Alabama-Florida League

From BR Bullpen

The first Alabama-Florida League was founded in 1936. In 1940 the league changed its name to the Alabama State League. In 1951, the Alabama State League switched its name back to the Alabama-Florida League. The AFL survived 12 more years before folding, one of the few leagues to die off in the 1960s after surviving the 1950s, a horrible decade for minor league baseball. The Alabama-Florida League was a class D league.

Cities Represented[edit]

Teams and Statistics[edit]

1936, '37, '38, '39[edit]

1936 Alabama-Florida League
President: George M. Grant

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Troy (AL) Trojans 68 42 .618 0 Ernie Wingard
Enterprise Browns 64 46 .582 4 Shovel Hodge / Vic Walker
Dothan Boll Weevils 61 51 .545 8 Bobby Murray
Ozark Cardinals 55 55 .500 13 Ned Porter
Panama City Papermakers 55 57 .491 14 Bill Gleason / Herb Cobb / Bill Morrell
Andalusia Reds 54 56 .491 14 Bill Koneman / Yam Yaryan
Union Springs Springers 49 61 .445 19 Harold Bohl
Abbeville Red Sox # 37 75 .330 32 Monroe Mitchell

#Abbeville disbanded August 10, at which time its remaining 34 games, including
6 previous rainouts, were forfeited to the scheduled opponents.
Playoffs: Dothan 2 games, Panama City 1; Enterprise 2 games, Ozark 0;
Enterprise 1 game, Dothan 0; Andulusa 1 game, Enterprise 0.
Finals: Andulusa 4 games, Troy 2, one tie.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Broughton "Brick" Owens Troy BA .378 Joe Bingham Enterprise W 20
Broughton "Brick" Owens Troy Runs 110 Joe Bingham Enterprise SO 169
William Casey Troy Hits 151 Edward Brockhoeft Abbevi/Andal Era 2.55
Jim Tennant Enterprise RBI 97 Joe Gonzales Ozark HR 20


1937 Alabama-Florida League
President: George M. Grant

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Union Springs Springers 77 46 .626 0 Dick West
Troy (AL) Trojans 70 56 .556 8.5 Charlie Moss
Andalusia Bulldogs 68 56 .548 9.5 Yam Yaryan
Panama City Papermakers 70 59 .543 10 Bill Morrell
Dothan Browns 55 67 .451 21.5 Bobby Murray
Ozark Cardinals / Evergreen Greenies # 31 87 .263 43.5 Monroe Mitchell

#Ozark (15-48) moved to Evergreen June 29, at the start of the second half.
Playoff: Andalusia 4 games, Union Springs 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dick West Union Springs BA .358 Walter Ammon Union Springs W 22
Ernie Gene Bryan Troy Runs 117 Joe Bingham Panama City SO 202
Dick West Union Springs Hits 160 Adrian Zabala Panama City ERA 2.01
Ernie Gene Bryan Troy Hits 160 Andy Skurski Troy RBI 107
Stephen Summerhill Union Springs Hits 160 Yam Yaryan Andalusia HR 17


1938 Alabama-Florida League
President: George M. Grant

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Dothan Browns 77 53 .592 0 Ernie Wingard
Troy (AL) Trojans 71 59 .546 6 Charley Hilcher
Andalusia Bulldogs 70 60 .538 7 Yam Yaryan
Union Springs Redbirds 70 60 .538 7 Fred Lucas
Panama City Pelicans 55 75 .423 22 Rudy Laskowski
Evergreen Greenies 47 83 .362 30 Harry Rice

Playoff: Andalusia was awarded third place for playoff pairings by a coin toss.
Andalusia 2 games, Dothan 2; Troy 3 games, Union Springs 1.
During the semi-final playoff, Dothan refused to flip a coin to decide
the location of the deciding game. Andalusia was awarded with advancement to the finals.
Finals: Troy 4 games, Andalusia 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Steve Summerhill Union Springs BA .362 Virgil Trucks Andalusia W 25
Bill Hodgkins Troy Runs 112 Virgil Trucks Andalusia SO 418
Steve Summerhill Union Springs Hits 187 Virgil Trucks Andalusia ERA 1.25
Steve Summerhill Union Springs RBI 108 Gilbert Leathergood Troy HR 14


