The Willows Cardinals were a minor league baseball team based in

Willows, California Willows is a city and the county seat of Glenn County, California, located in the Sacramento Valley region of Northern California. The city is a home to regional government offices, including the California Highway Patrol, California Department ...

. From 1948 to 1950, the Cardinals played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Far West League as a

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 hav ...

minor league affiliate. Willows hosted home minor league games at Ajax Field.

History

Semi–professional level baseball in Willows began in 1900 with the Willows Giants. In 1948, Willows sought to gain a minor league franchise, with the effort supported by local businessmen John Baker, Larry Cummins, Arno Poggi and others, who eventually helped secure a team to be based in Willows. The Willows "Cardinals" began minor league baseball play in 1948 as charter members of the eight–team Class D level Far West League. The "Cardinals" moniker reflected the franchise playing an as affiliate of the

. Joining Willows as charter members of the Far West League were the Klamath Falls Gems,

Marysville Braves The Marysville Braves were a minor league baseball team in the Class D Far West League in 1948 and 1949. They were an affiliate of the Boston Braves The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massac ...

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, Oroville Red Sox,

Pittsburg Diamonds The Pittsburg Diamonds were an independent professional baseball team based in Pittsburg, California. Originally named the Pittsburg Mettle, the club changed their name to the Diamonds in 2015. History The Pittsburg Mettle began play as a me ...

Redding Browns The Redding Browns were a minor league baseball team that operated from 1948 to 1951 as part of the Class-D Far West League. They were based in Redding, California. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns of the American League and won th ...

and Santa Rosa Pirates. Beginning play in the 1948 Far West League, the Willows Cardinals placed fifth with a 62–63 record, playing the season under managers James Tyack and Bill Krueger. The Cardinals finished 8.5 games behind the first place Oroville Red Sox in the final Far West League regular season standings. The team did not qualify for the playoffs. Continuing to play in the 1949 Far West League season, Willows qualified for the playoffs. The 1949 Cardinals placed third as the league lost two teams during the season, completing the season playing as a six–team league. With a 68–68 record under managers Bert Bonomi and Fred Fass, the Cardinals finished 15.5 games behind the first place Pittsburg Diamonds in the final regular season standings. In the playoffs, eventual champion Pittsburg defeated Willows three games to two in the first round. In their final season of play, the 1950 Willows Cardinals finished last eight–team Far West League. With a record of 54–85 under manager Ray Malgradi, Willows finished 33.0 games behind the first place Klamath Falls Gems, missing the playoffs. Willows permanently folded from minor league play following the 1950 season, as the Far West League reduced to six teams in their final season of 1951.

Ballpark

The Willows Cardinals hosted home minor league games at Ajax Field. The ballpark was located at North Culver Avenue & West Walnut Street in Willows, California. Ajax Field was named for Tom Ajax, a local businessman and long-time manager of the local Willows Giants team, who died in 1949. The ballpark grandstand was completely destroyed by fire in 1961.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Bob Clear Elwood Robert Clear (December 14, 1927 – April 6, 2010) was an American minor league baseball infielder, pitcher and manager, and a Major League coach with the California Angels. He was born in Denver, Colorado, and moved to Los Angeles with h ...

(1948) * Jim Tyack (1948, MGR)

References

{{reflist

External links

Willows Baseball Reference
Defunct baseball teams in California St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates Baseball teams established in 1948 Baseball teams disestablished in 1950 Far West League teams Willows, California