{{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name =Rogers Lions | firstseason =1934 | lastseason =1938 | allyears = | city =Rogers, Arkansas | logo = | uniformlogo = | class level =Class D (1934–1948) | league =Arkansas State League (1934–1935)<br />Arkansas-Missouri League (1936–1938) | majorleague =St. Louis Cardinals (1935)<br />Cincinnati Reds (1938) | nickname =Rogers Rustlers (1934)<br />Rogers Cardinals (1935) <br />'''Rogers Lions''' (1936–1937)<br />Rogers Reds (1938) | ballpark =Athletic Park (1934–1938) | classnum = | classchamps = | leaguenum =3 | leaguechamps ={{hlist|1934|1935|1937}} | confnum =1 | conferencechamps =1937 | divnum = | divisionchamps = | wildcardnum =2 | wildcardberths ={{hlist|1934|1938}} }} The '''Rogers Lions''' were a minor league baseball team based in Rogers, Arkansas in 1936 and 1937. Beginning play as the Rogers Rustlers in 1934, and with Rogers using other nicknames (Cardinals, Reds), Rogers teams were members of the Class D level Arkansas State League from 1934 to 1935 and the Arkansas-Missouri League from 1936 to 1938, winning league championships in 1934, 1935 and 1938.

Rogers teams were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935 and the Cincinnati Reds in 1938.

Rogers hosted home minor league games at the Athletic Park in Rogers.

==History== In 1934, the Rogers Rustlers began play as members of the four–team Class D level Arkansas State League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=eff50e04|title=1934 Arkansas State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Rogers+Rustlers+%281934%29|title=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia &#124; Rogers Rustlers (1934)|website=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia}}</ref> The Bentonville Officeholders, Fayetteville Educators and Siloam Springs Buffaloes teams joined Rogers in beginning league play on May 7, 1934.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-ARMO/y-1934|title=1934 Arkansas State League (ASL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

In their first season of play, the 1934 Rogers Rustlers won the Arkansas State League championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1934 Rogers Rustlers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Rustlers ended the Arkansas State League regular season with a record of 36–35, placing third while playing the season under managers Ed Hawk and J.L. Casey. In the playoffs, the Rogers Rustlers beat the Siloam Springs Buffaloes in a one–game playoff for first half title. In the Finals, Rogers defeated the Bentonville Officeholders 4 games to 3 to win the championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-ra14175/y-1934|title=1934 Rogers Appleknocker/Rustlers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

The Rogers Cardinals played as an affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals in 1935 and defended their Arkansas State League championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1935 Rogers Cardinals Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Cardinals ended the 1935 season with a record of 59–50 losses, placing second in the regular season standings of the four–team league. Fred Cato and Bud Stapleton served as the managers. In the playoff, the Rogers Cardinals defeated the Siloam Springs Travelers 4 games to 3 to win their second consecutive championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rc14176/y-1935|title=1935 Rogers Cardinals minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

In 1936, the Arkansas State League evolved to become the Class D level Arkansas-Missouri League, expanding to six teams. No longer a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, Rogers continued play as the Rogers Lions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1936 Rogers Lions Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Rogers+Lions+%281936-1937%29|title=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia &#124; Rogers Lions (1936-1937)|website=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia}}</ref> The Bentonville Mustangs, Cassville Blues, Fayetteville Bears, Monett Red Birds and Siloam Springs Travelers joined Rogers as charter members of the Arkansas-Missouri League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=df2b2cb0|title=1936 Arkansas-Missouri League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Rogers finished last in the regular season standings and did not qualify for the playoffs. With a regular season record of 44–75, the Lions place sixth, playing the season under managers Doc Ledbetter and Bud Stapleton. Rogers was 30.5 games behind first place Silom Springs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rl14177/y-1936|title=1936 Rogers Lions minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

