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League American Association (1970–1984) Previous Cincinnati Reds (1984)
Montreal Expos (1982–1983)
Texas Rangers (1981)
Chicago Cubs (1972–1980)
Cleveland Indians (1970–1971) Previous names Wichita Aeros (1970–1984) Previous parks Lawrence-Dumont Stadium (1970–1984) | ||
The Wichita Aeros were an American minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the Triple-A American Association from 1970 through 1984.
The Aeros were an expansion franchise established when the Association grew from six to eight clubs after the 1969 campaign. They were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians (1970–71), Chicago Cubs (1972–80), Texas Rangers (1981), Montreal Expos (1982–83) and Cincinnati Reds (1984). The Aeros led the league in attendance in 1970 and from 1972–74, but a series of last-place teams during their years as a Cub farm club drove down attendance throughout the rest of the 1970s. The Aeros won only one division title, and no league championships, during their 15-year history.
On September 14, 1984, the Aeros were transferred to Buffalo, New York, and became the Buffalo Bisons, now members of the International League; the Bisons had existed in some form since the 1870s and (at the time playing at the Double-A level) used the Aeros' franchise to return to Triple-A baseball. In 1987, the Beaumont Golden Gators of the Double-A Texas League transferred to Wichita and remained there through the 2007 season as the Wranglers. The Wranglers moved to Springdale, Arkansas, in 2008. Wichita's current team is the Wingnuts, in the independent league baseball incarnation of the American Association.