Medford Giants

Minor league baseball team

Medford Giants

* 1967–1968
* Medford, Oregon

Minor league affiliations
Class| Class A-Short Season
League| Northwest League
Major league affiliations
Previous teams| San Francisco Giants (1967–1968)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)| 1967
Team data
Colors| Black, orange, white

Ballpark| Jackson County Ballpark

Owner(s)/
Operator(s)

| Rouge Valley Baseball, Inc.

The Medford Giants were a minor league baseball team based in Medford, Oregon. The Giants were members of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League from 1967-1968 and were an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

## History

[edit]

In early 1967 it was announced that Rouge Valley Baseball, Inc. had secured a Northwest League franchise. The club signed a player development contract with the San Francisco Giants.[1] Adopting their parent club's moniker the club began to play in the summer of 1967 as the Medford Giants. In their innagural season the Giants finished with a record of 51-33. The Giants and Eugene Emeralds were in a dead heat down the stretch. Medford swept the Tri-City Atoms in a season finale double-header to finish one game ahead of Eugene in the standings to claim the Northwest League pennant.[2]

There was uncertainty about whether the franchise would remain in Medford due to a dispute over ballpark rent. Jackson County Commissioners sought to raise rent, an increase that owner Joseph Graham strongly opposed. The county agreed to maintain the same rental rate, which secured the Giants return for the 1968 season.[3] After the completion of the season, citing a lack of available players, San Francisco ended their affiliation with Medford.[4] Medford signed on with the Los Angeles Dodgers and became the Rogue Valley Dodgers.

## Season-by-season record

[edit]

Season  | PDC  | Division | Finish  | Wins | Losses | Win% | Post-season  | Manager  | Attendance

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Medford Giants
1967  | SFG |  | 1st  | 51  | 33  | .607  | Northwest League champion by virtue of record  | Tony Eichelberger  | 43,478
1968  | SFG |  | 3rd  | 34  | 43  | .442  |  | Harvey Koepf  | 20,585
Division winner | League champions

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## Notable alumni

[edit]

* George Foster (1968) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1977 NL Most Valuable Player
* Gary Lavelle (1968) 2 x MLB All-Star

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Medford Giants' Exec Starts Work". Newspapers.com. February 18, 1967. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
2. ^ "Giants New NWL Champs". Newspapers.com. September 5, 1967. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
3. ^ "NW League Will Return to Medford". Newspapers.com. December 17, 1967. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
4. ^ "SF Giants Drop Medford Club". Newspapers.com. December 6, 1968. Retrieved September 26, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Stats Crew Medford Giants

Preceded by

Expansion franchise

|  Northwest League franchise
1967-1968  | Succeeded by

Rogue Valley Dodgers

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