The St. Cloud Rox were a professional minor league baseball team that existed from 1946 to 1971 in St Cloud, Minnesota, playing in the Northern League for the duration of the franchise.
The St. Cloud Rox were an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins (1965–1971), Chicago Cubs (1960–1964), San Francisco Giants (1958–1959) and New York Giants (1946–1957).
Baseball Hall of Fame members Dave Bancroft (1947), Lou Brock (1961), Orlando Cepeda (1956) and Gaylord Perry (1958) are St. Cloud Rox alumni.
History
Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the team played its entire existence in the Northern League. The Rox were affiliates of the New York Giants from 1946 to 1957, the San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1959, the Chicago Cubs from 1960 to 1964 and the Minnesota Twins from 1965 to 1971.
The original Rox ceased playing after the 1971 season when the old Northern League folded. Hall of Fame players to play for the Rox include Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry. Hall of Famer Dave Bancroft managed the team in 1947.
In 1997, collegiate summer baseball returned organized baseball to St. Cloud when the Dubuque Mud Puppies of the Northwoods League relocated and became the St. Cloud River Bats. In 2012, the River Bats renamed themselves to the Rox in honor of the previous Rox franchise.
Ballpark The Rox played at Rox Park, also known as Municipal Stadium, located at Division Street and 25th Avenue. It opened in 1948 and was demolished in 1971. The park capacity fluctuated from 5,000 in 1947 to 3,600 in 1949.Division Street and 25th Avenue. The played their final season at the newly constructed Municipal Stadium (now Dick Putz Field).
Year-by-year records Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs 1946 73–31 1st Walter Kopp League Champs 1947 48–71 7th Dave Bancroft 1948 78–40 2nd Charlie Fox Lost in 1st round 1949 65–59 3rd Charlie Fox Lost in 1st round 1950 72–51 1st Charlie Fox Lost in 1st round 1951 64–55 2nd Harold Kollar Lost in 1st round 1952 60–64 6th Charlie Fox 1953 66–59 3rd Charlie Fox Lost in 1st round 1954 76–54 2nd Charlie Fox Lost in 1st round 1955 78–47 2nd Charlie Fox League Champs 1956 61–64 6th Charlie Fox 1957 59–63 5th Pete Pavlick 1958 72–50 1st Richard Klaus Lost League Finals 1959 43–80 8th Richard Klaus 1960 49–74 8th Fred Martin 1961 73–54 3rd Joe Macko Lost League Finals 1962 61–63 5th George Freese 1963 51–69 6th Walt Dixon 4th 16-14* 1964 54–68 5th Walt Dixon 4th 15-18* 1965 73–23 1st Jim Rantz League Champs 1966 49–18 1st Ken Staples League Champs 1967 44–26 1st Ken Staples League Champs 1968 43–27 1st Carroll Hardy League Champs 1969 33–37 3rd Jim Merrick none 1970 31–39 5th Jim Merrick none 1971 42–28 1st Ken Staples League Champs
Notable alumni Dave Bancroft (1947, MGR) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1971 Lou Brock (1961) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1985 Orlando Cepeda (1956) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1999 Gaylord Perry (1958) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1991
Matty Alou (1958) 2x MLB All-Star; 1966 NL Batting Title Bobby Bolin (1958) Steve Brye (1967) Charlie Fox (1948–1950, 1952–1956) Dave Goltz (1968) Carroll Hardy (1968) George Mitterwald (1965–1966) Andre Rodgers (1955) Jimmy Stewart (1962) Tony Taylor (1955) 2x MLB All-Star Danny Thompson (1968) Died Age 29. Ozzie Virgil Sr. (1953) Leon Wagner (1955) 3x MLB All-Star; 1962 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
St. Cloud Rox players
References
External links St. Cloud Rox in MNopedia, the Minnesota Encyclopedia