# Denver Zephyrs > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Denver_Zephyrs > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Denver_Zephyrs.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Zephyrs > Source revision: 1344496497 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Redirect|Denver Bears|the Western League team|Denver Bears (Western League)}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball |name = Denver Zephyrs |firstseason = 1955 |lastseason = 1992 |city = Denver, Colorado |misc = |logo = Denver Zephyrs logo.jpg |uniformlogo = Denver Zephyrs and New Orleans Zephyrs cap logo.png |class level= [Triple-A](/source/Triple-A_(baseball)) (1955–1992) |league = {{plainlist| *[American Association](/source/American_Association_(1902%E2%80%931997)) (1969–1992) *[Pacific Coast League](/source/Pacific_Coast_League) (1963–1968) *[American Association](/source/American_Association_(1902%E2%80%931997)) (1955–1962) }} |majorleague = {{plainlist| *[Milwaukee Brewers](/source/Milwaukee_Brewers) (1987–1992) *[Cincinnati Reds](/source/Cincinnati_Reds) (1985–1986) *[Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox) (1983–1984) *[Texas Rangers](/source/Texas_Rangers_(baseball)) (1982) *[Montreal Expos](/source/Montreal_Expos) (1976–1981) *[Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox) (1975) *[Houston Astros](/source/Houston_Astros) (1973–1974) *[Texas Rangers](/source/Texas_Rangers_(baseball)) (1972) *[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1961%E2%80%9371)) (1970–1971) *[Minnesota Twins](/source/Minnesota_Twins) (1965–1969) *[Milwaukee Braves](/source/Milwaukee_Braves_(1953%E2%80%9365)) (1963–1964) *[Detroit Tigers](/source/Detroit_Tigers) (1960–1962) *Unaffiliated (1959) *[New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees) (1955–1958) }} |classnum = 2 |classchamps = {{hlist|1957|1991}} |leaguenum = 7 |leaguechamps = {{hlist|1957|1971|1976|1977|1981|1983|1991}} |divnum = |divisionchamps = |nickname = {{plainlist| *Denver Zephyrs (1984–1992) *Denver Bears (1955–1983) }} |colors = |mascot = |ballpark = [Mile High Stadium](/source/Mile_High_Stadium) (1955–1992) }} The '''Denver Zephyrs''' (formerly the '''Denver Bears''') were a [Minor League Baseball](/source/Minor_League_Baseball) team based in [Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado), United States. They were a [Triple-A](/source/Triple-A_(baseball)) team that played in the [American Association](/source/American_Association_(1902%E2%80%931997)) from 1955 to 1962, the [Pacific Coast League](/source/Pacific_Coast_League) from 1963 to 1968, and the American Association again from 1969 to 1992. They played their home games at [Mile High Stadium](/source/Mile_High_Stadium). The Zephyrs won the [American Association championship](/source/List_of_American_Association_(1902%E2%80%931997)_champions) on seven occasions: 1957, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, and 1991. They also won the 1957 [Junior World Series](/source/Junior_World_Series) and the 1991 [Triple-A Classic](/source/Triple-A_Classic). ==History== ===Origins=== [Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado), had been the home of numerous [minor league baseball](/source/minor_league_baseball) teams dating back to 1885 with an unnamed team of the [Colorado State League](/source/Colorado_State_League). Off and on from 1901 to 1954, the city was represented by the [Denver Bears](/source/Denver_Bears_(Western_League)) of the [Western League](/source/Western_League_(1900%E2%80%931958)). In 1955, the [Class A](/source/Class_A_(baseball)) Bears were replaced by a [Triple-A](/source/Triple-A_(baseball)) team of the [American Association](/source/American_Association_(1902%E2%80%931997)).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Denver&state=CO&country=US|title=Denver, Colorado Encyclopoedia|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=December 7, 2018}} This came about when the [Kansas City Blues](/source/Kansas_City_Blues_(American_Association)) were forced to move after the [American League](/source/American_League)'s [Philadelphia Athletics](/source/1954_Philadelphia_Athletics_season) moved to [Kansas City, Missouri](/source/Kansas_City%2C_Missouri), to become the [Kansas City Athletics](/source/1955_Kansas_City_Athletics_season).