Sapulpa Sappers


The Sapulpa Sappers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Sapulpa played as members of the Western Association, Southwestern League, Southwestern Association and Southwestern League

History

Minor league baseball began in Sapulpa, Oklahoma in 1909. On July, 18, 1909, the Webb City Webfeet of the Class C Western Association moved from Webb City, Missouri to Sapulpa, playing the remainder of the 1909 season as the Sapulpa Oilers. Sapulpa played at Athletic Park. Overall, Webb City/Sapulpa finished 5th in the eight-team Western Association. Their overall record was 64–59, playing under managers Perry Parker and Frank Everhart.
Continuing play in the 1910 Western Association, Sapulpa finished 3rd with a 65–61 record in the 1910 standings. The Oilers' manager was Larry Millton.
In 1911, the Class D Western Association folded. The Sapulpa Oilers were 23–21 and in 3rd place on June 18, 1911 when the league disbanded. Six Western Association teams had folded, causing the league to disband. The Sapulpa Oilers were managed by George McAvoy and Harry Bradbury in 1911.
The Sapulpa Sappers franchise was a charter member of the 1921 Class D southwestern League. Playing at League Park, Sapulpa finished with a 68–76 record, 5th in the 1921 Southwestern League under managers Jerry Jones and Larry Quigley. The 1921 charter member standings featured the Bartlesville Braves, Coffeyville Refiners, Independence Producers, Miami Indians, Muskogee Mets, Parsons Parsons/Cushing Oilers, Pittsburg Pirates and the Sapulpa Sappers.
In 1922, the Southwestern League continued play as a Class C league. The 1922 league is also referred to as the Southwestern Association. The Sapulpa Sappers captured the 1922 Southwestern Association Championship. Playing under Manager Barney Cleveland, Sapulpa finished with a regular season record 81–58, 3rd overall. In the 1922 Playoffs, Sapulpa defeated the Muskogee Mets 4 games to 2 to claim the 1922 Southwestern Association Championship.
The 1923 season was Sapulpa's final minor league season. Playing in the 1923 Class C Southwestern League, the Sapulpa Yankees finished 2nd overall in the Southwestern League standings. The Sapulpa Yankees were 76–55 under Manager Barney Cleveland. After the season, the Southwestern League returned only three of the eight franchises in 1924, adding five new franchises to the 1924 league. Sapulpa has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballparks

From 1909–1911, the Sapulpa Oilers played at Athletic Park. The ballpark was built in 1905.
The Sapulpa teams from 1921–1923 played at League Park.

Notable alumni

YearRecordManagerFinishPlayoffs/Notes
190964–59Perry Parker / Frank Everhart5thMoved from Webb City July 18, 1909
191065–61Larry Milton3rd-
191123–21George McAvoy / Harry Bradbury3rdLeague disbanded June 18, 1911
192168–76Jerry Jones / Larry Quigley5th-
192281–58Barney Cleveland3rdLeague Champions
192376–55Barney Cleveland2nd-