Iowa Oaks

• Location: Des Moines, IA
• League: American Association 1969-1981
• Affiliation: Oakland A's 1969-1972; Chicago White Sox 1973-1980; Chicago Cubs 1981
• Ballpark: Sec Taylor Stadium

Team History

The AAA Iowa Oaks began play in the American Association in 1969. The team played their home games at Sec Taylor Stadium. They became an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 1981, and the following year they became known as the Iowa Cubs. As the Oaks, the team never won a title. They did have the top record in the eastern division in 1973 and manager Joe Sparks won AA Manager of the Year honors but the team lost to the Tulsa Oilers in the title game. Among the players to put up impressive seasons were 1978 Allie Reynolds Award winner Dewey Robinson, home run leader Bill McNulty in 1971 and Vida Blue fanning 165 in 133 innings, while allowing just 88 hits in 1970. Blue was 12-3 with a 2.17 ERA for the Oaks and had the best season during the time the team was affiliated with the Oakland A's. From '69-'72 the team was associated with Oakland, before switching to the Chicago White Sox for the next 8 seasons.

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

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1969	62-78	4th	Jimmy Williams	none
1970	70-68	2nd (t)	Sherm Lollar
1971	71-69	3rd (t)	Sherm Lollar
1972	62-78	5th	Sherm Lollar
1973	83-53	1st	Joe Sparks	Lost League Finals
1974	74-62	3rd	Joe Sparks
1975	56-79	7th	Joe Sparks
1976	68-68	4th	Loren Babe
1977	61-75	7th	Joe Sparks
1978	66-70	5th	Joe Sparks
1979	69-67	4th	Tony LaRussa (54-52) / Joe Sparks (15-15)
1980	59-77	7th	Pete Ward (32-42) / Sam Ewing (27-35)
1981	53-82	8th	Randy Hundley (13-31) / Roy Hartsfield (40-51)