The St. Cloud Rox were a professional minor league baseball team that existed from 1946 to 1971 in St Cloud, Minnesota, playing in the Northern League for the duration of the franchise.
The St. Cloud Rox were an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins (1965âÂÂ1971), Chicago Cubs (1960âÂÂ1964), San Francisco Giants (1958âÂÂ1959) and New York Giants (1946âÂÂ1957).
Baseball Hall of Fame members Dave Bancroft (1947), Lou Brock (1961), Orlando Cepeda (1956) and Gaylord Perry (1958) are St. Cloud Rox alumni.
Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the team played its entire existence in the Northern League. The Rox were affiliates of the New York Giants from 1946 to 1957, the San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1959, the Chicago Cubs from 1960 to 1964 and the Minnesota Twins from 1965 to 1971.
The original Rox ceased playing after the 1971 season when the old Northern League folded. Hall of Fame players to play for the Rox include Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry. Hall of Famer Dave Bancroft managed the team in 1947.
In 1997, collegiate summer baseball returned organized baseball to St. Cloud when the Dubuque Mud Puppies of the Northwoods League relocated and became the St. Cloud River Bats. In 2012, the River Bats renamed themselves to the Rox in honor of the previous Rox franchise.
The Rox played at Rox Park, also known as Municipal Stadium, located at Division Street and 25th Avenue. It opened in 1948 and was demolished in 1971. The park capacity fluctuated from 5,000 in 1947 to 3,600 in 1949. The played their final season at the newly constructed Municipal Stadium (now Dick Putz Field).