East Texas League

From BR Bullpen

There were many short-lived circuits that used the name East Texas League. The first played in 1916, but only until July 19. One of the longest-running East Texas Leagues started in 1923 and played for four years. In 1931 a one-week operation used the name, this one with just four teams. From 1936 through 1940 a five-year East Texas League was in operation. Unlike the prior leagues (all class D) this one was a class C league. A third one-year East Texas League (class C) played in 1946. Finally, in 1949 and 1950 the league was revived with the same league president as in 1946, again dying a quick death.

Contents 1 Cities Represented - Teams and Statistics 1.1 1916 1.2 1923-1926 1.3 1931 1.4 1936-1940 C 1.5 1946, 1949-1950 C 2 Single Season League Records 1916-1950 3 Source

[edit] Cities Represented - Teams and Statistics

[edit] 1916

• Palestine, TX: Palestine Athletics
• Lufkin, TX: Lufkin Lumbermen
• Nacogdoches, TX: Nacogdoches Cogs
• Crockett, TX: Crockett
• Rusk, TX: Rusk Governors
• Jacksonville, TX: Jacksonville Tomato Pickers

1916 East Texas League
President: Lawrence Jordan

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Palestine Athletics	14	9	.609	0	Dick Brewer
Lufkin Lumbermen	14	9	.609	0	Lee Lemon
Nacogdoches Cogs	10	9	.526	2	Tom Cherry
Crockett ##	9	13	.409	4.5	Bob Countryman
Rusk Governors	7	11	.389	4.5	Jack Ashton
Jacksonville Tomato Pickers #	3	6	.333	NA	Art Wickes

#Jacksonville joined the league June 29 and disbanded July 13.
##Crockett disbanded July 15.
The league disbanded July 19. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Lee Lemon	Lufkin	BA	.407		George Crevenstine	Lufkin	W	6
J.T. Ellis	Nacogdoches	Runs	10		George Crevenstine	Lufkin	Pct	1.000; 6-0
J.T. Ellis	Nacogdoches	Hits	13		Haywood McDaniel	Palestine	Hits	13
Hank Utzman	Lufkin	HR	3

[edit] 1923-1926

• Greenville, TX: Greenville Staplers 1923; Greenville Hunters 1924-1926
• Longview, TX: Longview Cannibals 1923-1926, moved to Lone Star League 1927
• Marshall, TX: Marshall Indians 1923-1926; aka Marshall Snappers in beginning of 1926
• Mount Pleasant, TX: Mount Pleasant Cats 1923-1925
• Paris, TX: Paris Grays 1923; Paris North Stars 1924; Paris Bearcats 1925-1926
• Sulphur Springs, TX: Sulphur Springs Lions 1923; Sulphur Springs Saints 1924; Sulphur Springs Spartans 1925
• Texarkana, TX: Texarkana Twins 1924-1926, moved to Lone Star League 1927-1929
• Tyler, TX: Tyler Trojans 1924-1926, moved to Lone Star League 1927-1929

1923 East Texas League
President: Ike Hockwald

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Paris Grays	76	43	.639	0	Paul Trammell
Greenville Staplers	70	48	.593	5.5	Bennie Brownlow
Marshall Indians	63	55	.534	12.5	Hick Munsell / Jackie Reid / Jones / Parker
Mt. Pleasant Cats	53	66	.445	23	Frank Youree / Roy Storey
Sulphur Springs Lions	53	67	.442	23.5	Roy Eichord
Longview Cannibals	41	77	.348	34.5	Jack Lockhart / Grady White / Hick Munsell

Attendance: Mt. Pleasant, 13,029 Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Fred Craig	Greenville	BA	.328		Jackie Reid	Marshall	W	20
Chalmers Williams	Paris	Runs	105		Jack Robertson	Greenville	SO	193
Fred Craig	Greenville	Hits	156		Jack Robertson	Greenville	Pct	.731; 19-7
Lillard Belcher	Marshall/Paris	HR	31

1924 East Texas League
President: T. Lamar Denman

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tyler Trojans	83	37	.692	0	Frank "Pop" Kitchens
Greenville Hunters	71	50	.587	12.5	Bennie Brownlow
Texarkana Twins	63	56	.529	19.5	Hub Northen
Longview Cannibals	56	63	.471	26.5	Les Tullos / Doc Johnston
Mt. Pleasant Cats	56	63	.471	26.5	Paul Trammel / Dutch Behrens
Sulphur Springs Saints	56	66	.459	28	Johnny Meanor / Abe Bowman
Marshall Indians	48	69	.410	33.5	Bugs Young / Johnnie Baggan
Paris North Stars	43	72	.374	37.5	Bill Byers / Rollie Zeider

