{{For|the Australian Rules football club|Richmond Tigers}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name =Richmond Tigers | firstseason =1946 | lastseason =1951 | allyears = | city =Richmond, Indiana | logo = | uniformlogo = | class level =Class D (1946–1951) | league = Ohio–Indiana League (1948–1951)<br />Ohio State League (1946–1947) | majorleague =Detroit Tigers (1949–1951)<br />Boston Braves (1946–1948) | nickname =Richmond Tigers (1949–1951)<br /> Richmond Roses (1946–1948) | ballpark =Municipal Ball Park (1946–1951) | classnum = | classchamps = | leaguenum =0 | leaguechamps =None | confnum = | conferencechamps = | divnum = | divisionchamps = | wildcardnum =2 | wildcardberths ={{hlist|1946|1950}} }} The '''Richmond Tigers''' were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Indiana. From 1949 to 1951, the "Tigers" played as members of the Class D level Ohio–Indiana League as an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Richmond began play in the Ohio–Indiana League as the Richmond "Roses," who played in the Class D level Ohio State League in 1946 and 1947, before the league changed names in 1948. The Roses were an affiliate of the Boston Braves. The Richmond teams hosted minor league home games at Municipal Ball Park.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Bunning played for the 1950 Richmond Tigers in his first professional season.
==History== After minor league baseball in Richmond began with the 1907 Richmond Quakers franchise of the Ohio-Indiana League,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=efa54fa9|title=1907 Ohio-Indiana League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> the Richmond Roses were preceded by the 1930 Richmond "Roses" of the Class B level Central League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=56d2ca62|title=1930 Central League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
In 1946, the Richmond "Roses" resumed minor league baseball play, as members of the eight–team Class D level Ohio State League. Richmond was an expansion team in the league, which was grown from a six–team league in 1945, by adding the Richmond team and the Dayton Indians.<ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1-first=Lloyd |editor1-last=Johnson |editor2-first=Miles |editor2-last=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=97e25374|title=1946 Ohio State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Dayton Indians, Lima Terriers, Marion Cardinals, Middletown Rockets, Newark Moundsmen, Springfield Giants and Zanesville Dodgers teams joined Richmond in beginning league play on April 30, 1946.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-OHSL4/y-1946|title=1946 Ohio State League (OSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>
The Richmond Roses were an affiliate of the Boston Braves. Richmond ended the 1946 Ohio State League season with a record of 76–63, placing third in the Ohio State League, finishing 6.0 games behind the first place Springfield Giants.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1946 Richmond Roses Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Merle Settlemire served as manager, as the Roses qualified for the playoffs. The Zanesville Dodgers defeated Richmond in a four–game sweep in the first round of playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rr14085/y-1946|title=1946 Richmond Roses minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
Continuing play in the 1947 Ohio State League, the Roses placed fifth and did not qualify for the playoffs. Richmond ended the 1947 regular season with a record of 62–72, finishing 24.5 games behind the first place Zanesville Dodgers. The Roses were managed by Rex Carr.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b480fa39|title=1947 Ohio State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rr14085/y-1947|title=1947 Richmond Roses minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/> Richmond's Robert Verrier led the league with 127 runs scored.<ref name="encyc"/>
In 1948, the Ohio State League had expanded beyond the state of Ohio and the league was renamed to become the Class D level Ohio–Indiana League. The Muncie Reds franchise joined with seven Ohio based teams in beginning league play on May 2, 1948.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-OHSL4/y-1948|title=1948 Ohio-Indiana League (OOL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=44dd76e6|title=1948 Ohio-Indiana League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
The Roses continued as a minor league affiliate of the Boston Braves in 1948.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1948 Richmond Roses Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Ending the 1948 Ohio–Indiana League season in sixth place, Richmond did not qualify for the playoffs of the eight–team league. The Roses had a record of 64–75, playing under manager Ollie Byers and finished 18.0 games behind the first place Zanesville Dodgers in the regular season final standings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rb15073/y-1948|title=1948 Richmond Braves minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref name="encyc"/>
In 1949, Richmond became a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and adopted their nickname.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1949 Richmond Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The newly named Richmond "Tigers" placed seventh in the regular season Ohio State League final regular season standings. The Tigers ended the regular season with a record of 65–73, playing the season under managers Cyril Pfeifer and Kenneth Holtcamp. The Tigers finished 15.5 games behind the first place Portsmouth A's and did not qualify for the four-team playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=c80c77cf|title=1949 Ohio-Indiana League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
