The Winnipeg Whips were a professional Triple-A minor league

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...

team based in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...

Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Winn ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

that played in the International League from 1970 to 1971. The team was affiliated with the

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

and played its home games at

Winnipeg Stadium Canad Inns Stadium (also known as Winnipeg Stadium) was a multipurpose stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The stadium was located at the corner of St. James Street and Maroons Road, immediately north of the Polo Park Shopping Centre and th ...

. The franchise was founded as the

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...

, a founding member of the International League in 1886. The Expos purchased the Bisons shortly after joining the

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...

in 1969 and were eager to relocate the struggling team, to the extent that the team was moved midseason from Buffalo to Winnipeg in June 1970. The Expos selected Winnipeg even though it was located 1,100 miles from the nearest league rival. As part of the move, the Expos agreed to pick up the additional travel costs of opposing teams, believing it would be a temporary measure until the Whips could switch to the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

, a Triple-A league operating in the

Midwestern United States The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

, which was much closer to Winnipeg.

Clyde McCullough Clyde Edward McCullough (March 4, 1917 – September 18, 1982) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball. After his playing career ended, he also managed in the minor leagues and was a major-league coach. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, McCu ...

managed the team at its inception. The Whips did not fare well on the field, finishing in last place in both 1970 and 1971. In 1971, the team only won 44 of its 140 games, and only 17 of its final 74. McCullough was replaced as manager during the year by

Jim Bragan James Alton Bragan (March 12, 1929 – June 2, 2001) was an infielder, manager and league president in American minor league baseball, a scout and coach at the Major League level, and a college baseball coach during a 40-plus year career in ...

, and

Steve Shea Steven Francis Shea (December 5, 1942 – March 4, 2015) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1968 to 1969 for the Houston Astros and Montreal Expos. Listed at , , he batted and threw right handed. Born in Worcester, Mas ...

would also take his turn as manager of the ballclub. Skyrocketing costs, coupled with the failed bid to join the American Association, forced the Expos to give up on Winnipeg and move the team to

Hampton Hampton may refer to: Places Australia *Hampton bioregion, an IBRA biogeographic region in Western Australia *Hampton, New South Wales *Hampton, Queensland, a town in the Toowoomba Region * Hampton, Victoria Canada * Hampton, New Brunswick *Ha ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

after the 1971 season. The team became the Peninsula Whips and played two seasons out of Hampton War Memorial Stadium, located just 19 miles from the IL's Tidewater Tides. After drawing only 48,680 fans in 1973, the AAA franchise was moved to Memphis, Tennessee and played in the international League as the

Memphis Blues The Memphis blues is a style of blues music created from the 1910s to the 1930s by musicians in the Memphis area, such as Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie. The style was popular in vaudeville and medicine shows a ...

through 1976. They moved to Charleston, West Virginia and assumed the identity of the

Charleston Charlies The Charleston Charlies were a Triple-A minor league baseball team located in Charleston, West Virginia. Two separate Charlies franchises played in the International League from 1971 to 1983. The team was the relocated Columbus Jets. In 1977 the f ...

, who had relocated to Columbus, Ohio for the 1977 season. After a stop in Old Orchard Beach, Maine (

Maine Guides The Maine Guides were an American minor league baseball franchise that played in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, between 1984 and 1988. The Triple-A International League (IL) club was named for a classification of registered hunting and wilderness g ...

), the franchise founded as the Buffalo Bisons and once known as the Winnipeg Whips is now playing out of

Moosic, Pennsylvania Moosic ( ) is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, south of downtown Scranton and northeast of downtown Wilkes-Barre, on the Lackawanna River. Moosic is in a former coal-mining region. A few older industries existed at one time, incl ...

as the

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, in the ...

Major League alumni

* John Bateman *

Gil Blanco Gilbert Henry Blanco (born December 15, 1945) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. Blanco was signed by the New York Yankees in 1964. He pitched for the Yankees in and the Kansas City Athletics in . In 28 Major League games, nine ...

Don Bosch Donald John Bosch (born July 15, 1942) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and minor league baseball all-star. Bosch was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1960. He made it to the major league club in 1966. ...

* Kevin Collins *

Boots Day Charles Frederick "Boots" Day (born August 31, 1947) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Montreal Expos. Until recently, Day was bench c ...

