Grand Forks Chiefs
# Grand Forks Chiefs

The Grand Forks Chiefs were a minor league baseball team from Grand Forks, North Dakota. They played in the Northern League from 1934 to 1964, with a couple breaks in between.

## History

Minor league baseball first began in Grand Forks when the 1897 Grand Forks Senators became members of the Red River Valley League. They were followed by the Grand Forks Forkers who played as members of the Northern League (1902-1905) and Northern-Copper Country League (1906). The Grand Forks Flickertails played as members of the Central International League (1912) and Northern League (1913-1915).

The Grand Forks Chiefs began play in 1934, after Grand Forks had hosted the two previous teams in the Northern League. The Chiefs were a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers (1964), Cleveland Indians (1963, Pittsburgh Pirates (1956–1962), Philadelphia Phillies (1951–1952), New York Yankees (1948–1950), Brooklyn Dodgers (1946) and Chicago White Sox (1939–1942).

## Ballparks

The Chiefs played at home games at the Grand Forks Municipal Ballpark, which was located at 1124 Demers Avenue. Today, the site is the Central Fire Station.

## Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame Alumni

* Willie Stargell (1960) Inducted, 1988

Notable alumni

* Bob Clear (1960-1961)
* Dave Garcia (1941)
* Dale Hackbart (1960) Became NFL football player.
* Ramon Hernandez (1959-1960)
* Johnny Hopp (1955) MLB All-Star
* Dick Jamieson (1958) Became NFL player
* Rex Johnston (1960) Played in NFL
* Bob Lee MLB All-Star
* Morrie Martin (1941)
* Jose Martinez (1961)
* Gene Michael (1959-1960)
* Johnny Mostil (1938-1939) 2× AL stolen base leader (1925, 1926)
* Glen Selbo (1947) Became NBA basketball player
* Dave Wickersham (1956)

## Year-by-year record

| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1934 | 59–60 | 6th | Johnny Anderson | |
| 1935 | 46–66 | 6th | Johnny Anderson | |
| 1938 | 49–66 | 6th | Johnny Mostil | |
| 1939 | 49–68 | 7th | Johnny Mostil | |
| 1940 | 79–44 | 1st | Fred Williams | League Champs |
| 1941 | 64–48 | 2nd | Larry Bettencourt | Lost in 1st round |
| 1942 | 31–84 | 8th | Bruno Haas | |
| 1946 | 50–56 | 6th | Glenn Chapman / Rae Blaemire | |
| 1947 | 28–92 | 8t | Claude Jonnard | |
| 1948 | 80–39 | 1st | Gordon Hinkle | League Champs |
| 1949 | 55–70 | 8th | Ed Kearse / Joe McDermott / Wally Berger | |
| 1950 | 52–73 | 6th | Jack Farmer / Cedric Durst | |
| 1951 | 64–62 | 4th | Eddie Murphy | League Champs |
| 1952 | 38–86 | 8th | Eddie Murphy | |
| 1953 | 55–70 | 6th | Carl Hosler / Frank Calo | |
| 1954 | 43–91 | 8th | Virl Minnis / Frank Calo / Frank Major | |
| 1955 | 39–85 | 8th | Johnny Hopp / Joe McDermott / Ray Fletcher | |
| 1956 | 59–65 | 7th | Al Kubski | |
| 1957 | 52–72 | 8th | Al Kubski / Jack Paepke | |
| 1958 | 51–68 | 7th | James Adlam | |
| 1959 | 57–68 | 6th | James Adlam | |
| 1960 | 61–62 | 5th | Bob Clear | |
| 1961 | 60–66 | 4th | Bob Clear | Lost in 1st round |
| 1962 | 72–52 | 1st | Tom Saffell | Lost in 1st round |
| 1963 | 54–64 | 5th | Ray Dabek | 1st 17–11* |
| 1964 | 69–50 | 2nd | James Williams | 15–13 (3rd)* |

* Baukol Playoffs based on last 30 days of season
