The Butte Copper Kings were a Montana-based minor league baseball entry in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Founded in 1978, the Copper Kings endured for nearly a quarter of a century despite a revolving door of owners and Major League working agreements. Notable Copper Kings included Cecil Fielder, Julio Franco, Francisco Rodriguez & Omar Vizquel.
The Daytona Beach Islanders were a Class-A farm club of the Kansas City Royals formed in October 1976. At the time, Daytona Beach had hosted more Florida State League seasons (33), games (4,461) and victories (2,328) than any other city in Florida. This despite the fact that City Island Park sat empty the previous three summers since the departure of the Daytona Beach Dodgers in late 1973. Read more…
Western Carolinas League (1973-1974) Born: Affiliation change from Gastonia Pirates Moved: 1975 (Anderson Rangers) First Game: April 13, 1973 (W 7-2 @ Spartanburg Phillies) Last
Strange fact about the Toronto Blue Jays: during the expansion team’s 1977 debut season in Major League Baseball, the club made due with only one minor league farm club! Odder still, Toronto placed their lone affiliate in Utica, New York in the Class A New York-Penn League, a short-season circuit made up largely of teenagers still years away from Major League Baseball on the developmental ladder.
The Anderson Rangers were a Class A farm club of the Texas Rangers during the summer of 1975. The Rangers were part of a parade of short-lived minor league baseball teams that came through this South Carolina city during the 1970’s.
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