Sooner State League

From BR Bullpen

The class D Sooner State League was established in 1947 and continued through 1957. It was based in Oklahoma and had a high percentage of teams affiliated with the majors for a class D league of the time period. Ardmore, OK and Lawton, OK made it through the whole 11 year run of the league. The league was represented by sixteen cities, eleven from Oklahoma and five from Texas.

The Ardmore, OK team won three of the league's titles, those coming in 1951, 1953 and 1956. In the eleven-year run of the league only one title was claimed by a Texas team. Paris, TX won the league crown in 1957, the league's last year. The league's initial year, 1947 was the only time there were less than eight cities fielding a team. Six teams were on tap in the first year.

Some 3,000,000 fans visited the parks over the eleven-year period. 1949 was the best year, with 366,000 paying their way through the gates. However, 1957 saw only a count of 190,000 paid and the dwindling attendance proved to be the death knell of the league.

1 Cities Represented
2 Teams & Statistics
3 League Records 1947-1957
4 Hall of Fame Alumni
5 Source

[edit] Cities Represented

Ada, OK: Ada Herefords 1947- mid-1954; Ada Cementers mid 1954
Ardmore, OK: Ardmore Indians 1947-1952; Ardmore Cardinals 1953-1957
Chickasha, OK: Chickasha Chiefs 1948-1952
Duncan, OK: Duncan Cementers 1947-1948; Duncan Uttmen 1949-1950
Gainesville, TX: Gainesville Owls 1953-1955
Greenville, TX: Greenville Majors 1957
Lawton, OK: Lawton Giants 1947-1951; Lawton Reds 1952-1953; Lawton Braves 1954-1957
McAlester, OK: McAlester Rockets 1947-1956
Muskogee, OK: Muskogee Giants 1955-1957, moved from Western Association 1951-1954
Paris, TX: Paris Orioles 1955-1957
Pauls Valley, OK: Pauls Valley Raiders 1948-1954
Ponca City, OK: Ponca City Cubs 1955-1957
Seminole, OK: Seminole Oilers 1947-1949; Seminole Ironmen 1950-1951; Seminole Oilers 1954-1957
Shawnee, OK: Shawnee Hawks 1950-1957
Sherman, TX & Denison, TX: Sherman Twins 1952; Sherman-Denison Twins 1953

[edit] Teams & Statistics

[edit] 1947 '48 '49

1947 Sooner State League
President: Jack Mealey

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Lawton Giants	98	42	.700	0	24,248	Louis Brower
Ada Herefords	86	51	.628	10.5	41,872	Uke Clanton
McAlester Rockets	73	67	.521	25	43,657	William Nebroak
Ardmore Indians	72	67	.518	25.5	27,943	Dutch Prather
Seminole Oilers	48	90	.348	49	30,003	Hugh Willingham
Duncan Cementers	39	99	.283	58	8,220	Otto Utt

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Lawton 2; McAlester 3 games, Ada 2.
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Russell Hawley	McAlester	BA	.382	Forrest Smith	Ada	W	23
Robert Andrlik	Ardmore	Runs	158	William Donaghey	Ada	SO	244
A.B. Everett	McAlester	Hits	188	Forest Smith	Ada	ERA	2.00
Paul Richardville	Ada	RBI	111	Howard Weeks	Lawton	HR	11
Paul Richardville	Ada	HR	11

1948 Sooner State League
President: Jack Mealey

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
McAlester Rockets	91	47	.659	0	63,060	Vern Hoscheit
Lawton Giants	77	59	.566	13	33,861	Louis Brower
Seminole Oilers	75	62	.547	15.5	40,053	Hugh Willingham
Chickasha Chiefs	73	63	.537	17	35,640	Ray Honeycutt
Ada Herefords	63	76	.453	28.5	27,050	Uke Clanton
Ardmore Indians	60	78	.435	31	37,944	Hal Smith / Dusty Cooke
Pauls Valley Raiders	56	81	.409	34.5	27,071	Dutch Prather / Jennings Poindexter
Duncan Cementers	54	83	.394	36.5	27,066	Johnny Welch / Otto Utt

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 1; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 2.
Finals: Seminole 4 games, McAlester 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Cromer Smotherman	McAlester	BA	.347	Bob Giddings	Lawton	W	25
Bob Hyatt	Pauls Valley	Runs	122	Tom Kruta	Ardmore	SO	186
Al Billingsley	McAlester	Hits	190	Buddy Yount	McAlester	ERA	2.11
Howard Martin	McAlester	RBI	122	Buddy Yount	McAlester	Pct	.944; 17-1
Howard Martin	McAlester	HR	19

