The Tri-City Braves were a member of the WIL from 1950 through 1954. In 1955 Tri-City joined the Northwest League as a charted member. The Tri-City Braves, while serving as an affiliate of various major league clubs retained the Braves name through 1960. Upon signing on with the Baltimore Orioles in 1961, the club adopted a unique name, the Atoms. The club reverted to Braves for 1962 season, which proved to be a successful year as team finished the regular season in first place. The Braves faced the Wenatchee Chiefs in the league championship, but lost the 2–4. In 1963 the team changed its name to Angels, representative of its parent club.
The franchise again changed affiliates, signing on with the Baltimore Orioles resulting in a name change to Atoms. Led by manager Cal Ripken Sr. the Atoms posted an 81–58 record in the clubs final season of full season baseball. The Atoms swept the Lewiston Broncs in the championship series 3–0 to claim their first Northwest League crown.
In 1966 the Northwest League shifted to a short-season format. Tri-City switched parent clubs and signed a player development contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Atoms had an explosive season and finished the regular season at 57–27. The Atoms finished at the top of the league standings to be named league champion. Two seasons later the Atoms compiled a league best record en route to a third Northwest League title. The Dodgers ended their relationship with Tri-City following the 1968 season and moved their farm system to Medford, Oregon with the Rouge Valley club.
In 1969 Tri-City partnered with the Oakland Athletics, The affiliation would end after only one season as Oakland shifted their short-season. Tri-City inked a player development contract with the San Diego Padres, who were one year removed from their inaugural season as an expansion member of the National League.
In 1974, the Ports were an independent team and went 27–57 in front of 21,611 fans. The team was managed by owner Carl W. Thompson, Sr. before folding.
The Tri-Cities were without baseball until 1983, when the Tri-Cities Triplets relocated from Walla Walla. The Triplets were affiliated with the Texas Rangers for two seasons. The Rangers ended their relationship with the Triplets and the club played two season as an independent team. Following the 1986 season the Triplets relocated to Boise, Idaho and became the Boise Hawks.[1]
Professional baseball returned to the Tri-Cities in 2001 with relocation of the Portland Rockies, who were forced to move as the territory was awarded to a AAA level franchise. Originally the team planned to keep the Rockies name. Ultimately the club selected a unique moniker, the Dust Devils.
Ballpark
Tri-City teams played home games at Sanders-Jacobs Field in Kennewick,[2] The ballpark was opened in 1950 with a seating capacity of 5,000 and a northeast alignment. The field dimensions were 340 feet from home plate down both the right and left field lines and 400 feet to dead center. Originally the stadium was named Sanders Field for Harry Sanders, a Connell farmer. It was later named Sanders-Jacobs Field to honor Tom Jacobs, a former manager and the general manager of the Atoms. The stadium was demolished in 1975.
^Stalwick, Howie (June 16, 1987). "Indians open season tonight". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. B1.
^"Tri-City stadium for sale". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 18, 1968. p. 24.
External links
Baseball Reference – Tri-Cities teams
March 04, 2023
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For the team that played in the Alabama Tennessee League in 1921 see Tri Cities Triplets Alabama Tennessee League The Tri City Atoms were a minor league baseball team located in Kennewick Washington The Tri Cities in southeastern Washington which include Kennewick Richland and Pasco fielded a number of minor league teams in the Northwest League and its predecessor the Western International League from 1955 to 1974 Tri City Atoms1950 1974Kennewick WashingtonMinor league affiliationsClassClass A Short Season 1966 1974 Previous classesClass A 1963 1965 Class B 1955 1962 Class A 1952 1954 Class B 1950 1951 LeagueNorthwest League 1955 1974 Previous leaguesWestern International League 1950 1954 Major league affiliationsPrevious teamsSan Diego Padres 1970 1972 Oakland Athletics 1969 Los Angeles Dodgers 1966 1968 Baltimore Orioles 1965 Los Angeles Angels 1963 1964 Baltimore Orioles 1960 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates 1958 Philadelphia Phillies 1952 St Louis Cardinals 1951 Minor league titlesLeague titles 4 1965196619681971Team dataPrevious namesTri City Ports 1974 Tri City Triplets 1973 Tri City Padres 1970 1972 Tri City A s 1969 Tri City Atoms 1965 1968 Tri City Angels 1963 1964 Tri City Braves 1962 Tri City Atoms 1961 Tri City Braves 1950 1960 BallparkSanders Jacobs Field Contents 1 History 2 Ballpark 3 Notable players 4 Season by season record 5 Former players 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditThe Tri City Braves were a member of the WIL from 1950 through 1954 In 1955 Tri City joined the Northwest League as