St. Cloud Rox (minor league baseball)

The St. Cloud Rox were a professional minor league baseball team that existed from 1946 to 1971 in St Cloud, Minnesota, playing in the Northern League for the duration of the franchise.

The St. Cloud Rox were an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins (1965–1971), Chicago Cubs (1960–1964), San Francisco Giants (1958–1959) and New York Giants (1946–1957).

Baseball Hall of Fame members Dave Bancroft (1947), Lou Brock (1961), Orlando Cepeda (1956) and Gaylord Perry (1958) are St. Cloud Rox alumni.

History
Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the team played its entire existence in the Northern League. The Rox were affiliates of the New York Giants from 1946 to 1957, the San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1959, the Chicago Cubs from 1960 to 1964 and the Minnesota Twins from 1965 to 1971.

The original Rox ceased playing after the 1971 season when the old Northern League folded. Hall of Fame players to play for the Rox include Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry. Hall of Famer Dave Bancroft managed the team in 1947.

The franchise nickname returned in new form in 2012 replacing the St. Cloud Riverbats in the Northwoods League, a wooden bat collegiate summer baseball league. In 1997, collegiate summer baseball returned organized baseball to St. Cloud when the Dubuque Mud Puppies of the Northwoods League relocated and became the "St. Cloud River Bats".

Ballpark
The Rox played at Rox Park, also known as Municipal Stadium, located at Division Street and 25th Avenue. It opened in 1948 and was demolished in 1971. The park capacity fluctuated from 5,000 in 1947 to 3,600 in 1949. The played their final season at the newly constructed Municipal Stadium (now Dick Putz Field).

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

 * Dave Bancroft (1947, MGR) Inducted, 1971
 * Lou Brock (1961) Inducted, 1985
 * Orlando Cepeda (1956) Inducted, 1999
 * Gaylord Perry (1958) Inducted, 1991

Notable alumni

 * Matty Alou (1958) 2x MLB All-Star; 1966 NL Batting Title
 * Bobby Bolin (1958)
 * Steve Brye (1967)
 * Charlie Fox (1948–1950, 1952–1956)
 * Dave Goltz (1968)
 * Carroll Hardy (1968)
 * George Mitterwald (1965–1966)
 * Andre Rodgers (1955)
 * Jimmy Stewart (1962)
 * Tony Taylor (1955) 2x MLB All-Star
 * Danny Thompson (1968) Died Age 29.
 * Ozzie Virgil Sr. (1953)
 * Leon Wagner (1955) 3x MLB All-Star; 1962 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player