Evansville Triplets
From BR Bullpen
- Location: Evansville, IN
- League: American Association 1970-1984
- Affiliation: Minnesota Twins 1970; Milwaukee Brewers 1971-1973; Detroit Tigers 1974-1984
- Ballpark: Bosse Field
In 1970 the American Association expanded, putting AAA baseball in Evansville, IN for the first time. A $500 savings certificate was offered to whoever gave the best name for the team - from over 3,000 entries, the name Evansville Triplets was selected. The root of the name was that the team would represent not just Indiana, but also Kentucky and Illinois. In the team's first year, they were greeted to dazzling work by Bert Blyleven for 8 games, including a 17-strikeout contest. Other future stars to pass through over the years included Darrell Porter, Mark Fidrych, Lance Parrish, Howard Johnson, Kirk Gibson and Jack Morris. The team served as a farm club for the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers. In 15 years, the team finished first just once ('79) but won the division four times ('72, '75, '79 and '81) and the pennant three times ('72, '75 and '79). Managing the last two division winners was Jim Leyland. The small city could not compete with the larger ones in the AA at that time and in '84 the franchise was sold and moved to Nashville where they became the Nashville Sounds.
Source: "The American Association" by Bill O'Neal
[edit] Year-by-Year Record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 67-71 | 7th | Ralph Rowe (60-64) / Interim (3-4) / Early Wynn (interim 4-3) | |
| 1971 | 60-78 | 8th | Del Crandall | |
| 1972 | 83-57 | 2nd | Del Crandall (20-17) / Al Widmar (5-2) / Mike Roarke (58-38) | League Champs |
| 1973 | 66-70 | 5th | Mike Roarke | |
| 1974 | 68-67 | 4th | Fred Hatfield | |
| 1975 | 77-59 | 2nd | Fred Hatfield | League Champs |
| 1976 | 55-81 | 8th | Fred Hatfield | |
| 1977 | 65-68 | 6th | Les Moss | |
| 1978 | 78-58 | 2nd | Les Moss | |
| 1979 | 78-58 | 1st | Jim Leyland | League Champs |
| 1980 | 61-74 | 5th (t) | Jim Leyland | |
| 1981 | 73-63 | 3rd | Jim Leyland | Lost in 1st round |
| 1982 | 68-65 | 5th (t) | Roy Majtyka | |
| 1983 | 61-75 | 8th | Gordon Mackenzie | |
| 1984 | 72-82 | 6th | Gordon Mackenzie |
