Hazard Bombers
The Hazard Bombers competed in the Mountain States League from 1948 until 1952. At the time the league was a Class D league which roughly equates to today’s Rookie League.
They had started out their existence in 1948 as the Oak Ridge Bombers in Oak Ridge, TN. Despite jumping out to an impressive 24-11 record by June 10th, attendance was poor and the club was operating at a loss. In stepped owner Bob Broome who moved the team 150 miles or so to Hazard, KY.
Like most Kentucky towns in the mountains of Appalachia, Hazard’s fortunes and economy were tied to the coal mining industry. Until the railroad arrived in 1912, the town had only been accessible by boat or by an arduous journey on foot through the forests and mountains. By the time the Bombers arrived in 1948 the town was much more accessible by road and the locals were thrilled to have professional baseball come to their community.
When the 1951 Bombers ran out onto Bomber Field, constructed just the year before, resplendent in white uniforms with blue numbers and red piping, blue hats with a red “H” and red white and blue hooped socks, the players, the owner and the community had big expectations for the season. The team did not disappoint. The season started with Juan Torres, a 19 year old right handed pitcher from Cuba, tossing a no-hitter on opening day. By May, the manager, former major leaguer Max Macon, had the services of another 19 year old pitcher in Johnny Podres, who would go on to World Series fame with the Brooklyn Dodgers. By season’s end Podres would rack up a 21-3 record with 1.67 ERA and 228 strikeouts. Fellow pitcher Dan Hayling, a native of Costa Rica, would put up a 21-4 record with a 3.47 ERA. The team finished an astounding 91-33 and was later named one of the top 100 teams in minor league baseball history.
The next season, the Bombers would prove to be almost as good, posting a 87-32 record, but alas it would their last season in the Mountain States League. There would be no professional baseball in Hazard in 1953, nor has there been since. However, for a short time, Hazard, KY boasted one of the best teams in baseball.
Despite their success, Johnny Podres would prove to be the only future major leaguer to come through Hazard. Dan Hayling would not progress past Class B in the minors and eventually made his way to the Mexican League where he played nine seasons, his final season being in 1968.
