New Orleans Baseball History
Compiled by Arthur O. Schott, The Official Louisiana Baseball Historian
1870 The Cincinnati Red Stockings play five games in New Orleans (April 25-30), continuing their undefeated streak before losing to the Brooklyn Athletics, 8-7, on June 14, 1870.
1887 New Orleans Pelicans join the two-year-old Southern League and capture the pennant in their first season. The Pelicans play at Sportsman's Park, what is now City Park Avenue near the Expressway.
1888-1889 Pelicans complete the '80s by winning their second pennant.
1901 Southern League re-organizes as the Southern Association. Abner Powell becomes the first Pelican manager of the century. The 1901 Pelicans finish fourth. They play at Athletic Park, which was then at the corner of Tulane Avenue between South Carrollton and South Pierce.
1902-1905 Pelicans finish last in 1903 and hire Charley Frank as their new manager, and he steers the club for 10 years. The Pelicans' first pennant of the 1900's comes in 1905, despite having to play many of their scheduled home games on the road as New Orleans is quarantined due to a yellow fever epidemic. Frank and the Pelicans still win the pennant with an 84-45 record.
|
|
1908-1913 In 1908 the Pelicans move to a new location, bound by South Carrollton, Palmyra, Banks and Scott. A contest is conducted to name the new site. "Pelican Park" wins out over scores of other entries. For the next seven years, the new stadium witnesses many historic events, such as Theo Breitenstein's no-hitter in 1909, Joe Jackson's memorable season in 1910, in which he leads all league batters with a .354 average, and back-to-back pennant winners in 1910 and 1911.
1914-1922 Johnny Dobbs becomes the new Pelicans manager in 1914. After the 1914 season, the park is moved from Carrollton and Banks to Carrollton and Tulane avenues, where it is renamed Heinemann Park after the club's owner, A.J. Heinemann. In their first season in Heinemann Park, the Pelicans win their third pennant. They add another pennant in 1918. The only unassisted triple play in Southern Association history comes on August 8, 1916, when Pelican second baseman Cotton Knaupp turns it against Chattanooga. The 1918 season is curtailed because of World War I, the only year in which the league fails to complete its schedule. In 1921, the Pelicans present the greatest all-time Pelicans batter in the person of "Ike" Boon, who finishes with a lofty .389 average.
1923-1932 In 1923, Larry Gilbert, who had orignally joined the club as an outfielder in 1917, takes over for Johnny Dobbs as manager of the Pelicans. Gilbert brings a pennant to New Orleans in his first season as manager and New Orleans participates in its first Dixie Series. The Pelicans lose the series to Fort Worth of the Texas League. The seasons of 1926-27 are banner ones for Gilbert and the Pelicans. They capture consecutive pennants, but are defeated in their bid for the Dixie championship. "Country" Davis brings the batting title to New Orleans with an average of .376 in 1932. After four more years as manager, Gilbert moves to the front office. Jake Atz becomes the field boss for one season in 1932.
1933-1938 Gilbert returns as manager, and not only wins consecutive pennants in 1933 and 1934, but defeats San Antonio and Galveston for the Dixie Series titles as well. In 1936, New Orleans plays its first night game at Heninemann Park on May 15, losing to Atlanta, 5-11, in front of 11,000 fans. Gilbert moves on to manage the Nashville Vols after the 1938 season. It turns out to be Nashville's gain and New Orleans' loss. The Pelicans never win another championship after 1934. In 1938, the ballpark is changed from "Heinemann Park" to Pelican Park.
1939-1942 Following Gilbert's 15 years as manager, there begins a parade of field leaders, beginning with Roger Peckinpaugh in 1939 through Mel Parnell in 1959. Peckinpaugh is quickly followed by Hal Anderson, Ray Blades and Pat Ankenman. By this time, World War II is sweeping the nation of its baseball talent.
1943-1945 The war forces rapid change of personnel as players are called into service. In 1943, New Orleans wins the second half of a split season, but loses to Nashville in the playoff, four games to one, as Larry Gilbert defeats his old club.
1946-1957 During this era, the Pelicans have several major league affiliates, including the Red Sox and the Pirates. Just after the war in 1947, New Orleans has one of its finest teams. The Pelicans lose out in their bid for the pennant by one half-game to the Mobile Bears. Al Flair sets a record for Pelican hitters with 24 home runs, including a shot over the distant center-field fence at Pelican Stadium. Danny Murtaugh is manager for three seasons (1952-54, bringing the club into the playoffs against the Atlanta Crackers, who claim the title, four games to two. Through the affiliation with the Pirates, New Orleans sees many of its players advance to the majors, including Johnny Power, Gene and George Freese, Bob Skinner, Danny Kravitz and Murtaugh, who goes on to manage the Pirates.
1958-1959 Following the 1957 season, Pelican Stadium is demolished and a hotel is erected on the site. Pelican Stadium had served as home of the Pelicans for 43 years. The Pelicans move to City Park Stadium for their last two seasons of existence in the Southern Association. Mel Parnell serves as the last manager.
|
|
1977 After a drought of 17 years without organized professional baseball, New Orleans becomes a member of the American Association. Playing at the Superdome, the Pelicans finish last in the Western Division (57-79, .419) under the leadership of Lance Nichols. Ironically, Denver leads the league in attendance with 288,167. New Orleans is second in attendance with 217,957.
1993 The New Orleans Zephrys begin a new tradition in the Crescent City.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between