Attendance: Mt. Pleasant, 17,003; Tyler, 63,000 Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Tom Osborne	Mt. Pleasant	BA	.432		Red Roberts	Greenville	W	23
George Jackson	Tyler	Runs	103		Lloyd Brown	Paris	SO	224
Tom Osborne	Mt. Pleasant	Hits	171		Carl Yowell	Tyler	Pct	.813; 13-3
Pete Daniels	Marshall	HR	35

1925 East Texas League
President: H.E. Crosby

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Paris Bearcats	76	46	.623	0	Les Tullos
Tyler Trojans	69	55	.556	8	Frank "Pop" Kitchens
Greenville Hunters	63	61	.508	14	Walt Alexander / Lee Ballanfant
Longview Cannibals / Mt. Pleasant ##	63	61	.508	14	Doc Johnston / Willie Crosby
Texarkana Twins	58	64	.475	18	Mike Prendergast
Marshall Indians	51	69	.425	24	Johnnie Baggan / Cecil Coombs
Mt. Pleasant Cats	22	22	.500	NA	Bob Countryman
Sulphur Springs Spartans #	11	35	.239	NA	Abe Bowman

#Sulphur Springs disbanded June 7.
Mt. Pleasant and Longview merged June 7, playing games in both cities as the Longview-
Mt. Pleasant Longcats until July 12, when the club settled permanently in Longview.
The records on June 7 were Longview 18-27 and Mt. Pleasant 22-22.
Playoff: Paris 2 games, Texarcana 1, one tie, for the first half championship. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Tom Pyle	Greenville	BA	.388		Gus Burleson	Paris	W	19
Jim Holloway	Tyler	Runs	115		Kearby Lybrand	Tyler	W	19
Joe Granade	Texar/Tyler	Hits	182		Kearby Lybrand	Tyler	SO	154
Jim Holloway	Tyler	HR	41		Gus Burleson	Paris	Pct	.760; 19-6

1926 East Texas League
President: T.H. Fisher

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Longview Cannibals	83	39	.680	0	Bennie Brownlow
Texarkana Twins	66	54	.550	16	Tex Wisterzil
Greenville Hunters	62	57	.521	19.5	George Jackson
Tyler Trojans	57	64	.471	25.5	Frank "Pop" Kitchens
Marshall Snappers-Indians	55	67	.451	28	Red Snapp / Wisrock / Massey / Bernson
Paris Bearcats	39	81	.325	43	Les Tullos / Faustin Gallegos / Red Snapp

Attendance: Tyler, 40,720. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Moose Clabaugh	Tyler	BA	.376		Elmer Bowman	Longview	W	20
Moose Clabaugh	Tyler	Runs	106		Noel Haynes	Paris	SO	120
Joe Granade	Texarkana	Hits	180		Elmer Bowman	Longview	Pct	.833; 20-4
Moose Clabaugh	Tyler	HR	62

[edit] 1931

• Henderson, TX: Henderson Oilers 4-1
• Longview, TX: Longview Cannibals 4-3
• Kilgore, TX: Kilgore Gushers 1-3
• Tyler, TX: Tyler Trojans 1-3

1931 East Texas League
President: Harry Wanderling

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Henderson Oilers	4	1	.800	0	Hick Munsell / Bennie Bedford
Longview Cannibals	4	3	.571	1	Abe Bowman
Kilgore Gushers	1	3	.250	2.5	Turkey Gross
Tyler Trojans	1	3	.250	2.5	Frank "Pop" Kitchens

Tyler disbanded May 5; rest of league disbanded May 7. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
M.B. Hauser	Henderson	BA	.462		Jackie Reid	Longview	W	2
Kenneth Westbrook	Westbrook	BA	.462		Rudy Lepold	Kilgore	SO	22
Gilbert Humphries	Longview	Runs	9		Jackie Reid	Longview	Pct	1.000; 2-0
Lester Seward	Longview	Hits	11		M.B. Hauser	Henderson	HR	4

