The Reno Silver Sox were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1947 to 1992. The team name is derived from the nickname of Nevada, the "Silver State". There was another baseball team known as the
Reno Silver Sox who played in the
Golden Baseball League. From part of the 1955 season to 1992, they played their home games at
Moana Stadium. The 1961 Silver Sox were recognized as one of the
100 greatest minor league teams of all time.
History
After Reno first hosted a team in the 1907
Nevada State League, the Reno Silver Sox became members of the 1947
Sunset League
The Sunset League was a minor league baseball circuit that operated from 1947 through 1950.
The Sunset League was a Class C level league, with franchises based in the United States and Mexico. The league expanded from six to eight teams from ...
and continued in the league from 1947 to 1949. They were affiliated with the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
during their time in the Sunset League. From 1950 to 1951, they were unaffiliated and played in the
Far West League Far West League may refer to:
* Far West League (1948–1951), an American baseball minor league
*Far West League (collegiate summer baseball league)
The Far West League (FWL) was a collegiate summer baseball league based on the west coast of th ...
. Starting in 1955, they played in the
California League
The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leag ...
, when the
Channel Cities Oilers moved to Reno to become the second incarnation of the Reno Silver Sox. They became affiliated with the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
in 1956 and stayed affiliated with them until the Dodgers' move in 1957. They were then affiliated with the
Los Angeles Dodgers until 1962. From 1963 to 1964, they were affiliated with the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
. They did not organize in 1965, and therefore did not play ball. They came back in 1966 and lasted until 1981. From 1966 to 1974, they were affiliated with the
Cleveland Indians. From 1975 to 1976 they were affiliated with both the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
and
San Diego Padres. From 1977 to 1981, they were affiliated with just the Padres. After the 1981 season, the team was renamed the
Reno Padres and baseball was not played under the "Reno Silver Sox" name again until 1988. Still in the California League, they were unaffiliated from 1988 to 1991. In 1992 – the last season in which a "Silver Sox" team played in an affiliated league – they were affiliated with the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...
. Following the 1992 season, the team left Reno and move to Riverside to become the
Riverside Pilots
The Riverside Pilots were a Minor League Baseball team in Riverside, California. They were a Class A-Advanced team that played in the California League, and were a farm team of the Seattle Mariners. In spite of making the playoffs each year of it ...
. In 1996, they moved to Lancaster and became the
Lancaster JetHawks.
Championships
The Reno Silver Sox were league champions in 1948, 1960, 1961, 1975, and 1976. They are the only team in California League history to win back-to-back championships twice.
Notable Reno alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
alumni
*
Roberto Alomar (1986) Inducted, 2011
*
Bobby Cox (1960) Inducted, 2014
*
Dennis Eckersley (1972-1973) Inducted, 2004
Other notable alumni
*
Larry Andersen (1973)
*
Alan Ashby
Alan Dean Ashby (born July 8, 1951) is an American former professional baseball catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) and current radio and television sports commentator. A switch hitter, he played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, ...
(1970-1971)
*
Phil Cavarretta (1966-1967, MGR) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1945 NL Batting Title; 1945 NL Most Valuable Player
*
Storm Davis
George Earl "Storm" Davis (born December 26, 1961) is an American former professional baseball player who pitcher, pitched in the Major League Baseball, major leagues from 1982 to 1994. He is a two-time World Series champion.
World Series experie ...
(1947)
*
Willie Davis (1959) 2 x MLB All-Star
*
Ed Farmer (1968) MLB All-Star
*
Tim Flannery (1978)
*
Ray Fosse (1966) 2 x MLB All-Star
*
Alfredo Griffin (1974) MLB All-Star; 1979 AL Rookie of the Year
*
Ozzie Guillen (1982) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1985 AL Rookie of the Year
*
Andy Hawkins (1979-1980)
*
Jim Kern (1970-1971) 3 x MLB All-Star
*
John Kruk (1982) 3 x MLB All-Star
*
Duane Kuiper (1972)
*
Jim Lefebvre (1962) MLB All-Star; 1965 NL Rookie of the Year
*
John Lowenstein (1968-1969)
*
Rick Manning (1972-1973)
*
Pinky May (1970-1971, MGR) MLB All-Star
*
Kevin McReynolds
Walter Kevin McReynolds (born October 16, 1959) is an American former baseball player who was an outfielder with a 12-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1983 to 1994. A two-time All-America from the University of Arkansas, he played ...
(1982)
*
Ken McMullen (1961)
*
Jeff Newman Jeff Newman may refer to:
* Jeff Newman (baseball), American baseball player
*Jeff Newman (musician), pedal steel guitar player and Nashville session musician
*Jeff Newman (TV personality)
Jeffrey William Newman OAM (born 4 February 1944) is a ...
(1971-1972) MLB All-Star and manager
*
Mike Norris (1991) MLB All-Star
*
Gene Richards (1975)
*
Pete Richert (1958) 2 x MLB All-Star
*
Benito Santiago (1984) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1987 NL Rookie of the Year
*
Eric Show (1979)
*
Bill Singer (1962) 2 x MLB All-Star
*
Charley Smith (1957)
*
Dick Tidrow (1967-1971)
*
Bobby Tolan (1963)
*
Eddie Watt
Eddie Dean Watt (born April 4, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed relief pitcher from through , most prominently as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won th ...
(1978-1979, MGR)
*
Mitch Williams (1983-1984) MLB All-Star
*
Butch Wynegar (1975) 2 x MLB All-Star
Year-by-year record
References
{{reflist
External links
Moana Stadium pageWaymarking Moana Stadium pageReno Ballpark UpdateReno Silver Sox California League statistics and records
at The Baseball Cube (1978–1992)
Defunct Far West League teams
Defunct California League teams
Baseball teams established in 1947
Sports in Reno, Nevada
Professional baseball teams in Nevada
Oakland Athletics minor league affiliates
Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates
San Diego Padres minor league affiliates
Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates
Los Angeles Dodgers minor league affiliates
Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliates
New York Giants minor league affiliates
1947 establishments in Nevada
1992 disestablishments in Nevada
Baseball teams disestablished in 1992
Defunct baseball teams in Nevada