Greenville Rangers

From BR Bullpen

• Location: Greenville, SC
• League: Western Carolinas League 1972
• Affiliation: Texas Rangers 1972
• Ballpark: Meadowbrook Park

After several years as the Greenville Red Sox, affiliations and names for the Greenville team changed in 1972 as they became the Greenville Rangers. After a 28-34 first half, they won the second half flag with a dazzling 43-23 mark. They lost in the finals to the first-half champion Spartanburg Phillies, 2 games to 1. Greenville outscored their opponents 636-611. The Rangers had a league-high six All-Stars in 1B Ken Caldwell, SS Charles Bordes, OF Bob Spinner, OF Gary Boyce, C Richard Revta and manager Rich Donnelly. Bordes (.352/~.511/.417, 66 BB and 24 K in 338 AB, .907 fielding only) led the league in average and OBP, while Caldwell (.337/~.410/.541) led in slugging and home runs (19) and was second in average and RBI (107). Spinner hit .285/~.393/.382, Boyce .325/~.436/.442 and Revta .289/~.439/.406. Jim Owen (9-7, 3.14) was third in the league in wins despite 115 walks and 20 wild pitches in 155 innings, while RP Ed Layman went 13-3 with 9 saves, a 1.27 ERA and 73 K in 64 IP.

Source: 1973 Baseball Guide

Greenville drew 11,481 fans, fewest in the league, and no team would occupy the city for the next decade.

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