New Orleans Pelicans (baseball)

The New Orleans Pelicans were a Minor League Baseball team that represented New Orleans, Louisiana, on and off for over 70 years. The team existed under various names, including the New Orleans Sports and New Orleans Creoles, but the Pelicans moniker is the most well-known. They were primarily associated with the Southern Association and later, the Southern League.

The Pelicans played at several ballparks throughout their history, including Heinemann Park and later, Pelican Stadium. They won multiple league championships and were a prominent part of the New Orleans sports scene, particularly during the first half of the 20th century. The team developed and featured many players who went on to careers in Major League Baseball.

The Pelicans' history is intertwined with the history of baseball in the South, reflecting both its popularity and the challenges, including segregation, that the sport faced. The team ceased operations in the late 1950s. While professional baseball eventually returned to New Orleans, the Pelicans represent a specific and fondly remembered era of the city's sporting past.