Tri-State League (NC-SC-TN)

From BR Bullpen

The last league to use the Tri-State League moniker was a class B league from 1946-1955 in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Asheville, NC and Spartanburg, SC were represented every year of its existence. In 1953, Knoxville, TN dropped out for one year, leaving only two states in the Tri-State League, and did so again in 1955. The league was represented by fourteen cities, seven were from South Carolina, six from North Carolina and the final team hailed from Tennessee. Throughout the leagues ten year stand it fielded six, 8 team leagues, three 6 team affairs and finished out the final year with a 4 team group. The Spartanburg Peaches won three league titles to lead the field, winning in 1947, 1953 and 1955. Overall the league did well in attendance, drawing over five million fans during the ten year period. However 1954 dropped off to some 370,00 paid, the bottom fell out in 1955, although the four team bunch drew some 175,00 and the league failed to re-group for the 1956 season. The league was disbanded after the '55 season and there has been no further activity as of this date.

Contents 1 Cities Represented 2 Teams & Statistics 2.1 1946-1947 2.2 1948-1949 2.3 1950-1951 2.4 1952-1953 2.5 1954-1955 3 League Records 1946-1955 4 Hall of Fame Alumni 5 Source

[edit] Cities Represented

• Anderson, SC Anderson A's 1946; Anderson Rebels 1947-1954
• Asheville, NC Asheville Tourists 1946-1955
• Charlotte, NC Charlotte Hornets 1946-1953, moved to South Atlantic League 1954-1963
• Fayetteville, NC Fayetteville Cubs 1947-1948, moved from Coastal Plain League 1946
• Florence, SC Florence Steelers 1948-1950
• Gastonia, NC Gastonia Rockets 1952-1953
• Greenville, SC Greenville Spinners 1951-1952, moved from South Atlantic League 1938-1950; Greenville Spinners 1954-1955
• Greenwood, SC Greenwood Tigers 1951
• Knoxville, TN Knoxville Smokies 1946-1952, moved to Mountain States League 1953; Knoxville Smokies 1954
• Reidsville, NC Reidsville Luckies 1947, moved to Carolina League 1948-1954
• Rock Hill, SC Rock Hill Chiefs 1947-1955
• Shelby, NC Shelby Cubs 1946
• Spartanburg, SC Spartanburg Spartans 1946; Spartanburg Peaches 1947-1955
• Sumter, SC Sumter Chicks 1949-1950

[edit] Teams & Statistics

[edit] 1946-1947

1946 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Charlotte Hornets	93	46	.669	0	Spencer Abbott
Asheville Tourists	83	57	.593	10.5	Bill Sayles
Knoxville Smokies	73	67	.521	20.5	Dale Alexander
Shelby Cubs	59	81	.421	34.5	Ray Green
Anderson A's	59	81	.421	34.5	Clyde McDowell
Spartanburg Spartans	52	87	.374	41	Francis Kappelman

Attendance: Charlotte, 111,000
Shelby defeated Anderson in a one game playoff for fourth place.
Playoffs: Knoxville 4 games, Asheville 1; Charlotte 4 games, Shelby 2.
Finals: Charlotte 4 games, Knoxville 3. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Dick Bouknight	Asheville	BA	.367		Sonny Dixon	Charlotte	W	19
Al Kvasnak	Charlotte	Runs	101		Ralph Germano	Spartanburg	SO	179
Fred Marsh	Knoxville	Hits	180		Alex Zukowski	Charlotte	ERA	1.41
Bill Sayles	Asheville	RBI	105		D. C. "Pud" Miller	Spartanburg	HR	19

1947 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Spartanburg Peaches	88	51	.633	0	157,435	Kerby Farrell
Anderson Rebels	84	55	.604	4	150,290	Bob Richards
Knoxville Smokies	73	67	.521	15.5	101,189	Dale Alexander
Charlotte Hornets	72	68	.514	16.5	116,729	Spencer Abbott / Cal Ermer
Rock Hill Chiefs	68	71	.489	20	91,042	Dan Carnevale
Asheville Tourists	65	74	.468	23	123,897	Bill Sayles
Fayetteville Cubs	61	78	.439	27	63,081	Clyde McDowell
Reidsville Luckies	45	92	.328	42	59,043	Lee Gamble

