Lawton Braves
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1911, 1947–1957)
LeagueTexas-Oklahoma League (1911)
Sooner State League (1947–1957)
Major league affiliations
TeamNew York Giants (1947–1951)
Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953)
Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957)
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 1949
  • 1954
  • 1955
Wild card berths (4)
  • 1948
  • 1949
  • 1954
  • 1956
Team data
NameLawton Medicine Men (1911)
Lawton Giants (1947–1951)
Lawton Reds (1952–1953)
Lawton Braves (1954–1957)
BallparkKoehler Park (1911)
Memorial Park (1947–1957)

The Lawton Braves was the final and primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Lawton, Oklahoma from 1947 to 1957. Lawton played as a member of the Texas-Oklahoma League in 1911 and the Sooner State League from 1947 to 1957, winning league championships in 1949, 1954 and 1955. Lawton hosted home games at Koehler Park in 1911 and all others at Memorial Park.

Lawton was a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957), Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953) and New York Giants (1947–1951).

Baseball Hall of Fame member Travis Jackson managed the Lawton Braves from 1954 to 1957.

History

Lawton first had minor league baseball in 1911, when the city briefly hosted a team in the Texas-Oklahoma League. The Lawton Medicine Men had a 17–31 record when the Lawton franchise folded on June 14, 1911.[1]

Lawton next played in the Class D level Sooner State League from 1947 to 1957. Lawton teams played as affiliates of the Milwaukee Braves (1954–1957), Cincinnati Reds (1952–1953) and New York Giants (1947–1951). Lawton took the moniker of their affiliates in each case. Lawton won Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League championships in 1949, 1954 and 1955. The 1954 and 1955 Lawton Braves championship teams were managed by Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Travis Jackson. The Sooner State League folded after the 1957 season.[1]

The ballparks

The 1947 to 1957 Lawton teams played home games at Memorial Park. The ballpark was located at 17th and G Streets, S.W., in the area that is now called Ahlschlager Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,600 (1947) and 2,000 (1953). Over their final four seasons, Lawton's season attendance had dropped from 47,000 in 1954 to 15,000 by 1957.[2][3][4][5]

In 1911, Lawton played at home games at Koehler Park. Koehler Park was located between S.W. A and C Avenues on the north and south and S.W. 14th and 15th Streets on the east and west in Lawton, Oklahoma.[6][7]

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateBallpark
19111Lawton Medicine MenClass DTexas-Oklahoma LeagueNoneKohler Park
1947–19515Lawton GiantsSooner State LeagueNew York GiantsMemorial Park
1952–19532Lawton RedsCincinnati Reds
1954–19574Lawton BravesMilwaukee Braves

Season-by-season

Year Record Win–loss % Manager Finish Playoffs/notes
194798–42.700Louis Brower1stLost 1st round
194877–59.566Louis Brower2ndLost 1st round
194987–52.625Louis Brower2ndLeague Champions
195037–101.268Louis Brower8thDid not qualify
195146–94.328Ray Baker7thDid not qualify
195263–77.450Tuck McWilliams6thDid not qualify
195347–59.443Tuck McWilliams7thDid not qualify
195481–58.582Travis Jackson2ndLeague Champions
195595–44.683Travis Jackson1stLeague Champions
195680–60.571Travis Jackson2ndLost 1st round
195759–66.472Travis Jackson6thDid not qualify

[1]

Notable alumni

  • Lawton Giants players
  • Lawton Reds players

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ↑ ""Braves Battle Shawnee Here Again Tonight," Lawton Constitution, May 17, 1956, p. 12". www.newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Memorial Park in Lawton, OK history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ↑ "Parks and Recreation Map". Google My Maps.
  5. ↑ "Lawton Braves Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ↑ ""Texas-Oklahoma Ball Season Opens Tuesday," Lawton Constitution, Apr. 27, 1911, p. 3". gateway.okhistory.org.
  7. ↑ ""Turf Wasn't Artificial, or Dry, For Early Day Cameron Students," Lawton Constitution, Sep. 14, 1975, p. 12". www.newspapers.com.


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