The Tri-City Braves were a member of the WIL from 1950 through 1954. In 1955 Tri-City joined the Northwest League as a charter member. The Tri-City Braves, while serving as an affiliate of various major league clubs retained the Braves name through 1960. Upon signing on with the Baltimore Orioles in 1961, the club adopted a unique name, the Atoms. The club reverted to Braves for 1962 season, which proved to be a successful year as team finished the regular season in first place. The Braves faced the
Wenatchee Chiefs in the league championship, but lost the 2–4. The team changed its name to Angels for 1963, representative of its parent club. The franchise again changed affiliates, signing on with the
Baltimore Orioles resulting in a name change to Atoms. Led by manager
Cal Ripken Sr., the Atoms posted an 81–58 record in the club's final season of full season baseball. The Atoms swept the Lewiston Broncs in the championship series 3–0 to claim their first Northwest League crown. In 1966, the Northwest League shifted to a short-season format. Tri-City switched parent clubs and signed a player development contract with the
Los Angeles Dodgers. The Atoms had an explosive season and finished the regular season at 57–27. The Atoms finished at the top of the league standings to be named league champion. Two seasons later, the Atoms compiled a league best record en route to a third Northwest League title. The Dodgers ended their relationship with Tri-City following the 1968 season and moved their farm system to Medford, Oregon with the Rouge Valley club. In 1969, Tri-City partnered with the
Oakland Athletics, but the affiliation ended after only one season, as Oakland shifted its NWL affiliation to southwest Oregon at
Coos Bay-North Bend. Tri-City then inked a player development contract with the
San Diego Padres following their inaugural season as an expansion member of the
National League. In 1974, the Ports were an independent team and went 27–57 in front of 21,611 fans. The team was managed by owner Carl W. Thompson, Sr. before folding. The Tri-Cities were without baseball until 1983, when the
Tri-Cities Triplets relocated from
Walla Walla, and were affiliated with the
Texas Rangers for two seasons. When that relationship ended, the Triplets spent two seasons as an independent (1985, 1986), then relocated to
southwestern Idaho and became the
Boise Hawks. Professional baseball returned to the Tri-Cities in 2001 with relocation of the
Portland Rockies, who were forced to move as the territory was awarded to a AAA level franchise. Originally the team planned to keep the Rockies name. Ultimately the club selected a unique moniker, the
Dust Devils. ==Ballpark==