[edit] 1936-1940 C

• Gladewater, TX: Gladewater Bears 1936, moved from West Dixie League 1935
• Henderson, TX: Henderson Oilers 1936-1940, moved from West Dixie League 1934-1935
• Jacksonville, TX: Jacksonville Jax 1936-1940, moved from West Dixie League 1934-1935
• Kilgore, TX: Kilgore Braves 1936; Kilgore Rangers 1937-1938; Kilgore Boomers 1939-1940
• Longview, TX: Longview Cannibals 1936-1939, moved from West Dixie League 1934-1935; Longview Texans 1940
• Marshall, TX: Marshall Orphans 1936; Marshall Tigers 1937-1940
• Palestine, TX: Palestine Pals 1936-1940, moved from West Dixie League 1934-1935
• Texarkana, TX: Texarkana Liners 1937-1940
• Tyler, TX: Tyler Trojans 1936-1940, moved from West Dixie League 1935

1936 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tyler Trojans	94	56	.627	0	Wally Dashiell
Gladewater Bears	93	59	.612	2	Eddie Hock
Longview Cannibals	86	64	.573	8	Tex Jeanes
Jacksonville Jax	80	69	.537	13.5	Roy Flaskamper / Horace Simmons
Palestine Pals	74	77	.490	20.5	Bobby Goff
Henderson Oilers	70	80	.467	24	Jimmy Dalrymple / Horace Simmons
Marshall Orphans	59	90	.396	34.5	Harvey Albrecht / Tex Nugent / Bama Jones
Kilgore Braves	45	106	.298	.49.5	Bruce Cunningham / Seebold / Fitzpatrick / Rawlins

Playoffs: Tyler 4 games, Jacksonville 2; Gladewater 4 games, Longview 1.
Finals: Gladewater 4 games, Tyler 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Tex Jeanes	Longview	BA	.362		Kip Saurbrun	Tyler	W	23
Charles Baron	Tyler	Runs	133		Stidham Talley	Palestine	SO	203
Walter Paschal	Longview	Hits	194		James Gravin	Jacksonville	Pct	.846; 11-2
Larry Kinzer	Tyler	Hits	194		Larry Kinzer	Tyler	RBI	121
Merv Connors	Longview	HR	24

1937 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Tyler Trojans	85	52	.620	0	Wally Dashiell
Jacksonville Jax	85	55	.607	1.5	Tony Robello
Marshall Tigers	76	62	.551	9.5	Bama Jones / Jim Dalrymple
Henderson Oilers	74	62	.544	10.5	Gus Burleson / Guy Curtright
Palestine Pals	75	64	.540	11	Archie "Abe" Miller
Longview Cannibals	70	70	.500	16.5	Jim Faulkner / Wally Paschal
Texarkana Liners	46	91	.336	39	Bill Windle / Eddie Hock
Kilgore Rangers	42	97	.302	44	Tom Estel / John Kerr

Playoffs: Marshall 4 games, Tyler 1; Jacksonville 4 games, Henderson 3.
Finals: Jacksonville 4 games, Marshall 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jesse Newman	Palestine	BA	.363		Red Lynn	Jacksonville	W	32
Walter Bliss	Palestine	Runs	124		Walter Shaffer	Henderson	SO	274
Norman Peterson	Jacksonville	Hits	207		Red Lynn	Jacksonville	ERA	2.65
Tony Robello	Jacksonville	RBI	130		Rufus Meadows	Tyler	Pct	.806; 25-6
Tony Robello	Jacksonville	HR	33

1938 East Texas League
President: C.P. Mosley

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Marshall Tigers	84	55	.604	0	Guy Sturdy / Willard Coker / Abe Miller
Texarkana Liners	80	60	.571	4.5	Sam Gray
Henderson Oilers	75	65	.536	9.5	Ed Hall
Tyler Trojans	72	66	.522	11.5	Doug Taitt / Fred Browning / Red Rollings
Kilgore Rangers	64	74	.464	19.5	Jimmy Dalrymple
Longview Cannibals	63	75	.457	20.5	Harold Funk
Palestine Pals	60	79	.432	24	Archie "Abe" Miller / Neil Andrews / John Kosey
Jacksonville Jax	58	82	.414	26.5	Tony Robello

Playoffs: Tyler 4 games, Marshall 1; Henderson 4 games, Texarkana 3.
Finals: Tyler 4 games, Henderson 3. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Gordon Houston	Texarkana	BA	.384		Jack Van Orsdol	Marshall	W	21
Gabby Lusk	Texarkana	Runs	152		Eugene Davis	Texarkana	SO	231
Ed Hall	Henderson	Hits	196		Fred Isert	Kilgore	ERA	2.30
Tony Robello	Jacksonville	RBI	146		Tony Robello	Jacksonville	HR	38

