Best Record: 104-50 (1939)
Worst Record: 35-90 (1929)
Playoff Appearances: 3
Championships: 2 (1937,1938)
The Connecticut Coyotes, in the controversial expansion of 1929, replaced the Hartford Lions when the league forced them to move to Ohio to take over the market of the Cleveland Blue Sox turned Atlanta Colonels. They did not get off to a good start, as their first four seasons are also to date the four worst seasons in their history (aside from the four in which they lost 100 games or more, in which they actually had a higher winning percentage due to playing more games). However, they began to rebound after those four seasons as they were able to get some talent and figure out how to win. They finished with a winning record for the first time in 1933, and they finished in first place in 1937, the first of the four expansion teams to do so. Facing the defending champion New York Knights, the Coyotes defeated them in six games to become the first expansion team to win a championship. They were even better in 1938, winning 102 games and returning to the World Series. They drew the New York Knights as their opponent again, and once again they took down the Knights, this time in a full seven games. In 1939, they had an even better season with 104 wins, still their best season to date. This time their opponent was the Baltimore Browns. The Browns defeated the Coyotes in six games, denying them a three-peat. That was the last time to date that this franchise has made the playoffs.
The Coyotes spent the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s as a team that was mired in mediocrity. They were not a bad team for the most part, but they also were not good enough to make the postseason. The closest they came was in 1955 when they finished a single game out of first place. Even though they were doing well enough on the field and financially, they watned a new ballpark. The city of Harttford would not build them one, so finally they pulled up stakes and moved to Dallas, Texas prior to the 1971 season. Now known as the Dallas Coyotes, the team lost 90 games or more every season in the 1970s. They have been a little better in the 1980s with a couple over-.500 finishes, but they also have suffered two 100-loss seasons. They tried to remedy their situation after the 1986 season, by trading the #1 overall draft pick that they had "earned" to the Seattle Sea Monsters, along with star third baseman Bo Duke who would soon get too expensive for them, in exchange for multiple draft picks and six players. That trade already is looking like a disaster, even though Duke did not lead Seattle to the playoffs and has just departed as a free agent. Only two of the six players they acquired are on their Major League roster now, and one of the other four has already retired.
Outlook for 1990:
The Coyotes are not very good, and that does not look to change in 1990. They seem to be more likely to get the #1 drat pick than a playoff berth this season.
Current Manager:
Luke Addley is entering his second season as Coyotes manager. He was previously the California Stars' bench coach, and Dallas hired him after firing previous manager Jason Dodson following the 1998 season. Addley previously managed the Boston Rebels in 1981 through 1983, being fired after three seasons. He was a minor league outfielder from 1955 through 1971, retiring without ever making the Majors.
Hall of Famers
Randy Cross, CF, 1930-1945
Randy Cross broke in with the Louisville Colonels at age 24 in 1930 and immediately established himself as a starter. He won the NBC MVP in 1931, 1932 and 1934 and was part of three World Series winning teams in Louisville. Then after the 1936 season, the Captains traded him to the Connecticut Coyotes along with Blake Burroughs. The four players the Captains got back all did well in Louisville, but the Coyotes walked away with two future Hall of Famers, who would eventually go into the Hall as Coyotes rather than Captains. Cross was part of both of the Coyotes' championship teams and all three of their World Series teams, as he continued to excel. He retired after the 1945 season, and was elected to the Hall of Fame the first year he came eligible in 1951. His son, Dave Cross, was an outfielder for the New Jersey Stallions from 1964 to 1968, and his grandson Dave Cross Jr. is currently an outfielder in the Atlanta Colonels' minor league system. He has another grandson, Bobby Cross (younger brother of Dave Jr), who will be eligible for the MLB draft this upcoming summer.
Blake Burroughs, 3B, 1934-1951
Blake Burroughs had an amazing start to his career. He first came up with the Louisville Captains in 1934, and was part of a World Series winner in both 1934 and 1935. Then after the 1936 season, he was traded to the Connecticut Coyotes, who proceeded to win the World Series in both 1937 and 1938, as well as play in (but lose) the 1939 World Series. Burroughs continued to play at a high level for another decade, even though he never got another opportunity to play in the World Series. He retired after the 1951 season, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1957, his first year on the ballot. His son, Dustin Burroughs, pitched briefly in the minor leagues in 1965 and 1966. He then coached college baseball for a number of years and is currently the new bench coach for the Miami Gators.
Joachim Wagner, P, 1948-1967
Joachim Wagner came up with the Boston Rebels In 1948 and quickly became one of their better pitchers. After the 1952 season, in which he dealt with injuries all year long, the Rebels traded him to the Coyotes. He played for the Coyotes through the 1967 season, winning a total of 249 games over his career. He missed out on election to the Hall of Fame by 0.3% in 1973, his first year of eligibility. He was elected in 1974 on his second try. After his playing days, he purchased and currently owns and runs a hardware store near Boston.