1939 Alabama-Florida League
President: Charles T. Laney

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Dothan Browns 74 54 .578 0 Ernie Wingard
Tallassee Indians 73 56 .566 1.5 Rosy Gilhousen
Andalusia Rams 70 59 .543 4.5 Bruner Nix
Panama City Pelicans 63 64 .496 10.5 Max Rosenfeld
Troy (AL) Trojans 62 68 .477 13 Cat Milner
Greenville Lions 44 85 .341 30.5 Paul Kardow

Playoffs: Tallassee 3 games, Panama City 2, one tie; Andalusia 3 games, Dothan 2.
Finals: Tallassee 4 games, Andalusia 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Cat Milner Troy BA .381 Charleston Jones Dothan W 20
James Cox Dothan Runs 126 Pershing Henderson Troy SO 175
Ernie Wingard Dothan Hits 180 Charleston Jones Dothan ERA 2.52
Ernie Wingard Dothan RBI 137 Bruce Middlebrooks Troy HR 20

1951, '52, '53, '54[edit]

1951 Alabama-Florida League
President: G.D. Halstead

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Headland Dixie Runners 84 36 .700 0 13,675 Bubba Ball
Ozark Eagles 72 45 .615 10.5 15,983 Chase Riddle / Warner Jones
Tallahassee Citizens 65 52 .556 17.5 31,051 Charles Quimby
Dothan Browns 50 69 .420 33.5 45,101 Emory Lindsey / Cat Milner
Enterprise Boll Weevils 44 76 .367 40 14,500 Dick Hahn / Guinn / Fortune / Brightwell
Panama City Fliers 41 78 .345 42.5 40,116 Roxie Humberson / Phillip Noto / Bill Herring

Playoffs: Tallahassee 4 games, Headland 3; Dothan 4 games, Ozark 1.
Finals: Dothan 4 games, Tallahassee 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Charles Quimby Tallahassee BA .404 Harry Clifton Headland W 22
Al Riverbark Headland Runs 127 Tommy Stone Headland W 22
Al Riverbark Headland Hits 169 Harry Clifton Headland SO 245
John A. McPherson Headland RBI 130 Harry Clifton Headland Pct .786; 22-6
Charles Quimby Tallahassee HR 13


1952 Alabama-Florida League
President: C.C. Hodge

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Ozark Eagles 77 37 .675 0 24,670 Chase Riddle
Eufaula Millers 67 51 .568 12 26,480 Arkie Walls / Murphy / Konemann / Connell
Dothan Browns 59 56 .514 18.5 33,650 Parks York / Cat Milner
Panama City Fliers 60 57 .513 18.5 45,358 Bill Herring / Walker / McPherson
Headland Dixie Runners 51 66 .436 27.5 13,820 Walt Dixon / Hugh Kirkland
Enterprise / Graceville # 33 80 .292 43.5 17,720 Shorty Marshall / Glover / Boehmer / Walker

#Enterprise moved to Graceville July 5.
Playoffs: Ozark 4 games, Dothan 1; Panama City 4 games, Eufaula 1.
Finals: Ozark 4 games, Panama City 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jake Moore Dothan BA .358 Russell Harris Ozark W 27
Louie Letlow Eufaula Runs 114 Russell Harris Ozark SO 243
Roberto Gonzalez Panama City Hits 160 Russell Harris Ozark ERA 2.83
Roberto Gonzalez Panama City RBI 115 William Buchanan Eufaula HR 24


1953 Alabama-Florida League
President: C.C. Hodge

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Panama City Fliers 69 47 .595 0 43,150 Chase Riddle
Graceville Oilers 64 53 .547 5.5 35,687 Cat Milner
Dothan Rebels 59 58 .504 10.5 35,799 Homer Ray Wilson
Andalusia Arrows 56 60 .483 13 20,981 Julius McDougald
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 54 63 .462 15.5 16,801 Charles Quimby / Ralph Hendrix / John Streza
Eufaula Millers 48 69 .410 21.5 19,265 Blackie Connell / Bill Buchanan / Konemann