1949 Sooner State League
President: Jack Mealey

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Pauls Valley Raiders	88	52	.629	0	61,085	Red Phillips
Lawton Giants	87	52	.626	.5	45,501	Louis Brower
Chickasha Chiefs	78	61	.561	9.5	59,306	Ray Honeycutt
Ada Herefords	69	70	.497	18.5	33,525	Bill Krueger (minors)
Duncan Uttmen	65	74	.468	22.5	36,678	Edward Marleau / Skidgel / Pfeiffer
McAlester Rockets	58	82	.414	30	56,733	Vern Hoscheit
Ardmore Indians	57	81	.413	30	43,348	Dutch Prather / James Skidgel
Seminole Oilers	54	84	.391	33	33,258	Hugh Willingham / Paul Schoendienst

Playoffs: Pauls Valley 3 games, Ada 2; Lawton 3 games, Chickasha 0.
Finals: Lawton 4 games, Pauls Valley 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Pete Runnels	Chickasha	BA	.372	Rube Melton	Pauls Valley	W	23
Kelly Wingo	Chickasha	Runs	123	Joseph Micciche	Lawton	SO	297
Pete Runnels	Chickasha	Hits	188	James Spencer	Lawton	ERA	1.96
A.B. Pearson	Pauls Valley	RBI	123	Joseph Micciche	Lawton	Pct	.769; 20-6
Daryl Spencer	Pauls Valley	HR	23	Bill Milligan	Ada	HR	23

[edit] 1950 '51 '52

1950 Sooner State League
President: Jack Mealey

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Ada Herefords	96	41	.701	0	31,981	Bill Krueger (minors)
McAlester Rockets	92	48	.657	5.5	58,048	Vern Hoscheit
Chickasha Chiefs	80	59	.575	17	43,759	Ray Honeycutt
Ardmore Indians	75	65	.536	22.5	44,454	Bennie Warren
Pauls Valley Raiders	68	72	.486	29.5	25,848	Red Phillips / Bucky Jacobs
Seminole Ironmen	55	83	.399	41.5	21,366	Kelly Wingo / Lloyd Giger / Marv Rackley
Duncan# / Shawnee	51	85	.375	44.5	15,950	Hosea Pfeiffer / Prather / Wingo
Lawton Giants	37	101	.268	59.5	31,817	Louis Brower

#Duncan moved to Shawnee August 18.
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Ada 2; McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 0.
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Clinton Weaver	McAlester	BA	.378	William Donaghey	Ada	W	26
Ron Jackson	Ada	Runs	154	Jack Urban	McAlester	SO	279
Jack Taylor	McAlester	Hits	212	Jack Urban	McAlester	ERA	2.15
Stephen Molinari	Ada	RBI	162	William Donaghey	Ada	Pct	.839; 26-5
Stephen Molinari	Ada	HR	39

1951 Sooner State League
President: Jack Mealey

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Ardmore Indians	99	40	.712	0	40,742	Bennie Warren
Shawnee Hawks	96	44	.686	3.5	44,428	Ray Fitzgerald
McAlester Rockets	91	48	.655	8	42,028	Vern Hoscheit
Pauls Valley Raiders	90	50	.643	9.5	27,580	Louis Brower
Ada Herefords	54	86	.386	45.5	12,779	Stan Galle / Bucky Jacobs
Chickasha Chiefs	46	94	.329	53.5	21,107	Wingo / Jackson / Wilkerson / Bryan
Lawton Giants	46	94	.329	53.5	17,252	Al Baker
Seminole Ironmen	37	103	.264	62.5	16,915	Rip Collins / Dutch Prather

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Pauls Valley 0; McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 0.
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Lou Fitzgerald	Shawnee	BA	.379	Dee Sanders	McAlester	W	27
Joe Nodar	Ardmore	Runs	179	Ken Hemphill	Pauls Valley	W	27
Dan Toma	Pauls Valley	Hits	195	Armin Somonte	Ardmore	SO	341
Manuel Temes	Ardmore	Hits	195	Dee Sanders	McAlester	ERA	1.67
Glenn Snyder	Ardmore	RBI	155	Dee Sanders	McAlester	Pct.	.871; 27-4
Manuel Temes	Ardmore	RBI	155	Dan Demby	Pauls Valley	HR	30
Don Williamson	Pauls Valley	HR	30