The 1937 Rogers Lions continued Arkansas–Missouri League play and won both the regular season pennant and playoff championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1937 Rogers Lions Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Lions ended the 1937 season with a record of 79–48, winning the pennant by 8.5 games over the second place Fayetteville Angels. Ted Mayer served as manager. In the first-round playoffs, the Rogers Lions defeated the Neosho Night Hawks 3 games 1 to advance. Rogers defeated the Fayetteville Angels 4 games to 1 in the finals to give the franchise a third championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rl14177/y-1937|title=1937 Rogers Lions minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

In their final season, Rogers became an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in 1938, advancing to the Arkansas–Missouri League playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1938 Rogers Reds Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Rogers Reds ended the regular season with a record of 63–54, placing fourth in the standings. Pat Patterson served as manager. In the playoffs, the Neosho Yankees swept Rogers in 3 games, which proved to be the final games for the Rogers franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rr14178/y-1938|title=1938 Rogers Reds minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

In 1939, Rogers did not return to league play, as the Arkansas–Missouri League reduced franchises and played the season as a four–team league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=9b7555ae|title=1939 Arkansas-Missouri League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

Rogers, Arkansas has not hosted another minor league franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Rogers, Arkansas Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

==The ballpark== The Rogers minor league teams hosted home games at Athletic Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2298|title=Athletic Park in Rogers, AR minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalballparks.com/Reds.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017061123/http://digitalballparks.com/Reds.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 17, 2007|title=Cincinnati Reds Baseball Stadiums Past & Present - Minor League Teams & Ballparks - Spring Training Goodyear Baseball Stadium - Photos of the Cincinnati Reds Minor League Baseball Stadiums|website=digitalballparks.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arkbaseball.com/tiki-index.php?page=Athletic+Park|title=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia &#124; Athletic Park|website=Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia}}</ref>

==Timeline== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;" ! Year(s) !! # Yrs. !! Team !! Level !! League!!Affiliate!!Ballpark |- | 1934|| 1 || Rogers Rustlers || rowspan=4 |Class D || rowspan=2 |Arkansas State League||None|| rowspan=4 | Athletic Park |- |1935||1||Rogers Cardinals||St. Louis Cardinals |- | 1936–1937 || 3 || Rogers Lions||rowspan=2 |Arkansas-Missouri League||None |- |1938||1||Rogers Reds||Cincinnati Reds |}

==Year–by–year records== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Manager !! Playoffs/Notes |- | 1934|| 36–35 || 3rd ||Ed Hawk / J.L Casey ||'''League champions''' |- | 1935 || 59–50 || 2nd ||Fred Cato / Bud Stapleton || '''League champions''' |- | 1936|| 44–75 || 6th|| Doc Ledbetter / Bud Stapleton ||Did not qualify |- | 1937 || 79–48 || 1st ||Ted Mayer|| '''League champions''' |- | 1938|| 63–54 || 4th ||Pat Patterson||Lost in 1st Round |- |}

==Notable alumni== {{Div col|colwidth=25em}} *Marv Breuer (1934) *Bill Burich (1937) *Walker Cooper (1935) 8x MLB All–Star *Al Gerheauser (1935–1936) *Ed Hawk (1934, MGR) *Eddie Kearse (1936) *Mickey Owen (1934) 4x MLB All–Star *Jerry Priddy (1937) *Hale Swanson (1938) *Hal Toenes (1938) {{Div col end}}

==See also== {{Div col|colwidth=25em}} *Rogers Lions players *Rogers Cardinals players *Rogers Reds players *Rogers Rustlers players {{Div col end}}

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Rogers&state=AR&country=US Rogers - Baseball Reference]

Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams Category:Rogers, Arkansas Category:Defunct Arkansas State League teams Category:Defunct Arkansas-Missouri League teams Category:Defunct baseball teams in Arkansas Category:Professional baseball teams in Arkansas Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1937 Category:Baseball teams established in 1936 Category:1936 establishments in Arkansas