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TheColumbus Jets were aMinor League baseball team that played inColumbus, Ohio, from 1955 to 1970. The team moved fromOttawa, Ontario, Canada where they were known as theOttawa Athletics. The Jets were a member of theTriple-AInternational League.
| Columbus Jets | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Triple-A |
| League | International League |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | Pittsburgh Pirates (1957–1970) |
| Previous teams | Kansas City Athletics (1955–1956) |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | 1961, 1965 |
| Team data | |
| Name | Columbus Jets (1955–1970) |
| Ballpark | Jets Stadium |
| General manager | Harold Cooper (1955-1968), Charles Wareham (1969-1970) |
The Jets' name came from Columbus' role in manufacturing aircraft byNorth American Aviation forWorld War II.[1][2]
They were theTriple-A affiliate of theKansas City Athletics (1955–56) andPittsburgh Pirates (1957–70). The Jets played their home games atJets Stadium.
In 1971 the franchise moved toCharleston, West Virginia, and became theCharleston Charlies, leaving Columbus without organized baseball for the first time since 1894. In 1977 theColumbus Clippers returned baseball to Ohio's capital.
Notable alumni
editYearly record
edit| Year | Record | Finish Full Season | Attendance | Manager | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 64–89 | Seventh | 202,854 | Nick Cullop | DNQ |
| 1956 | 69–84 | Seventh | 163,128 | Nick Cullop | DNQ |
| 1957 | 69–85 | Seventh | 180,418 | Frank Oceak | DNQ |
| 1958 | 77–77 | Fourth | 196,644 | Clyde King | Lost toMontreal in first round |
| 1959 | 84–70 | Second | 204,157 | Cal Ermer | Lost toHavana in first round |
| 1960 | 69–84 | Sixth | 136,195 | Cal Ermer | DNQ |
| 1961 | 92–62 | First | 187,471 | Larry Shepard | Lost toRochester in first round |
| 1962 | 80–74 | Fifth | 191,730 | Larry Shepard | DNQ |
| 1963 | 75–73 | Fourth (South Division) | 167,121 | Larry Shepard | DNQ |
| 1964 | 68–85 | Sixth | 134,448 | Larry Shepard | DNQ |
| 1965 | 85–61 | First | 197,680 | Larry Shepard | Lost toToronto in finals |
| 1966 | 82–65 | Second (tied) | 193,881 | Larry Shepard | Lost to Toronto in first round |
| 1967 | 69–71 | Fourth | 148,365 | Harding "Pete" Peterson | Lost toToledo in finals |
| 1968 | 82–64 | Second | 178,003 | Johnny Pesky | Lost toJacksonville in finals |
| 1969 | 74–66 | Fourth | 153,802 | Don Hoak | Lost toSyracuse in finals |
| 1970 | 81–59 | Second | 140,700 | Joe Morgan | Lost to Syracuse in finals |