Omaha Packers

The Western League franchise helped set the foundation for today's Class AAA Omaha Storm Chasers.

[6] Omaha gained a franchise in the new league after St. Paul, Minnesota, withdrew their proposed team due to financial difficulties.

[7] The 1888 Omahogs were a charter member of the Western Association, along with the Chicago Maroons, Davenport Onion Weeders, Des Moines Prohibitionists, Kansas City Blues, Milwaukee Brewers, Minneapolis Millers, St. Louis Whites, St. Paul Apostles and Sioux City Cornhuskers in the ten–team league.

[12][13] Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Joe Kelley hit .316 for the Omaha Omahogs in 1892, at age 20.

[14][3][15] The 1895 Omaha Omahogs moved to Denver, Colorado, during the Western Association season on July 22, 1895, before the team folded on August 22, 1895.

[18][19][20] The Omaha Indians (1902–1903) finished 84–56 (.600) in 1902, just percentage points behind the Kansas City Blue Stockings (82–54 .603) for the Western League Championship.

[20] Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Mordecai Brown pitched for the Omaha Indians in 1902, winning 27 games.

[3] The 1904 Omaha Rangers finished with a record of 90–60 to capture the 1904 Western League Championship under Manager Pa Rourke.

[3][23] The franchise became the Omaha Buffaloes (1921–1927), after owner Pa Rourke sold the team to new owner/manager Barney Burch.

[25][3] Baseball Hall of Fame player Heinie Manush hit .376 with 20 home runs for the Omaha Buffaloes in 1922.

The Omaha Robin Hoods were forced to play some early games in Lincoln, Nebraska, due to weather.

According to newspaper writeups in the Omaha Bee and other local sources, supplemented by Sanborn maps in some years, the early ballparks of the various clubs were: After those various false starts in the 19th century, Omaha professional baseball moved to the south side and finally found some success.

In 1927, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played in an exhibition game at Rourke Park that drew thousands.