Owensboro Oilers
The Owensboro Oilers were one of the more stable teams in the Kitty League, fielding a team each season from 1936 to 1955, save for the three season (1942-45) that the league was shut down due to World War II.
The Oilers had started out life as the Portageville Pirates in Portageville, Missouri. After posting a 26-35 record in 1936, the team picked up and moved to Owensboro on July 17th of that year and finished the season in Owensboro, still using the “Pirates” moniker. The name was changed to “Oilers” in 1937 and would remain as such for the rest of their existence.
The Oilers won the Kitty League regular season in 1946 and 1949. The also won the post season play-offs in 1946. They played in the post season every year from 1946 to 1951. The appeared in the championship series again in 1951 but were beaten 4 games to 0 by the Fulton Railroaders.
Some recognizable names passed through Owensboro either as a player or manager. Those included:
Wally Schang – a catcher in the major leagues form 1913 to 1931 for the Athletics, Red Sox, Yankees, Browns and Tigers, he was considered one of the best backstops, both offensively and defensively of his era. Schang was a 4x World Series Champion. He managed the Oilers in the abbreviated 1942 season.
Travis Jackson – a shortstop for the New York Giants from 1922-1936. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jackson also managed the Oilers, in 1950.
Tony Kubek – a shortstop for the New York Yankees, Kubek won AL Rookie of the Year in 1957. He was a 4x All Star and a 3x World Series Champion. Kubek played for the 1954 Owensboro Oilers. He is also a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a broadcaster.
Chuck Tanner – an outfielder for the 1946 and 1947 Oilers, Tanner had a respectable seven year career as a player for four teams. He’s best known though as a manager, leader the great Pirate teams of the late 70’s, including the 1979 World Series Champions.
The Owensboro Oilers were affiliated with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Boston Braves, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates during their run.
The Oilers passed into history along with the rest of the Kitty League after the 1955 Season.
