East Texas League
Introduction The '''East Texas League''' was a Texas–based minor league baseball league that existed between 1916 and 1950.The East Texas League played as a Class D level league in 1916 and from 1923 to 1926.The league became a Class C level league from 1936 to 1940, 1946 and 1949 to 1950.The Tyler Trojans and Henderson Oilers each won three league championships.
Cities represented *Bryan, TX: Bryan Bombers 1949; Bryan Sports 1950*Crockett, TX: Crockett 1916*Gladewater, TX: Gladewater Bears 1936, 1949–1950*Greenville, TX: Greenville Staplers 1923; Greenville Hunters 1924–1926; Greenville Majors 1946 *Henderson, TX: Henderson Oilers 1936–1940, 1946, 1949–1950*Jacksonville, TX: Jacksonville Tomato Pickers 1916; Jacksonville Jax 1936–1940, 1946*Kilgore, TX: Kilgore Braves 1936; Kilgore Rangers 1937–1938; Kilgore Boomers 1939–1940; Kilgore Drillers 1949–1950*Longview, TX: Longview Cannibals 1923–1926; Longview Cannibals 1936–1939; Longview Texans 1940, 1949–1950*Lufkin, TX: Lufkin Lumbermen 1916; Lufkin Foresters 1946*Marshall, TX: Marshall Indians 1923–1926; Marshall Orphans 1936; Marshall Tigers 1937–1940; Marshall Browns 1949–1950*Mount Pleasant, TX: Mount Pleasant Cats 1923–1925*Nacogdoches, TX: Nacogdoches Cogs 1916*Palestine, TX: Palestine Athletics 1916; Palestine Pals 1936–1940*Paris, TX: Paris Grays 1923; Paris North Stars 1924; Paris Bearcats 1925–1926; Paris Red Peppers 1946; Paris Panthers 1949–1950*Rusk, TX: Rusk Governors 1916*Sherman, TX: Sherman Twins 1946*Sulphur Springs, TX: Sulphur Springs Lions 1923; Sulphur Springs Saints 1924; Sulphur Springs Spartans 1925*Texarkana, TX: Texarkana Twins 1924–1926; Texarkana Liners 1937–1940; Texarkana Bears 1946*Tyler, TX: Tyler Trojans 1924–1926, 1936–1940, 1946, 1949–1950
History ===1916===In 1916, the first East Texas League began play. A Class D level league, it folded on July 19, 1916.The "league champions", by default, were the Palestine Athletics and Lufkin Lumbermen, who both finished atop the league with a .609 winning percentage. The other teams in the league were the Nacogdoches Cogs, Rusk Governors, Jacksonville Tomato Pickers and a team based in Crockett, Texas that did not have a (known) nickname. Crockett, Nacogdoches and Rusk would never field a professional baseball team again. The Athletics dissolved following the season, with the next Palestine team showing up in 1925 as the Palestine Pals in the Texas Association. The Lumbermen dissolved as well, although a team with that name played in the West Dixie League in 1934.===1923–1926===The next incarnation of the league began play in 1923, and ran until 1926.After playing in the Texas–Oklahoma League in 1921 and 1922 as the Paris Snappers, the Paris Grays moved to the East Texas League and finished at the top with a 76–43 record in 1923, with the Longview Cannibals finishing last, with a 41–77 record. Other teams in the league that year were the Greenville Staplers who played in the Texas–Oklahoma League as the Greenville Togs in 1922; the Marshall Indians; the Mt. Pleasant Cats and Sulphur Springs Lions.The Cannibals, Cats and Indians returned to the league in 1924.The Greenville, Sulphur Springs and Paris-based teams did as well, however they underwent name changes: the Greenville Staplers became the Greenville Hunters, the Sulphur Springs Lions became the Sulphur Springs Saints and the Paris Grays became the Paris North Stars. In its very first season of existence, league newcomer the Tyler Trojans were league champions with an 83–37 record. Another team, the Texarkana Twins, was new to the league as well.Returning to the league in 1925 were the Tyler Trojans, Greenville Hunters, Longview Cannibals, Texarkana Twins, Marshall Indians and Mt. Pleasant Cats. The Sulphur Springs Saints became the Sulphur Springs Spartans for 1925, and the Paris North Stars became the Paris Bearcats. The Bearcats won the league championship with a 76–46 record. The Spartans disbanded on June 7 of that year, and because of that the Cannibals