{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name = Flint Arrows | firstseason =1940 | lastseason =1951 | allyears = 1940–1941, 1948–1951 | city =Flint, Michigan | logo = | uniformlogo = | past class level =Class A (1948–1951)<br />Class C (1940–1941) | past league =Michigan State League (1940–1941)<br /> Central League (1948–1950) | pastmajorleague =Cleveland Indians (1940–1941)<br />Detroit Tigers(1948–1950) Detroit Tigers (1951) | nickname =Flint Gems (1940)<br />Flint Indians (1941)<br />'''Flint Arrows''' (1948–1951) | ballpark =Atwood Stadium (1940–1941, 1948–1951) | classchamps = | leaguechamps =1941, 1950 | conferencechamps =1940, 1948 | divisionchamps = }}
The '''Flint Arrows''' was the primary name of the minor league baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1940 to 1941 and 1948 to 1951. Flint was a member of the Michigan State League (1940–1941) and Central League (1948–1950), playing their home games at Atwood Stadium. Flint was an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers (1948–1950) and Cleveland Indians (1940–1941).<ref name="encyc"/>
==History== The Flint 1940 to 1951 teams were immediately preceded by the Flint Vehicles, who played in the Michigan State League and other minor leagues from 1906 to 1926.<ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1=Lloyd Johnson |editor2=Miles Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref>
The '''Flint Gems''' began play as members of the 1940 Class C level Michigan State League as an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Flint won the 1940 Michigan State League Pennant and the 1941 Michigan State League Championship.<ref name=fj0>{{cite news|title=Did you know Flint was once a hub of minor league baseball?|url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2011/06/did_you_know_flint_was_once_a.html|accessdate=May 2, 2015|work=Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=June 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
The Flint Gems won the 1940 Michigan State League pennant. With a regular season of 67–41, the Gems finished first in the Michigan State League regular season. The Gems were managed by Jack Knight. In the 1940 Playoffs, the St. Joseph Autos defeated the Flint Gems 3 games to 2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-fg11541/y-1940|title=1940 Flint Gems Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
In 1941, the '''Flint Indians''' won the Michigan State League championship in the final year of the Class C league. Flint finished 70–38, to finish first in the Michigan State League regular season standings, finishing 9.0 games ahead of the second place St. Joseph Autos. The Flint Indians manager was Jack Knight. There were no playoffs in 1941.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-fi11543/y-1941|title=1941 Flint Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
The 1948 to 1951 '''Flint Arrows''' were a member of the Central League.<ref name=fj>{{cite news|last1=Adams|first1=Dominic|title=1 comment Flint joins Baltimore on list of pro baseball games with single-digit attendance|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/05/flint_cited_in_report_of_profe.html#incart_river|accessdate=May 1, 2015|work=The Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=May 1, 2015}}</ref> Their overall record was 169–102. The Arrows won the Central League Championship in 1950 and the league Pennant in 1948.<ref name=fj/> With the 1951 riots in Baltimore creating tension, Flint was noted by the ''Sporting News'' as being one of five ball teams that had games with single digit attendance.<ref name=sn/>
When the Arrows started playing in Flint in {{start date|1948|4}} as a Detroit Tigers minor league affiliate in the Central League, their manager was Jack Tighe. The league scheduled a 140–game season in 1948.<ref name=fj/> The August 26, 1949 home game with Grand Rapids had a fight break out with catcher Frank House being suspended indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news|title=Frank House Suspended|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19490819&id=cLQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=14cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1490,4989693&hl=en|accessdate=May 4, 2015|work=The Deseret News|agency=AP|date=August 27, 1949}}</ref>
The Flint Arrows captured the Central League pennant in 1948. With a record of 89–49, Flint finished first in the Central League Standings under manager Jack Tighe. In the Playoffs, the Fort Wayne Generals defeated the Flint Arrows 3 games to 2. Flint had 1948 season attendance of 120,573, an average of 1,747 per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-fa11539/y-1948|title=1948 Flint Arrows Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
In 1950, Flint won the Central League championship. The Arrows finished 80–53 and placed first in the Central League regular season standings under manager Gene Desautels. In the 1950 Playoffs, the Flint Arrows defeated the Grand Rapids Jets 3 games to 1 to advance. In the Central League Finals, Flint defeated the Muskegon Clippers 4 games to 1 to claim the championship. The Arrows' 1950 season attendance was 67,954, an average of 1,022 per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-fa11539/y-1950|title=1950 Flint Arrows Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/> The Arrows lost their Tiger affiliation after the end of the season despite winning the league championship.<ref name=fj/> The team's home run leader for 1950 was Edwin Little with 17.<ref name=fj0/>
On {{dts|1951|9|6}}, the Arrows had a single digit attendance with two fans watching their game according to the 1952 ''Sporting News Baseball Guide''.<ref name=sn>{{cite news|last1=Hagerty|first1=Tim|title=Six professional baseball games that drew fewer than five fans|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2015-04-29/baseball-games-no-zero-two-four-fans-flint-lancaster-portland-attendance|accessdate=May 1, 2015|work=The Sporting News|date=April 29, 2015}}</ref>
In the Final season of the Central League, the 1951 Flint Arrows finished last in the six–team league. The Arrows were 38–98 under manager Stephen Bysco. Their total season home attendance was 25,900, an average of 381 per game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-CENL5/y-1951|title=1951 Central League (CL) on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
The Flint Journal reported that the team suffered from lower attendance in 1951 and struggled financially. The Arrows ended operations, along with the entire Central League, after the 1951 season. The Arrows were the last minor league baseball team based in Flint.<ref name=fj/><ref name="encyc"/>
==The ballpark== The Flint teams between 1940 and 1951 played minor league home games at Atwood Stadium. Atwood Stadium is still in use today. It is owned by Kettering University, was renovated in 2015, and serves as home of Kittering athletic teams and the Flint City Bucks minor league soccer franchise. The address is 701 west 3rd Avenue, Flint, Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapquest.com/us/michigan/atwood-stadium-303078192|title=Atwood Stadium 701 W 3rd Ave Flint, MI - MapQuest|website=www.mapquest.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2018/10/soccer_franchise_to_make_atwoo.html|title=Soccer franchise to make Atwood Stadium in Flint new home turf|date=October 31, 2018|website=mlive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kettering.edu/about/atwood-stadium|title=Kettering University Atwood Stadium|website=Kettering University}}</ref>
==Notable alumni== * Red Embree (1940) * Steve Gromek (1941) MLB All-Star * Frank House (1949) * Cliff Mapes (1941) * Dick Marlowe (1948) *Jack Tighe (1948, MGR) * Bubba Phillips (1950) * Gene Woodling (1941) MLB All-Star
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Sports in Flint, Michigan Category:Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Category:Central League teams Category:Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates Category:Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates Category:Baseball teams established in 1941 Category:Michigan State League teams Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1951