Cushing Refiners


The Cushing Refiners were a minor league baseball team based in Cushing, Oklahoma from 1923–1925. Cushing played as members of the Class D Southwestern League, the Class D Oklahoma State League and Southwestern League.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Carl Hubbell made his professional debut with the 1923 Cushing Refiners.

History

Minor league baseball began in Cushing, Oklahoma in 1921. On August 3, 1921, the Parsons Parsons of the Class D Southwestern League moved from Parsons, Kansas to Cushing. Parsons was 26–57 at the time of the move. The team finished the 1921 season as the Cushing Oilers. The team was 8–53 in Cushing, finishing 8th with an overall record of 34-110. The team was managed by G. C. "Kitty" Knight and Lefty Wilson. In 1922, the Southwestern League became a Class C League and Cushing did not return.
The Cushing Refiners joined the Oklahoma State League for the 1923 season. The Refiners finished in 2nd place in the eight–team league with a 67–53 record. The Refiners were managed by Ned Pettigrew. In 1923, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Carl Hubbell made his professional debut for the Cushing Refiners. Pettigrew had given Hubbell a tryout and subsequently signed him to a contract to play for Cushing. Hubbell was age 20 in 1923 and had worked for an oil company after graduating from high school in Meeker, Oklahoma.
In 1924, the Oklahoma State League permanently folded on July 8, 1924. The Cushing Refiners were 49–27 and in 3rd place when the league folded. The Refiners were again managed by Ned Pettigrew.
After the Oklahoma State folded, the Cushing Refiners rejoined the six–team Class D Southwestern League in 1925. The Oilers were 64–65 and finished 4th in the Southwestern League. The manager was Frank Thompson. The Cushing franchise was replaced by Ponca City Poncans in the 1926 Southwestern League. There has not been another minor league team in Cushing.

The ballpark

The Cushing teams played at Cushing Ball Park. The ballpark was possibly located on West Main Place at North Hartman & North Luella Avenues or at the High School on East Main Street.

Notable alumni

[Baseball Hall of Fame] alumni

YearRecordManagerFinishPlayoffs/Notes
192134–110G.C. Knight/Lefty Wilson8thParsons moved to Cushing Aug 3, 1921
192365–53Ned Pettigrew2nd-
192449–27Ned Pettigrew3rdLeague disbanded July 8, 1924
192564–65Frank Thompson4th-