consolidated with  the Mt. Pleasant Cats, playing as the Longview-Mount Pleasant Longcats until July 12, when the team permanently settled in Longview. The records on June 7 were Longview 18-27 and Mt. Pleasant 22-22.1926 was the final year of the second incarnation of the East Texas League. The Longview Cannibals, Texarkana Twins, Greenville Hunters, Tyler Trojans and Paris Bearcats returned to the league with the names they held the previous year. The Marshall Indians became the Marshall Snappers-Indians. After finishing first in the league in 1925, the Bearcats finished last in the league in 1926, with a 39–81 record. The Cannibals finished with the best record in the league that year, with a mark of 83–39.===1931===The league was revived in 1931, lasting not even the whole season. The Longview Cannibals and Tyler Trojans returned to the league, and newcomers the Henderson Oilers and Kilgore Gushers joined the league as well. Tyler disbanded on May 5 and the entire league disbanded on May 7, with the default league champions being the Oilers who went 4–1.The Gushers and Trojans both went 1–3, while the Cannibals went 4–3.===1936–1940===In 1936, the league resumed play once again, this time until 1940.For the first time in the league's history, it was a Class C level league, upgrading from a Class D level league. Returning teams were the Tyler Trojans, Longview Cannibals and Henderson Oilers. The Kilgore team was now known as the Kilgore Braves, while the Marshall team, which did not participate in the 1931 incarnation, was known as the Marshall Orphans. Jacksonville and Palestine had representatives in the league for the first time since 1916, with teams known as the Jacksonville Jax and Palestine Pals, respectively. The Gladewater Bears were completely new to the league, coming from the West Dixie League, where they played in 1935.The Bears won the League Championship, as they beat the Trojans four games to two in the finals. The Trojans had placed first in the regular season standings that year, going 94–56, while the Bears went 93–59 to finish second in the league. The Braves finished last in the league, going 45–106.Following the season, the Bears ceased to exist in Gladewater. A new team with that name would show up in 1948, playing in the Lone Star League.The Tyler Trojans, Jacksonville Jax, Henderson Oilers, Palestine Pals and Longview Cannibals returned to the league for 1937 with their names the same. The Marshall team changed its name to the Marshall Tigers, while Kilgore became the Kilgore Rangers. Texarkana had a representative in the league for the first time since 1926, with a team known as the Texarkana Liners. Despite Tyler leading the league with an 85–52 record in the regular season, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Jacksonville beat Marshall in the league finals four games to two, to become the league champions. Kilgore finished last in the league with a 42–97 record.For the first time in East Texas League history, the same exact same teams played in the league two consecutive seasons: 1937 and 1938.Following 1937, there were no league departures, and there were no name changes or new teams for the 1938 season. The Trojans, who had finished in fourth place in the regular season, beat the Oilers, who had finished in third place during the regular season, four games to three in the league finals to win the league championship. Marshall (84–55) and Texarkana (80–60) had finished first and second in the league, respectively, however they were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. The Jax finished last with a 58–82 record.No teams would leave the league following 1938, and only one team would change its name for the 1939 season: the Kilgore Rangers became the Kilgore Boomers. Aside from that, every team would stay the same. The Henderson Oilers had the best record in the league, going 85–55, while the Jacksonville Jax went only 51–89.In the league finals, the second-place Boomers beat the first-place