# Reno Silver Sox

The Reno Silver Sox were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1947 to 1992. The team name is derived from the nickname of Nevada, the "Silver State". There was another baseball team known as the Reno Silver Sox who played in the Golden Baseball League. From part of the 1955 season to 1992, they played their home games at Moana Stadium. The 1961 Silver Sox were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.

## History

After Reno first hosted a team in the 1907 Nevada State League, the Reno Silver Sox became members of the 1947 Sunset League and continued in the league from 1947 to 1949. They were affiliated with the New York Giants during their time in the Sunset League. From 1950 to 1951, they were unaffiliated and played in the Far West League. Starting in 1955, they played in the California League, when the Channel Cities Oilers moved to Reno to become the second incarnation of the Reno Silver Sox. They became affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956 and stayed affiliated with them until the Dodgers' move in 1957. They were then affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers until 1962. From 1963 to 1964, they were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. They did not organize in 1965, and therefore did not play ball. They came back in 1966 and lasted until 1981. From 1966 to 1974, they were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians. From 1975 to 1976 they were affiliated with both the Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres. From 1977 to 1981, they were affiliated with just the Padres. After the 1981 season, the team was renamed the Reno Padres and baseball was not played under the "Reno Silver Sox" name again until 1988. Still in the California League, they were unaffiliated from 1988 to 1991. In 1992 – the last season in which a "Silver Sox" team played in an affiliated league – they were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics. Following the 1992 season, the team left Reno and move to Riverside to become the Riverside Pilots. In 1996, they moved to Lancaster and became the Lancaster JetHawks.

## Championships

The Reno Silver Sox were league champions in 1948, 1960, 1961, 1975, and 1976. They are the only team in California League history to win back-to-back championships twice.

## Notable Reno alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni
* Roberto Alomar (1986) Inducted, 2011
* Bobby Cox (1960) Inducted, 2014
* Dennis Eckersley (1972-1973) Inducted, 2004
Other notable alumni
* Larry Andersen (1973)
* Alan Ashby (1970-1971)
* Phil Cavarretta (1966-1967, MGR) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1945 NL Batting Title; 1945 NL Most Valuable Player
* Storm Davis (1987)
* Willie Davis (1959) 2 x MLB All-Star
* Ed Farmer (1968) MLB All-Star
* Tim Flannery (1978)
* Ray Fosse (1966) 2 x MLB All-Star
* Alfredo Griffin (1974) MLB All-Star; 1979 AL Rookie of the Year
* Ozzie Guillen (1982) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1985 AL Rookie of the Year
* Andy Hawkins (1979-1980)
* Jim Kern (1970-1971) 3 x MLB All-Star
* John Kruk (1982) 3 x MLB All-Star
* Duane Kuiper (1972)
* Jim Lefebvre (1962) MLB All-Star; 1965 NL Rookie of the Year
* John Lowenstein (1968-1969)
* Rick Manning (1972-1973)
* Pinky May (1970-1971, MGR) MLB All-Star
* Kevin McReynolds (1982)
* Ken McMullen (1961)
* Jeff Newman (1971-1972) MLB All-Star and manager
* Mike Norris (1991) MLB All-Star
* Gene Richards (1975)
* Pete Richert (1958) 2 x MLB All-Star
* Benito Santiago (1984) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1987 NL Rookie of the Year
* Eric Show (1979)
* Bill Singer (1962) 2 x MLB All-Star
* Charley Smith (1957)
* Dick Tidrow (1967-1971)
* Bobby Tolan (1963)
* Eddie Watt (1978-1979, MGR)
* Mitch Williams (1983-1984) MLB All-Star
* Butch Wynegar (1975) 2 x MLB All-Star

## Year-by-year record

| Year | League | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
| 1947 | Sunset League | 69-69 | 4th | Thomas Lloyd | |
| 1948 | Sunset League | 77-63 | 3rd | Thomas Lloyd | League Champs |
| 1949 | Sunset League | 49-75 | 7th | Lilio Marcucci | none |
| 1950 | Far West League | 75-63 | 3rd | Joe Borich | Lost in 1st round |
| 1951 | Far West League | 52-65 | 3rd | Cotton Pippen | |
| 1955 | California League | 40-106 overall | 8th | Leonard Noren | Channel Cities moved to Reno July 1 |
| 1956 | California League | 73-67 | 4th | Ray Perry | Lost in 1st round |
| 1957 | California League | 79-59 | 2nd | Ray Perry | Lost League Finals |
| 1958 | California League | 68-69 | 6th | Ray Perry | |
| 1959 | California League | 81-58 | 2nd | Ray Perry | |
| 1960 | California League | 89-51 | 1st | Tom Saffell | League Champs |
| 1961 | California League | 97-43 | 1st | Roy Smalley | League Champs |
| 1962 | California League | 70-68 | 4th | Roy Smalley | Lost League Finals |
| 1963 | California League | 71-69 | 5th | Tom Saffell | |
| 1964 | California League | 66-71 | 6th | Tom Saffell / Harvey Koepf | none |
| 1966 | California League | 69-71 | 4th (t) | Phil Cavarretta | |
| 1967 | California League | 56-82 | 8th | Phil Cavarretta | |
| 1968 | California League | 67-72 | 5th | Clay Bryant | |
| 1969 | California League | 72-68 | 3rd (t) | Ken Aspromonte | |
| 1970 | California League | 79-61 | 2nd | Pinky May | none |
| 1971 | California League | 64-75 | 7th | Pinky May | |
| 1972 | California League | 50-88 | 8th | Lou Klimchock | |
| 1973 | California League | 70-70 | 4th (t) | Lou Klimchock | |
| 1974 | California League | 61-79 | 6th (t) | Joe Azcue / interim (June 29-July 3) / Del Youngblood | |
| 1975 | California League | 86-54 | 1st | Harry Warner | League Champs |
| 1976 | California League | 75-62 | 3rd | Johnny Goryl | League Champs |
| 1977 | California League | 59-81 | 5th | Glenn Ezell | |
| 1978 | California League | 62-78 | 5th | Eddie Watt | |
| 1979 | California League | 74-67 | 3rd | Eddie Watt | |
| 1980 | California League | 75-66 | 2nd (t) | Jack Maloof | |
| 1981 | California League | 81-58 | 2nd | Jack Maloof | Lost in 1st round |
| 1988 | California League | 39-103 | 10th | Nate Oliver | |
| 1989 | California League | 68-74 | 6th | Eli Grba | |
| 1990 | California League | 71-68 | 6th | Mike Brown | |
| 1991 | California League | 59-77 | 7th | Mal Fichman | |
| 1992 | California League | 65-71 | 8th | Gary Jones | |