Victoria Rosebuds
Encyclopedia
The Victoria Rosebuds were a minor league baseball
team in the Double-A Texas League
located in Victoria, Texas
, between 1958
and May 27, 1961, when the club was transferred to Ardmore, Oklahoma
, because of attendance woes. Club owner Tom O'Connor, Jr., a local rancher, suffered a heart attack in 1961, and without his continued support, the team was unable to remain in Victoria. Two weeks later, on June 10,
1961
, Victoria received another club struggling at the gate, the Rio Grande Valley Giants
, who transferred from Harlingen, Texas
. The Rosebuds had originally moved to Victoria from Shreveport, Louisiana. after the 1957 season.
Both the Ardmore Rosebuds (who drew a total of almost 49,000 fans for the season) and Victoria Giants (a total of 43,000) disappeared from the TL map in 1962
, succeeded by the Albuquerque Dukes
and El Paso Sun Kings
.
Several other minor league teams also called themselves the Victoria Rosebuds, indluding teams in the Southwest Texas League in 1910-11, the Gulf Coast League
in 1926, (not to be confused with the present-day GCL in Florida), the Big State League
in 1956-7, and the Lone Star League in 1977.
However, the Rosebuds/Giants' four years in the Texas League during the 1958-61 period (along with a return to the Texas loop in 1974
for one season as the Victoria Toros) represented the highest level of minor league team to represent the city. Victoria has always been by far the smallest market base in its respective leagues. The Texas League Rosebuds competed in a league against Houston and Dallas, with less than 20,000 inhabitants in Victoria. In 1910, the city supported the Rosebuds with a population of less than 5,000.
The Rosebuds' most successul season was in 1959
, when they won the TL's regular-season championship before falling in the playoffs to the San Antonio Missions
. The '59 Buds were managed by "Pistol Pete" Reiser
, the former star Dodger centerfielder, who won the 1959 Sporting News
Minor League Manager of the Year Award for his efforts. Outfielder
Carl Warwick
, a future major leaguer, was the league Most Valuable Player, while Carroll Beringer
, later a long-time MLB coach
, was the TL's top pitcher
.
A number of major league stars advanced from the Rosebuds, including Frank Howard
and Tommy Davis
In , Victoria was represented in the Class A Lone Star League
by a team nicknamed the Rosebuds. Although the team finished under .500, at 38–42, the Rosebuds compiled the best overall record in the Lone Star's North Division and draw 14,000 fans. The league lasted only that one campaign before disbanding.
The Rosebuds played their games in Riverside Stadium
, which was built in 1946. Riverside Stadium is still in use by the Victoria Generals in the Texas Collegiate League
and by the University of Houston–Victoria
Jaguars.
teams:
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in the Double-A Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
located in Victoria, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
, between 1958
1958 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Milwaukee Braves ; Bob Turley, MVP*All-Star Game, July 8 at Memorial Stadium: American League, 4-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: USC...
and May 27, 1961, when the club was transferred to Ardmore, Oklahoma
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Ardmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area totaling 56,694 residents...
, because of attendance woes. Club owner Tom O'Connor, Jr., a local rancher, suffered a heart attack in 1961, and without his continued support, the team was unable to remain in Victoria. Two weeks later, on June 10,
1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
, Victoria received another club struggling at the gate, the Rio Grande Valley Giants
Rio Grande Valley Giants
The Rio Grande Valley Giants was a minor league baseball franchise in the Double-A Texas League located in Harlingen, Texas, USA, from the beginning of the 1960 season through June 10, 1961...
, who transferred from Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, United States, about from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than , and is the second largest city in Cameron County and the sixth largest in the Rio Grande Valley...
. The Rosebuds had originally moved to Victoria from Shreveport, Louisiana. after the 1957 season.
Both the Ardmore Rosebuds (who drew a total of almost 49,000 fans for the season) and Victoria Giants (a total of 43,000) disappeared from the TL map in 1962
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
, succeeded by the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
and El Paso Sun Kings
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
.