Oilers four games to zero. The Jax again finished last in the league, this time with a 51–89 record.1940 was the final year of the fourth incarnation of the East Texas League. Each team returned from the previous season, and only one team underwent a name change: the Longview Cannibals became the Longview Texans. The third-place Trojans beat the fourth-place Tigers in the league championship. Longview had finished first in the league with a 79–53 record, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. On June 5, both the Palestine Pals and Jacksonville Jax disbanded. The Marshall Tigers moved on to the Cotton States League for the 1941 season. The Texarkana Liners changed their name back to the Texarkana Twins and moved to the Cotton States League as well.===1946===The league made a one-year comeback in 1946, with the Oilers, Trojans and Jax returning. Texarkana came back with a new team name, the Texarkana Bears, as did Greenville (which hadn't had a team in the league since 1926), its team known as the Greenville Majors. Paris, too, returned with a team called the Paris Red Peppers, and Lufkin returned to the league for the first time since 1916, with a team known as the Lufkin Foresters. Sherman was entirely new to the league, with a team known as the Twins. Henderson finished atop the league with an 83–56 record, and they won the League Championship as well, defeating Texarkana four games to two. Lufkin finished last in the league with a 47–92 record. The league disbanded following the 1946 season. The Oilers, Jax, Foresters and Trojans moved on to the Lone Star League, while the Bears, Majors, Red Peppers and Twins moved on to the Big State League. The Twins became known as the Sherman–Denison Twins.===1949–1950===1949 was the beginning of the sixth and final incarnation of the East Texas League. It would last until 1950.The Longview Texans returned to the league after not playing in it during the 1946 incarnation, coming from the Lone Star League. The Gladewater Bears returned as well, after not playing in the league since 1936.They too arrived from the Lone Star League. The Tyler Trojans and Henderson Oilers returned after spending time in the Lone Star League, as well. The Paris team arrived from the Big State League, changing its name from the Paris Rockets (it changed its name to the Rockets for the 1948 Big State League season) to the Paris Panthers. Kilgore returned as the Kilgore Drillers, coming from the Lone Star League. The Marshall team was now known as the Marshall Browns. They arrived from the Lone Star League, where they were known as the Marshall Comets in 1947 and Marshall Tigers in 1948.Bryan, Texas had a representative in the league for the first time, the Bryan Bombers. They arrived from the Lone Star League. So many team arrived from the Lone Star league because that league folded following the 1948 season.Longview finished first in the league in 1949, with an 89–51 record. Gladewater ended up winning the league championship, however, defeating the fourth–place Kilgore four games to zero. The Bombers finished last in the league, with a 48–91 record.Every team that played in the league in 1949 returned for 1950, with the Bombers changing their name to the Bryan Sports. The Sports and Paris Panthers disbanded on July 20.Gladewater led the league with a 92–45 record, but second-place Marshall beat fourth–place Longview four games to one in the finals.The league folded following the 1950 season. The Gladewater Bears, Marshall Browns, Henderson Oilers and Kilgore Drillers folded with it. The Longview Texans did not play in 1950, however Longview was represented by the Longview Cherokees in 1952 and the Longview Pirates in 1953 in the Big State League. The Tyler Trojans became the Tyler East Texans and moved to the Big State League. A team named the Paris Indians represented Paris in Big State League from 1952 to 1953.Paris had minor league teams through 1957.Bryan had minor league teams until 1954, although none in 1951 and 1952.