* Bill Dillman *

Pepe Frías Jesús María "Pepe" Frías Andújar (born July 14, 1948) is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Dodgers The Lo ...

Jim Gosger James Charles Gosger (born November 6, 1942) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played in the majors for ten seasons between 1963 and 1974 for six different teams. Gosger was listed at and and batted and ...

Rich Hacker Richard Warren Hacker (October 6, 1947 – April 22, 2020) was a Major League Baseball player, base coach and scout. Hacker played 16 games for the Montreal Expos in the 1971 season as a shortstop. He had a .121 batting average, with four hits in ...

* Don Hahn *

Larry Haney Wallace Larry Haney (born November 19, 1942) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played from 1966 to 1978 for the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals. Haney late ...

Remy Hermoso Ángel Remigio Hermoso (October 1, 1947 – August 21, 2020), commonly known as Remy Hermoso (er-mo'-so), was a Venezuelan Major League Baseball shortstop and right-handed batter who played for the Atlanta Braves (1967), Montreal Expos (1969–70 ...

* José Herrera * Walt Hriniak * Terry Humphrey *

Garry Jestadt Garry Arthur Jestadt (born March 19, 1947), is a retired American Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs for all or portions of three seasons ( and –). Jestadt graduated from Fremon ...

Larry Loughlin Larry John Loughlin (August 16, 1941 – January 26, 1999) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1967 season. Listed at , , Loughlin batted and threw left-handed. He was born in ...

* Leo Marentette * Mike Marshall * Clyde Mashore *

Ernie McAnally Ernest Lee McAnally (born August 15, 1946) is an American retired professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, McAnally spent four seasons (1971–1974) in Major League Baseball as a member of the Montreal Expos. McAnally stood tall and ...

* Dave McDonald *

Dan McGinn Daniel Michael McGinn (born November 29, 1943) is an American former professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Early life and football Born in Omaha, Nebraska, McGinn was a multi-sport athlete at Omaha Cathed ...

* Joe Moock * Balor Moore * Rich Nye * John O'Donoghue *

Adolfo Phillips Adolfo Emilio Phillips López (December 16, 1941), is a Panamanian former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, and Cleveland Indians from to . ...

Jim Qualls James Robert Qualls (born October 9, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player who appeared in 63 games in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and pinch-hitting specialist for the Chicago Cubs (), Montreal Expos () and Chicago ...

* Bob Reynolds * Steve Rogers * Carroll Sembera * Don Shaw *

Tommie Sisk Tommie Wayne Sisk (born April 12, 1942 in Ardmore, Oklahoma) is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1962 to 1970 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. Originally signed as an amateur ...

* Dick Smith *

Joe Sparma Joseph Blase Sparma (February 4, 1942 – May 14, 1986) was a quarterback in collegiate football (1961–1962) and a pitcher in Major League Baseball (1964–1970). Quarterback at Ohio State Born in Massillon, Ohio, Sparma attended Ohio State ...

Stan Swanson Stanley Lawrence Swanson (May 19, 1944 – September 1, 2017) was a baseball player who played for the Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Qu ...

Mike Torrez Michael Augustine Torrez (born August 28, 1946) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) starting pitcher. In an 18-season career, he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals (1967–1971), Montreal Expos (1971–1974), Baltimore Orioles (1 ...

* Freddie Velázquez *

Mike Wegener Michael Denis Wegener (born October 8, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was signed by the Baltimore Orioles before the 1964 season, drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Orioles in the 1964 first-year draf ...

Fred Whitfield Fred Whitfield may refer to: * Fred Whitfield (baseball) * Fred Whitfield (rodeo) Fred Whitfield (born August 5, 1967) is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in tie-down roping. He won eight Professional Rodeo Cowboys A ...

Jimy Williams James Francis Williams (born October 4, 1943) is an American former professional baseball infielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born in Santa Maria, California, and briefly appeared in two MLB seasons as a seco ...

Ron Woods Ronald Lawrence Woods (born February 1, 1943) is an American former professional baseball player who appeared in all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball from to , primarily as an outfielder, for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankee ...

Notes

References

{{reflist Baseball teams established in 1970 Defunct International League teams Defunct baseball teams in Canada Montreal Expos minor league affiliates Baseball teams in Winnipeg Baseball teams disestablished in 1973