Columbus Jets

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Minor league baseball team

Columbus Jets

* Founded in 1955
* Columbus, Ohio

Minor league affiliations
Class| Triple-A
League| International League
Major league affiliations
Team| Pittsburgh Pirates (1957–1970)
Previous teams| Kansas City Athletics (1955–1956)
Minor league titles
League titles | 1961, 1965
Team data
Name| Columbus Jets (1955–1970)
Ballpark| Jets Stadium
General manager| Harold Cooper (1955-1968), Charles Wareham (1969-1970)

The Columbus Jets were a Minor League baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, from 1955 to 1970. The team moved from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where they were known as the Ottawa Athletics. The Jets were a member of the Triple-A International League.

The Jets' name came from Columbus' role in manufacturing aircraft by North American Aviation for World War II.[1][2]

They were the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics (1955–56) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1957–70). The Jets played their home games at Jets Stadium.

In 1971 the franchise moved to Charleston, West Virginia, and became the Charleston Charlies, leaving Columbus without organized baseball for the first time since 1894. In 1977 the Columbus Clippers returned baseball to Ohio's capital.

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Steve Arlin
* Steve Blass
* Donn Clendenon
* Dock Ellis
* Johnny Lipon
* Bob Kuzava
* Julián Javier
* Román Mejías
* Pat Gillick
* Manny Mota
* Gene Michael
* Richie Hebner
* Milt May
* Al Oliver
* Freddie Patek
* Dave Roberts
* Manny Sanguillén
* Billy Shantz
* Willie Stargell
* Bob Veale
* Frank Verdi
* Wilbur Wood

## Yearly record[edit]

Year | Record | Finish
Full Season | Attendance | Manager | Postseason

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1955 | 64–89 | Seventh | 202,854 | Nick Cullop | DNQ
1956 | 69–84 | Seventh | 163,128 | Nick Cullop | DNQ
1957 | 69–85 | Seventh | 180,418 | Frank Oceak | DNQ
1958 | 77–77 | Fourth | 196,644 | Clyde King | Lost to Montreal in first round
1959 | 84–70 | Second | 204,157 | Cal Ermer | Lost to Havana in first round
1960 | 69–84 | Sixth | 136,195 | Cal Ermer | DNQ
1961 | 92–62 | First | 187,471 | Larry Shepard | Lost to Rochester in first round
1962 | 80–74 | Fifth | 191,730 | Larry Shepard | DNQ
1963 | 75–73 | Fourth
(South Division) | 167,121 | Larry Shepard | DNQ
1964 | 68–85 | Sixth | 134,448 | Larry Shepard | DNQ
1965 | 85–61 | First | 197,680 | Larry Shepard | Lost to Toronto in finals
1966 | 82–65 | Second
(tied) | 193,881 | Larry Shepard | Lost to Toronto in first round
1967 | 69–71 | Fourth | 148,365 | Harding "Pete" Peterson | Lost to Toledo in finals
1968 | 82–64 | Second | 178,003 | Johnny Pesky | Lost to Jacksonville in finals
1969 | 74–66 | Fourth | 153,802 | Don Hoak | Lost to Syracuse in finals
1970 | 81–59 | Second | 140,700 | Joe Morgan | Lost to Syracuse in finals

## References[edit]

1. ^ Worth, Richard. Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Directory 1869-2011. McFarland, 2013, page 82.
2. ^ Barrett, Richard E. Columbus 1910-1970. Arcadia, page 83