Coastal Plain League

From BR Bullpen

The Coastal Plain League was a class D league in North Carolina which ran from 1937 through 1952 with a break from 1942 through 1945 due to World War II. The league was relatively stable, with several core teams providing a good base. Goldsboro, Kinston, New Bern, Tarboro, and Wilson competed every year of the league.

Cities Represented[edit]

Teams & Statistics[edit]

1937 Thru 1941[edit]

1937 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: J. Bruce Eure

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Snow Hill Billies 62 36 .633 0 Dwight Wall/D.C. "Peahead" Walker
Williamston Martins 55 41 .573 6 Arthur Hauger
Tarboro Serpents 53 42 .558 7.5 Snake Henry
New Bern Bears 48 45 .516 11.5 Doc Smith
Ayden Aces 47 46 .505 12.5 Nick Harrison/Monk Joyner
Goldsboro Goldbugs 47 51 .480 15 Clarence Roper
Greenville Greenies 40 58 .408 22 Bo Farley
Kinston Eagles 32 65 .330 29.5 Krim Bess/Vern Taylor

Playoff: Snow Hill 3 games, New Bern 1; Tarboro 3 games, Williamston 1.
Finals: Snow Hill 4 games, Tarboro 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Monk Joyner Ayden BA .380 Owen Elliott Goldsboro W 18
Dwight Wall Snow Hill Runs 88 James Rollins Williamston SO 202
Monk Joyner Ayden Hits 136 Emil Zak Snow Hill Pct .842; 16-3
Monk Joyner Ayden RBI 97 Monk Joyner Ayden HR 24
Joe Bistroff Snow Hill HR 24


1938 Coastal Plain League
President: J. Bruce Eure

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
New Bern Bears 63 49 .563 0 Doc Smith
Tarboro Serpents 60 47 .561 .5 Snake Henry
Snow Hill Billies 61 49 .555 1 D.C. "Peahead" Walker
Kinston Eagles 60 50 .545 2 Tommy West
Williamston Martins 56 56 .500 7 Arthur Hauger
Goldsboro Goldbugs 47 65 .420 16 Clarence Roper/Mule Shirley
Greenville Greenies 45 68 .398 18.5 Monk Joyner/Rube Wilson
Ayden Aces 38 76 .333 26 Frank Sidle/Bill Herring/Frank Rodgers

Playoff: New Bern 4 games, Kinston 0; Snow Hill 4 games, Tarboro 2.
Finals: New Bern 4 games, Snow Hill 0.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Doyt Morris Ayden BA .377 Jim Mooney Tarboro W 19
Alf Anderson New Bern Runs 101 Cliff Wentz Kinston SO 179
Johnny Wyrostek Kinston Hits 149 Eddie Hurley Kinston Pct .750; 15-5
Bill F. Harper New Bern RBI 84 Les Burge New Bern 22


1939 Coastal Plain League
President: J. Bruce Eure / Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Greenville Greenies 74 48 .607 0 Rube Wilson
Goldsboro Goldbugs 69 53 .566 5 Mule Shirley
Williamston Martins 65 57 .533 9 Paul O'Malley
Kinston Eagles 65 59 .524 10 Snake Henry/Ray Lucas/Bill Herring
New Bern Bears 62 59 .512 11.5 Doc Smith
Wilson Tobs 64 61 .512 11.5 Frank Rodgers
Snow Hill Billies 56 64 .467 17 D.C. "Peahead" Walker
Tarboro Tars 36 90 .286 40 Guy Schatzer/Fred Neisler/Larry Merville

Playoff: Kinston 4 games, Greenville 2; Williamston 4 games, Goldsboro 1.
Finals: Williamston 4 games, Kinston 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Uriah Norwood New Bern BA .336 Bill Herring Kinston W 22
Claude Capps Goldsboro Runs 99 Don King Greenville ERA 1.25
Ed Black Greenville Hits 151 Harry Swain Williamston SO 186
Harry Soufas Snow Hill Hits 151 Joe Bistroff Snow Hill RBI 108
Charles Whitaker Snow Hill Hits 151 Joe Bistroff Snow Hill HR 32