Playoffs: Dothan 4 games, Panama City 3; Graceville 4 games, Andalusia 1.
Finals: Dothan 4 games, Graceville 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Chase Riddle Panama City BA .411 Spencer Davis Dothan W 22
Chase Riddle Panama City Runs 131 Spencer Davis Dothan SO 196
Chase Riddle Panama City Hits 179 Spencer Davis Dothan ERA 1.21
Chase Riddle Panama City RBI 125 Charles Quimby Ft. Walton/Gracevile HR 27


1954 Alabama-Florida League
President: C.C. Hodge

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Dothan Rebels 72 53 .576 0 38,050 Homer Ray Wilson
Andalusia-Opp Indians 71 55 .563 1.5 26,925 Bull Hamons / Frank A. Tepedino
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 68 57 .544 4 14,510 John Streza
Graceville Oilers 63 62 .504 9 42,260 Cat Milner / Marcus Davis
Crestview Braves 55 69 .444 16.5 16,565 Pappy Williams
Panama City Fliers 46 79 .368 26 20,055 Roy Sinquefield / Marquette / Ray Yochim

Playoffs: Dothan 4 games, Ft. Walton Beach 2; Graceville 4 games, Andalusia-Opp 2.
Finals: Graceville 4 games, Dothan 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Neal Cobb Crestview BA .432 Spencer Davis Dothan W 23
Frank A. Tepedino Andalusia-Opp Runs 149 Spencer Davis Dothan SO 196
Neal Cobb Crestview Hits 188 Spencer Davis Dothan ERA 2.83
James Burns Andalusia-Opp RBI 143 John Streza Ft. Walton HR 31

1955, '56, '57, '58[edit]

1955 Alabama-Florida League
President: Herman D. White

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Panama City Fliers 73 47 .608 0 36,104 Bill Adair
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 70 50 .583 3 19,680 John Streza / C.C. Hodge
Dothan Cardinals 65 54 .546 7.5 34,056 Chase Riddle
Crestview Braves 54 66 .450 19 15,362 Nesbit Wilson
Graceville Oilers 50 69 .420 22.5 27,876 Marcus Davis
Donalsonville Indians 47 73 .392 26 24,196 Charles Grant

Playoffs: Panama City 4 games, Dothan 2; Crestview 4 games, Ft. Walton Beach 1.
Finals: Panama City 3 games, Crestview 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Nesbit Wilson Crestview BA .403 Jeff Wadkins Crestview W 20
Charles Tulner Ft. Walt/Beach Runs 129 Dizzy D.Higgenbotham Ft.Walt/Beach SO 240
Jimmy Cantrell Dothan Hits 164 Renaldo Alonzo Ft. Walt/Beach ERA 2.96
Charles Tulner Ft. Walt/Beach RBI 114 Charles Grant Donalsonville HR 37


1956 Alabama-Florida League
President: Sam C. Smith

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Graceville Oilers 69 49 .585 0 21,584 Wayland Goza
Donalsonville Seminoles 68 49 .581 .5 22,089 Nesbit Wilson
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 63 55 .534 6 14,550 Bill Brightwell
Dothan Cardinals 58 59 .496 10.5 16,600 Whitey Reis
Crestview Braves 51 69 .425 19 8,100 Walt Dixon
Panama City Fliers 45 73 .381 24 19,993 Al Lakeman

Playoffs: Ft. Walton Beach 3 games, Graceville 1; Donalsonville 3 games, Dothan 2.
Finals: Donalsonville 4 games, Ft. Walton Beach 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Charles Grant Graceville BA .356 Alex Gargiulo Graceville W 17
Nesbit Wilson Donalsonville Runs 133 Thomas Fitzgerald Donalsonville SO 206
Charles Grant Graceville Hits 154 Rene Nodarse Ft. Walton Beach ERA 2.26
Nesbit Wilson Donalsonville RBI 125 Nesbit Wilson Donalsonville HR 40