Several other minor league teams also called themselves the Victoria Rosebuds, indluding teams in the Southwest Texas League in 1910-11, the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
in 1926, (not to be confused with the present-day GCL in Florida), the Big State League
Big State League
The Big State League was a mid-level, Class B circuit in American minor league baseball that played for 11 seasons, from 1947 through 1957. Its member clubs were exclusively based in Texas. It saw a lot of transition in its 11-year lifetime, with no team serving as a member in every single season....
in 1956-7, and the Lone Star League in 1977.
However, the Rosebuds/Giants' four years in the Texas League during the 1958-61 period (along with a return to the Texas loop in 1974
1974 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*1974 World Series: Oakland Athletics over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Rollie Fingers, MVP*All-Star Game, July 23 at Three Rivers Stadium: National League, 7-2; Steve Garvey, MVP-Other champions:...
for one season as the Victoria Toros) represented the highest level of minor league team to represent the city. Victoria has always been by far the smallest market base in its respective leagues. The Texas League Rosebuds competed in a league against Houston and Dallas, with less than 20,000 inhabitants in Victoria. In 1910, the city supported the Rosebuds with a population of less than 5,000.
The Rosebuds' most successul season was in 1959
1959 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox ; Larry Sherry, MVP*All-Star Game , July 7 at Forbes Field: National League, 5-4*All-Star Game , August 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: American League, 5-3...
, when they won the TL's regular-season championship before falling in the playoffs to the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
. The '59 Buds were managed by "Pistol Pete" Reiser
Pete Reiser
Harold Patrick "Pete" Reiser , nicknamed "Pistol Pete," was an outfielder in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and early 1950s. He played primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and later for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians.-Early career:A native of St...
, the former star Dodger centerfielder, who won the 1959 Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
Minor League Manager of the Year Award for his efforts. Outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Carl Warwick
Carl Warwick
Carl Wayne Warwick is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played from 1961 to 1966.He appeared in the 1964 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and tied a World Series record with three pinch hits...
, a future major leaguer, was the league Most Valuable Player, while Carroll Beringer
Carroll Beringer
Carroll "CB" James Beringer was a Major League Baseball coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies ....
, later a long-time MLB coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, was the TL's top pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
A number of major league stars advanced from the Rosebuds, including Frank Howard
Frank Howard
Frank Howard may refer to:*Frank A. Howard , Louisiana state representative*Frank Howard , American college football player and coach*Frankie Howerd , English comedian...
and Tommy Davis
Tommy Davis
Herman Thomas Davis, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder and third baseman. He played from 1959-1976 for ten different teams, but he is best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During an 18-year baseball career, Davis batted .294 with 153 home runs, 2,121...
In , Victoria was represented in the Class A Lone Star League
Lone Star League
The Lone Star League was the name of three American minor professional baseball leagues located in the state of Texas during the 20th century. The leagues operated from 1927–1929 , 1947–1948 and 1977 ....
by a team nicknamed the Rosebuds. Although the team finished under .500, at 38–42, the Rosebuds compiled the best overall record in the Lone Star's North Division and draw 14,000 fans. The league lasted only that one campaign before disbanding.
The Rosebuds played their games in Riverside Stadium
Riverside Stadium (Victoria)
Riverside Stadium is a ballpark located in Victoria, Texas which is the current home of the UHV Jaguars baseball team and the Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League. It is the former home of the Victoria Rosebuds, who played in the AA classification Texas League from 1958 to 1961. The...
, which was built in 1946. Riverside Stadium is still in use by the Victoria Generals in the Texas Collegiate League
Texas Collegiate League
The Texas Collegiate League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. The TCL is based in Coppell, Texas, and shares its headquarters with the Coppell Copperheads, the DFW Metroplex-area team...
and by the University of Houston–Victoria
University of Houston–Victoria
The University of Houston–Victoria is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 20-acre in Victoria, with satellite locations at UH System centers in Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch...
Jaguars.
Affiliations
The Rosebuds of 1958–1961 were affiliated with the following major leagueMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams:
| Year | Affiliation(s) |
|---|---|
| 1958-59 | Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... |
| 1960 | Detroit Tigers Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant... |
| 1961 | Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league... |