Tulsa Drillers

The Drillers franchise arrived in Tulsa in 1977 after relocating from Lafayette, Louisiana, where the team had played for just two seasons. The "Drillers" name was a nod to Tulsa's deep ties to the oil industry—the city was once known as the "Oil Capital of the World."

For 26 years, the Drillers served as the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, becoming one of the most important developmental stops in the Rangers' system. The partnership produced a remarkable parade of future major league stars, including Sammy Sosa, Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, and Rusty Greer. The team played at Tulsa County Stadium (later Drillers Stadium), an aging but functional venue on the city's east side.

The Drillers won Texas League championships in 1982, 1988, and 1998 during the Rangers era, establishing a winning tradition that would carry forward. By the early 2000s, however, the franchise was looking for a new home, and plans for a downtown ballpark began to take shape.

After the Rangers partnership ended in 2002, the Drillers signed with the Colorado Rockies and served as their Double-A affiliate from 2003 to 2014. The Rockies era produced its own set of notable alumni, including Matt Holliday, who would go on to become an All-Star outfielder, and Charlie Blackmon.

The defining moment of this period came in 2010 with the opening of ONEOK Field in Tulsa's historic Greenwood District. The 7,833-seat ballpark was a game-changer—a state-of-the-art facility that became a catalyst for downtown revitalization. In its inaugural season, the Drillers drew over 400,000 fans, the highest season total in the history of Tulsa professional baseball. ONEOK Field quickly became regarded as one of the finest venues in all of minor league baseball.

The move downtown transformed the Drillers from a solid regional attraction into a premier entertainment destination, setting the stage for the team's next major partnership.