The Sumter Indians was a
minor league baseball team, based in
Sumter, South Carolina, as a member of the
Western Carolinas League.
History
The team was formed when the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
relocated their Class-A affiliate, the
Monroe Indians
The Statesville/Monroe Indians was a Minor League Baseball club that played in the Western Carolinas League during the 1969 season. They were a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, and were managed by former big leaguer Pinky May. ''Baseba ...
, to Sumter in 1970 and Sumter, was home to professional baseball for the first time in 20 years with the arrival of the club. After a last-place, 23-43 first half, the 1970 Indians went 38–26 in the second half, only one and a half games behind the first-place
Greenville Red Sox.
The following season, Sumter was an affiliate of the
Houston Astros, becoming the Sumter Astros in 1971. They were replaced in the league in 1972, when the Sumter Astros and
Monroe Pirates were replaced by the
Charlotte Twins and the
Gastonia Pirates
The Gastonia Pirates were a minor league baseball team, based in Gastonia, North Carolina, between 1959 and 1972. The club was a Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and played primarily in the Western Carolinas League. The club was origin ...
in the six team league.
The ballpark
Sumner teams played at
Riley Park
Riley Park is an urban park in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is located in the neighbourhood of Hillhurst, bounded by 8th Ave. NW, 10th St. NW, 5th Ave. NW and 12th St. NW. The park plays is host to Calgary's Cricket Leagues and Calgary Concert B ...
. Located at Church Street & DuBose Street, 29150. It is still in use today as home to the
University of South Carolina Sumter Fire Ants and
Morris College Hornet baseball teams. The
Sumter Chicks (1949-1950) of the
Tri-State League, Sumter Indians (1970) and
Sumter Astros Sumter may refer to:
People Given name
* Sumter S. Arnim (1904–1990), American dentist
* Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr. (1893–1985), United States Army general
Surname
* Rowendy Sumter (born 1988), Curaçaoan footballer
* Shavonda E. Sumte ...
(1971) of the
Western Carolinas League and the
Sumter Braves (1985-1990) and
Sumter Flyers Sumter may refer to:
People Given name
* Sumter S. Arnim (1904–1990), American dentist
* Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr. (1893–1985), United States Army general
Surname
* Rowendy Sumter (born 1988), Curaçaoan footballer
* Shavonda E. Sumter ...
(1991) of the
South Atlantic League all played at Riley Park.
Notable alumni
*
Buddy Bell (1970) 5 x MLB All-Star
*
Jackie Brandt (1971, MGR) 2 x MLB All-Star
*
Jim Kern (1970) 3 x MLB All-Star
*
John McLaren (1971)
Season results
[{{cite book , title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball , others=Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors , edition=Third , publisher= Baseball America , date=2007 , isbn=978-1932391176]
References
Defunct minor league baseball teams
Professional baseball teams in South Carolina
Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates
Houston Astros minor league affiliates
1970 establishments in South Carolina
Defunct baseball teams in South Carolina
Baseball teams disestablished in 1971
Baseball teams established in 1970
Defunct Western Carolinas League teams
Sumter, South Carolina