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Rockford Rox
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
Class B (1895-1899, 1902-1904, 1915-1923)
Class C (1947-1949)
Class D (1901, 1908-1909, )
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
  • Cincinnati Reds (1947-1949)
Minor league titles
League titles 1902, 1911
Team data
Previous names
  • Rockford Forest Citys (1871)
  • Rockford White Stockings (1879)
  • Rockford (1888)
  • Rockford Hustlers (1891-1892)
  • Rockford Forest City (1895-1897)
  • Rockford Rough Riders (1899)
  • Rockford Red Sox (1901-1904)
  • Rockford Reds (1908-1910)
  • Rockford Wolverines (1911-1913)
  • Rockford Wolves (1914)
  • Rockford Wakes (1915-1916)
  • Rockford Rox (1917, 1919-1923)
  • Rockford Peaches (AAGPBL) (1943-1954)
  • Rockford Rox (1947-1949)
Previous parks
  • Blackhawk Park (1947-1949)
  • Kishawakee Park (1901-1923)
  • Fairgrounds Park (1879-1899)
  • Agricultural Society Fairgrounds (1871)

he Rockford Rox were a minor league baseball team located in Rockford, Illinois, in an are of early baseball where Rockford hosted teams in various leagues. From 1917 to 1923, the Rox played in the Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, and from 1947 to 1949, they played in the Class C Central Association. The Rockford Rox were preceded by the Rockford Red Sox (1901-1904) and Rockford Wakes (1914-1916) in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. Several other Rockford teams played in numerous leagues leading up to the Rox. The Rockford Rox were an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds (1947-1949).

During this era, Rockford was also home to the women's Rockford Peaches of the AAGPBL)) (1943-1954). After the Rox folded, minor league baseball later returned to Rockford with the 1988 Rockford Expos of the Midwest League.([1]

History

Minor league first began in Rockford, Illinois with the Rockford Forest Citys, also known as the Forest City Club, who played in the 1871 National Association, finishing 4-21. This was one of the first professional leagues. Rockford had previously hosted amateur teams with the same name and played only the 1871 season in the league.[2][3]


In 1879, the Rockford White Stockings played in the Northwestern League, where they finished 13-9.[4]

Rockford joined the Central Interstate League in 1888. The team was 11-23 when it disbanded on June 26, 1888.[5]

In 1891, the Rockford Hustlers joined the Illinois-Iowa League. The Hustlers finished 54-47 (3rd) in 1891 and 46-38 (2nd) in 1892. After four teams in the league disbanded during the season, the Illinois-Iowa league folded when the 1892 season concluded.[6][7]

Rockford Forest City (1895-1897) and the Rockford Rough Riders (1899) played in the Western Association. The Forest City finished 66-60 (4th), 44-37 (4th) and 70-55(3rd) in their three seasons, disbanding after the 1887. Rockford rejoined the league in 1899. The Western Association disbanded on June 16, 1899 with the Rockford Rough Riders in second place (20-16).[8][9]

The Rockford Red Sox (1901-1904) were charter members of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (Three-I) in 1901, along with the Bloomington Blues, Cedar Rapids Rabbitts, Davenport River Rats, Decatur Commodores, Evansville River Rats and Rock Island Islanders and Terre Haute Hottentots. After finishing 57-55 (4th) in 1901, the Red Sox won the 1902 Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League Championship with a 74-52 record, in an era before playoffs. After finishing last with a 48-76 record in 1904, Rockford folded after the season, replaced by the Peoria Distillers.[10][11]

In 1908, the Rockford Reds joined the Wisconsin-Illinois League (1908-1914). They were followed by the Rockford Wolverines (1911-1913) and Rockford Wolves (1914) in the league. The 1908 Reds were charter members of the Wisconsin-Illinois League, along with the Fond du Lac Cubs, Freeport Pretzels, Green Bay Tigers, LaCrosse Pinks, Madison Senators, Oshkosh Indians and Wausau Lumberjacks. The 1911 Rockford Wolverines captured the Wisconsin-Illinois League Championship with a 74-46 record. The league folded after the 1914 season.[12][13]

In 1915, the Rockford Wakes rejoined the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1915-1917, 1919-1923). The Wakes finished 72-58 (3rd) and 67-66 (4th) in their two seasons.The Rockford Roxcontinued play in the "Three-I League" (1917, 1919-1923), which did not play in 1918 due to World War I. The Rox finished 2nd in the league in 1917, 1921 and 1923. Rockford folded after the 1923 season.[14][15]

The next professional team in Rockford were the famed Rockford Peaches, who played in the AAGPBL, (1943-1954), as the women's league was formed during World War II. The Peaches claimed AAGPL Championships in 1945, 1948, 1949, 1950. The Peaches played in every AAGPL season. They are featured prominently in the fictional film A League of Their Own.[16][17]

In 1947, the Rockford Rox returned minor league baseball to Rockford after a 23 year absence, joining the reformed Central Association (1947-1949) as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds 1947-1949. The Rox began play in 1947, in the six-team league along with the Burlington Indians, Clinton Cubs, Hannibal Pilots, Keokuk Pirates and Moline A's. The Rox finished 3rd, 5th and 6th in their three seasons. The Central Association folded after the 1949 season.[18][19]

The ballparks

The 1871 Rockford Forest Citys played at the Agricultural Society Fairgrounds.[20]

From 1879-1899, Rockford played at Fairgrounds Park. The ballpark had no outfield fences, only trees that surrounded the park. It was located at Kilburn Avenue & Mulberry Street, Rockford, Illinois.[21]

From 1901-1923, Rockford teams played at Kishawakee Park. Also known as "Rockford Baseball Park", Kishawakee Park was located at 10th Avenue & Kishwaukee Street, Rockford, Illinois.[22]

In 1947-1949, the Rockford Rox played at Blackhawk Park'. The ballpark was located within the park, located at 101 15th Avenue Rockford, Illinois, 61101.[23][24]

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

Rockford Rox Year-by-year record

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1917 39-21 2nd Frank Reynolds season shortened to July 8
1919 63-60 4th John Castle none
1920 70-70 3rd Jim Shollenberger / Harry Brant none
1921 72-64 2nd Harry Brant none
1922 74-65 5th Harry Brant none
1923 76-63 2nd Harry Rigsby none
1947 68-57 3rd Cyril Pfeifer lost in 1st round
1948 56-72 5th Cyril Pfeifer / Paul O'Dea / Cyril Pfeifer
1949 38-91 6th Robert Dill / Fred Lietz

References

  1. ^ "Rockford, Illinois Minor League History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  2. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Forest_Citys
  3. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ROK/1871.shtml
  4. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-rs14155/y-1879
  5. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_(Central_Inter-State_League)
  6. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Two-I_League
  7. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Hustlers
  8. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Western_Association
  9. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Forest_City
  10. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Three-I_League
  11. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Red_Sox
  12. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Wisconsin-Illinois_League
  13. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Wolverines
  14. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Wakes
  15. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Rox
  16. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Peaches
  17. ^ https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-rockford-peaches-anniversary-20180531-story.html
  18. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Central_Association
  19. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rockford_Rox
  20. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Agricultural_Society_Fair_Grounds
  21. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2288
  22. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2290
  23. ^ https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/blackhawk-park
  24. ^ https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2291
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