Playoffs: Charlotte 4 games, Spartanburg 1; Anderson 4 games, Knoxville 2.
Finals: Charlotte 4 games, Anderson 3. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Smoky Burgess	Fayetteville	BA	.387		James Kleckley	Spartanburg	W	20
Fred Barocco	Anderson	Runs	123		Edward Craft	Anderson	SO	185
Sammy Meeks	Charlotte	Hits	191		Robert Callan	Charlotte	ERA	3.08
Al Simononis	Anderson	RBI	132		Al Simononis	Anderson	HR	27

[edit] 1948-1949

1948 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Asheville Tourists	95	51	.651	0	122,693	Clay Bryant
Anderson Rebels	77	68	.531	17.5	103,180	Bob Richards
Rock Hill Chiefs	76	70	.521	19	85,621	Ed Freed / Dick Bouknight
Fayetteville Cubs	73	71	.507	21	76,956	Frank Scalzi
Charlotte Hornets	72	74	.493	23	122,211	Joe Bowman
Knoxville Smokies	71	76	.483	24.5	95,164	Dale Alexander / Dave Garcia
Spartanburg Peaches	68	77	.469	26.5	98,993	Kerby Farrell
Florence Steelers	50	95	.345	44.5	72,569	George Motto/ James Martin

Playoffs: Rockhill 3 games, Asheville 1; Fayetteville 3 games, Anderson 1.
Finals: Fayetteville 4 games, Rockhill 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Robert Churchill	Knoxville	BA	.406		Red Dwyer	Rockhill	W	22
Norman Koney	Asheville	Runs	145		Lacy James	Rockhill	SO	213
Robert Churchill	Knoxville	Hits	230		Joe Landrum	Asheville	ERA	2.77
Floyd Fogg	Fayetteville	RBI	144		Robert Churchill	Knoxville	3B	28
Len Cross	Spartanburg	HR	29

1949 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Florence Steelers	87	59	.596	0	60,124	Jim Martin
Spartanburg Peaches	81	60	.574	3.5	128,490	Kerby Farrell
Asheville Tourists	76	71	.517	11.5	105,899	Ed Head
Rock Hill Chiefs	71	70	.504	13.5	98,237	Dick Bouknight
Knoxville Smokies	72	73	.497	14.5	94,809	Frank Genovese
Sumter Chicks	65	80	.448	21.5	55,309	Wes Livengood / Glen Schaeffer
Charlotte Hornets	62	80	.437	23	94,276	Clyde McDowell
Anderson Rebels	62	83	.428	24.5	85,760	Bob Richards

Playoffs: Florence 3 games, Rock Hill 2; Spartanburg 3 games, Asheville 1.
Finals: Florence 4 games, Spartanburg 2. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Robert Churchill	Rock Hill	BA	.360		Melvin Fisher	Florence	W	27
Harold Harrigan	Anderson	Runs	118		John Fitzgerald	Florence	SO	166
Alexander Driskill	Asheville	Hits	172		Survern Wright	Rock Hill	ERA	1.86
Harold Harrigan	Anderson	RBI	121		Harold Harrigan	Anderson	HR	43

[edit] 1950-1951

1950 Tri-State League-Class B
President: C.M. Llewellyn

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Knoxville Smokies	89	58	.605	0	150,396	Jack Aragon
Asheville Tourists	83	62	.572	5	111,177	Clay Bryant
Spartanburg Peaches	80	63	.559	7	103,056	Kerby Farrell
Rock Hill Chiefs	73	69	.514	13.5	66,589	Dick Bouknight
Charlotte Hornets	72	73	.497	16	104,598	Ralph McDowell / Joe Bird
Anderson Rebels	65	79	.451	22.5	75,881	Bob Richards
Florence Steelers	63	83	.432	25.5	34,991	Jim Martin
Sumter Chicks	53	91	.368	34.5	30,324	Alton Biggs / Vance Carlton

