The Plainview Athletics (or the interchangeable "A's") were a minor league baseball team based in

Plainview, Texas Plainview is a city in and the county seat of Hale County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,194. Geography Plainview is located at (34.191204, –101.718806) and is located on the Llano Estacado. According ...

. The Plainview Ponies played as members of the

West Texas-New Mexico League West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some R ...

from 1953 to 1955 and

Southwestern League The Southwestern League was the name of four former minor league baseball leagues that operated in the Southwestern United States. The second league, also known as the ''Oklahoma State League'', was in operation for the 1904 season. The third l ...

in 1956 and 1957, before the Plainview Athletics, playing as a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, became members of the

Sophomore League The Sophomore League was a Class D (baseball), Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1958 in sports, 1958 through 1961 in sports, 1961. League franchises were located in New Mexico and Texas. The league evolved from the Sou ...

in 1958 and 1959. Plainview hosted minor league home games at Jaycee Park.

History

The 1953 Plainview Ponies began minor league baseball play in Plainview, Texas as members of the Class C level

. In 1953 West Texas-New Mexico League play, Plainview finished the regular season with a record of 80–62, playing under manager

Jackie Sullivan Carl Mancel Sullivan (February 22, 1918 – October 15, 1992) was an American Major League Baseball second baseman who played in one game for the Detroit Tigers on July 6, . He went hitless in one at bat In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at ...

. The Ponies placed 4th in the standings, finishing 7.0 games behind the 1st place Albuquerque Dukes and qualifying for the playoffs. In the Playoffs, the

Clovis Pioneers The Clovis Pioneers was the primary name of the minor league baseball team that played in Clovis, New Mexico in various seasons from 1922 to 1957. The team was an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (1946), Chicago Cubs (1950-1951) and Cincinnati R ...

defeated the Plainview Ponies 4 games to 2. Playing at Jaycee Park, Plainview had total season home attendance of 79,780, an average of 1,124 per game. The Plainview Ponies continued play in the 1954 as members of the Class B level West Texas-New Mexico League. The Ponies had a record of 60–73, placing 6th in the West Texas-New Mexico League, finishing 20.0 games behind the champion Pampa Oilers. Season attendance at Jaycee Park was 56,071, an average of 843. Plainview placed 4th in the 1955 West Texas-New Mexico League standings and qualified for the playoffs. The Ponies ended the 1955 season with a record of 73–67, finishing 7.0 games behind the 1st place Amarillo Gold Sox. The 1955 managers were Jackie Sullivan and

Jodie Beeler Joseph Sam Beeler (November 26, 1921 in Dallas, Texas – October 8, 2002) was an infielder in Major League Baseball. He played in three games for the Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Ci ...

. In the 1955 Playoffs, the Amarillo Gold Sox defeated Plainview 4 games to 2. Jaycee Park had home attendance of 63,269, an average of 904. The 1956 Plainview Ponies became members of the Class B level

. Plainview ended the 1956 regular season with a record of 76–68 , placing 5th in the Southwestern League, finishing 15.0 games behind the Hobbs Sports in the 15–team league. Jodie Beeler and Frank Tornay served as managers. The Ponies hit 238 home runs as a team, led by 60 from Frosty Kennedy. Season attendance was 43,892, an average of 610. In 1957, the Plainview Ponies folded from the Southwestern League during the season. On June 16. 1957, the Ponies had a record of 16–27 under manager Art Bowland when the franchise folded. At the time of their folding, Plainview had total season attendance of 5,321, an average of 247 per game. The Southwestern League folded after the season. Plainview regained a franchise in 1958. The Plainview Athletics became members of the newly formed Class D level

as an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. Plainview ended the 1958 season with a record of 50–57, placing 6th in the Sophomore League standings. The Ponies finished 22.0 games behind the first place

Midland Braves Midland may refer to: Places Australia * Midland, Western Australia Canada * Midland, Albert County, New Brunswick * Midland, Kings County, New Brunswick * Midland, Newfoundland and Labrador * Midland, Ontario India * Midland Ward, Kohima, Naga ...

playing under manager Vincent Plumbo. Plainview drew total season attendance of 21,640, an average of 361 per game. In their final season of play, the 1959 Plainview Athletics placed 4th in the Sophomore League. The Athletics ended season with a record of 60–65, finishing 11.5 games behind the 1st place Carlsbad Potashers, playing under manager

Bobby Hofman Robert George Hofman (October 5, 1925 – April 5, 1994) was an American infielder, catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Hofman threw and batted right-handed, and stood 5'11" (180 cm) tall and weighed ...

. Plainview had season attendance of 12,329,an average of 197 per game. The franchise permanently folded after the 1959 season. Plainview, Texas has not hosted another minor league team.

60 Home Run season

In the 1956 season, Frosty Kennedy hit 60 Home Runs and had 184 RBI, playing for the Plainview Ponies.

The ballpark

Plainview teams played minor league home games at Jaycee Park. The ballpark is still in use today, located within Broadway Park. The park is located at 100 South Broadway Plainview, Texas.

Notable alumni

(1955-1956, MGR) *

(1959) *

Cliff Ross Clifford David Ross (August 3, 1928 – April 12, 1999) was an American professional baseball player: a , left-handed pitcher. Born in Philadelphia, Ross played eight seasons of pro baseball between 1947 and 1957 and appeared in four games played ...

(1956) *

(1953-1955, MGR) * Sam Woods (1957)

References

{{reflist

External links