Winnipeg Goldeyes (1954–1969)

This article is about the defunct Winnipeg Goldeyes team that played from 1954 to 1964 and in 1969. For the currently active team, see Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Winnipeg Goldeyes
Minor league affiliations
Class
LeagueNorthern League (1954–1964, 1969)
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 1957
  • 1959
  • 1960
Team data
NameWinnipeg Goldeyes (1954–1964, 1969)
BallparkWinnipeg Stadium (1954–1964, 1969)

The Winnipeg Goldeyes were a minor league baseball team that played in the Northern League from 1954 to 1964 and in 1969. They were based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and played their home games at Winnipeg Stadium. The Goldeyes won Northern League championships in 1957, 1959, and 1960.

History

Winnipeg's previous entry in the Northern League was the Winnipeg Maroons, who played their last season in 1942 before the league shut down for World War II.[1] After the 1953 season, Winnipeg bought the franchise of the league's Sioux Falls Canaries and returned to the circuit.[2] The team was named after the goldeye fish via a name-the-team contest.[3]

The Goldeyes played in the Northern League until 1964, winning league championships in 1957, 1959, and 1960. After the 1964 season, the general manager moved on to more profitable endeavors, and as nobody else was willing to run the club or to buy it for any price, the Goldeyes became inactive.[4]

The Goldeyes franchise was inactive from after the 1964 season until 1969, when the team returned to the Northern League as an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. In June 1970, the Goldeyes were bought by the Montreal Expos and moved to Watertown, South Dakota to become the Watertown Expos, while the relocated Buffalo Bisons took their spot in Winnipeg as the Winnipeg Whips.[5][6]

Year-by-year record

Year Parent club League W–L Win % Place Manager Postseason Attendance Ref
Winnipeg Goldeyes
1954 STL NOR 73–60 .549 3rd Mickey O'Neil Lost 1st round 1–2 vs. Fargo–Moorhead 100,458 [7]
1955 STL NOR 70–56 .556 t-3rd Al Kubski Lost 1st round 0–2 vs. St. Cloud 84,668 [8]
1956 STL NOR 63–55 .534 2nd Vern Benson Lost 1st round 0–1 vs. Aberdeen 64,459 [9]
1957 STL NOR 69–53 .566 2nd Vern Benson Won finals 2–1 vs. Duluth–Superior 86,214 [10]
1958 STL NOR 65–53 .551 3rd Al Unser Lost 1st round 0–1 vs. St. Cloud 90,998 [11]
1959 STL NOR 80–41 .661 1st Chase Riddle Won 1st round 1–0 vs. Fargo–Moorhead
Won finals 2–1 vs Aberdeen		 79,847 [12]
1960 STL NOR 72–51 .585 1st Whitey Kurowski Won 1st round 1–0 vs. Aberdeen
Won finals 2–0 vs Duluth–Superior		 83,014 [13]
1961 STL NOR 46–77 .374 6th Grover Resigner
Owen Friend		 – 45,874 [14]
1962 STL NOR 59–63 .484 7th Fred Koenig – 83,645 [15]
1963 STL NOR 55–64 .462 4th Fred Koenig – 61,377 [16]
1964 STL NOR 52–65 .444 4th Ron Plaza – 85,425 [17]
Franchise inactive 1965 –1968
1969 KC NOR 26–43 .377 6th Spider Jorgensen – 18,077 [18]
Totals 730–681 .515 884,056

References

  1. ^ Buzzell, Clell (6 March 1954). "Winnipeg Hosts Northern League Meeting". The Daily Telegram. Eau Claire, WI. p. 8. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  2. ^ Schrader, Loel (30 August 1953). "Speculate on Winnipeg Club". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, ND. p. 27. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  3. ^ Guttormson, Elman (13 February 1954). "Winnepeg's Entry in Northern Loop Will Be Named "The Goldeyes"". The Evening Telegram. Superior, WI. p. 12. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  4. ^ Welsted, John; Everitt, John; Stadel, Cristoph, eds. (1996). The Geography of Manitoba: its land and its people. University of Manitoba Press. p. 309. ISBN 0887556353. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  5. ^ Welsted, John; Everitt, John; Stadel, Cristoph, eds. (1996). The Geography of Manitoba: its land and its people. University of Manitoba Press. p. 315. ISBN 0887556353. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Watertown To Replace Winnipeg". The Duluth News Tribune. Duluth, MN. 8 June 1970. p. 9. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  7. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 278.
  8. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 283.
  9. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 288.
  10. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 291.
  11. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 295.
  12. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 298.
  13. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 301.
  14. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 304.
  15. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 307.
  16. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 311.
  17. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 314.
  18. ^ Baseball America 1993, p. 329.
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