Indianapolis Indians
Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1947.
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory Field, which opened in 1996. The Indians previously played at Owen J. Bush Stadium from 1931 to 1996 and at two versions of Washington Park from 1902 to 1931. Indianapolis is the second-oldest minor league franchise in American professional baseball (after the Rochester Red Wings), having originated in 1902 as members of the American Association (AA).
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1902
- City
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Class level
- Triple-A (1946–present)
- Past class level
- Double-A (1912–1945)
- Class A (1903–1911)
- Independent (1902)
- Current league
- International League (1998–present)
- Division
- West Division
- Majorleague
- Pittsburgh Pirates (2005–present)
- Nickname
- Indianapolis Indians (1902–present)
Facts from the source article.
History
Professional baseball in Indianapolis dates to the late 19th century, with teams such as the Indianapolis Blues (1877) and several iterations of the Indianapolis Hoosiers. The current franchise was established in 1902 by Bill Watkins and Charles Ruschaupt as charter members of a new minor league American Association, then an independent league. The circuit gained Class A status in 1903, and the Indians have since played at the highest minor league level. Their first home was East Washington Park. The 1902 Indians, managed by Watkins, won the first American Association championship with a 96–45 record, two games ahead of the second-place Louisville Colonels. Ruschaupt became principal owner in 1904, and the team moved to West Washington Park in 1905. A second pennant came in 1908 under manager Charlie Carr with a 92–61 season, four games ahead of Louisville. Ownership changed hands several times, with James C. McGill and William G. Smith Sr. purchasing the team in 1914. The 1917 Indians, led by Jack Hendricks, won a third AA title with a 90–63 season, placing them two-and-a-half games ahead of Louisville and the St. Paul Saints. They then won the Little World Series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–1. The team moved to Perry Stadium (later Victory Field, then Bush Stadium) late in the 1931 season. The 1928 Indians, managed by Bruno Betzel, won a fourth AA pennant at 99–68, then defeated the Rochester Red Wings, 5–1, in the Little World Series. Indianapolis became the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947. The 1948 Indians posted a 100–54 record, a franchise high, but were eliminated in the playoff semifinals. Al López led the 1949 Indians to their first playoff title and fifth AA championship, then defeated the Montreal Royals, 4–2, in the Junior World Series. The Cleveland Indians purchased the team in 1952, and the 1956 team, managed by Kerby Farrell, won the AA championship over the Denver Bears, 4–0, and swept Rochester, 4–0, to win the Junior World Series. After the American Association disbanded in 1962, the Indians joined the International League in 1963, winning the IL championship over the Atlanta Crackers, 4–2. They were expelled from the IL after the 1963 season and joined the Pacific Coast League from 1964 to 1968. They returned to the revived American Association in 1969, winning championships in 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1994. When the AA dissolved again after 1997, the Indians rejoined the IL in 1998. In 2021, they were shifted to the Triple-A East, renamed the International League in 2022.
Achievements
The franchise has won 14 league championships: twelve American Association titles (1902, 1908, 1917, 1928, 1949, 1956, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1994) and two International League championships (1963 and 2000). They have also won two Little World Series (1917 and 1928), two Junior World Series (1949 and 1956), two Triple-A Classics (1988 and 1989), and one Triple-A World Series (2000).
Radio and television
Some home games are televised on WTTV.2 The Dot, WISH-TV 8, and MyINDY-TV 23, and all games are available through MiLB.TV with the radio call synced to video.
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