The team began in 1942 as the Lockport White Sox, and affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in the Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League, which is today the New York–Penn League.
In 1943 the team changed affiliations with the Chicago-based major league clubs and became the Lockport Cubs.
After spending 1945 as the Lockport White Socks, they were the Cubs again in 1946, however as an unaffiliated team.
A year later the club won the league title.
In 1951 the Reds joined the Middle Atlantic League, and were renamed the Lockport Locks.