Hamilton Red Wings (baseball)
The Hamilton Red Wings were a minor league baseball team based in Hamilton, Ontario. The team was a charter member of the PONY League, which rebranded as the New York–Penn League upon the demise of the Hamilton franchise; Hamilton played within the league during the team's entire existence.
The club was founded in 1939 and was associated with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League through the 1955 season. After missing three seasons during World War II, the franchise changed its name to the Hamilton Cardinals. In 1955 the Cardinals won the league championship. The team then reverted to the Hamilton Red Wings name for the 1956, however, on May 18, the Red Wings disbanded. Hamilton did not have another minor league baseball team until 1988, when the Hamilton Redbirds began play.
Year-by-year record
Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Notes |
1939 | 61-44 | 2nd | Don Hurst | Lost League Finals |
1940 | 47-53 | 4th | Fred Lucas | Lost in 1st round |
1941 | 50-57 | 4th | Roy Pfleger | Lost League Finals |
1942 | 36-90 | 8th | Roy Pfleger / Ken Blackman / Joe Sugden | |
1946 | 53-73 | 5th | John Newman | |
1947 | 49-76 | 7th | John Newman | |
1948 | 73-52 | 3rd | George Kissell | Lost in 1st round |
1949 | 75-50 | 3rd | George Kissell | Lost League Finals |
1950 | 68-57 | 3rd | Vedie Himsl | Lost in 1st round |
1951 | 66-60 | 4th | Vedie Himsl | Lost in 1st round |
1952 | 83-43 | 1st | Harold Contini | Lost in 1st round |
1953 | 69-57 | 3rd | Harold Contini | Lost League Finals |
1954 | 61-65 | 6th | Jimmy Brown | |
1955 | 82-43 | 1st | Ed Lyons | League Champs |
1956 | 6-8 | -- | Cart Howerton | Team disbanded May 18 |