Allentown Cardinals

Allentown Cardinals
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1954–1956)
  • Class B (1944–1952)
LeagueEastern League
Interstate League
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsSt. Louis Cardinals
Minor league titles
League titles 1955, Eastern League
Team data
Previous parks
Breadon Field
40°37′47″N 075°29′00″W / 40.62972°N 75.48333°W / 40.62972; -75.48333
Breadon Field, looking south to north along the first base line, about 1960. Built in 1948, the field was the home of the Allentown Cardinals until their demise in 1956. The press box is above the roof over the stands.
A 1950 Allentown Cardinals program
A 1956 Allentown Cardinals program

The Allentown Cardinals were a minor league baseball team. Affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, they played in the Class B Interstate League between 1944 and 1952; then in the Class A Eastern League from 1954 to 1956.[1]

Allentown had joined the Interstate League in 1939, with the maiden team known as the Dukes. From 1940 through 1943, the club was nicknamed the Allentown Wings and began its affiliation with the Cardinals in 1942.[1]

The Cardinals played at Fairview Field until 1948.[2] In 1949, the team began play at the newly built Breadon Field, a steel and concrete stadium that seated 5,000 fans, which was located just north of the city in Whitehall Township.[3] Poor attendance led to the teams demise after the 1956 season.

  1. ^ a b Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ "Max Hess Stadium in Allentown, PA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ "Baseball at Breadon Field 60 years ago was once place to be". WFMZ.com. April 10, 2012.