1939 East Texas League
President: C.P. Mosley

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Henderson Oilers	85	55	.607	0	Jake Atz
Kilgore Boomers	80	59	.576	4.5	Jim Dalrymple
Palestine Pals	76	63	.547	8.5	Ray Flood / Jack Calvey
Marshall Tigers	72	68	.514	13	Cal Cowman / Hub Northen / Lusk / Sturdy
Tyler Trojans	70	69	.504	14.5	Bobby Goff
Texarkana Liners	64	75	.460	20.5	Eph Lobaugh
Longview Cannibals	59	79	.428	25	Ed Fitzpatrick
Jacksonville Jax	51	89	.364	34	Zinn / Hancock / Stebbins / Grant / Middleton

Total Attendance: 227,000
Playoffs: Henderson 4 games, Marshall 3; Kilgore 4 games, Palestine 1.
Finals: Kilgore 4 games, Henderson 0. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Lou Kahn	Palestine	BA	.346		Steve Rachunok	Henderson	W	22
Eddie Knoblauch	Kilgore	Runs	125		Bill Roberson	Tyler	SO	222
Eddie Knoblauch	Kilgore	Hits	189		Ed Lopat	Longview	ERA	2.11
Gilbert Turner	Marshall	RBI	112		Gilbert Turner	Marshall	HR	26

1940 East Texas League
President: C.P. Mosley

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Longview Texans	79	53	.598	0	Tex Jeanes / Jimmy Adair
Henderson Oilers	79	55	.590	1	Jake Atz
Tyler Trojans	79	56	.585	1.5	Bobby Goff / Sam Hancock
Marshall Tigers	67	64	.511	11.5	Salty Parker
Kilgore Boomers	55	78	.414	24.5	Jimmy Dalrymple
Texarkana Liners	47	87	.351	33	Abe Miller / Clair Bates
Palestine Pals #	25	20	.556	NA	Elmer Kirchoff
Jacksonville Jax #	14	32	.304	NA	Cecil "Stormy" Davis / Walter Bohl

#Palestine and Jacksonville disbanded June 5.
Playoffs: Marshall 3 games, Henderson 2; Tyler 3 games, Longview 2.
Finals: Tyler 4 games, Marshall 3. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Salty Parker	Marshall	BA	.349		Pat Beasley	Longview	W	20
Billy Binstrub	Tyler	Runs	120		Bob Gillespie	Henderson	SO	224
George Kovach	Palestine/Tyler	Hits	175		Pat Beasley	Longview	ERA	2.33
George Kovach	Palestine/Tyler	RBI	108		Tom Jordan	Marshall	HR	19

[edit] 1946, 1949-1950 C

• Bryan, TX: Bryan Bombers 1949, moved from Lone Star League 1947-1948; Bryan Sports 1950
• Gladewater, TX: Gladewater Bears 1949-1950, moved from Lone Star League 1948
• Greenville, TX: Greenville Majors 1946, moved to Big State League 1947-1950
• Henderson, TX: Henderson Oilers 1946, 1949-1950, moved to and back from Lone Star League 1947-1948
• Jacksonville, TX: Jacksonville Jax 1946, moved to Lone Star League 1947
• Kilgore, TX: Kilgore Drillers 1949-1950, moved from Lone Star League 1947-1948
• Longview, TX: Longview Texans 1949-1950, moved from Lone Star League 1947-1948
• Lufkin, TX: Lufkin Foresters 1946, moved to Lone Star League 1947-1948
• Marshall, TX: Marshall Browns 1949-1950
• Paris, TX: Paris Red Peppers 1946, moved to Big State League 1947; Paris Panthers 1949-1950
• Sherman, TX: Sherman Twins 1946
• Texarkana, TX: Texarkana Bears 1946, moved to Big State League 1947-1953
• Tyler, TX: Tyler Trojans 1946, moved to Lone Star League 1947; Tyler Trojans 1949-1950

1946 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Henderson Oilers	83	56	.597	0	Ray Honeycutt
Texarkana Bears	81	58	.582	2	Gabby Lusk / Joe Kracher
Tyler Trojans	76	63	.547	7	Doug Taitt / Dutch Prather
Greenville Majors	71	67	.514	11.5	Sal Gliatto / Alex Hooks
Sherman Twins	70	70	.500	13.5	Guy Sturdy
Paris Red Peppers	68	72	.486	15.5	Homer Peel
Jacksonville Jax	60	78	.435	22.5	Lloyd Rigby
Lufkin Foresters	47	92	.338	36	Hank Doty / Mike Mistovich