Standings & statistics ===1916==='''1916 East Texas League'''Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Palestine Athletics149 Dick Brewer  Lufkin Lumbermen 149 Lee Lemon Nacogdoches Cogs109.5262.0 Tom Cherry  Crockett  913.4094.5Bob Countryman Rusk Governors711.3894.5 Jack Ashton  Jacksonville Tomato Pickers 36.333NA Art Wickes  +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  Lee Lemon LufkinBA George Crevenstine LufkinW6  J.T. Ellis NacogdochesRuns George Crevenstine LufkinPct1.000; 6-0 J.T. Ellis NacogdochesHits13  Haywood McDanielPalestineHits13  Hank Utzman LufkinHR3  ===1923 to 1926==='''1923 East Texas League'''Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Paris Grays7643 Paul Trammell Greenville Staplers 7048.5935.5 Bennie Brownlow Marshall Indians6355.53412.5 Hick Munsell / Jackie Reid / Jones / Larry Parker Mount Pleasant Cats5366.44523.0 Frank Youree / Roy Storey  Sulphur Springs Lions5367.44223.5 Roy Eichord  Longview Cannibals4177.34834.5 Jack Lockhart / Grady White / Hick Munsell +'''Player statistics'''  Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  Fred Craig GreenvilleBA Jackie Reid MarshallW20 Chalmers Williams ParisRuns Jack Robertson GreenvilleSO193  Fred Craig GreenvilleHits Jack Robertson GreenvillePct.731; 19-7  Lillard Belcher Marshall/ParisHR31 '''1924 East Texas League''' scheduleTeam standingsWLPCTGB Managers Tyler Trojans8337 Pop Kitchens Greenville Hunters 7150.58712.5 Bennie Brownlow Texarkana Twins6356.52919.5Hub Northen / Wesley Bradshaw  Longview Cannibals5663.47126.5 Les Tullos / Jack Johnston  Mount Pleasant Cats5663.47126.5 Paul Trammell / Edgar Behrens  Sulphur Springs Saints5666.45928.0 Johnny Meanor / Abe BowmanMarshall Indians4869.41033.5 Bugs Young / Johnnie Baggan  Paris North Stars4372.37437.5Bill Byers / Rollie Zeider +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  Tom Osborne Mt. PleasantBARed RobertsGreenvilleW23 George JacksonTylerRunsLloyd BrownParisSO224  Tom Osborne Mt. PleasantHitsCarl YowellTylerPct.813; 13-3  Pete Daniels MarshallHR35  '''1925 East Texas League''' scheduleTeam standingsWLPCTGB Managers Paris Bearcats7646 Les Tullos  Tyler Trojans 6955.5568.0Pop Kitchens  Greenville Hunters6361.50814.0Walt Alexander / Lee Ballanfant Longview Cannibals / Longview-Mount Pleasant Longcats6361.50814.0 Jack Johnston / Willie Crosby Texarkana Twins5864.47518.0Mike Prendergast/ Paul Trammell / Verdo Elmore Marshall Indians5169.42524.0 Johnnie Baggan / Cecil Coombs Mount Pleasant Cats2222.500NABob Countryman Sulphur Springs Spartans 1135.239NAAbe Bowman +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  Tom Pyle GreenvilleBA Gus Burleson ParisW19  Jim Holloway TylerRuns Kearby Lybrand TylerW19  Joe Granade Texar/TylerHits Kearby LybrandTylerSO154 Jim Holloway TylerHR Gus Burleson ParisPct.760; 19-6 '''1926 East Texas League''' scheduleTeam standingsWLPCTGB Managers Longview Cannibals8339 Bennie Brownlow Texarkana Twins 6654.55016.0Tex Wisterzil Greenville Hunters6257.52119.5 George Jackson  Tyler Trojans5764.47125.5 Pop KitchensMarshall Indians5567.45128.0Red Snapp / Buster Wisrock / Mike Massey / Dutch BernsenParis Bearcats3981.32543.0 Les Tullos / Faustin Gallegos / Red Snapp +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Moose ClabaughTylerBAAbe BowmanLongviewW20 Moose ClabaughTylerRuns Noel Haynes ParisSO120  Joe Granade TexarkanaHitsAbe BowmanLongviewPct.833; 20-4 Moose ClabaughTylerHR62Moose ClabaughTylerRBI164 ===1931==='''1931 East