Findlay, Ohio minor league baseball history facts for kids

Minor league baseball teams played in Findlay, Ohio, for many years. These teams were active between 1895 and 1941. They used four different team names and played in four different ballparks. Findlay teams were part of the Interstate League in 1895 and the Buckeye League in 1915. From 1937 to 1941, they played in the Ohio State League.

The Findlay Browns team was connected to a major league team, the St. Louis Browns, in 1937 and 1938. A famous player, Bud Fowler, who is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame, played for the Findlay Sluggers in 1894.

History of Baseball in Findlay

Early Teams and the Findlay Sluggers

Baseball in Findlay, Ohio, started with a semi-professional team called the "Findlay Sluggers" in 1894. This team was special because it included both Black and white players. Two of their most famous players were Findlay native Home Run Johnson and Baseball Hall of Fame member Bud Fowler.

Home Run Johnson got his nickname because he hit around 60 home runs for the Sluggers in 1894. The Findlay Sluggers even played against major league teams in exhibition games. On September 13, 1894, they lost to the Cincinnati Reds 10–2. A week later, on September 20, 1894, they played the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and lost by just one run.

In 1895, Bud Fowler and Home Run Johnson left Findlay. They went on to create a famous negro leagues team called the Page Fence Giants in Adrian, Michigan.

Findlay's First Minor League Team

After the semi-pro Sluggers, Findlay got its first minor league team in 1895. This team also used the name Findlay Sluggers. They played in the Independent Interstate League. The Sluggers had a good season, winning 32 games and losing 21. They finished 3rd in the league, only 2.5 games behind the first-place team.

The Interstate League had eight teams that year. The Findlay Sluggers were managed by Charles Stroebel and Howard Brandenberg. Famous author Zane Grey and his brother Reddy Grey also played for the Sluggers in 1895. The team stopped playing after the 1895 season.

The Findlay Finns in 1915

Professional baseball came back to Findlay in 1915. The new team was called the Findlay Finns. They were one of the first teams in the Class D Buckeye League. The Finns had a record of 22 wins and 19 losses. They were in 2nd place in the six-team league.

However, the Buckeye League stopped playing on July 5, 1915. The Finns were only 2.0 games behind the champions, the Lima Boosters. The Buckeye League never played again after that partial season.

The Findlay Browns and Oilers (1937–1941)

Findlay returned to minor league baseball in 1937. They joined the Ohio State League and made it to the league finals that year. This team was called the "Findlay Browns." They were connected to the major league St. Louis Browns team.

The Findlay Browns played five seasons in the Ohio State League. All these seasons were under the same manager, Grover Hartley. In 1937, the Browns finished 4th in the six-team Class D league. They won 43 games and lost 47. In the playoffs, they beat the Marion Presidents. But then they lost to the Mansfield Red Sox in the finals.

In 1938, the Ohio State League had only four teams. The Findlay Browns finished in 3rd place. They won 44 games and lost 54. They were 12 games behind the first-place Fostoria Red Birds.

The Findlay Oilers played in 1939. They won the Ohio State League and reached the finals again. The league went back to having six teams that year. The team changed its name to "Oilers" because they were no longer connected to the St. Louis Browns. Many Ohio State League teams lost their major league connections around this time. The "Oilers" name was a nod to the University of Findlay, which still uses that name today.

The Findlay Oilers finished 1st in the regular season in 1939. They had an excellent record of 86 wins and 62 losses. They were 1.5 games ahead of the Fremont Green Sox. In the playoffs, they beat the Fostoria Red Birds. But in the finals, the Lima Pandas defeated Findlay in a close series, 4 games to 3.

In 1940, the Findlay Oilers finished 2nd in the Ohio State League. They made it to the finals for the second year in a row. They won 70 games and lost 46. They were managed by Grover Hartley and George Ruley. The Oilers beat the Tiffin Mud Hens in the playoffs. In a rematch of the previous year's finals, the Lima Pandas again defeated Findlay, 4 games to 2.

In their last season, 1941, the Findlay team went back to being the "Findlay Browns." They finished 6th and last in the six-team Ohio State League. They won 37 games and lost 65. They were 31.5 games behind the first-place Fremont Green Sox.

After the 1941 season, the Ohio State League stopped playing because of World War II. It returned in 1944, but Findlay did not have a team then. Findlay, Ohio, has not hosted another minor league team since.

The Ballparks of Findlay

Findlay's minor league teams played in several different ballparks over the years.

Findlay Baseball Park

In 1895, the Findlay Sluggers played their home games at the Findlay Baseball Park. Today, this park is still used for baseball. It is known as Rowson Park and is located at 720 River Street in Findlay, Ohio.

Athletic Park

The 1915 Findlay Finns played their home games at the Athletic Park.

(2005) Riverside Park in Findlay, Ohio

Riverside Park

The Findlay Browns teams of 1937 and 1938 played their home games at Riverside Park. This park is still a public park today. You can find it at 231 McManness Avenue in Findlay, Ohio.

League Park

From 1939 to 1941, the Findlay minor league teams played their Ohio State League home games at League Park. This ballpark was located at 933 West Main Cross Street in Findlay, Ohio. The area where the park once stood is now a neighborhood with houses.

Timeline of Findlay Minor League Teams

Year–by–Year Records

Notable Players and Coaches

Baseball Hall of Fame Alumni

• Bud Fowler (1894) – Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Other Notable Alumni