a charted member The Tri City Braves while serving as an affiliate of various major league clubs retained the Braves name through 1960 Upon signing on with the Baltimore Orioles in 1961 the club adopted a unique name the Atoms The club reverted to Braves for 1962 season which proved to be a successful year as team finished the regular season in first place The Braves faced the Wenatchee Chiefs in the league championship but lost the 2 4 In 1963 the team changed its name to Angels representative of its parent club The franchise again changed affiliates signing on with the Baltimore Orioles resulting in a name change to Atoms Led by manager Cal Ripken Sr the Atoms posted an 81 58 record in the clubs final season of full season baseball The Atoms swept the Lewiston Broncs in the championship series 3 0 to claim their first Northwest League crown In 1966 the Northwest League shifted to a short season format Tri City switched parent clubs and signed a player development contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers The Atoms had an explosive season and finished the regular season at 57 27 The Atoms finished at the top of the league standings to be named league champion Two seasons later the Atoms compiled a league best record en route to a third Northwest League title The Dodgers ended their relationship with Tri City following the 1968 season and moved their farm system to Medford Oregon with the Rouge Valley club In 1969 Tri City partnered with the Oakland Athletics The affiliation would end after only one season as Oakland shifted their short season Tri City inked a player development contract with the San Diego Padres who were one year removed from their inaugural season as an expansion member of the National League In 1974 the Ports were an independent team and went 27 57 in front of 21 611 fans The team was managed by owner Carl W Thompson Sr before folding The Tri Cities were without baseball until 1983 when the Tri Cities Triplets relocated from Walla Walla The Triplets were affiliated with the Texas Rangers for two seasons The Rangers ended their relationship with the Triplets and the club played two season as an independent team Following the 1986 season the Triplets relocated to Boise Idaho and became the Boise Hawks 1 Professional baseball returned to the Tri Cities in 2001 with relocation of the Portland Rockies who were forced to move as the territory was awarded to a AAA level franchise Originally the team planned to keep the Rockies name Ultimately the club selected a unique moniker the Dust Devils Ballpark EditTri City teams played home games at Sanders Jacobs Field in Kennewick 2 The ballpark was opened in 1950 with a seating capacity of 5 000 and a northeast alignment The field dimensions were 340 feet from home plate down both the right and left field lines and 400 feet to dead center Originally the stadium was named Sanders Field for Harry Sanders a Connell farmer It was later named Sanders Jacobs Field to honor Tom Jacobs a former manager and the general manager of the Atoms The stadium was demolished in 1975 Notable players EditNotable players with the Atoms included Doyle Alexander Ron Cey Joe Ferguson and Ted Sizemore the National League s Rookie of the Year in 1969 Season by season record EditSeason PDC Division Finish Wins Losses Win Post season Manager AttendanceTri City Braves1955 6th 66 63 512 Don Pries 49 2961956 6th 59 72 450 Don Pries 78 7611957 6th 57 79 419 Don Pries 54 7611958 PIT 5th 62 73 459 Ray Hathaway 45 2831959 6th 60 80 429 Daniel Holden 46 7511960 BAL 2nd 81 60 574 Chester McDowell 80 063Tri City Atoms1961 BAL 6th 49 90 353 Chester McDowell 37 817Tri City Braves1962 LAA 1st 78 62 557 Lost to Wenatchee Chiefs in championship series 2 4 Tommy Heath 68 399Tri City Angels1963 LAA 4th 65 75 464 Tommy Heath 60 1231964 LAA 5th 66 74 471 Tommy Heath 51 220Tri City Atoms1965 BAL 1st 81 58 583 Defeated Lewiston in championship series 3 0 Cal Ripken 42 856Tri City Atoms1966 LAD 1st 57 27 679 NWL Champions by virtue of record Duke Snider 29 4021967 LAD 3rd 37 47 440 Don LeJohn 22 4211968 LAD 1st 45 30 600 NWL Champions by virtue of record Don LeJohn 19 356Tri City A s1969 OAK 2nd 41 38 519 Billy Herman 30 320Tri City Padres1970 SDP North 4th 38 42 475 Cliff Ditto 30 3201971 SDP North 1st 50 30 625 NWL Champions by virtue of record Cliff Ditto 32 6481972 SDP South 2nd 38 42 475 Cliff Ditto 36 919Tri City Triplets1973 South 2nd 42 38 525 Mike Cloutier 20 791Tri City Ports1974 East 4th 27 57 321 Carl Thompson 21 611Division winner League championsFormer players EditTri City Padres players 1970 1972 Tri City A s players 1969 Tri City Atoms players 1961 1965 1968 Tri City Angels players 1963 1964 Tri City Braves players 1950 1960 1962 References Edit Stalwick Howie June 16 1987 Indians open season tonight Spokesman Review Spokane Washington p B1 Tri City stadium for sale Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press October 18 1968 p 24 External links EditBaseball Reference Tri Cities teams Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tri City Atoms amp oldid 1134208634, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
