob Coleman	League Champs

References

^ "Evansville, Indiana Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
^ ^a ^b "Evansville Otters – Frontier League".
^ "Bosse Field Minor League History | Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2016-04-06.
^ "EvansvilleOtters". July 5, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05.

[1] "Evansville, Indiana Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.

[auto-2] "Evansville Otters – Frontier League".

[3] "Bosse Field Minor League History | Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2016-04-06.

[4] "EvansvilleOtters". July 5, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05.

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