Mesa Jewels

Minor league baseball first came to Mesa in 1929, when the Mesa "Jewels" became members of the Class D level Arizona State League, before folding during the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=bc9bf49d|title=1929 Arizona State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1929 Mesa Jewels Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

On July 24, 1929, Mesa had a 20–38 record under managers Bill Whittaker, Ernie Lloyd and Lee Dempsey when the franchise folded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-mj12946/y-1929|title=1929 Mesa Jewels Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}} Because the league was left with five teams, Mesa's opponents were given 3 wins and 1 loss for each scheduled series with Mesa. This gave the Mesa franchise a 28–61 overall record statistically. Mesa ended the season placing sixth in the official league standings, finishing 31.5 games behind the first place Bisbee Bees, who had a 60–30 record. The Miami Miners (50–40), Globe Bears (48–42), Tucson Cowboys (43–47) and Phoenix Senators (40–49) finished ahead of the folded Mesa franchise. Mesa did not qualify for the 1929 playoffs, won by Miami over Bisbee. The Mesa franchise was replaced by the El Paso Texans in the 1930 Arizona State League.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}

The Mesa use of the "Jewels" moniker corresponds to local geology and regional industry. Arizona has a long history of gemstone mining and production.{{Cite web|url=https://geology.com/gemstones/states/arizona.shtml|title = Arizona Gemstones - Turquoise, Peridot, Petrified Wood}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/explore-the-museum/collections/geology-collections|title=Geology Collections | Arizona Museum of Natural History|website=www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org}}

Minor league baseball returned to Mesa during the 1947 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1947 Juarez Indios/Mesa Orphans Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} On June 22, 1947, the Juarez Indios, faced with stadium issues at their home ballpark, folded from the six–team Class C level Arizona-Texas League with a 41–20 record. The Mesa Orphans began play as the replacement for Juarez on June 27, 1947.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-ci10891/y-1947|title=1947 Ciudad Juarez Indios/Mesa Orphans Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}} Mesa compiled a 20–49 record over the remainder of the season under manager Edward Wheeler, who managed the team in both locations. Overall, the Juarez/Mesa team compiled a 61–69 overall record to place fourth in the final league standings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/t-ci10891|title=Ciudad Juarez Indios Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}

The Orphans finished 19.5 games behind the first place Phoenix Senators, who finished with an 82–51 record. The Tucson Cowboys (80–52), Bisbee Yanks (74–59), Globe-Miami Browns (53–77) and El Paso Texans (44–86) completed the final Arizona-Texas League standings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=51ec01d3|title=1947 Arizona-Texas League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-AZTX/y-1947|title=1947 Arizona-Texas League (AAL) on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalballparks.com/Cactus/Rendezvous7.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215003449/http://www.digitalballparks.com/Cactus/Rendezvous7.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 15, 2021|title=Rendezvous Park - Mesa Arizona - Former Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland A's Athletics|website=www.digitalballparks.com}} With their stadium issues resolved, Juarez rejoined the Arizona-Texas League in 1948, replacing the Mesa location.

Today, Mesa hosts the Mesa Solar Sox, who began play as members of the Arizona Fall League in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/arizona-fall-league/teams/mesa-solar-sox|title=Mesa Solar Sox | Arizona Fall League|website=MLB.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Mesa, Arizona Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

File:Rendezvous Park, 1950s or 60s.jpg

The Mesa Jewels and Mesa Orphans both hosted minor league home games at Rendezvous Park. Besides minor league baseball, the ballpark also hosted spring training games for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics. The Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team also played at the ballpark on occasion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1655|title=Unknown in Mesa, AZ history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://saltriverstories.org/items/show/204|title=Rendezvous Park - The Early Days of Spring Training in Mesa|first=Connor|last=Hillmann|website=Salt River Stories}}{{Cite web|url=https://stadiumjourney.com/news/former-cactus-league-stadiums-rendezvous-park|title=Former Cactus League Stadiums: Rendezvous Park|first=Meg|last=Minard|date=November 30, 2020}}

The park which contained the stadium was established in 1895, known initially as Depot Park, in reference to a nearby railway station.{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2014 |title=Rendezvous Park became an early jewel in Mesa's crown |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2014/03/25/mesa-memories-rendezvous-park/6871577/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hillmann |first=Connor |title=Rendezvous Park - The Early Days of Spring Training in Mesa |url=https://saltriverstories.org/items/show/204 |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=Salt River Stories |language=en}} After the closure of the neighboring railway station, the park came to be known as Drew's Park, before being renamed to Rendezvous Park in the early 1920's. Rendezvous Park was torn down in 1976.

Today, the site hosts the Mesa Convention Center and an adjoining amphitheater, library and hotel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2014/03/25/mesa-memories-rendezvous-park/6871577/|title=Rendezvous Park became an early jewel in Mesa's crown|website=The Arizona Republic}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mesaaz.gov/things-to-do/mesa-convention-center/plan|title=Plan | City of Mesa|website=www.mesaaz.gov}} The Convention Center is located at 201 N. Center Street in Mesa, Arizona.{{Cite web|url=http://m.chandlerchamber.chambermaster.com/Mobile/Members/memberdetails/mesa-convention-center|title=Mesa Convention Center | 201 N Center St Mesa, AZ 85201. (480) 644-2178|website=m.chandlerchamber.chambermaster.com}}

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• Edward Wheeler (1947, MGR)

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• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Mesa&state=AZ&country=US Mesa - Baseball Reference]

Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams

Category:Professional baseball teams in Arizona

Category:Defunct baseball teams in Arizona

Category:Baseball teams established in 1947

Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1947

Category:Mesa, Arizona

Category:Maricopa County, Arizona

Category:Arizona State League teams