Total Attendance: 700,000
Playoffs: Texarkana 4 games, Tyler 1; Henderson 4 games, Greenville 3.
Finals: Henderson 4 games, Texarkana 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Don Stokes	Tyler/Sherman	BA	.361		Elton Davis	Henderson	W	26
Gene Olive	Henderson	Runs	128		Louis Christy	Tyler/Henderson	SO	190
Gene Olive	Henderson	Hits	211		Elton Davis	Henderson	ERA	2.31
Paul Martin	Henderson	RBI	127		Frank Sacka	Paris	HR	30

1949 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Longview Texans	89	51	.636	0	63,103	Dixie Parsons
Gladewater Bears	87	53	.621	2	50,328	Hal Van Pelt
Paris Panthers	75	62	.547	12.5	66,509	Jim Walkup
Kilgore Drillers	75	65	.536	14	52,701	Joe Kracher
Marshall Browns	69	68	.504	18.5	60,585	Walter DeFreitas
Tyler Trojans	62	78	.443	27	56,064	Carl McNabb / Mel Hicks
Henderson Oilers	51	88	.367	37.5	34,500	Mel Hicks / George Milstead
Bryan Bombers	48	91	.345	40.5	40,000	Felix Penso / Stan Goletz

Playoffs: Kilgore 4 games, Longview 3; Gladewater 4 games, Paris 3.
Finals: Gladewater 4 games, Kilgore 0. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Vern Washington	Gladewater	BA	.387		George Yanen	Paris	W	22
Al Kubski	Longview	Runs	132		James Upchurch	Marshall	SO	210
John Stone	Henderson	Hits	199		Rafael Rivas	Gladewater	ERA	2.09
Joe Burns	Longview	RBI	136		Nick Gregory	Kilgore	HR	23

1950 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Gladewater Bears	92	45	.672	0	27,789	Dutch Meyer / Hal Van Pelt
Marshall Browns	88	46	.657	2.5	47,254	Bruce Ogrodowski
Kilgore Drillers	78	59	.569	14	37,742	Al Kubski
Longview Texans	67	67	.500	23.5	41,146	Dixie Parsons
Tyler Trojans	60	78	.435	32.5	54,778	Otto Nitcholas / Stan Goletz / Joe Kracher
Henderson Oilers	60	79	.432	33	23,384	Burl Storie / John Stone / Bill Sinton
Paris Panthers #	30	59	.337	NA	30,600	Jim Walkup / Joe Weeks
Bryan Sports #	23	65	.261	NA	26,050	Bones Sanders

#Paris and Bryan disbanded July 20.
Playoffs: Longview 4 games, Gladewater 3; Marshall 4 games, Kilgore 1.
Finals: Marshall 4 games, Longview 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Dutch Meyer	Gladewater	BA	.375		Darwin Dobbs	Tyler	W	21
Hal Van Pelt	Gladewater	Runs	130		John Fine	Longview	SO	178
Jake Jones	Longview	Hits	168		Howard Waters	Marshall	ERA	1.87
Jake Jones	Longview	RBI	128		Jake Jones	Longview	HR	26
Merv Connors	Kilgore	HR	26

[edit] Single Season League Records 1916-1950

Batting
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Ruether Jones	Tyler	G	142	47		Joe Kracher	Kilgore	BA	.433	48
Bob Marquis	Lufton	AB	598	47		Bob Marquis	Lufton	RUNS	145	47
John L. Stone	Henderson	HITS	224	47		John L. Stone	Henderson	RBI	185	47
Emil DeJonghe	Henderson	2B	61	37		Dave Short	Longview	3B	22	39
Moose Clabaugh	Tyler	HR	62	26		John L. Stone	Henderson	EBH	90	47
John L. Stone	Henderson	TB	390	47		Joe Longnecker	Tyler	SAC	48	24
Tommy Tatum	Henderson	SB	60	39		Floyd Brooks	Lufkin	BB	143	47
Bob Neighbors	Kilgore	SO	146	38

Pitching
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Red Lynn	Jacksonville	GA	51	37		Red Lynn	Jacksonville	W	31	37
Elton Davis	Henderson	CG	31	46		George Yanen	Paris	CG	31	49
Paul D. Cook	Bryan	L	20	47		Ralph Pate	Longview	PCT	.885 23-3	48
Hugo Klaerner	Longview	ERA	1.80	35		Red Lynn	Jacksonville	IP	312	37
Walt Schafer	Henderson	SO	269	37		Andrew Davis	Jacksonville	BB	183	38

[edit] Source

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition.
Image is User created not original.