Texas League''' scheduleTeam standingsWLPCTGB Managers Henderson Oilers41 Hick Munsell / Bennie Bedford  Longview Cannibals 43.5711.0Abe Bowman Kilgore Gushers13.2502.5Turkey Gross Tyler Trojans13.2502.5 Pop Kitchens  +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  M.B. Hauser HendersonBA Jackie Reid LongviewW2  Kenneth Westbrook WestbrookBARudy LeopoldKilgoreSO22 Gilbert Humphries LongviewRuns Jackie Reid LongviewPct1.000; 2-0  Lester Seward LongviewHits11  M.B. Hauser HendersonHR4 ===1936 to 1940==='''1936 East Texas League'''Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers  Tyler Trojans9456Wally Dashiell Gladewater Bears 9359.6122.0 Eddie Hock  Longview Cannibals8664.5738.0Tex Jeanes Jacksonville Jax8069.53713.5Ray Flaskamper /  Horace Simmons Palestine Pals7477.49020.5 Bobby Goff  Henderson Oilers7080.46724.0 Jimmy Dalrymple / Gus Burleson Marshall Orphans /Marshall Tigers5990.39634.5 Harvey Albrecht / Tex Nugent / Bama Jones  Kilgore Braves45106.298.49.5Lee Cunningham / Dutch Seebold /Jack Fitzpatrick / Robert Rawlins +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Tex JeanesLongviewBAKip Saurbrun TylerW23  Charles Baron TylerRuns Stidham Talley PalestineSO203  Walter PaschalLongviewHits L. Meadows JacksonvilleERA2.72  Larry Kinzer TylerHits James Gravin JacksonvillePCT.846; 11-2 Larry Kinzer TylerRBI121 Merv ConnorsLongviewHR24 Clary Hack GladewaterHR24 '''1937 East Texas League''' scheduleTeam standingsWLPCTGB Managers Tyler Trojans8552Wally Dashiell Jacksonville Jax 8555.6071.5Tony Robello Marshall Tigers7662.5519.5 Bama Jones / Jim Dalrymple Henderson Oilers7462.54410.5 Gus Burleson / Guy Curtright Palestine Pals7564.54011.0 Abe Miller Longview Cannibals7070.50016.5Harry Faulkner / Wally Paschal  Texarkana Liners4691.33639.0Bill Windle / Eddie Hock  Kilgore Rangers4297.30244.0 Tom Estel / Jimmy Kerr +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  Jesse Newman PalestineBARed LynnJacksonvilleW32 Walter BlissPalestineRuns Walter Shaffer HendersonSO274  Norman Peterson JacksonvilleHitsRed LynnJacksonvilleERA2.65 Tony RobelloJacksonvilleRBIRufus MeadowsTylerPCT.806; 25-6 Tony RobelloJacksonvilleHR33 '''1938 East Texas League''' scheduleTeam standingsWLPCTGB Managers Marshall Tigers8455Guy Sturdy / Willard Coker / Abe Miller  Texarkana Liners 8060.5714.5Sam Gray Henderson Oilers7565.5369.5 Ed Hall Tyler Trojans7266.52211.5Doug Taitt /Fred Browning  / Red Rollings Kilgore Rangers6474.46419.5Jimmy Dalrymple  Longview Cannibals6375.45720.5 Harold Funk Palestine Pals6079.43224.0 Abe Miller / Neil Andrews / John Kosey  Jacksonville Jax5882.41426.5Tony Robello +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Gordon Houston TexarkanaBA Jack Van Orsdol MarshallW21  Gabby Lusk TexarkanaRunsEugene Davis TexarkanaSO231  Ed Hall HendersonHits Fred Isert KilgoreERA2.30 Tony RobelloJacksonvilleRBIVallie EavesTexarkanaPCT.789 15-4 Tony RobelloJacksonvilleHR38 '''1939 East Texas League''' schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Henderson Oilers8555Jake Atz Kilgore Boomers 8059.5764.5 Jimmy Dalrymple  Palestine Pals7663.5478.5 Ray Flood / Jack Calvey  Marshall Tigers7268.51413.0 Cal Cowman / Hub Northen / Gabby Lusk / Guy Sturdy  Tyler Trojans7069.50414.5 Bobby Goff  Texarkana Liners6475.46020.5 Eph Lobaugh  Longview Cannibals 5979.42825.0 Jack Fitzpatrick  Jacksonville Jax5189.36434.0Jimmy Zinn / Sam Hancock  / Lee Stebbins / Hal Grant / Roxy Middleton +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Lou