Playoffs: Rock Hill 3 games, Knoxville 0; Asheville 3 games, Spartanburg 0.
Finals: Rock Hill 4 games, Asheville 3. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Robert Churchill	Anderson	BA	.356		Dale Fisher	Knoxville	W	19
Harvey Gentry	Knoxville	Runs	116		John Carmichael	Spartanburg	W	19
Frank Dunlap	Sumter	Hits	170		Dale Fisher	Knoxville	SO	202
Jim Martin	Florence	Hits	170		William Samson	Asheville	ERA	1.93
Albert Neal	Knoxville	RBI	146		Albert Neal	Knoxville	HR	33

1951 Tri-State League-Class B
President: Robert E. Hipps

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Charlotte Hornets	100	40	.714	0	112,061	Cal Ermer
Asheville Tourists	85	55	.607	15	71,248	Ray Hathaway
Rock Hill Chiefs	84	55	.604	15.5	71,301	Dick Bouknight
Spartanburg Peaches	73	67	.521	27	67,135	Harry Griswold
Knoxville Smokies	60	79	.432	39.5	55,142	Jack Aragon
Anderson Rebels	59	80	.424	40.5	67,047	Len Schulte / Hillis Layne
Greenwood Tigers	56	81	.409	42.5	48,111	Walt Dixon / Mike Garbark
Greenville Spinners	38	98	.279	60	37,564	Leon Carlson / Burke / Stewart

Playoffs: Spartanburg 3 games, Charlotte 1; Asheville 3 games, Rock Hill 2.
Finals: Spartanburg 4 games, Asheville 0. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Frank Campos	Charlotte	BA	.368		Ralph Butler	Asheville	W	21
Chris Kitsos	Asheville	Runs	134		Dave Hillman	Rock Hill	SO	203
Dusty Rhodes	Rock Hill	Hits	182		Ralph Butler	Asheville	ERA	2.68
Albert Neal	Spartanburg	RBI	154		Albert Neal	Spartanburg	HR	44

[edit] 1952-1953

1952 Tri-State League-Class B
President: Robert E. Hipps

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Gastonia Rockets	89	50	.640	0	94,788	Hal Van Pelt
Charlotte Hornets	87	51	.630	1.5	96,738	Ivan Kuester
Spartanburg Peaches	83	55	.601	5.5	67,577	Pinky May
Anderson Rebels	67	72	.482	22	80,979	George Hausmann
Asheville Tourists	65	75	.464	24.5	48,039	Bill Hart / George Tesnow
Greenville Spinners	63	76	.453	26	64,704	Ralph DiLullo
Knoxville Smokies	52	88	.371	37.5	50,638	Jack Aragon / George Gerken
Rock Hill Chiefs	49	88	.358	39	52,528	Doc Land / Leon Culberson

Playoffs: Spartanburg 3 games, Gastonia 2; Charlotte 3 games, Anderson 1.
Finals: Charlotte 4 games, Spartanburg 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Bruce Barmes	Charlotte	BA	.360		Bill Upton	Spartanburg	W	21
Alex Cosmidis	Gastonia	Runs	122		Murphy Murszewski	Spartanburg	SO	239
Bruce Barmes	Charlotte	Hits	182		Bob Danielson	Charlotte	ERA	2.62
Carl Powis	Anderson	RBI	116		D. Juan Perez	Anderson	HR	27

1953 Tri-State League-Class B
President: Robert E. Hipps

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Spartanburg Peaches	96	54	.640	0	71,264	Jimmy Bloodworth
Asheville Tourists	83	67	.553	13	64,186	Ray Hathaway
Charlotte Hornets	74	71	.510	19.5	59,630	Pete Appleton
Anderson Rebels	75	74	.503	20.5	78,944	Hillis Layne
Gastonia Rockets	66	81	.449	28.5	69,052	Hal Van Pelt
Rock Hill Chiefs	51	98	.342	44.5	63,542	Joe Burns / Hartman / O'Connell

Playoffs: Charlotte 3 games, Spartanburg 0; Anderson 3 games, Asheville 1.
Finals: Charlotte 3 games, Anderson 0. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Karol Kwak	Anderson	BA	.359		Eugene Law	Spartanburg	W	24
Joe Fuller	Spartanburg	Runs	134		Harry Beitsuss	Charlotte	SO	189
Joe Fuller	Spartanburg	Hits	228		Fred Kipp	Asheville	ERA	2.23
James Finn	Spartanburg	RBI	140		Lamar Bowden	Spartanburg	HR	26

