The Paris Lakers were a minor league baseball team based in Paris, Illinois from 1950 to 1959. The Lakers played as members of the Midwest League from 1956 to 1959 and its predecessor, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League from 1950 to 1955. The Lakers won the first Midwest League championship in 1956. The Paris Lakers were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs from 1955 to 1959.

Paris Lakers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1950–1959)
LeagueMississippi–Ohio Valley League (1950–1955)
Midwest League (1956–1959)
Major league affiliations
TeamChicago Cubs (1955–1959)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1956
Conference titles (1)1951
Wild card berths (3)
  • 1952
  • 1953
  • 1956
Team data
NameParis Lakers (1950–1959)
BallparkLaker Stadium (1950-1959)

History

edit

The Lakers were preceded in Paris, Illinois by the 1908 Paris Parisians, who played as a member of the Class D level Eastern Illinois League.[1]

The Paris Lakers were an original franchise in the 1956 Midwest League, having previously had played in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, the predecessor of the Midwest League.[2]

From 1950 to 1954, the Lakers played as a non-affiliated team, and from 1955 to 1959, they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.[2]

Paris finished 85–42 in the 1952 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League, to place 2nd. Their manager from 1950 to 1954 was Paris native Tom Sunkel.[3]

The Lakers won the first ever Midwest League championship in 1956, defeating the Dubuque Packers 3 games to 1 in the Finals.[4]

On August 18, 1957 Kenneth Rollins threw a no-hitter against the Michigan City White Caps, winning 12–0.[5]

The ballpark

edit

The Lakers' home field was Laker Stadium.[6] Laker Stadium hosted the 1951 Mississippi–Ohio Valley League All-Star Game. The ballfield and part of the original stands are still in use today at the stadium, which sits within Twin Lakes Park. The address is 137 West Steidl Road, Paris, Illinois.[7][8]

Timeline

edit
Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League Affiliate
1950–1954 5 Paris Lakers Class D Mississippi–Ohio Valley League None
1955 1 Chicago Cubs
1956–1959 4 Midwest League

Year–by–year records

edit
Year Record Finish Manager(s) Playoffs / notes
1950 43–675 6th Earl Skaggs /
Von Price / John Morris
Did not qualify
1951 84–36 1st Tom Sunkel Lost in 1st round
1952 82–42 2nd Tom Sunkel Lost in 1st Round
1953 66–53 2nd Tom Sunkel Lost in Finals
1954 58–68 6th Tom Sunkel Did not qualify
1955 62–64 7th Richard Rigazio Did not qualify
1956 73–52 2nd Marty Purtell League champions
1957 51–473 7th Verlon Walker Did not qualify
1958 64–61 4th Verlon Walker Did not qualify
1959 57–68 6th Verlon Walker Did not qualify

Notable alumni

edit

See also

edit

Paris Lakers players

References

edit
  1. ^ "1908 Paris Parisians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ a b "Baseball in Paris, Illinois". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "1952 Paris Lakers". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. ^ "Midwest League 1956". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  5. ^ "No Hit Games". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "Laker Stadium in Paris, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "Baseball in Paris". Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  8. ^ Kathleen Stephens. "Paris Lakers". Northern Illinois University. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.