Paris Lakers

Minor league baseball team

Paris Lakers

* 1950-1959
* Paris, Illinois

Minor league affiliations
Class| Class D (1950–1959)
League| Mississippi–Ohio Valley League (1950–1955)
Midwest League (1956–1959)
Major league affiliations
Team| Chicago Cubs (1955–1959)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)| 1956
Conference titles (1)| 1951
Wild card berths (3)|

* 1952
* 1953
* 1956

Team data
Name| Paris Lakers (1950–1959)
Ballpark| Laker Stadium (1950-1959)

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.

## 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]

* Tony Balsamo (1959)
* Doc Bracken (1953–1954)
* Harvey Branch (1958–1959)
* Dick Burwell (1959)
* John Buzhardt (1955)
* Jack Curtis (1956)
* Dave Gerard (baseball) (1955)
* Bob Giggie (1951)
* Lou Johnson (1958)
* Mike Krsnich (1950–1951)
* Nelson Mathews (1959)
* Moe Morhardt (1959)
* Don Prince (1958)
* Marty Purtell (1956, MGR)
* Joe Schaffernoth (1956)
* Johnnie Seale (1959)
* Quincy Smith (1951–1954)
* Morrie Steevens (1959)
* Tom Sunkel (1950–1954, MGR)
* Harry Taylor (1955)
* Verlon Walker (1957–1959, MGR)
* Jim Zapp (1952)

### 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". Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. 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.

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