Klamath Falls Gems (1948–1951)
| Klamath Falls Gems | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1948–1951) |
| League | Far West League (1948–1951) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | Philadelphia Phillies (1948–1951) |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (1) | 1951 |
| Team data | |
| Ballpark | Gem Stadium (1948–1951) |
The Klamath Falls Gems were a Class D minor league baseball team that played in the Far West League from 1948 to 1951. They were a Class D affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.[1][2] They played at Gem Stadium (now called Kiger Stadium).[3]
The Gems had a winning record in all four seasons they played. They won the league in 1951, but the Far West League folded after that season and the Gems folded with it.[2] A few Gems managed to reach the major leagues, including Jim Pendleton and Bob Bowman, who played 457 and 256 career MLB games respectively.[4][5]
No other minor league team has played in Klamath Falls since. However, the Gems name was revived in the 2010s for a collegiate summer league team. That team folded after the 2018 season.[6][7]
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 67-58 | 3rd | Joe Gantenbein | Lost League Finals |
| 1949 | 78-46 | 2nd | Hub Kittle | Lost in first round |
| 1950 | 87-52 | 1st | Hub Kittle | Lost League Finals |
| 1951 | 74-54 | 2nd | Bill DeCarlo | League Champs |
References
- ^ "Klamath Falls, Oregon Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Sumner, Benjamin Barrett (2000). Minor league baseball standings : all North American leagues, through 1999. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. pp. 302–303. ISBN 978-0-7864-0781-1. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ Bushey, Pat (April 1, 2008). "Kiger Stadium earns a place in local history". Herald and News. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ "Jim Pendleton Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ "Bob Bowman Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ "Gems History". Klamath Falls Gems. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011.
- ^ Schnee, Brian (December 14, 2018). "Will the Gems play in Klamath Falls again?". KTVL. Retrieved November 13, 2025.