1940 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Wilson Tobs 77 49 .611 0 Frank Rodgers
Tarboro Cubs 72 51 .585 3.5 Arthur "Cowboy" McHenry/Bill Steinecke/Wes Ratteree
Goldsboro Goldbugs 66 58 .532 10 Mack Arnette
Kinston Eagles 63 60 .516 12.5 Denny Sothern/Sid Stringfellow/William Averette
Snow Hill Billies 62 64 .492 15 Dwight Wall
New Bern Bears 58 67 .464 18.5 Guy Shatzer/Gene McCarty/Marv Farrell/Danny Sothern
Greenville Greenies 53 71 .427 23 Rube Wilson
Williamston Martins 47 78 .376 29.5 Dixie Parker/Harry Swain

Playoff: Kinston 4 games, Wilson 3; Tarboro 4 games, Goldsboro 1.
Finals: Tarboro 4 games, Kinston 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Earl Carnahan Wilson BA .354 Walter Wilson Goldsboro W 21
Charles Metelski Tarboro Runs 115 Harry Swain Williamston SO 215
Doyt Morris Wilson Hits 185 Bill Zinser Kinston ERA 2.08
Earl Carnahan Wilson RBI 119 Luis Olmo Wilson HR 18

1941 Coastal Plain League
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Wilson Tobs 87 30 .744 0 Bill Herring
Greenville Greenies 64 54 .542 23.5 Rube Wilson
New Bern Bears 61 57 .517 26.5 Doc Smith/Jake Wade
Rocky Mount Leafs 59 59 .500 28.5 Norm McCaskill/Gus Brittain
Goldsboro Goldbugs 58 61 .487 30 Mack Arnette/Dave McKinney
Williamston Martins 56 61 .479 31 Frank Rodgers
Tarboro Orioles 44 72 .379 42.5 John "Poke" Whalen
Kinston Eagles 42 77 .353 46 Arthur "Cowboy" McHenry/Joe DeMasi

Playoff: Wilson 4 games, Rocky Mount 1; Greenville 4 games, New Bern 2.
Finals: Wilson 4 games, Greenville 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Earl Carnahan Wilson BA .370 Bill Webb Wilson W 23
Erv Dickens Wilson Runs 114 Julio Acosta Goldsboro SO 199
Earl Carnahan Wilson Hits 176 Joe Talley Wilson ERA 1.93
Lyle Thompson New Bern RBI 111 Fred Eason Wilson HR 18



The League Did Not Play From 1942 thru 1945 Due To WW II

1946 Thru 1952[edit]

1946 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Rocky Mount Rocks 74 51 .592 0 104,218 Harry Soufas
Kinston Eagles 67 56 .545 6 54,120 Frank Rodgers
Wilson Tobs 67 57 .540 6.5 108,229 Irv Dickens
Goldsboro Goldbugs 64 60 .516 9.5 92,123 Bill Herring
Tarboro Tars 61 65 .484 13.5 46,679 Michael Kardish/Bull Hamons
Greenville Greenies 58 67 .464 16 62,359 Horace Payne
New Bern Bears 57 68 .456 17 90,485 Abe White
Fayetteville Cubs 51 75 .405 23.5 77,007 John Intlekofer/Don Anderson

Playoff: Rocky Mount 4 games, Goldsboro 1; Kinston 4 games, Wilson 3.
Finals: Rocky Mount 4 games, Kinston 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Vern Shetler New Bern BA .362 Bill Kennedy Rocky Mount W 28
John Wolfe Wilson Runs 123 Bill Kennedy Rocky Mount SO 456
Ray Carlson Greenville Hits 158 Bill Kennedy Rocky Mount ERA 1.03
Verne Blackwell Greenville RBI 114 Charles Munday Rocky Mount HR 21


