Chanute Athletics


The Chanute Athletics was a primary name of the minor league baseball team based in Chanute, Kansas from 1946 to 1950. Chanute played in the Class D Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League and were affiliates of the New York Giants.

History

Chanute first had a minor league baseball team, playing in the 1896 Kansas State League. The Chanute Oilers played in the 1902 Missouri Valley League, after the Coffeyville Indians moved to Chanute on June 23, 1902. The Chanute Browns were members of the 1906 Kansas State League.
Chanute played in the Class D Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League from 1946-1950 and were affiliates of the New York Giants in 1948. Chanute won the league Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League championship in 1946.
The Chanute Oilers finished 68–53 in the 1946 Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League, to capture the league pennant. The Oilers then defeated the Pittsburg Browns 3 games to 2 in the first playoff series. In the 1946 Finals, Chanute was tied with the Iola Cubs 3 games to 3 when the series was halted due to weather.
In 1947, the Chanute Athletics finished 44–80, 7th place in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League.
The Chanute Giants were a Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League affiliate of the New York Giants in 1948. The Giants finished 8th place with a 44–78 record.
In 1949, the Chanute Athletics finished 65–60 in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League. In their final season, 1950, the Athletics were 35–80, finishing in 8th place. The franchise permanently folded after the 1950 season.

The ballpark

The Chanute teams played at Katy Park, built in 1936 as a Works Project Administration project. Katy Park had a capacity of 3,500, 2,500 and 1,500. Mickey Mantle played in Chanute in 1949, as a member of visiting Independence Yankees. Katy Park is still in use today. It is located at 15 North Lincoln, Chanute, Kansas.

Notable alumni

YearRecordWin-Loss %ManagerRegular Season FinishPlayoffs/Notes
194668–53.561Goldie Howard1st placeChampionship tied 3-3
194744–80.354Dave Dennis / Charlie Bates7th-
194844–78.360Alfred Smith8th-
194965–60.520James Hansen / Charlie Bates5th-
195035–89.282Charlie Bates / Thomas Imfeld / Chuck Hostetler8th-