The Owensboro Oilers were a minor league baseball club, based in Owensboro, Kentucky, from 1936 until 1955. The team was a member of the class-D level Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (or KITTY League). The team was originally formed in 1935 as the Portageville Pirates and represented Portageville, Missouri, in the league. On July 17, 1936, the Portageville Pirates moved to Owensboro after posting a 26–35 record. The team was listed in the record books for 1936 as Portageville-Owensboro Pirates, or as the Owensboro Pirates after the move. The following year, the team was renamed the Owensboro Oilers.

Owensboro Oilers
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D
Previous leagues
Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League
Kentucky-Indiana League (1896)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 1 (1946)
Team data
Previous names
  • Owensboro Oilers (1937–1942, 1946–1955)
  • Portageville-Owensboro Pirates (1936)
  • Portageville Pirates (1935)
  • Owensboro Distillers (1903, 1913–1914, 1916)
  • Ownesboro Corncrackers (1896)
Previous parks
  • Miller Field (1938–42, 1946–55)
  • ORC Field (1937)
  • Southside Park (1936)
  • Harris Park (1935–1936)

The Oilers and Pirates were preceded in Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League play by the Owensboro Distillers. The Distillers played in the 1903, 1913, 1914 and 1916 seasons.[1][2]

Notable alumni

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Year-by-year records

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Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1935 44–46 4th Pat Patterson / Herb Welch / L.A. Harris no champion declared
1936 52–67 6th Hughie Wise
1937 56–65 7th Hughie Wise
1938 66–64 6th Hughie Wise
1939 75–51 3rd Hughie Wise Lost semi-finals vs. Bowling Green Barons (0–3)
1940 69–57 3rd Hughie Wise / Harold Sueme
1941 58–68 6th Hughie Wise
1942 16–32 5th Wally Schang League disbanded June 19
1946 83–39 1st Earl Browne League Champs
Won semi-finals vs. Mayfield Clothiers (3–1)
Won League Championship vs. Fulton Chicks (4–3)
1947 77–48 1st Earl Browne Lost semi-finals vs. Hopkinsville Hoppers (2–3)
1948 74–50 3rd Rex Carr Lost semi-finals vs. Union City Greyhounds (2–3)
1949 82–40 1st Bill Adair Lost semi-finals vs. Madisonville Miners (0–3)
1950 64–51 4th Travis Jackson Lost semi-finals vs. Mayfield Clothiers (2–3)
1951 71–48 2nd Wayne Blackburn Won semi-finals vs. Mayfield Clothiers (3–1)
Lost League Championship vs. Fulton Railroaders (0–4)
1952 55–65 5th Pud Miller/ Moose Shetler
1953 49–71 8th Marvin Crater
1954 65–49 3rd Marvin Crater
1955 53–56 3rd Walter Lance / Ken Silvestri

References

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  1. ^ "1903 Owensboro Distillers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. ^ "Owensboro Distillers minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.