The Columbus Jets were a

Minor League Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...

baseball team that played in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...

, from 1955 to 1970. The team moved from

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, Ontario, Canada where they were known as the Ottawa Athletics. The Jets were a member of the Triple-A

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...

. The Jets' name came from Columbus' role in manufacturing aircraft by North American Aviation for

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

.Barrett, Richard E. Columbus 1910-1970. Arcadia, page 83 They were the Triple-A affiliate of the

Kansas City Athletics The Kansas City Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1955 to 1967, having previously played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Athletics. After moving in 1967, the team became the ...

(1955–56) and

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

(1957–70). The Jets played their home games at Jets Stadium. In 1971 the franchise moved to Charleston, West Virginia, and became the Charleston Charlies, leaving Columbus without organized baseball for the first time since 1894. In 1977 the

Columbus Clippers The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...

returned baseball to Ohio's capital.

Notable alumni

* Steve Arlin * Bob Bailey * Steve Blass * Donn Clendenon * Dock Ellis * Johnny Lipon * Bob Kuzava * Julián Javier * Román Mejías * Pat Gillick * Manny Mota * Gene Michael * Richie Hebner * Milt May * Al Oliver * Freddie Patek * Dave Roberts * Manny Sanguillén * Billy Shantz * Willie Stargell * Bob Veale * Frank Verdi * Wilbur Wood

Yearly record

References

{{reflist Defunct International League teams Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates Kansas City Athletics minor league affiliates Professional baseball teams in Ohio Defunct baseball teams in Ohio Baseball teams in Columbus, Ohio 1955 establishments in Ohio Baseball teams disestablished in 1970 Baseball teams established in 1955