Flashback Friday: Hello, Chicago (1965)
The final Flashback before Thanksgiving was a story about the letter sent by the Baltimore Orioles in October of 1965 to end their affiliation with the Fox Cities Foxes.
There was some concern as to whether the Foxes would be able to find a new parent club for the 1966 season. That concern did not last long.
This week's Flashback is the article from the October 28, 1965 edition of The Post-Crescent that broke the story of the partnership between the Foxes and the Chicago White Sox.
White Sox, Foxes Agree on Affiliation
Brothertown Proximity Is Cited
Glen C. Miller, farm director of the Chicago White Sox Baseball Club, signed a player development contract in a meeting with the executive committee of the board of directors of the Fox Cities Foxes here Thursday.
Miller, a Kaukauna native, met with Foxes' president Bob Rahn, general manager Ed Holtz, director Joe Schouten and treasurer John Wissman.
The Foxes' affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles reached its conclusion recently. The Orioles decided to operate a club (Miami) in the Florida State League. Fox Cities officials immediately began seeking to obtain sponsorship by a major league club for the 1966 campaign.
Miller, in an interview today, said, "I'm most happy we reached an agreement. This is a good baseball area with excellent facilities for the sport. The Foxes board of directors will also be an asset to us."
The personable Chisox official also added that the proximity of the boys camp at Brothertown, on the East shore of Lake Winnebago, was also one of the influencing factors in negotiations with the Fox Cities club. Previously, the Chisox backed the Clinton Baseball Club, also of the Midwest League.
"We certainly look forward to many happy and successful seasons with the White Sox organization," said Foxes' president Bob Rahn.
Meanwhile, the White Sox announced Wednesday that they would launch a $100,000 program to provide their six minor league affiliates with managerial and coaching help.
White Sox owner Arthur C. Allyn said experienced and intensified coaching was needed to combat "deterioration of the economics of the minor leagues."
The program, headed by Miller, will provide:
Indianapolis of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League with a manager, two coaches and batting practice pitchers.
One Class AA club, Lychburg of the Southern League and three Class A clubs, with a manager, coach, and batting practice pitchers.
NOTES:
Glen Miller is in the Appleton Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. His entry:
Glen Miller is perhaps the man most responsible for minor league baseball staying in Appleton in the mid-1960's. When the Baltimore Orioles terminated its affiliation with the Foxes, Miler, a Kaukauna native and farm director for the Chicago White Sox, arranged an affiliation with the Sox. Miller saw to it that Appleton was provided with quality minor-league players and managers throughout the years. The White Sox affiliation lasted 21 seasons, and during that time, the Foxes won seven Midwest League Championships and four other division championships.
Miller was the Farm Director of the White Sox from 1955 through 1974. He died in Kaukauna in 1991 at the age of 84.
The White Sox promoted their Boys' Camp in Brothertown in the Foxes programs. See this post at Rattler Radio to see the ads and learn a little bit more about it.
Past Flashbacks:
How the Foxes Got Their Name (1958)
McKeon named Foxes Manager (1958)
First Half Playoff Game (1969)
Rattlers v. Mariners HR Derby (1996)