KahnPalestineBASteve RachunokHendersonW22  Eddie Knoblauch KilgoreRunsBill Roberson TylerSO222  Eddie Knoblauch KilgoreHitsEd LopatLongviewERA2.11  Gilbert Turner MarshallRBI Frank PerkKilgorePCT.833 20-4 Gilbert Turner MarshallHR26 '''1940 East Texas League''' scheduleTeam standingsWLPCTGB Managers Longview Texans7953 Tex Jeanes / Al Costello Henderson Oilers 7955.5901.0Jake Atz Tyler Trojans7956.5851.5 Bobby Goff / Sam Hancock  Marshall Tigers6764.51111.5Salty Parker Kilgore Boomers5578.41424.5 Jimmy Dalrymple  Texarkana Liners4787.35133.0 Abe Miller / Clair Bates  Palestine Pals 2520.556NA Elmer Kirchoff Jacksonville Jax 1432.304NA Stormy Davis / Walter Bohl  +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotSalty ParkerMarshallBAPat BeasleyLongviewW20 Billy Binstrub TylerRuns Bob Gillespie HendersonSO224  George Kovach Palestine/TylerHits Pat Beasley LongviewERA2.33  George Kovach Palestine/TylerRBI Jim Steger HendersonPCT.778 14-4  Tom Jordan MarshallHR19 ===1946, 1949 to 1950 ==='''1946 East Texas League'''Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Henderson Oilers8356 Ray Honeycutt Texarkana Bears 8158.5822.0 Gabby Lusk / Joe Kracher Tyler Trojans7663.5477.0Doug Taitt / Dutch Prather  Greenville Majors7167.51411.5Sal Gliatto / Alex Hooks Sherman Twins7070.50013.5Guy Sturdy Paris Red Peppers6872.48615.5Homer Peel Jacksonville Jax6078.43522.5Lloyd Rigby Lufkin Foresters4792.33836.0 Hank Doty / Mike Mistovich  +'''Player statistics''' Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  Don Stokes Tyler/ShermanBA Elton Davis HendersonW26  Gene Olive HendersonRuns Louis Christy Tyler/HendersonSO190  Gene Olive HendersonHits Elton Davis HendersonERA2.31  Paul Martin HendersonRBI Elton Davis HendersonPCT.813 26-6 Frank SackaParisHR30 '''1949 East Texas League'''Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Longview Texans895163,103Dixie Parsons Gladewater Bears 8753.6212.050,328 Hal Van Pelt  Paris Panthers7562.54712.566,509Jim WalkupKilgore Drillers7565.53614.052,701Joe Kracher Marshall Browns6968.50418.560,585 Walter DeFreitas Tyler Trojans6278.44327.056,064Carl McNabb /  Mel Hicks  Henderson Oilers5188.36737.534,500 Mel Hicks / George Milstead Bryan Bombers4891.34540.540,000 Felix Penso / Stan Goletz +'''Player statistics'''  Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot  Vern Washington GladewaterBA George Yanen ParisW22 Al Kubski LongviewRuns James UpchurchMarshallSO210  John Stone HendersonHits Rafael Rivas GladewaterERA2.09 Joe BurnsLongviewRBI136  Nick Gregory KilgoreHR23 '''1950 East Texas League''' Team standingsWLPCTGB AttendManagers Gladewater Bears924527,789Dutch Meyer / Hal Van Pelt  Marshall Browns 8846.6572.547,254Bruce Ogrodowski Kilgore Drillers7859.56914.037,742 Al Kubski Longview Texans6767.50023.541,146 Dixie Parsons  Tyler Trojans6078.43532.554,778 Otto Nitcholas  / Stan Goletz / Joe Kracher Henderson Oilers6079.43233.023,384Burl Storie / John Stone / Bill Sinton  Paris Panthers 3059.337NA30,600Jim Walkup / Joe Weeks  Bryan Sports 2365.261NA26,050 Bones Sanders  +'''Player statistics'''Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Dutch MeyerGladewaterBA Darwin Dobbs TylerW21  Hal Van Pelt GladewaterRuns John Fine LongviewSO178  Jack Jones LongviewHits Howard Waters MarshallERA1.87  Jack Jones LongviewRBI Norm Wielansky MarshallPCT.792 19-5  Jack Jones LongviewHR26 Merv ConnorsKilgoreHR26
References The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition.