The Rogers Lions were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team based in

Rogers, Arkansas Rogers is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. Located in the Ozarks, it is part of the Northwest Arkansas region, one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country. Rogers was the location of the first Walmart store, whose cor ...

in 1936 and 1937. Beginning play as the Rogers Rustlers in 1934, and with Rogers using other nicknames (Cardinals, Reds), Rogers teams were members of the Class D level

Arkansas State League The Arkansas State League was an American minor league baseball league that played in various seasons between 1894 and 1935, forming three different times. The first version was in operation in 1894, followed by an 1897 league. The Class D level ...

from 1934 to 1935 and the Arkansas-Missouri League from 1936 to 1938, winning league championships in 1934, 1935 and 1938. Rogers teams were a minor league affiliate of the

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

in 1935 and the

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

in 1938. Rogers hosted home minor league games at the Athletic Park in Rogers.

History

In 1934, the Rogers Rustlers began play as members of the four–team Class D level

. The Bentonville Officeholders, Fayetteville Educators and

Siloam Springs Buffaloes Silwan or Siloam (; ; ) is a predominantly Palestinians, Palestinian district in East Jerusalem, on the southeastern outskirts of the current Old City (Jerusalem), Old City of Jerusalem. In the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine, the Yeme ...

teams joined Rogers in beginning league play on May 7, 1934. In their first season of play, the 1934 Rogers Rustlers won the Arkansas State League championship. The Rustlers ended the Arkansas State League regular season with a record of 36–35, placing third while playing the season under managers Ed Hawk and J.L. Casey. In the playoffs, the Rogers Rustlers beat the Siloam Springs Buffaloes in a one–game playoff for first half title. In the Finals, Rogers defeated the Bentonville Officeholders 4 games to 3 to win the championship. The Rogers Cardinals played as an affiliate of the

St Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central Division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

in 1935 and defended their Arkansas State League championship. The Cardinals ended the 1935 season with a record of 59–50 losses, placing second in the regular season standings of the four–team league. Fred Cato and Bud Stapleton served as the managers. In the playoff, the Rogers Cardinals defeated the Siloam Springs Travelers 4 games to 3 to win their second consecutive championship. In 1936, the Arkansas State League evolved to become the Class D level Arkansas-Missouri League, expanding to six teams. No longer a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, Rogers continued play as the Rogers Lions. The Bentonville Mustangs, Cassville Blues, Fayetteville Bears, Monett Red Birds and Siloam Springs Travelers joined Rogers as charter members of the Arkansas-Missouri League. Rogers finished last in the regular season standings and did not qualify for the playoffs. With a regular season record of 44–75, the Lions place sixth, playing the season under managers Doc Ledbetter and Bud Stapleton. Rogers was 30.5 games behind first place Silom Springs. The 1937 Rogers Lions continued Arkansas–Missouri League play and won both the regular season pennant and playoff championship. The Lions ended the 1937 season with a record of 79–48, winning the pennant by 8.5 games over the second place Fayetteville Angels. Ted Mayer served as manager. In the first round playoffs, the Rogers Lions defeated the Neosho Night Hawks 3 games 1 to advance. Rogers defeated the Fayetteville Angels 4 games to 1 in the finals to give the franchise a third championship. In their final season, Rogers became an affiliate of the

in 1938, advancing to the Arkansas–Missouri League playoffs. The

Rogers Reds The Rogers Reds (also known as the Lions, Cardinals and the Rustlers) were a minor league baseball team that represented Rogers, Arkansas in the Arkansas–Missouri League and Arkansas State League from 1934 to 1938. ReferencesBaseball Reference< ...

ended the regular season with a record of 63–54, placing fourth in the standings. Pat Patterson served as manager. In the playoffs, the

Neosho Yankees The Neosho Yankees were a minor league baseball team based in Neosho, Missouri. From 1937 to 1940, Neosho teams played exclusively as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Arkansas–Missouri League, winning the 1938 league pennant. Ado ...

swept Rogers in 3 games, which proved to be the final games for the Rogers franchise. In 1939, Rogers did not return to league play, as the Arkansas–Missouri League reduced franchises and played the season as a four–team league. Rogers, Arkansas has not hosted another minor league franchise.

The ballpark

The Rogers minor league teams hosted home games at Athletic Park.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Marv Breuer Marvin Howard "Baby Face" Breuer (April 29, 1914 – January 17, 1991) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Yankees from 1939 to 1943. In the 1941 World Series, Breuer came on as a reliever in the fifth i ...

(1934) * Bill Burich (1937) *

Walker Cooper William Walker Cooper (January 8, 1915 – April 11, 1991) was an American professional baseball catcher and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1940 to 1957, most notably as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals with who ...

(1935) 8x MLB All–Star *

Al Gerheauser Albert "Lefty" Gerheauser (June 24, 1917 – May 28, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues for five seasons (1943-46 and 1948), for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Browns ...

(1935–1936) * Ed Hawk (1934, MGR) * Eddie Kearse (1936) *

Mickey Owen Arnold Malcolm "Mickey" Owen (April 4, 1916 – July 13, 2005) was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played as a catcher for 13 seasons in Major League Baseball between and for the St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodg ...

(1934) 4x MLB All–Star * Jerry Priddy (1937) * Hale Swanson (1938) * Hal Toenes (1938) * Rogers Lions players *

Rogers Cardinals players Rogers may refer to: Places Canada *Rogers Pass (British Columbia) * Rogers Island (Nunavut) United States * Rogers, Arkansas, a city * Rogers, alternate name of Muroc, California, a former settlement * Rogers, Indiana, an unincorporated communi ...

Rogers Reds players Rogers may refer to: Places Canada *Rogers Pass (British Columbia) * Rogers Island (Nunavut) United States * Rogers, Arkansas, a city * Rogers, alternate name of Muroc, California, a former settlement * Rogers, Indiana, an unincorporated communit ...

* Rogers Rustlers players

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Rogers - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Rogers, Arkansas Defunct Arkansas State League teams Defunct Arkansas-Missouri League teams Defunct baseball teams in Arkansas Professional baseball teams in Arkansas Baseball teams disestablished in 1937 Baseball teams established in 1936 1936 establishments in Arkansas