1952 Sooner State League
President: Uke Clanton

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
McAlester Rockets	87	53	.621	0	52,395	Bill Cope
Pauls Valley Raiders	80	59	.576	6.5	34,500	Louis Brower
Chickasha Chiefs	78	62	.557	9	27,494	Ray Taylor
Shawnee Hawks	73	67	.521	14	44,680	Ray Fitzgerald / Dave Jolly
Sherman Twins	72	68	.514	15	19,815	Bennie Warren
Lawton Reds	63	77	.450	24	52,807	Bill McWilliams
Ada Herefords	57	82	.410	29.5	38,387	Bill Enos / Virl Loman / Jim England
Ardmore Indians	49	91	.350	38	24,362	Sullivan / Mills / Willingham / Baldwin

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 1; Pauls Valley 3 games, Chickasha 1.
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Pauls Valley 3. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Ray Taylor	Chickasha	BA	.365	Charles Seymour	McAlester	W	25
Vincent Downs	Lawton	Runs	142	Charles Seymour	McAlester	SO	292
Jim England	Ada	Hits	198	Charles Seymour	McAlester	ERA	1.91
Don Williamson	Pauls Valley	RBI	148	Charles Seymour	McAlester	Pct	.806; 25-6
Bob Hertel	McAlester	HR	22	Don Williamson	Pauls Valley	HR	22

[edit] 1953 '54 '55

1953 Sooner State League
President: Uke Clanton

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Ardmore Cardinals	91	46	.664	0	43,000	Bennie Warren
Shawnee Hawks	86	53	.619	6	39,441	Boyd Bartley
Ada Herefords	84	54	.609	7.5	36,128	Louis Brower
McAlester Rockets	83	56	.597	9	40,485	Bill Cope
Pauls Valley Raiders	63	74	.460	28	18,453	Richard Klaus
Sherman-Denison Twins	61	77	.442	30.5	18,784	Red McCarty
Lawton Reds	47	89	.346	43.5	18,029	Bill McWilliams
Gainesville Owls	36	102	.261	55.5	20,523	Grigg / Shadid / Landrum

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Ardmore 1; Ada 3 games, Shawnee 1.
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ada 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Russ Snyder	McAlester	BA	.432	J.L. Rhodes	Ada	W	21
Al Viotta	Ardmore	Runs	159	Don Huffman	Shawnee	SO	250
Russ Snyder	McAlester	Hits	240	James Peterson	Shawnee	ERA	1.94
Al Viotta	Ardmore	RBI	161	Robert Shipman	McAlester	Pct	.813; 13-3
Ron Slawski	Ada	HR	31

1954 Sooner State League
President: Uke Clanton

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Shawnee Hawks	92	48	.657	0	42,189	Jack Banta
Lawton Braves	81	58	.583	10.5	47,431	Travis Jackson
McAlester Rockets	76	64	.543	16	53,410	Bunny Mick
Ardmore Cardinals	72	67	.518	19.5	31,090	Bennie Warren / Frank Mancuso
Gainesville Owls	72	68	.514	20	14,385	Richard Rigazio
Ada Herefords / Ada Cementers	64	76	.457	28	28,482	Louis Brower / John Densmore
Seminole Oilers	61	79	.436	31	16,840	Tom Warren / Ray Taylor
Pauls Valley Raiders	41	99	.293	51	29,468	Ike Pearson / Bennie Warren

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Shawnee 2; Lawton 3 games, McAlester 2.
Finals: Lawton 4 games, Ardmore 0. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Ray Mitchell	Shawnee	BA	.371	Wendell Doss	Lawton	W	24
Terry Fox	Shawnee	Runs	139	Joe Roberson	Shawnee	SO	225
Terry Fox	Shawnee	Hits	193	Joe Roberson	Shawnee	ERA	2.52
Jim Humbert	Shawnee	RBI	136	Gene Green	Ardmore	HR	34

1955 Sooner State League
President: Uke Clanton

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Lawton Braves	95	44	.683	0	45,554	Travis Jackson
Shawnee Hawks	77	61	.558	17.5	37,817	Jack Banta
Muskogee Giants	74	66	.529	21.5	47,485	Richard Klaus
Paris Orioles	68	69	.496	26	44,805	Jimmy Adair
Ardmore Cardinals	65	75	.464	30.5	33,731	Frank Mancuso
McAlester Rockets	65	75	.464	30.5	47,295	Marvin Crater
Gainesville #Ponca City	56	83	.403	39	26,169	Eddie Carnett
Seminole Oilers	56	83	.403	39	26,775	Marty Hopkins / Al Evans

