Ogden Dodgers

• Location: Ogden, UT
• League: Pioneer League 1966-1973
• Affiliation: Los Angeles Dodgers 1966-1973
• Ballpark:

Team History

The Ogden Dodgers began play as the Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate in the Pioneer League in 1966, when the Pocatello Chiefs relocated to Ogden, Utah. The team was an instant success, going 39-27 and winning a league title under manager Tommy Lasorda in their first season. Second baseman Richard Thompson has a league-high .322 batting average, and pitcher Dennis James posted a league-best 1.75 ERA. Outfielders John Wyatt and Gorrell Stinson, and third baseman Robert Harvey joined the pair as All-Stars. The next year, the Dodgers finished in first again under Lasorda with a 41-25 record. Larry Burchart paced the circuit with 9 wins, and Ron Estes, third baseman Robert Hughes, and outfielders Bill Rainer and Romel Canada were also members of the All-Star team. Lasorda's club captured a third championship in 1968, going 39-25 to hold off the Idaho Falls Angels. That year's team was loaded with future big league stars: first baseman Bill Buckner hit .344, outfielder Bobby Valentine scored 62 runs, and third baseman Steve Garvey hit 20 home runs. In addition, pitcher Sandy Vance led the league with 14 wins, and Bruce Ellingsen posted a league-best 1.43 ERA. Second baseman Matt Alexander and catcher Patrick Burke also represented the team as All-Stars.

Ray Malgradi took over as skipper in 1969, and the Dodgers went 44-27 to win a fourth consecutive title. Future big leaguer Lee Lacy was joined on the All-Star team by outfielder Royle Stillman, catcher Terry McDermott, and pitcher Bob O'Brien. Buddy Hollowell became the team's manager the next season, and the club missed out on a championship for the first time in franchise history. They finished in second place, one game behind Idaho Falls, with a 43-27 record. Still, second baseman Elmer Mixon led the league with 88 hits and 70 runs scored, and outfielder Joe Daniels and pitcher Bruce Raible were also All-Stars. In 1971, Hollowell's club fell to last place in the league, going 22-48. Pitcher Rex Hudson struck out a league-high 110 batters, and first baseman Thad Philyaw joined him on the circuit's All-Star squad.

In 1972, new skipper Gail Henley took over at the helm, and the Dodgers improved to 29-41. Pitcher Barry Bagley paced the circuit with 110 strikeouts, and outfielder Cleo Smith and pitcher Steven O'Brien made the All-Star team. Henley returned as manager in 1973, and the team finished in second with a 37-33 mark. Outfielder Bobby Detherage led the league with 85 hits and 55 RBIs, and was joined by catcher Ted Farr as an All-Star. However, after the season, the club lost its Dodgers affiliation and became the co-op Ogden Spikers.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1966	39-27	1st	Tommy Lasorda	League Champs
1967	41-25	1st	Tommy Lasorda	League Champs
1968	39-25	1st	Tommy Lasorda	League Champs
1969	44-27	1st	Ray Malgradi	League Champs
1970	43-27	2nd	Buddy Hollowell
1971	22-48	6th	Buddy Hollowell
1972	29-41	3rd	Gail Henley
1973	37-33	2nd	Gail Henley