On A Silver Diamond: Rochester Community 3 ’56 The managed to remain the minor’s most stable and long-standing circuit, with roots dat- roots with circuit, long-standing stable and most minor’s the remain to managed League International The first in what was the the city when a team represented dated back to 1877, in Rochester baseball Professional (renamed Louis-stocked squads in Rochester The first four St. era started off in unparalleled style. The Cardinal major league stars, including Jim future saw a of Stadium Wing fans that flocked to Red Baseball but the minor leagues survived, all of baseball, II weakened in the immediate post- and then thrived War World negotiating with unidentified were that the Cardinals word by The initial announcement was tempered in the minors, in places like done before had been was floated as the solution. It Community ownership 52,000 management handed out over Wing Red departure. for the Cardinals’ floated of other reasons Rumors than willing to cooperate the organization was more be placed on the Cardinals, could reasons dark Whatever ing back to 1884, but western New York had been particularly hard by financially-sinking franchises. In 1955 In franchises. financially-sinking hit by particularly had been hard York New but western to 1884, ing back but was on extremely route, the independent went Buffalo to Miami. League club lost its International Syracuse shaky ground. and existence and teams had a nomadic leagues.” Leagues “major the self-proclaimed outside of league established become the in what would an uninterrupted team began presence that a Rochester it was not until 1885 but Rochesterians both the 1897 and 1898 seasons, through The city lost its team mid-way League. International unsound footing, but a potential shift 1928 the franchise was again on in both instances. In saw to their return Wing built Red later, who, one year Cardinals, Louis the St. of the team by the purchase was headed off by at a cost of $400,000. Stadium also season flags were regular Subsequent League pennants. International in a fan contest) captured Wings” “Red American Association winner) champ versus playoff (IL Series World in 1940, 1950 and 1953. Junior achieved two pennants, but also the notable not only for the The early ’50s were won in 1930, 1931 and 1952. were crowns domi- Wing of the Red could only dream (1953, 1955, 1956). (Fans championships playoff Cup Governors’ three and supplied Louis also owned 1931-1954 St. team. From -A only stocked one nation had the Cardinals playoff five pennants, Those squads won three Association. of the American Birds for the Columbus Red players Series.) World Junior championships and three never Some Derringer. and Paul Martin Schoendienst, “Pepper” Red Mize, Johnny Musial, Collins, Stan “Ripper” left indelible memories (and numbers), among them George but nonetheless made it big at the major league level, Jacobs Tony Derry, Russ Ryba, Dom , Richmond, Don Ray Pepper, Toporcer, “Specs” Puccinelli, in the bottom half of the squads had finished Rochester the Cardinals, 29 seasons with In Poholsky. Tom and only eight times. eight-team circuit The their major league affiliates. by the only IL teams owned were and Montreal 1957, Rochester by Yet war years. American Association and Triple-A Columbus in 1955) of the from (moved Omaha owned also Cardinals to the fewest: had drawn 176,850 compared Wings the the three, League. Of Texas of the -A Houston the attendance paled in comparison to Rochester’s Furthermore, and 300,000 for Houston. 245,000 for Omaha The numbers made it an seasons prior. turnstiles just seven Stadium Wing Red 443,536 that had passed through standpoint. the Cardinals’ easy decision from would be no white knight com- that there it was soon apparent for the sale of the franchise. But groups Rochester is my stated “It of directors, local board of the team’s a member S. Hallauer, the team. Carl ing forwardto save in this community will put up enough money to take it over.” thinking that no individual or small group to be seen if the idea, still in its relative but it still remained Columbus, Richmond and Indianapolis, Buffalo, con- Devine “Bing” Vaughn to the General Assistant a lasting solution. Cardinals’ would provide infancy, for its Columbus franchise in 1955. Louis received firmed an asking price of $500,000, close to what St. in was not looked on as favorably on the local level seen as generosity season and what was tickets the previous free in 1953, of the Cardinals ownership which took over Brewery, Busch pointed to the fact that the Louis. Others St. in peddle brew could, however, It Stadium. Wing in Red sell its product could not, due to local ordinances, and Houston. Omaha General Wing of the club met with Red directors The Rochester-based with local efforts the franchise. to purchase had been made. no serious progress mid-November by however Jr.; Sisler George Louis employee) (but St. Manager