The Richmond Tigers qualified for the 1950 Ohio-Indiana League playoffs. Managed by the returning Kenneth Holtcamp, the Tigers ended the 1950 regular season with a record of 80–58, placing third in the standings, while finishing 10.0 games behind the pennant winning Marion Red Sox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=e7edc5d9|title=1950 Ohio-Indiana League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> In the playoffs, the Newark Yankees defeated Richmond 3 games to 2 in the first round.<ref name="encyc"/> Billy Hoeft of Richmond led the league with a 1.71 ERA and teammate Dan Searle finished second with an ERA of 2.12.<ref name="encyc"/> thumb|left|(1955) Jim Bunning, Detroit Tigers
Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Bunning played for the 1950 Richmond Tigers. At age 18, if his first professional season, Bunning compiled a 7–8 record with a 3.22 ERA in 17 games and 123 innings pitched for Richmond. Bunning graduated from high school in 1949 and was attending Xavier University, playing on a baseball scholarship. Bunning was signed by the Detroit Tigers in May, 1950 and joined the Richmond Tigers after finishing his spring semester at Xavier. Bunning received a $4,000 signing bonus and a $150.00 per month salary. Bunning was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996 and his number 14 is retired by the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bunnin001jam|title=Jim Bunning Minor Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jim-bunning/|title=Jim Bunning – Society for American Baseball Research}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/phillies/news/phillies-legends-jim-bunning|title=Phillies Legends: Jim Bunning|first=Tom|last=Skulski|website=Sports Illustrated Inside The Phillies}}</ref>
In its final season of play, the 1951 Ohio–Indiana League compacted to become a five–team league. The Newark Yankees won the first–half title in a split–season schedule, with the first–half season schedule ending on June 18, 1951. Newark then folded on July 17, 1951, with the four remaining teams, Richmond included, completing the second–half of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-OHSL4/y-1951|title=1951 Ohio-Indiana League (OOL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> At the conclusion of the season, the Tigers finished 37.5 games behind the Marion Red Sox in the overall standings with a 53–74 record, playing the season under manager Ralph DiLullo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=1e5b9697|title=1951 Ohio-Indiana League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Ohio–Indiana League permanently folded following the completion of the 1951 season.<ref name="encyc"/>
Following the Tigers, Richmond was without minor league baseball until the 1995 Richmond Roosters began play in the independent Frontier League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1995 Richmond Roosters Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
==The ballpark== The Richmond Roses and Tigers teams played minor league home games at '''Municipal Ball Park'''. Constructed in 1936, the ballpark was later renamed to become Don McBride Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2250|title=Don McBride Stadium in Richmond, IN minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2015/07/08/built-richmonds-mcbride-stadium-still-shines/29885831/|title=Built in 1936, Richmond's McBride Stadium still shines|first=Josh|last=Chapin|website=Palladium-Item}}</ref> The Don McBride Stadium is still in use today, located at 204 NW 13st Street in Richmond, Indiana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/mcbride-stadium|title=McBride Stadium – Richmond Jazz|first=Marc|last=Viquez|date=June 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2016/06/11/mcbride-stadium-80-years-history/85584568/|title=McBride Stadium: 80 years of history|first=Josh|last=Chapin|website=Palladium-Item}}</ref>
==Timeline== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;" ! Year(s) !! # Yrs. !! Team !! Level !! League!!Affiliate!!Ballpark |- |1946–1947|| 2 || Rowspan=2|Richmond Roses ||rowspan=4|Class D |||Ohio State League||rowspan=2|Boston Braves||rowspan=4|Municipal Ball Park
|- |1948||1||rowspan=2|Ohio–Indiana League |- |1949–1951|| 3 ||Richmond Tigers||Detroit Tigers |}
==Year–by–year records== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background: #F2F2F2;" ! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Manager !! Attend!!Playoffs / notes |- align=center | 1946 || 76–63 || 3rd|| Merle Settlemire ||NA|| Lost in 1st round |- align=center | 1947|| 62–72 || 5th || Rex Carr ||53,050|| Did not qualify |- align=center | 1948 || 64–75 || 6th || Ollie Byers ||58,039|| Did not qualify |- align=center | 1949 || 65–73 || 7th || Cyril Pfeifer / Kenneth Holtcamp ||44,346|| Did not qualify |- align=center | 1950 || 80–58 || 3rd || Kenneth Holtcamp ||45,302||Lost in 1st round |- align=center | 1951 || 53–74 || 3rd || Ralph DiLullo ||20,004|| Did not qualify |- align=center |} <ref name="encyc"/>
==Notable alumni== {{Div col|colwidth=25em}} *Jim Bunning (1950) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1996 *George Bullard (1951) *Ralph DiLullo (1951, MGR) *Billy Hoeft (1950) *Les Pinkham (1951)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2013/10/05/the-family-behind-derek-jeters-famous-bat/|title=The family behind Derek Jeter's famous bat|first1=Kevin |last1=Kernan|first2=|last2=|first3=|last3=|first4=|last4=|date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> *Hank Raymonds (1948) *Merle Settlemire (1946, MGR) *Ron Shoop (1951) {{Div col end}}
==See also== *Richmond Roses players *Richmond Tigers players
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Richmond&state=IN&country=US Richmond - Baseball Reference] *[http://ballparkreviews.com/template2.php?in_name=Don%20McBride%20Stadium&in_city=Richmond&in_state=Indiana Don McBride Stadium] *[https://stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/mcbride-stadium Don McBride Stadium photos]
Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams Category:Professional baseball teams in Indiana Category:Defunct baseball teams in Indiana Category:Baseball teams established in 1949 Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1951 Category:Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates Category:Sports in Richmond, Indiana Category:Ohio-Indiana League teams