The Lawton Braves was the final and primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Lawton, Oklahoma from 1947 to 1957. Lawton played as a member of the Texas-Oklahoma League in 1911 and the Sooner State League from 1947 to 1957, winning league championships in 1949, 1954 and 1955. Lawton hosted home games at Koehler Park in 1911 and all others at Memorial Park.

Lawton Braves
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1911, 1947–1957)
LeagueTexas-Oklahoma League (1911)
Sooner State League (1947–1957)
Major league affiliations
TeamNew York Giants (1947–1951)
Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953)
Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957)
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 1949
  • 1954
  • 1955
Wild card berths (4)
  • 1948
  • 1949
  • 1954
  • 1956
Team data
NameLawton Medicine Men (1911)
Lawton Giants (1947–1951)
Lawton Reds (1952–1953)
Lawton Braves (1954–1957)
BallparkKoehler Park (1911)
Memorial Park (1947–1957)

Lawton was a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957), Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953) and New York Giants (1947–1951).

Baseball Hall of Fame member Travis Jackson managed the Lawton Braves from 1954 to 1957.

History

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Lawton first had minor league baseball in 1911, when the city briefly hosted a team in the Texas-Oklahoma League. The Lawton Medicine Men had a 17–31 record when the Lawton franchise folded on June 14, 1911.[1]

Lawton next played in the Class D level Sooner State League from 1947 to 1957. Lawton teams played as affiliates of the Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957), Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953) and New York Giants (1947–1951). Lawton took the moniker of their affiliates in each case. Lawton won Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League championships in 1949, 1954 and 1955. The 1954 and 1955 Lawton Braves championship teams were managed by Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Travis Jackson. The Sooner State League folded after the 1957 season.[1]

The ballparks

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The 1947 to 1957 Lawton teams played home games at Memorial Park. The ballpark was located at 17th and G Streets, S.W., in the area that is now called Ahlschlager Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,600 (1947) and 2,000 (1953). Over their final four seasons, Lawton's season attendance had dropped from 47,000 in 1954 to 15,000 by 1957.[2][3][4][5]

In 1911, Lawton played at home games at Koehler Park. Koehler Park was located between S.W. A and C Avenues on the north and south and S.W. 14th and 15th Streets on the east and west in Lawton, Oklahoma.[6][7]

Timeline

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Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League Affiliate Ballpark
1911 1 Lawton Medicine Men Class D Texas-Oklahoma League None Kohler Park
1947–1951 5 Lawton Giants Sooner State League New York Giants Memorial Park
1952–1953 2 Lawton Reds Cincinnati Reds
1954–1957 4 Lawton Braves Milwaukee Braves

Season-by-season

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Year Record Win–loss % Manager Finish Playoffs/notes
1947 98–42 .700 Louis Brower 1st Lost 1st round
1948 77–59 .566 Louis Brower 2nd Lost 1st round
1949 87–52 .625 Louis Brower 2nd League Champions
1950 37–101 .268 Louis Brower 8th Did not qualify
1951 46–94 .328 Ray Baker 7th Did not qualify
1952 63–77 .450 Tuck McWilliams 6th Did not qualify
1953 47–59 .443 Tuck McWilliams 7th Did not qualify
1954 81–58 .582 Travis Jackson 2nd League Champions
1955 95–44 .683 Travis Jackson 1st League Champions
1956 80–60 .571 Travis Jackson 2nd Lost 1st round
1957 59–66 .472 Travis Jackson 6th Did not qualify

[1]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ ""Braves Battle Shawnee Here Again Tonight," Lawton Constitution, May 17, 1956, p. 12". www.newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Memorial Park in Lawton, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ^ "Parks and Recreation Map". Google My Maps.
  5. ^ "Lawton Braves Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ^ ""Texas-Oklahoma Ball Season Opens Tuesday," Lawton Constitution, Apr. 27, 1911, p. 3". gateway.okhistory.org.
  7. ^ ""Turf Wasn't Artificial, or Dry, For Early Day Cameron Students," Lawton Constitution, Sep. 14, 1975, p. 12". www.newspapers.com.