Marion, Ohio first hosted a minor league team in 1900, when the Marion "Glass Blowers" played a partial season The Marion Diggers were preceded in minor league play by the 1937
Marion Presidents, who played briefly as members of the Class D level
Ohio State League. After a six season hiatus, Marion resumed minor league baseball play in 1944, when the '
Marion Diggers" revived a former nickname and began play as members of the six–team
Class D level Ohio State League. The league resumed play during
World War II. The Diggers were a minor league affiliate of the
Chicago Cubs. The
Lima Red Birds,
Middletown Red Sox,
Newark Moundsmen,
Richmond Roses,
Springfield Giants and
Zanesville Dodgers teams joined with Marion in beginning league play on May 2, 1944. The Diggers ended the 1944 Ohio State League season in last place. With a record of 50–80, Marion placed sixth in the regular season standings, finishing 26.0 games behind the first place Springfield Giants, as
Grover Hartley served as manager. With a record of 62–77, the Cardinals placed fifth in the six–team league, playing the season under returning manager Grover Hartley and
Wally Schang. Marion finished 27.0 games behind the first place
Middletown Rockets in the regular season final standings. Marion did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the
Zanesville Dodgers. Marion finished 17.0 games behind the first place Springfield Giants in the final regular season standings. With their fifth-place finish, the Cardinals did not qualify for the four-team playoff won by the Zanesville Dodgers. In the final season of Ohio State League play, the 1947
Marion Cubs continued play, as the franchise returned to being a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. ==The ballpark==