Owensboro Oilers

The Owensboro Oilers were a minor league baseball club, based in Owensboro, Kentucky, from 1936 until 1955. The team was a member of the class-D level Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (or KITTY League). The team was originally formed in 1935 as the Portageville Pirates and represented Portageville, Missouri, in the league. On July 17, 1936, the Portageville Pirates moved to Owensboro after posting a 26–35 record. The team was listed in the record books for 1936 as Portageville-Owensboro Pirates, or as the Owensboro Pirates after the move. The following year, the team was renamed the Owensboro Oilers.

The Oilers and Pirates were preceded in Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League play by the Owensboro Distillers. The Distillers played in the 1903, 1913, 1914 and 1916 seasons.

Notable alumni

 * Tony Kubek (1954) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 2008 Ford C. Frick award
 * Travis Jackson (1950, MGR) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1982
 * Sam Dente (1941)
 * Don McMahon (1950) MLB All-Star
 * Ollie Pickering (1914)
 * Chuck Tanner (1946–1947) Manager: 1979 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates
 * Lee Thomas (1954) 2 x MLB All-Star