Wichita Larks

• Location: Wichita, KS
• League: Western League 1927-1928
• Affiliation:
• Ballpark:

In 1927 the Wichita Larks replaced the Wichita Izzies in the Western League. The Wichita, KS club went 91-63 and finished second place its first season, 10 games behind the Tulsa Oilers. Archie Campbell (19-6) tied for fourth in the WL in wins and was first in winning percentage. 39-year-old player-manager Doc Crandall went 4-2 with a 3.52 ERA and five pitchers won 13 or more. The only All-Star position player was OF Adam Comorosky, who hit .398 to finish second in the league. A player named McNally hit 19 homers, fifth in the loop, while Bill Allington (.314) hit two of his three homers in one game - and added a single, double and triple (one of 19, tying him for 4th in the league) to complete a cycle-plus-a-homer.

1928 saw Wichita go 94-70 and lose the second-half title by half a game to Tulsa. Ox Eckhardt hit .376 but a quintet of sluggers helped the team slug 183 homers, second in the league but 94 more than the 3rd-place team. Jim Stroner (.367, 42 HR), Ed Bliss (.353, 21 HR), Jim A. Long (.349, 15 HR), Wilbur Swansboro (.344, 20 HR) and Allington (.337, 34 HR) - none of them was an All-Star. Stroner was first in total bases (443), hits (255), homers, runs (171, tied with Joe Munson) and third in average. Allington was 4th in homers, third in total bases (399) and 5th in runs (167) and doubles (47). Bliss was tied for fourth in average and 5th in total bases (353). Swansboro and Eckhardt split the season with the Amarillo Texans - Eckhardt led the WL with 27 triples while Swansboro was 4th with 25 SB in a 20-20 season. Harry Sanders (23-11)was tied for second in the league in wins, also splitting the season between Amarillo and Wichita. Red Peery went 21-11 and tied for fourth in victories.

In 1929 the team became the Wichita Aviators.

Source: "The Western League" by W.C. Madden and Patrick Stewart

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1927	91-63	2nd	Doc Crandall	none
1928	94-70	3rd	Doc Crandall / Art Griggs