[edit] 1954-1955

1954 Tri-State League-Class B
President: Robert E. Hipps

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Asheville Tourists	86	54	.614	0	65,436	Ray Hathaway
Knoxville Smokies	72	66	.522	13	77,975	Pat McGlothin / Lewis Davis
Greenville Spinners	68	72	.486	18	89,595	George Bradshaw / Dixon Hendley
Spartanburg Peaches	66	72	.478	19	34,918	Jimmy Bloodworth
Rock Hill Chiefs	65	75	.464	21	59,180	Lamatina / Kerestes / Early
Anderson Rebels	61	79	.436	25	43,381	Virgil Stallcup / Boiko / Knoke

Playoffs: Asheville 3 games, Greenville 2; Knoxville 3 games, Spartanburg 2.
Finals: Knoxville 3 games, Asheville 1. Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Omer Tolson	Rock Hill	BA	.347		Pete Treece	Rock Hill	W	26
Jasper Spears	Asheville	Runs	120		Freddy Rodriguez	Greenville	SO	221
Jasper Spears	Asheville	Hits	188		Joseph Pipak	Knoxville	ERA	2.78
Oscar Sierra	Asheville	RBI	104		Albert Neil	Knoxville	HR	22

1955 Tri-State League-Class B
President: Robert E. Hipps

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Spartanburg Peaches	74	44	.627	0	35,925	Spud Chandler
Greenville Spinners	60	55	.522	12.5	50,813	Junior Wooten
Asheville Tourists	53	63	.457	20	53,200	Earl Naylor
Rock Hill Chiefs	45	70	.391	27.5	33,847	Boguskie / Colasinski / Treece

Playoffs: Spartanburg 3 games, Greenville 0; Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Pat Jarvis	Spartanburg	BA	.361		Pete Treece	Rock Hill	W	17
Paul Jones	Spartanburg	Runs	106		Freddy Rodriguez	Greenville	SO	211
Pat Jarvis	Spartanburg	Hits	157		Freddy Rodriguez	Greenville	ERA	2.12
Ed Serrano	Asheville	RBI	86		Paul Jones	Spartanburg	HR	18
William Kallas	Spartanburg	RBI	86

[edit] League Records 1946-1955

Batting
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Joe Fuller	Spartanburg	GA	150	53		James Finn	Spartanburg	BA	150	53
Robert Churchill	Knoxville	BA	.406	48		Joe Fuller	Spartanburg	AB	666	53
Norman Koney	Ashville	Runs	145	48		Robert Churchill	Knoxville	Hits	230	48
Albert Neil	Spartanburg	Rbi	154	51		Fred Leonard	Gastonia	2B	48	53
Robert Churchill	Knoxville	3B	28	48		Albert Neil	Spartanburg	HR	44	51
Albert Neil	Spartanburg	EBH	86	51		Albert Neil	Spartanburg	TB	345	51
Ralph Ellis	Greenwood	HS	29	51		Harold Kollar	Knoxville	Sac	23	46
Ziggy Jasinski	Knoxville	SB	62	49		Pete Meachini	Charlotte	BB	162	52
Woody Quintano	Anderson	HBP	14	53		Jack Maupin	Knoxville	SO	140	49

Pitching
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Melvin Fisher	Florence	GA	55	49		Melvin Fisher	Florence	CG	29	50
Pete Treece	Rock Hill	CG	29	54		Melvin Fisher	Florence	W	27	49
Melvin Fisher	Florence	L	20	50		Bob Spicer(18-4)	Fayetteville	Pct	.818	48
Alex Zukowski	Charlotte	ERA	1.41	46		Melvin Fisher	Florence	IP	351	49
Al Aber	Spartanburg	WS	16	49		Eugene Law	Spartanburg	ShO	8	53
Murphy Murszewski	Spartanburg	SO	239	52		William Miller	Knoxville	BB	212	49

[edit] Hall of Fame Alumni

• Hoyt Wilhelm, 1948 Knoxville Smokies

[edit] Source

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