1957 Alabama-Florida League
President: Sam C. Smith

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Montgomery Rebels 68 52 .567 0 28,298 Stubby Overmire
Graceville Oilers 66 54 .550 2 23,098 Bob Wellman / Charles Grant
Panama City Fliers 59 61 .492 9 21,876 James Deery
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 56 64 .467 12 15,557 Neal Cobb
Pensacola Dons 56 54 .467 12 43,882 Lou Fitzgerald / Rex Ford
Selma Cloverleafs 55 65 .458 13 24,234 Buddy Kerr

Playoffs: Panama City 4 games, Montgomery 3;
Graceville 4 games, Ft. Walton Beach 2.
Finals: Graceville 3 games, Panama City 3.
Teams were declared co-champions when bad weather cancelled the last game.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bob Zuccarini Pensacola BA .352 Bill Kakuske Graceville W 19
Bob Zuccarini Pensacola Runs 111 Bill Beck Graceville W 19
Al Jakubowski Graceville Hits 163 Bill Kakuske Graceville SO 205
Bob Wellman Graceville RBI 113 Bill Kakuske Graceville ERA 2.26
Bob Wellman Graceville HR 30


1958 Alabama-Florida League
President: Sam C. Smith

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Selma Cloverleafs 71 49 .592 0 31,786 Tommy Giordano
Columbus Foxes 74 52 .587 0 32,689 Brandy Davis
Pensacola Dons 67 55 .549 5 52,989 Lou Fitzgerald
Dothan Cardinals 68 57 .544 5.5 31,482 J.C. Dunn
Montgomery Rebels 65 61 .516 9 24,700 Schoolboy Rowe / Neil Berry
Graceville Oilers 58 65 .472 14.5 11,771 Michael Fandozzi
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 53 72 .424 20.5 12,447 Nesbit Wilson / Vince Magi
Panama City Fliers 39 84 .317 33.5 15,721 Bill Brightwell / Clark / Tipton / Grant

Playoffs: Selma 3 games, Pensacola 2; Dothan 3 games, Columbus 1.
Finals: Dothan 4 games, Selma 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Nesbit Wilson Ft. Walton/Pensacola BA .396 Tom Kelleher Selma W 20
Nesbit Wilson Ft. Walton/Pensacola Runs 102 James Lehew Pensacola W 20
Teo Acosta Dothan Hits 163 Paul Underwood Graceville SO 215
Nesbit Wilson Ft. Walton/Pensacola RBI 106 Frank Roland Selma ERA 2.10
Nesbit Wilson Ft.Walton/Pensacola HR 24

1959, '60, '61, '62[edit]

1959 Alabama-Florida League
President: William Moore

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Montgomery Rebels 77 42 .647 0 36,199 Frank Carswell
Selma Cloverleafs 73 46 .613 4 26,633 Johnny Lipon
Dothan Cardinals 58 61 .487 19 39,015 J.C. Dunn
Pensacola Dons 51 66 .436 25 30,227 Lou Fitzgerald
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 50 70 .417 27.5 13,456 Vince Magi
Panama City Fliers 47 71 .398 29.5 10,422 Al Ronning

Playoffs: Dothan 3 games, Montgomery 2; Selma 3 games, Pensacola 0.
Finals: Selma 4 games, Dothan 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
J. Keith Williams Selma BA .341 Joe Kaiser Ft. Walton Beach W 16
Legrant Scott Montgomery Runs 129 Dick Egan Montgomery SO 201
J. Keith Williams Selma Hits 156 Joe Rapado Dothan ERA 2.25
Jim Bethea Montgomery RBI 99 Jim Bethea Montgomery HR 21
Peter Walski Montgomery HR 21


1960 Alabama-Florida League
President: William Moore

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Panama City Fliers 74 44 .627 0 25,770 Roy Hartsfield
Selma Cloverleafs 58 57 .504 14.5 25,317 Ken Landenberger / Joe Morlan / Paul O'Dea
Pensacola Angels 59 60 .496 15.5 24,301 J.C. Dunn
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 56 60 .483 17 15,284 Ralph Rowe
Dothan Cardinals 56 63 .471 18.5 35,202 Fred McAlister
Montgomery Rebels 50 69 .420 24.5 22,621 Al Lakeman

