Published by The Evansville Courier

In 1972, Evansville won everything under manager Mike Roark, including a season-end trip to Hawaii for the Kodak World Series, an ill-fated venture that ended in its infancy. Don Labbruzzo, who had become club owner and general manager, was named Minor League Executive of the Year by Sporting News. Attendance was 144,270.

Attendance dropped in 1973 and Labbruzzo sold the club in 1974 to a group of city businessmen headed by grocery executive Aubrey Ryals.

In 1975, the Triplets signed on with Detroit, and promptly won its league division and defeated Tidewater of the International League in the Junior World Series. Pitcher Mark "The Bird" Fidrych made a late-season debut, posting a 4-1 record and 1.59 ERA. He flew up to the Tigers the next season where he was 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA before an injury shortened his career.

The 1979 campaign marked the arrival of Jim Leyland as manager, along with pitcher Jack Morris and outfielder Kirk Gibson, later to become World Series heroes.

In 1981 Leyland accepted a coaching position with the Chicago White Sox and Roy Majtyka became manager. First baseman Mike Laga hit 34 homers.

The Triplets drew 102,703 fans in 1983 but finished last despite Bill Naharodny's .335 batting average, 21 home runs and 94 runs-batted-in.

In 1984, when Detroit defeated San Diego in the World Series, it had 13 former Triplets on the roster, including their 1-2 pitching punch, Morris and Dan Petry.

The local owners, who had lost around $60,000 the past two years, sold the club to Larry Schmittou of Nashville, Tenn.

Former Evansville players still in the majors last season were Morris, Gibson, Howard Johnson, catchers Lance Parrish and Bob Melvin, and pitcher Roger Mason.

In 1994, Gene Lamont, a former Evansville catcher, was successfully managing the Chicago White Sox. Leyland, piloting the Pittsburgh Pirates, is recognized as one of the shrewdest managers in the game.

Evansville's latest entry into professional baseball bagan this year. The Otters are members of the Frontier League, an independent league of players 25 years and younger who have less than two years of professional experience.

Much of the information included in this story was furnished by Jack Wettmarshausen as an independent study project while pursuing his degree at the University of Evansville.