Downtown in Des Moines in Polk County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Iowa Oaks

1969-1981

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 7, 2024

1. Iowa Oaks Marker

Inscription. Cy Young Award and MVP winner Vida Blue pitched for the Oaks in 1970 and still owns the season strikeout record here at 165. With the Oakland A's he played on three World Series winning teams, 1972-74. Vida Blue went on to be named a six time all-star during his remarkable career.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.

Location. 41° 34.813′ N, 93° 36.999′ W. Marker is in Des Moines, Iowa, in Polk County. It is in Downtown. It is on Line Drive. The marker is in the open-air concourse and concession area at Principal Park, home of baseball's Iowa Cubs. It is on the third-base side of the park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Line Drive, Des Moines IA 50309, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Iowa Cubs (within shouting distance of this marker); Des Moines Bruins (within shouting distance of this marker); Des Moines Demons (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Des Moines Champions (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dragoon Trail Historical Site Marker #13 (about 400 feet away); Site of Old Fort Des Moines (about 500 feet away); Birthplace of Des Moines (about 600 feet away); Ronald W. Reagan (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Des Moines.

Regarding Iowa Oaks. The Oakland A's brought Triple-A baseball to Des Moines in 1969 when they established their affiliate here; the Oaks were the A's affiliate for four seasons.

Vida Blue had actually already made it to the majors when he made his Triple-A debut with the Oaks in 1970. Blue was first called up in July 1969, straight from Double-A, one week before his 20th birthday. After struggling in two months in the big leagues,

The third-base concourse at Principal Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 7, 2024

2. The third-base concourse at Principal Park

The Iowa Oaks marker is not visible in this photo but is on the right side near the concession stands.

Blue began the 1970 season with the Oaks, where he compiled a 12-3 record with a 2.09 earned-run average; that earned him a September call-up to Oakland, where continued his fine pitching. Blue won the American League Cy Young Award in 1971, after leading the AL in ERA (1.82) and finishing second in wins (24). He would go on to be a key member of the A's teams that three-peated as World Series champs in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Blue earned 150 of his 209 career wins while in his 20's; while he played 17 seasons and made six All-Star teams, he struggled in the second half of his career to attain the same heights of his first seasons with the A's. He was also suspended for the 1984 season after he and three Kansas City Royals teammates pleaded guilty for attempting to buy cocaine. He was a TV analyst in his post-career life and died of cancer in 2023 at age 73.

Also see . . .
1. Vida Blue on Baseball-Reference.com. Vida Blue finished with a career WAR (wins above replacement) of 44.9, which

Principal Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 7, 2024

3. Principal Park

Principal Park in Des Moines is home of the Iowa Cubs, AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Iowa Oaks played on this same site at a predecessor ballpark, called Sec Taylor Park. It was replaced with the current park after the 1991 season.

ranks 138th all-time as of September 2024. His 209 wins are tied for 103rd all-time with Eddie Cicotte (who played in Des Moines as a minor leaguer in 1906), Hall-of-Famer Don Drysdale and Milt Pappas. (Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Remembering the Iowa Oaks. From Cityview

Excerpt: "The legacy of Triple A Baseball in Des Moines goes back more than half a century. The Iowa Oaks were founded in 1969 by Ray Johnston. The team played its home games at Sec Taylor Stadium, which was previously called the Pioneer Memorial Stadium and was renamed after The Des Moines Register sports editor Garner 'Sec' Taylor in 1959. Baseball did exist in the city prior to the Oaks. The Class A Western League Des Moines Bruins played here from 1947 to 1958, as did the Class B Three-I League Des Moines Demons from 1959-1961. However, the Iowa Oaks is the first team to be a part of the American Association and to have major league affiliations
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with the Oakland A’s, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, and, of course, the Chicago Cubs."

(Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 288 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 9, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clear, day-time photo of the marker's location in the concourse • Can you help?