The Cairo Dodgers were a minor league baseball team based in Cairo, Illinois. As a minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949 and 1950, the Cairo Dodgers played as members of the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (KITTY League), qualifying for the playoffs in their first season. Cairo hosted minor league home games at Dodger Field.

History

In 1897, minor league baseball began in the city, when the

Cairo Egyptians The Cairo Egyptians were a minor league baseball team from Cairo, Illinois, that played in the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (KITTY League) on and off from 1903 to 1950 and in the Central League in 1897. Team history On February 7, 18 ...

played the season as charter members of the Class C level

Central League The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consi ...

. Another Egyptians team played in the 1903

Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League The Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (or ''KITTY League'') was a Class D level minor league baseball circuit that went through six different periods of play between 1903 and 1955. The League hosted teams in 29 cities from the states of Ill ...

(KITTY League), followed in league play by the 1904 Cairo Champions and Cario Giants (1905–1906). The Egyptians resumed play from 1911 to 1914 in the second KITTY League and returned from 1922 to 1924, playing in another incarnation of the league. In 1946, the Cario Egyptians began play in the reformed Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League. The Egyptians continued league play through 1948. In 1949, Cario became a minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the franchise continuing play as members of the eight-team, Class D level Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League. The Clarksville Cats, Fulton Railroaders, Hopkinsville Hoppers, Madisonville Miners, Mayfield Clothiers, Owensboro Oilers and

Union City Greyhounds Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

teams joined the Cario "Dodgers" in beginning league play on May 4, 1949. The Dodgers advanced to the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League Finals in 1949. Cairo ended the regular season with a record of 74–51, playing the season under manager Bill Hart. The Dodgers ended the regular season 9.5 games behind the first place Owensville Oilers. In the playoffs, the Cairo Dodgers defeated the Hopkinsville Hoppers three games to two and advanced. In the playoff Finals, the Madisonville Miners were leading Cairo two games to one when the series was ended due to bad weather. Player/manager Bill Hart won the league batting title, hitting .404. In 1950, Cairo played their final minor league season, as the Dodgers finished the season in last place in the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League. The Dodgers finished the season with a record of 26–85, placing eighth. Managed by Hal Seawright and Paul Box, Cairo ended the regular season 43.5 games behind first place Mayfield Minors, as the Fulton Railroaders were the eventual league champion. After drawing 8,485 total fans in 1950, Cairo did not return to the 1951 Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League, replaced in league play by the Paducah Chiefs. Cairo has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The Cario Dodgers hosted minor league home games at the ballpark known as "Dodger Field." It was previously known as "Egyptian Field" in hosting the Cairo Egyptians beginning in 1946. The ballpark was located at 2007 Commerce Avenue in Cairo. Today, the site is a vacant field. In 1943 and 1944, the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

held their Spring training at Cotter Field in Cairo. The ballpark became flooded in the spring of 1945, causing the Cardinals to hold spring training in St. Louis.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

* Bill Hart (1949, MGR) * Lee Moody (1950)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Cairo - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Cairo, Illinois Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliates 1950 disestablishments in Illinois Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League teams Defunct baseball teams in Illinois Baseball teams established in 1949 Baseball teams disestablished in 1950 1949 establishments in Illinois