Baseball in Kokomo, Indiana

Overview

The record of the Midwest League franchise in Kokomo, Indiana.

Kokomo had a couple fine seasons, and every summer had excellent players to showcase. But no one came to watch, and after seven seasons the team folded.

Something unique happened to the Kokomo team: Although the 1958 Kokomo Dodgers led the league in wins, they failed to qualify for the playoffs. Michigan City won the first half-pennant; while Waterloo won the second--and Kokomo was out of luck.

Summary

• Midwest League seasons: 7
• Won/Lost overall: 438/427, .506
• Best season: 77/50, .606 (1957)
• Championship Playoffs Won: none
  • Championship Series Won/Lost: 0/4, .000
• Best MWL Won/Lost Record: 2 seasons

Kokomo joined the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League, the Midwest League's direct predecessor, in 1955. This team was the successor to the first Danville franchise. The team folded after the 1961 season and was not directly replaced. (Three teams did join the MWL in 1962, but all moved from the failed Three-I League.)

Seasonal Results
Other Leagues

Team Names

• Kokomo Giants, 1955
• Kokomo Dodgers, 1956-61

Affiliations

• Independent, 1955
• Brooklyn Dodgers, 1956-57
• Los Angeles Dodgers, 1958-61

Officers, Managers, & Coaches

Ballparks

• Highland Park Stadium

Attendance record

• 53,600 (1957)

Ballparks & Attendance

Best Seasons

• Hitter: Walt Dixon (1955) .310, 24 HR, 112 RBI
• Pitcher: Ed Picker (1957) 16-3, 1.86 or Emerson Unzicker (1957) 20-11, 3.03, 189 strikeouts

Best Big League Career

• Orlando Cepeda (1955)
  • it takes a pretty strong player to beat out Tommy Davis (1957)....

Awards

• 1958
  • Gus Sancimino (Player of the Year)
• 1959
  • Dale Reichert (Rookie of the Year)

Kokomo Highlights

Team Records

Hitters

• Batting: Orlando Cepeda (1955) .393
• Home Runs: Dale Reichert (1959) 30
• Runs Batted In: Dale Reichert (1959) 116

Seasonal Hitting Leaders

Pitchers

• Wins: Allen Evans (1955) 21
• Won/Lost (10 decisions): Ed Picker (1957) 16-3, .842
• Earned Run Average: Ed Picker (1957) 1.86
• Strikeouts: Emerson Unzicker (1957): 189

Seasonal Pitching Leaders

Notes

This summary originated as the September 17, 2000, Midwest League Tidbit on the Midwest League Mailing List.

Sources

These pages draw heavily on several sources:

• Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, eds, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham: Baseball America, 1997)
• Midwest League Media Guide and Record Book (Beloit: Midwest League, various years; title varies)
• Kevin Saldana, Today in Minor League Baseball History (???: SalFam Books, 1999)
• Baseball America's Almanac (Durham: Baseball America, various years)
• News sources.