1947 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Wilson Tobs 79 61 .564 0 138,548 Max Wilson
Kinston Eagles 74 65 .532 4.5 68,986 Steve Collins
Tarboro Tars 74 66 .529 5 75,281 Bull Hamons
New Bern Bears 73 66 .525 5.5 104,426 Jake Daniel/Harry Soufas/Tom Murray/Worlise Knowles
Goldsboro Goldbugs 72 67 .518 6.5 88,607 Bill Herring
Rocky Mount Leafs 68 71 .489 10.5 100,794 Charlie Mundy
Roanoke Rapids Blue Jays 60 80 .429 19 115,837 Stu Martin
Greenville Greenies 58 82 .414 21 66,316 Johnny Pare/Larry Baldwin/Ordie Timm

Playoff: Wilson 4 games, New Bern 1; Kinston 4 games, Tarboro 2.
Finals: Kinston 4 games, Wilson 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
LeRoy Kennedy Tarboro BA .381 Eddie Neville Tarboro W 28
Sal Zunno New Bern Runs 133 Sam McLawhorne Kinston SO 238
Herb May Rocky Mount Hits 190 Bill Herring Goldsboro ERA 1.79
Harry Soufas New Bern RBI 122 Harry Soufas New Bern HR 25


1948 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Tarboro Tars 87 53 .621 0 67,767 Bull Hamons
Kinston Eagles 80 59 .576 6.5 76,770 Steve Collins
Goldsboro Goldbugs 79 61 .564 8 81,499 Bill Herring
Rocky Mount Leafs 78 61 .561 8.5 94,811 Turkey Tyson
New Bern Bears 69 70 .496 17.5 69,548 Harry Soufas/Tal Abernathy/Winston Palmer
Wilson Tobs 61 79 .436 26 95,238 Max Wilson/Irv Dickens/Bob Latshaw
Roanoke Rapids Jays 54 86 .386 33 87,187 Stu Martin
Greenville Greenies 50 89 .360 36.5 60,938 Bill Phebus/Bob Cohen/Kelly Kee

Playoff: Tarboro 4 games, Rocky Mount 2; Kinston 4 games, Goldsboro 3.
Finals: Tarboro 4 games, Kinston 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Valentine Gonzalez Roanoke Rapids BA .383 Red Benton Rocky Mount W 28
Grover Fowler Rocky Mount Runs 138 Harry Helmer Rocky Mount SO 268
Quentin Martin Rocky Mount Hits 207 Bill Herring Goldsboro ERA 2.60
Ray Komanecky Tarboro RBI 137 John Hanley Rocky Mount HR 35


1949 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Rocky Mount Leafs 79 60 .568 0 80,786 Quentin Martin/Red Benton
Kinston Eagles 74 64 .536 4.5 88,814 Steve Collins
New Bern Bears 73 66 .525 6 72,291 Bull Hamons
Greenville Greenies 71 67 .514 7.5 72,420 Papa Williams
Goldsboro Goldbugs 68 68 .500 9.5 71,690 Steve Mizerak/Max Wilson
Tarboro Athletics 68 68 .500 9.5 41,212 Joe Antolick
Roanoke Rapids Jays 60 78 .435 18.5 68,247 Russ Meers/Glen Lockamy
Wilson Tobs 57 79 .419 20.5 71,413 Ross Morrow

Playoff: Greenville 4 games, Rocky Mount 2; Kinston 4 games, New Bern 2.
Finals: Greensville 4 games, Kinston 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Clyde Whitener Goldsboro BA .355 Bill Padgett New Bern W 22
John Tepedino Greenville Runs 132 Robert Mangum Goldsboro SO 248
Clyde Whitener Goldsboro Hits 194 Vincent Gohl Tarboro ERA 1.27
Papa Williams Greenville RBI 122 Quentin Martin Rocky Mount HR 27