Playoffs: Pensacola 3 games, Panama City 2; Selma 3 games, Ft. Walton Beach 0.
Finals: Pensacola 3 games, Selma 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Carlos Pascual Ft. Walton Beach BA .325 Peter Pekich Selma W 17
Jose Villar Selma Runs 87 William Kalmes Panama City SO 239
Bob Sloan Panama City Hits 138 Bruce Griewe Panama City ERA 1.84
Carlos Pascual Ft. Walton Beach RBI 82 Jose Villar Selma HR 23


1961 Alabama-Florida League
President: William Moore

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Selma Cloverleafs 76 43 .639 0 21,760 Walt Novick / Joe Morlan
Pensacola Senators 70 47 .598 5 46,993 Archie Wilson
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 61 55 .526 13.5 15,603 Vern Morgan
Montgomery Rebels 56 62 .475 19.5 21,600 Gail Henley
Panama City Fliers 55 64 .462 21 24,167 George Scherger
Dothan Phillies 35 82 .299 40 7,963 Bob Wellman

Playoffs: No playoffs scheduled.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Braxton Bailey Panama City BA .356 David Seeman Selma W 17
Horace Strickland Panama City Runs 103 Fred Waters Pensacola SO 197
Alf Sommerstad Ft. Walt/Bea Hits 146 Tom Young Panama City ERA 1.95
Bob Loftin Panama City RBI 91 Pedro Fernandez Ft. Walt/Bea HR 20


1962 Alabama-Florida League
President: William Moore

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Pensacola Senators 79 38 .675 0 25,201 Wayne Terwilliger
Ft. Walton Beach Jets 58 61 .487 22 16,313 Ralph Rowe
Dothan Phillies 57 62 .479 23 18,500 Moose Johnson
Selma Cloverleafs 55 63 .466 24.5 16,589 Pinky May
Ozark / Andalusia Dodgers # 54 66 .450 26.5 15,183 George Scherger
Montgomery Rebels 53 66 .445 27 20,617 Johnny Groth

#Ozark moved to Andalusia July 10.
Playoffs: Pensacola 2 games, Dothan 0; Selma 2 games, Ft. Walton beach 0.
Finals: Selma 3 games, Pensacola 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Carlos Pascual Ft. Walton BA .339 Charles Herzberger Dothan W 15
Mike Holodick Montgomery Runs 118 Bob Baird Pensacola SO 207
Carlos Pascual Ft. Walton Hits 147 Fred Waters Pensacola ERA 1.42
Carlos Pascual Ft. Walton RBI 103 Nelson Gardner Dothan HR 22


League Records 1936-1962[edit]

Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Held By Many Numerous GA 138 47 Neal Cobb Crestview BA .432 54
Perry Roberts Greenville AB 586 47 Frank A. Tepedino Andalusia Runs 149 54
Perry Roberts Greenville Hits 228 47 Perry Roberts Greenville RBI 152 47
Oscar Martin Tallahassee 2B 49 40 Perry Roberts Greenville 2B 49 47
Steve Summerhill Union 3B 25 37 Charles Grant Donalsonville HR 37 55
Johnny Ostrowski Troy EBH 75 40 Perry Roberts Greenville TB 334 47
Joe Harper Headland SB 76 50 Nesbit Wilson Crestview BB 140 55
Manuel Russo Geneva HBP 21 47 James Murrya Troy SO 168 46
Pitching
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Charles Hertzberger Dothan GA 54 62
Max Peterson Greenville W 27 47 Russell Harris Ozark W 27 52
Bruno Shedis Evergreen L 21 37 John Koneff Andalusia Pct.909 10-1 39
Russell Harris Ozark Pct.900 27-3 52 Spencer Davis Dothan ERA 1.21 53
Max Peterson Greenville IP 299 47 Virgil Trucks Andalusia SO 418 38
Harry Clifton Headland BB 194 51

Source[edit]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Ken Brooks: The Last Rebel Yell: True tales from baseball's last bastion of racial segregation: the Alabama-Florida League, Seneca Park Publications, 2012 (originally published in 1986).

Related Sites[edit]

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