{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LfpXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oPYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6880%2C4626243 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Denver replaces Kansas City in American Association |date=November 29, 1954 |page=17}} ===Denver Bears (1955–1983)=== thumb|left|upright=0.8|A Denver Bears uniform Although naming a team for its uniform color had been popular in the 19th century, it was not fashionable in the 20th. As Denver had no connection to the original Blues, and in recognition of the new location in the [Rockies](/source/Rocky_Mountains), the team became known as the Bears. The new Denver team played at what became known later as [Mile High Stadium](/source/Mile_High_Stadium), but was originally known as Bears Stadium, after the team. This ballpark was one of the largest venues in history to host minor league baseball on a routine basis, and had the additional draw of being in one of the largest minor league markets at the time. For many years, the biggest crowds were on [Independence Day](/source/Independence_Day_(United_States)) [fireworks](/source/fireworks) nights, and the American Association scheduled the Bears for a home game every year. It was on these nights that the Bears drew the largest crowds in minor league baseball history. On July 4, 1982, the Bears drew an all-time minor league record of 65,666 for a game against the [Omaha Royals](/source/Omaha_Storm_Chasers), breaking their own record of 59,691 set on July 4 of the previous year.{{cite news |last1=Stivers |first1=Melinda |title=Denver Bears doing well, but city still wants a big league baseball team |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1982/0811/081130.html |access-date=23 March 2023 |work=Christian Science Monitor |date=August 11, 1982}} The Triple-A Bears were affiliated with the [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees) at the outset, with [Ralph Houk](/source/Ralph_Houk) [managing](/source/manager_(baseball)) many players who would reach the majors and play in the [World Series](/source/World_Series). The team had some early success, winning the [American Association championship](/source/List_of_American_Association_(1902%E2%80%931997)_champions) in 1957.{{cite web|url=http://www.tripleabaseball.com/PostSeasonAA.jsp|title=American Association Playoff Results|work=Triple-A Baseball.com|publisher=Triple-A Baseball|access-date=December 7, 2018}} [League MVPs](/source/American_Association_(1902%E2%80%931997)_Most_Valuable_Player_Award) in this period included [Marv Throneberry](/source/Marv_Throneberry) in 1956 and [Steve Boros](/source/Steve_Boros) in 1960.{{cite web|url=http://www.tripleabaseball.com/AAAwards.jsp|title=American Association Special Award Winners|work=Triple-A Baseball.com|publisher=Triple-A Baseball|access-date=December 7, 2018}} Although the team had been a member of the American Association since the league's inception 60 years before, it was a Midwestern circuit, so for the 1963 season, the Bears transferred to the [Pacific Coast League](/source/Pacific_Coast_League). The mid-1960s Bears included such future big-leaguers as [César Tovar](/source/C%C3%A9sar_Tovar) and [Ted Uhlaender](/source/Ted_Uhlaender), but lacked overall success. It also turned out that with the PCL otherwise all but confined to the actual [Pacific Coast](/source/West_Coast_of_the_United_States), Denver was now located too far east. In 1969, the franchise returned to the American Association. The Denver Bears had some good teams from the 1970s to the mid-1980s, producing such players as [Andre Dawson](/source/Andre_Dawson), [Tim Wallach](/source/Tim_Wallach), [Warren Cromartie](/source/Warren_Cromartie), [Tim Raines](/source/Tim_Raines), [Graig Nettles](/source/Graig_Nettles), [Terry Francona](/source/Terry_Francona), [Wallace Johnson](/source/Wallace_Johnson_(baseball)), [Danny Morris](/source/Danny_Morris), [Pat Rooney](/source/Pat_Rooney_(baseball)), and [Bill Gullickson](/source/Bill_Gullickson). Denver players [Richie Scheinblum](/source/Richie_Scheinblum) (1971), [Cliff Johnson](/source/Cliff_Johnson_(baseball)) (1973), [Roger Freed](/source/Roger_Freed) (1976), [Frank Ortenzio](/source/Frank_Ortenzio) (1977), and [Randy Bass](/source/Randy_Bass) (1980) were league MVPs. The managing careers of both [Billy Martin](/source/Billy_Martin) and [Felipe Alou](/source/Felipe_Alou) began with the Bears. The team won the Association's championship with some regularity, topping the league in 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, and 1983. The 1980 Bears were recognized as one of the [100 greatest minor league teams of all time](/source/The_National_Baseball_Association's_top_100_minor_league_teams).