Springfield (MO) Cardinals
- Location: Springfield, MO
- League: Western Association 1931-1932, 1935-1942; Western League 1933; Texas League 2005-2019; Double-A Central 2021; Texas League 2022-
- Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals 1931-1933, 1935-1942, 2005-present
- Ballpark: Hammons Field 2005-present
Team History[edit]
The Springfield Cardinals, of the Double-A Texas League and briefly in Double-A Central, are the latest in a long line of professional baseball clubs of that name, the latest in a line playing in the Missouri city, and the most traveled franchise in the circuit. The St. Louis Cardinals farmhands play their home games at Hammons Field in Springfield, MO.
Today's Springfield Cardinals were owned by their parent club for nearly two decades. They began play in 2005, after the big Cards bought and moved the El Paso Diablos to Springfield. On May 5, 2023, the team and Diamond Baseball Holdings announced DBH's 18th purchase contract on a farm club. Entertainment giant Endeavor created DBH in 2021 specifically to acquire Professional Baseball League teams in the wake of - and under new rules created by - MLB's Minor League Reorganization. Endeavor later sold DBH to Silver Lake Partners. Those rules reportedly include caps of 24 teams total and nine in any given level. Thus, when this and another pending sale close, DBH will have six remaining slots overall and/or four in Double-A.
The current Springfield Cardinals are not to be confused with the Springfield (OH) Cardinals who competed in the Middle Atlantic League in 1941 and 1942, or the Springfield (IL) Cardinals who played in the Midwest League in 1982 and 1993.
Missouri's Springfield hosted many Minor League Baseball teams dating back to 1902. The first to be called Cardinals was the 1931 entry in the Class C Western Association. That was also the first Springfield club affiliated with the Cardinals, as Branch Rickey developed his invention that is now known as a farm system. Springfield's 1933 club, still called the Cardinals, played in the Class A Western League. The Western Association returned to Springfield in 1934, but the team - although still affiliated with the Cards - didn't resume their nickname until 1935.
The Texas League's most-traveled franchise previously called home: Galveston, TX; Waco, TX; Galveston again; Shreveport, LA; Victoria, TX; Ardmore, OK; Albuquerque, NM; and El Paso, TX.
Former Cardinals and Pirates player Bill Virdon, who also managed the Bucs and three other teams, had retired to Springfield by the time the team came to town. He held season tickets until his 2021 death. Virdon was born in Michigan, but his family moved to Missouri when he was 12.
Today's S-Cards play Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign games as Cardenales de Springfield - a straightforward Spanish translation of their name.
Year-by-Year Record[edit]
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 87-57 | 1st | Eddie Dyer | none League Champs |
| 1932 | 79-51 | 1st | Eddie Dyer | League Champs |
| 1933 | 73-50 | 3rd | Joe Schultz Sr. | |
| 1935 | 87-48 | 1st | George Payne | Lost League Finals |
| 1936 | 64-78 | 4th | Joseph Brown | |
| 1937 | 76-67 | 4th | Clay Hopper | League Champs |
| 1938 | 79-56 | 2nd | Clay Hopper | Lost in 1st round |
| 1939 | 78-60 | 3rd | George Silvey | League Champs |
| 1940 | 56-76 | 7th | George Silvey / Ollie Vanek | |
| 1941 | 92-43 | 2nd | Ollie Vanek | Lost in 1st round |
| 1942 | 62-70 | 4th | Runt Marr |
External Links[edit]
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