Columbus (OH) Red Birds

• Location: Columbus, OH
• League: American Association 1931-1954
• Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals 1931-1954
• Ballpark: Neil Park, 1931-1932; Red Bird Stadium 1932-1954

In 1931 the St. Louis Cardinals acquired the former Columbus Senators and renamed them the Columbus Red Birds. The team, which had finished between 6th and 8th for the prior seven years, finished fourth in '31, then in '32 improved to second. In '33, they won the pennant, won the playoffs in the American Association then claimed the Junior World Series, the first such title for the AA titlist. In '34, they repeated as Junior World Series champs, becoming the first two-time JWS winner. Other teams began to match the Cardinals in farm system depth and the team won only 3 more pennants in the next 20 years ('37, '41 and '50). In '41 and '50 they won the Junior World Series.

Among the players developed during the years were Paul Dean (the top pitcher in the American Association in '33), Terry Moore, Enos Slaughter, Max Lanier, Harry Brecheen, Murry Dickson, Walker Cooper, Harry Walker, Preacher Roe and Harvey Haddix.

In '55, the Cardinals moved their AA club to Omaha, where they became the Omaha Cardinals. Eleven local fans each contributed $10,000 to buy the Ottawa A's and Red Bird Stadium and give Columbus the Columbus Jets in the International League to replace the Red Birds.

Source: "The American Association" by Bill O'Neal

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1931	84-82	4th	Nemo Leibold	none
1932	88-77	2nd	Nemo Leibold (46-42) / Billy Southworth (42-35)	none
1933	101-51	1st	Ray Blades	League Champs
1934	85-68	2nd	Ray Blades	League Champs
1935	84-70	3rd (t)	Ray Blades	none
1936	76-78	6th	Burt Shotton
1937	90-64	1st	Burt Shotton	League Champs
1938	64-89	7th	Burt Shotton
1939	62-92	7th	Burt Shotton
1940	90-60	2nd	Burt Shotton	Lost in 1st round
1941	95-58	1st	Burt Shotton	League Champs
1942	82-72	3rd	Eddie Dyer	League Champs
1943	84-67	3rd	Nick Cullop	League Champs
1944	86-67	5th	Nick Cullop
1945	63-90	8th	Charley Root
1946	64-90	8th	Charley Root
1947	76-78	5th	Hal Anderson
1948	81-73	4th	Hal Anderson	Lost League Finals
1949	70-83	7th	Hal Anderson
1950	84-69	3rd	Rollie Hemsley	League Champs
1951	53-101	8th	Harry Walker
1952	68-85	7th	Johnny Keane
1953	64-90	7th	Johnny Keane
1954	77-76	4th	Johnny Keane	Lost in 1st round