#Gainesville moved to Ponca City May 19.
Playoffs: Lawton 3 games, Paris 1; Muskogee 3 games, Shawnee 2.
Finals: Lawton 4 games, Muskogee 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Hal Gordon	Seminole	BA	.345	Bob Dudley	Lawton	W	23
Wilson Caye	Muskogee	Runs	117	Dale Hendrickson	Lawton	SO	256
Walt Massefski	Paris	Hits	178	Dale Hendrickson	Lawton	ERA	1.26
Walt Massefski	Paris	RBI	107	Dick Brown	Ardmore	HR	21

[edit] 1956 '57

1956 Sooner State League
President: George Barr

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Ardmore Cardinals	83	56	.597	0	47,110	J.C. Dunn
Lawton Braves	80	60	.571	3.5	30,550	Travis Jackson
Seminole Oilers	74	66	.529	9.5	31,249	Howie Storie
Paris Orioles	72	67	.518	11	37,764	Barney Lutz
Ponca City Cubs	70	70	.500	13.5	20,674	Don Biebel
Muskogee Giants	63	76	.453	20	37,983	Richard Klaus
McAlester Rockets	60	79	.432	23	32,302	Marvin Crater
Shawnee Hawks	56	84	.400	27.5	24,872	Jack Banta

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Paris 2; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 1.
Finals: Seminole 4 games, Ardmore 3. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Russell Gragg	Ponca City	BA	.352	John Bartek	Ardmore	W	21
Robert Stangel	Ardmore	Runs	132	Vincent Kilpela	Ardmore	SO	276
Russell Gragg	Ponca City	Hits	183	Mike Mazzamorra	Seminole	ERA	2.28
J.C. Dunn	Ardmore	RBI	134	Gene Oliver	Ardmore	HR	39

1957 Sooner State League
President: George Barr

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Paris Orioles	74	51	.592	0	33,953	Barney Lutz / Bill Capps
Ardmore Cardinals	74	52	.587	.5	36,201	J.C. Dunn / Mike Ryba
Muskogee Giants	71	55	.563	3.5	21,253	Andy Gilbert
Shawnee Hawks	64	62	.508	10.5	22,301	Ed Serrano
Greenville Majors	62	63	.496	12	23,066	Tom Gott
Lawton Braves	59	66	.472	15	15,065	Travis Jackson
Ponca City Cubs	52	74	.413	22.5	21,253	Don Biebel
Seminole Oilers	46	79	.368	28	17,379	Lee Anthony

Playoffs: Paris 3 games, Shawnee 1; Ardmore 3 games, Muskogee 0.
Finals: Ardmore 4 games, Paris 0. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Jim McKnight	Ardmore	BA	.340	Jack Curtis	Ponca City	W	18
Dick Simpson	Paris	Runs	116	Jack Curtis	Ponca City	SO	219
Dick Simpson	Paris	Hits	163	John Jeanes	Paris	ERA	2.41
Jim McKnight	Ardmore	RBI	112	Bob Beattie	Paris	HR	25

[edit] League Records 1947-1957

Batting
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr	Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Don Leppert	McAlester	GA	143	49	Russ Snyder	McAlester	BA	.432	53
Jim England	Ada	AB	612	52	Joe Nodar	Ardmore	Runs	179	51
Russ Snyder	McAlester	Hits	240	53	Stephen Molinari	Ada	Rbi	162	50
Glen Snyder	Ardmore	2B	58	51	Charles Buck	McAlester	3B	25	48
Stephen Molinari	Ada	HR	39	50	Gene Oliver	Ardmore	HR	39	56
Al Viotta	Ardmore	TB	356	53	William Kruger	Ada	GS	4	50
Rod Kanehl	McAlester	HS	33	54	Marty Dooley	Pauls Valley	Sac	33	51
A.B. Everett	McAlester	SB	86	47	Bunny Mick	McAlester	BB	183	54
Joe Dembrosky	Lawton	HBP	32	53	Doug Davidson	Lawton	SO	173	53

Pitching
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr	Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Vic Strysta	Chickasha	GA	59	48	Andy Pane	Pauls Valley	CG	31	51
Dee Sanders	McAlester	W	27	51	Kenny Hemphill	Pauls Valley	W	27	51
Bill Winters	Pauls Valley	L	19	54	Buddy Yount(17-1)	McAlester	Pct	.944	48
Dee Sanders	McAlester	ERA	1.67	51	Andy Pane	Pauls Valley	IP	302	51
Buddy Yount	McAlester	WS	17	48	Charles Seymour	McAlester	ShO	6	52
Armin Somonte	Ardmore	SO	341	51	Andy Pane	Pauls Valley	BB	235	50
Dodson Stokes	Duncan	HB	21	46	Jim Farmer	Ardmore	HB	21	53
Gene Fedak	Lawson	WP	25	53	John Francis	Seminole	BKS	15	50