The Yakima Valley Braves, was the final name of a minor league baseball club, located in Yakima, Washington, playing from 1955 to 1966 as members of the Northwest League. Yakima hosted professional baseball regularly from 1937 through 1965 with a brief hiatus between 1942 and 1945 due to World War II. Playing under various names, Yakima was a member of the Western International League.
History
Prior to the Western International League franchise, the Yakima Indians played in the Class B Pacific Coast International League in 1920 and 1921, winning a championship in its final season.
The Pippins were the club to represent Yakima, starting in 1937. The franchise used the Pippins name through 1941 when the club suspended operations. Likewise, the Western International League suspended play after the 1942 season. The Pippins name was resurrected in by the Yakima Valley Pippins of the collegiate wood bat West Coast League.
The League resumed play in 1946 with Yakima returning to the field under a new name, the Stars. The Stars were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946. In 1948 the club changed names again to the Yakima Packers. The Packers finished the season in last place.
In 1949 the club adopted a new moniker, the Yakima Bears. In their first season the Bears advanced to the post-season. The Bears defeated the Spokane Indians in the semi-final series, but were swept by the Vancouver Capilanos in the championship. The following season the Bears posted a record on 92–58 to claim the league championship. In 1956 won their second league title, finishing the year at 86–45.
The team's home field, Parker Field, was built in 1937. It caught fire in 1962 but was rebuilt. The team remained in Yakima through 1966.
Professional baseball returned to Yakima in 1990. The Northwest League franchise revived Yakima Bears playing as an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks until 2012.
Season-by-season record SeasonPDCDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%PostseasonManagerAttendanceYakima Pippins19371st8061.567Ray Jacobs 54,00019381st7755.583Defeated Wenatchee in semi-final series 3-1Lost to Bellingham in championship series 4-3Ray JacobsNo record19395th7273.497Ray JacobsNo record19402nd7967.541Lost to in semi-final series to Tacoma 2-1Goldie HoltNo record19413rd7064.522Goldie HoltNo recordYakima Stars1946PIT5th7169.507Spencer HarrisNo record19478th5995.383Harlond Clift86,004 Yakima Packers19488th52109.323Hub Kittle73,600 Yakima Bears19491st9951.660Defeated Spokane in semi-final series 3-1Lost to Vancouver in championship series 3-0Joe Orengo133,91719501st9258.613League champion by virtue of record Joe Orengo117,79019515th6380.441Bill Brenner60,018 19524th7379.480Dario Lodigiani64,04419536th7074.486Dario Lodigiani59,10019541st8057.584Lou Stringer66,571 19555th5969.461Hub Kittle36,31419561st8645.656League champion by virtue of record Hub Kittle66,37019573rd6966.511Hub Kittle56,7181958MLN2nd7660.559Defeated Lewiston in championship series 4-1Hub Kittle64,9741959MLN4th 7069.504Defeated Salem in championship series 4-1Hub Kittle43,8951960MLN1st8557.599League champion by virtue of record Buddy Hicks60,1661961MLN2nd7960.568Lost to Lewiston in championship series 4-1Buddy Hicks42,8061962MLN4th6971.493Buddy Hicks35,0591963MLN1st8456.600Defeated Lewiston in championship series 3-1Buddy Hicks40,6281964MLN3rd7268.514Defeated Eugene in championship series 3-0Hub Kittle39,300Yakima Valley Braves1965MLN5th6277.446Hub Kittle36,0501966MLN3rd3944.470Eddie Haas13,262 Division winner League champions Source
Notable alumni
Rico Carty (1962) MLB All-Star; 1970 NL Batting Title Mike Lum (1965) Lee Maye (1955) Dennis Menke (1961) 2 x MLB All-Star Felix Millan (1965) 3 x MLB All-Star Carl Morton (1965) 1970 NL Rookie of the Year Bill Robinson
References