Wichita Aviators (baseball)

Wichita Aviators (1905-1933) Wichita, Kansas
Class-level
Previous	Class-A (1909-1933) Class-C (1905-1908)
Minor league affiliations
Previous leagues	Western League (1909-1933) Western Association (1905-1908)
Major league affiliations
Previous	Chicago Cubs (1932) Pittsburgh Pirates (1930-1931)
Minor league titles
League titles	4 (1905, 1907, 1921, 1930)
Team data
Previous names	Muskogee Oilers (end-1933) Wichita Oilers (1933) Wichita Aviators (1929-1932) Wichita Larks (1927-1928) Wichita Izzies (1923-1926) Wichita Witches (1912-1917, 1921-1922) Wichita Jobbers (1905-1911, 1918-1920) Colorado Springs Millionaires (end-1916) Pueblo Indians (end-1911)
Ballpark	Island Park (1918-1933) Unknown (1905-1917)

The Wichita Aviators were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The club played mostly in the Western League. However the began play in as the Wichita Joggers, a member of the Western Association. The Joggers played in the Western Association from 1905-1908, winning the league championship in 1905 and 1907. The Joggers then moved to the Western League, where they played until midway through their 1911 season. That year, the team relocated to Pueblo, Colorado, where they finished out the year as the Pueblo Indians. However a team representing Wichita was fielded in 1912 to compete in the Western League. The Wichita Witches played continuously in the league until 1916. The team finished their 1916 season in Colorado Springs, Colorado as the Colorado Springs Millionaires, before returning to Wichita in 1917. The team was again renamed the Joggers from 1918-1920, before retaking the Witches moniker as the they won their third league title, the first in the Western League, in 1921. From 1923-1926, the club was renamed the Wichita Izzies, while they took the name the Wichita Larks from 1927-1929.

Multiple Izzies players had or would have major league experience.

1923: Johnny Butler, Joe Casey, Jocko Conlan, Howie Gregory, Ed Hovlik, Ernie Maun, Hugh McMullen, Paul Musser

1924: Fred Beck, Butler, Archie Campbell, Chuck Corgan, Gregory, Hovlik, McMullen, Musser

1925: Campbell, Chet Chadbourne, Corgan, Fred Graf, Gregory, Raymond Haley, Don Hankins, Hovlik, McMullen, Ray Morehart, Ken Penner, Bill Sweeney

1926: Jack Berly, Fred Brickell, Campbell, Pete Compton, Bill Doran, Gregory, Haley, Sweeney

In 1920, the club was renamed the Wichita Aviators and from 1930-1931, they became an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1931, the Aviators won their second Western league title, and forth overall league title. The Aviators affiliation changed in 1932 from the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs. Former Aviators include Indian Bob Johnson, Woody Jensen, Vern Kennedy, Jack Mealey, and Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan. In 1933 the Wichita Aviators became the Wichita Oilers. After beginning the year 6-13, the club moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma where they became the Muskogee Oilers. Overall the Oilers were 26-95, one of the worst records ever posted in the Western League. The club was just 20-82 after leaving Wichita, and only went 8-57 in the second half. The Oilers did not return in 1934 and Wichita would not have another team, until the Wichita Indians began play in 1950.

Seasons

(from Jobbers Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Witches Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Larks Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Izzies Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Aviators Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Oilers Baseball Reference Bullpen)

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Notes
1905	79-56	1st	William Kimmell	League Champs
1906	75-65	3rd	William Kimmell / Jack Holland
1907	98-35	1st	Jack Holland	League Champs
1908	87-53	2nd	Jack Holland
1909	71-82	5th	Jack Holland
1910	89-78	4th	Frank Isbell
1911	15-9	--	Frank Isbell	Team moved to Pueblo (77-66) May 22
1912	75-89	7th	George Hughes
1913	65-101	8th	George Hughes / Charlie Babb / Nick Maddox
1914	63-102	8th	Nick Maddox / George Graham
1915	57-80	7th	Clyde "Buzzy" Wares / Ham Patterson
1916	55-84	--	Jimmy Jackson	Team moved to Colorado Springs (2-10) September 10
1917	61-87	8th	Frank Isbell / Bobby Wallace / Joe Berger
1918	41-24	1st	Joe Berger	League suspended operations July 7
1919	75-65	3rd	Joe Berger
1920	92-62	2nd	Joe Berger
1921	106-61	1st	Joe Berger	League Champs
1922	94-73	3rd	Joe Berger / Howie Gregory
1923	100-68	3rd	Howie Gregory
1924	79-88	6th	Howie Gregory
1925	80-84	4th	Howie Gregory
1926	58-108	8th	Howie Gregory / Pat Haley
1927	91-63	2nd	Doc Crandall
1928	94-70	3rd	Doc Crandall / Art Griggs
1929	77-79	4th	Art Griggs
1930	89-56	1st	Art Griggs	League Champs
1931	92-58	2nd	Art Griggs / Howie Gregory	Lost League Finals vs. Des Moines Demons 4 games to 2.
1932	63-86	6th	Jimmy Payton
1933	6-13	--	Rube Marquard	Team moved to Muskogee (20-82) on June 6, 1933