Organized baseball in Findlay, Ohio began with the 1894 "Findlay Sluggers," a semi–pro team, with Findlay native
Home Run Johnson and
Baseball Hall of Fame member
Bud Fowler playing for the integrated team. Johnson reportedly hit 60 home runs for the 1894 Findlay Sluggers, earning his nickname. On September 13, 1894, the Findlay Sluggers played the
Cincinnati Reds in an exhibition game, losing by the score of 10–2. On September 20, 1894, the Sluggers played the
Brooklyn Bridegrooms, losing by one run. In 1895, Fowler and Home Run Johnson left Findlay to form the
Page Fence Giants negro leagues team in
Adrian, Michigan. Immediately following the semi–pro Sluggers, minor league baseball first came to Findlay, Ohio in 1895. Keeping the previous moniker, the minor league
Findlay Sluggers played the 1895 season as a member of the
Independent level
Interstate League. With a record of 32–21, Findlay placed third in the 1895 Interstate League standings. Under managers Charles Stroebel and Howard Brandenberg, Findlay finished 2.5 games behind the first place Twin Cities Hustlers in the eight–team Interstate League. Findlay folded following the 1895 season. Author
Zane Grey and his brother
Reddy Grey played for the Sluggers in 1895. Professional baseball returned to Findlay in 1915. The 1915
Findlay Finns became members charter members of the
Class D level
Buckeye League. With a record of 22–19, the Finns placed second in the six–team league standings when the league disbanded on July 5, 1915. Findlay returned to minor league play in 1937, fielding a team in the
Ohio State League and reaching the league finals. The Ohio State League played the 1938 season as a four–team league. The Findlay Browns continued play and finished in third place. With a regular season record of 44–54 under manager Grover Hartley, Findlay was 12.0 games behind the first place
Fostoria Red Birds in the regular season standings. The
Findlay Oilers won the 1939 Ohio State League pennant and made the Finals, as the league returned to a six–team league. The "Oilers" moniker was in local reference to the
University of Findlay, who still use the moniker today. The Findlay Oilers placed first in the regular season with an 86–62 record under Grover Hartley, finishing 1.5 games ahead of the second place
Fremont Green Sox. In the playoffs Findley defeated the Fostoria Red Birds 2 games to 0 and advanced. In the Finals, the
Lima Pandas 4 defeated Findlay 4 games to 3. In the 1940 Ohio State League, the Findlay Oilers finished in second place and returned to the finals. With a record of 70–46, managed by Grover Hartley and George Ruley, the Oilers finished 13.5 games behind the first place Lima Pandas in the six–team league. In their final season of play, the 1941 Findlay "Browns" placed sixth and last in the six–team Ohio State League, returning to their former moniker. After the conclusion of the 1941 season, the Ohio State League ceased play until 1944 due to
World War II. Findlay did not field a franchise when the Ohio State League returned to play. Findlay, Ohio has not hosted another minor league team. ==The ballparks==