What farm systems were like in the old days

[Theoldmole]

1948, to be specific.

Of course, the Dodgers had the premiere farm system, under Branch Rickey -- 26 teams, from 9 in Class D to 2 in AAA, with some great names like the Lancaster Red Roses, Cairo Egyptians and Idaho Falls Russets. And every team in their system had at least one player who made it to the majors, at least briefly.

The following are players who either had more than a cup of coffee with the Dodgers, or who never played for the Dodgers but had actual careers with other teams (*).


D -
Walt (Moose) Moryn - Sheboygan Indians
Joe Pignatano - Cairo Egyptians
Johnny Rutherford -- Olean Oilers

C -
Trois-Rivieres Royals - Billy Hunter*
Santa Barbara Dodgers - Dick Williams
Idaho Falls Russets - Ken Lehman

B
Newport News Dodgers - Danny Ozark*
Nashua Dodgers - Dan Bankhead, Al Campanis, Don Hoak
Danville Dodgers - Bob Milliken

A
Greenville Spinners - Danny O'Connell*, Rocky Bridges, Ray Moore
Pueblo Dodgers - Clem Labine, Turk Lown*

AA
Mobile Bears - Cal Abrams, Wllie Ramsdell, George Shuba, Preston Ward, Rube Melton
Fort Worth Cats - Toby Atwell*, Bobby Bragan, Carl Erskine, Dee Fondy, Irv Noren*, Willie Ramsdell, Chris Van Cuyk, Dick Williams

AAA
Montreal Royals - Jack Banta, Hank Behrman, Chuck Connors, Al Gionfriddo, Sam Jethroe*, Clyde King, Bobby Morgan, Don Newcombe, Bud Podbeilan, Marv Rackley. Art Schallock*, Duke Snider, Dick Whitman
Saint Paul Saints - Bob Addis*, Toby Atwell*. Dan Bankhead, Roy Campanella, Phil Haugstad, Spider Jorgensen, Morrie Martin*, Danny Ozark, Bob Ramazotti, Harry Taylor






I also looked up Pete Wojey, whose name I sort of remembered -- he pitched i 14 games for the Dodgers in 1954, which is more than a cup of coffee, 2 games for the Tigers in 1956 and 57, but he was a professional baseball player for 20 years -- 1941-1960, bouncing between AA and AAA, finishing up with a three-year stint in San Diego - during which period he was sent back to the lower minors a couple of times. Talk about your Crash Davis life.

[ashie62]

The farms had quite abit of land. Most had barns, maybe a silo. There were lactating cows, chickens and sexy farm women on tractors.

[G-Fafif]

Let us not forget 1948 Montreal Royals catcher Cliff Dapper, traded after the season to the unaffiliated Atlanta Crackers for a 30-year-old who couldn't play the game but could sure talk it: Ernie Harwell.