{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=37 |title=Top 100 Teams |website=Minor League Baseball |date=2001 |access-date=December 7, 2018}} ===Denver Zephyrs (1984–1992)=== [[File:Denver Mile High Stadium postcard (c. 1970s-1980s).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|The Zephyrs played at [Mile High Stadium](/source/Mile_High_Stadium), shown here configured for an [NFL](/source/National_Football_League) game.]] In 1984, the team name was changed to the Denver Zephyrs, after the famous [passenger train](/source/Denver_Zephyr). [Barry Larkin](/source/Barry_Larkin) (1986) was league MVP while with the Zephyrs, as were [Greg Vaughn](/source/Greg_Vaughn) (1989), [Jim Olander](/source/Jim_Olander) (1991), and [Jim Tatum](/source/Jim_Tatum_(baseball)) (1992). [ESPN](/source/ESPN) broadcaster [Orestes Destrade](/source/Orestes_Destrade) also played for the Zephyrs. On June 3, 1987, Zephyrs player [Joey Meyer](/source/Joey_Meyer_(baseball)) hit the longest verified home run in American professional baseball history at 582 feet.{{cite news |last1=Monagan |first1=Matt |title=Longest HR ever is not one you think |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/the-longest-home-run-ever |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=MLB.com |date=March 2, 2021}} The Zephyrs' only championship under the new nickname was the 1991 American Association title. They went on to win the 1991 [Triple-A Classic](/source/Triple-A_Classic) against the [International League](/source/International_League)'s [Columbus Clippers](/source/Columbus_Clippers), 4–1.{{cite web|url=http://www.triple-abaseball.com/PostSeasonOthers.jsp|title=Triple-A Baseball Interleague Post-Season Play Results|website=Triple-A Baseball|access-date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415031051/https://www.triple-abaseball.com/PostSeasonOthers.jsp|url-status=usurped}} [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) came to Denver with the arrival of the [Colorado Rockies](/source/Colorado_Rockies) [expansion team](/source/expansion_team) of the [National League](/source/National_League_(baseball)) in 1993. After 39 seasons of play, the Zephyrs moved to [New Orleans, Louisiana](/source/New_Orleans%2C_Louisiana), after the 1992 season where they continued as the [New Orleans Zephyrs](/source/New_Orleans_Zephyrs).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=New%20Orleans&state=LA&country=US|title=New Orleans, Louisiana Encyclopoedia|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=December 7, 2018}} ==Notable players== *[Narciso Elvira](/source/Narciso_Elvira) - played with the Zephyrs after his stint in the Major League Baseball with the [Milwaukee Brewers](/source/Milwaukee_Brewers) in 1990 *[Joey Meyer](/source/Joey_Meyer_(baseball)) - holds the record for the longest [home run](/source/home_run) in professional baseball history at {{convert|582|ft|m}}, which he hit June 3, 1987, at Denver's Mile High Stadium{{cite news|url=http://extras.denverpost.com/nine-innings/inning6.html| work=The Denver Post| title=The mystery behind Joey Meyer's 582-foot home run at Mile High in 1987| date=July 18, 2015| accessdate=December 10, 2025}} ==See also== *[:Category:Denver Bears players](/source/%3ACategory%3ADenver_Bears_players) *[:Category:Denver Zephyrs players](/source/%3ACategory%3ADenver_Zephyrs_players) ==References== {{reflist}} Category:Baseball teams established in 1955 Category:Defunct Pacific Coast League teams Category:Defunct American Association (1902–1997) teams Category:Professional baseball teams in Colorado Category:Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates Category:Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates Category:Montreal Expos minor league affiliates Category:Chicago White Sox minor league affiliates Category:Houston Astros minor league affiliates Category:Texas Rangers minor league affiliates Category:Washington Senators (1961–1971) minor league affiliates Category:Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates Category:Milwaukee Braves minor league affiliates Category:Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates Category:New York Yankees minor league affiliates Category:1955 establishments in Colorado Category:1992 disestablishments in Colorado Category:Defunct baseball teams in Colorado Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1992 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Denver Zephyrs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Zephyrs) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Zephyrs?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.