Wytheville Cardinals

Following The Cardinals, Wytheville continued play in the Appalachian League through the 1973 season, as the franchise played as a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators (1960), Minnesota Twins (1961–1963), Kansas City Athletics (1964), Washington Senators (1965, 1968), Cincinnati Reds (1967) and Atlanta Braves (1971–1973), adopting the affiliate team nickname in those seasons.

Baseball Hall of Fame member Tony Oliva played for the Wytheville Twins in 1961, hitting .410 in his first professional season.

[4] The Bluefield Dodgers (Brooklyn Dodgers affiliate), Johnson City Phillies (Philadelphia Phillies), Kingsport Orioles (Baltimore Orioles), Pulaski Cubs (Chicago Cubs) and Salem Rebels (Pittsburgh Pirates) teams joined Wytheville in beginning league play on June 25, 1957.

[5] Johnny Grodzicki was the Wytheville Cardinals' manager in their first season of play after returning to the Appalachian League.

Grodzicki's professional baseball playing career was interrupted by four years of military service during World War II.

In combat in Germany on March 29, 1945, Grodzicki sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs and was awarded a Purple Heart.

Grodzicki's injuries required surgery and extensive rehabilitation and he was able to play baseball again before becoming a minor league coach and manager.

[4] With a record of 32–28, playing under manager Johnny Grodzicki, Wytheville finished 16.5 games behind the first place Bluefield Dodgers.

In a successful baseball career, Kurowski overcame childhood osteomyelitis[9] that eventually caused part of a bone on his right forearm to be surgically removed.

[11] The Cardinals ended the regular season with a 44–28 record, finishing 3.5 games behind the first place Johnson City Phillies, while playing under manager Whitey Kurowski.

[14] Playing under manager Don Pries, Wytheville finished 11.0 games behind the first place Morristown Cubs in the final standings.

Wytheville finished 5.0 games ahead of the second place Kingsport Pirates in the six-team league as no playoffs were held.

[17] Joey Gritts of Wytheville hit 24 home runs and had 60 RBI to lead the Appalachian League in both categories.

[3] Future actor Paul Gleason played for Wytheville in 1960, in his final professional baseball season at age 21.

Oliva then used his brother Antonio’s passport to leave Cuba and became known as “Tony”, which replaced his real name of Pedro.

[36] In his first professional season, Reggie Smith played for Wytheville in 1963, having been signed by the Minnesota Twins out of Centennial High School in California.

After beginning play with Wytheville, Manuel would send money home to his family during his first professional season.

on June 13, 1964, Rudi agreed to terms and was signed by A's scout and former Wytheville manager Don Pries, receiving a $15,000 bonus.

[48] Rudi hit .429 with 1 home run and 15 RBI in 8 games with Wytheville, before being promoted to the Class A level Daytona Beach Islanders for the remainer of the season.

The Reds finished 16.5 games behind the first place Bluefield Orioles in the final league standings as no playoffs were held.

The Senators ended the season 7.0 games behind the first place Pulaski Phillies in the four-team division within the eight-team league.

Burroughs had been selected by the Washington Senators as the first overall pick in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft and played his first professional season with Wytheville.

[57] Burroughs an $88,000 signing bonus from Washington and was assigned to play first base when he reported to the Wytheville Senators.

Wytheville joined the Bluefield Orioles (Baltimore Orioles affiliate), Bristol Tigers (Detroit Tigers) affiliate, Covington Astros (Houston Astros), Johnson City Yankees (New York Yankees), Kingsport Royals (Kansas City Royals), Marion Mets New York Mets and Pulaski Phillies (Philadelphia Phillies) in beginning league play on June 23, 1971.

[54] Wytheville's Roger Williams led the Appalachian League with both 82 total hits and 47 runs scored.

[65] Cador spearheaded efforts to obtain equipment and develop the baseball facilities for his Southern teams.

[66] Cador organized the Urban Invitational baseball tournament, featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities that has been televised on MLB Network.

[70] Cador had the distinction of having coached the first Golden Spikes Award winner and Dick Howser Trophy to have played at a predominantly black school (Rickie Weeks Jr. in 2003) and his team won the first NCAA Division I tournament game by a historically black school.

[53] Braves player David Michalec hit 16 home runs to tie for the league lead.

Its grandstand and brick exterior are still in existence today within the park and a plaque recognizes the home plate location.