1950 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Roanoke Rapids Jays 80 58 .580 0 80,665 Glen Lockamy/Walt McJunkin
Rocky Mount Leafs 73 65 .525 7 62,027 Red Benton
New Bern Bears 71 67 .514 9 63,486 Harry Land
Kinston Eagles 70 68 .507 10 51,794 Walter Millies
Wilson Tobs 68 70 .493 12 84,159 Bill Herring
Greenville Robins 67 70 .489 12.5 49,140 Randy Heflin
Tarboro Athletics 67 71 .486 13 36,467 Joe Antolick
Goldsboro Cardinals 56 83 .403 24.5 35,719 James Herbison

Playoff: Kinston 4 games, Roanoke Rapids 0; New Bern 4 games, Rocky Mount 2.
Finals: New Bern 4 games, Kinston 0.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Quentin Martin Rocky Mount BA .351 Alton Brown Roanoke Rapids W 28
Dallas Orf Tarboro Runs 110 Alton Brown Roanoke Rapids SO 204
Quentin Martin Rocky Mount Hits 171 Leo Groeschen Kinston ERA 1.74
Warriner Bass Roanoke Rapids RBI 148 Billy Smith Goldsboro HR 24


1951 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Kinston Eagles 79 47 .627 0 41,516 Wes Livengood
New Bern Bears 72 54 .571 7 45,388 Harry Land
Goldsboro Cardinals 70 55 .550 8.5 36,529 George Ferrell
Wilson Tobs 69 57 .548 10 54,753 Joe Antolick/Alfred Rehm
Roanoke Rapids Jays 59 66 .472 19.5 34,132 Morrie Aderholt
Rocky Mount Leafs 39 86 .312 39.5 27,753 Jim Mills/Bull Hamons/Red Benton
Tarboro Athletics# 13 22 .371 NA 6,431 Joe Rullo
Greenville Robins# 10 24 .294 NA 5,932 John Streza

#Tarboro and Greensville disbanded June 6.
Playoff: Wilson 4 games, Kinston 2; New Bern 4 games, Goldsboro 2.
Finals: New Bern 4 games, Wilson 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Kite Thomas Goldsboro BA .343 Alexander Zych Kinston W 22
Bob Horan Kinston Runs 109 Robert Slaybaugh Goldsboro SO 223
Kite Thomas Goldsboro Hits 175 Bunky Stewart New Bern ERA 1.16
Jim McComas Wilson RBI 95 Jim McComas Wilson HR 20


1952 Coastal Plain League - schedule
President: Ray Goodmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Kinston Eagles 76 47 .608 0 43,301 Wayne Blackburn
Wilson Tobs 71 51 .582 4.5 57,565 Jake McComas/Alfred Rehm
Edenton Colonials 69 55 .557 7.5 24,420 Vernon Mustian/Tom Ingel/Gashouse Parker
Goldsboro Jets 63 59 .516 12.5 35,365 Wes Livengood
Roanoke Rapids Jays 63 61 .508 13.5 36,830 Pete Appleton
Rocky Mount Leafs 59 63 .484 16.5 40,629 Paul Badgett/Quentin Martin/Turkey Tyson/Tommy Warren
Tarboro Tars 49 71 .408 25.5 28,439 Bill Long
New Bern Bears 40 83 .325 36 29,056 Con Dempsey/John Pavlich/Steve Collins

Playoff: Goldsboro 4 games, Kinston 3; Edenton 4 games, Wilson 0.
Finals: Edenton 4 games, Goldsboro 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tom Leonard Goldsboro BA .375 Gene Host Kinston W 26
Cecil Fogleman Tarboro Runs 101 John Raines Edenton W 26
Bill Wollet Roanoke Rapids Hits 151 Ted Abernathy Roanoke Rapids SO 293
Sam Stell Tarboro RBI 77 Rodney Heath Rocky Mount ERA 1.27
Wade Martin Rocky Mount HR 11 John Perry Goldsboro SHo 10

League Records 1937-1952 (Single Season)[edit]

Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Held by many Various GA 140 VA Valentine Gonzales Roan Rapids BA .383 48
Irv Dickens Wilson AB 579 48 Leo Katkaveck Roan Rapids AB 579 50
Quentin Martin Rocky Mt HITS 207 48 Warriner Bass Roan Rapids RBI 148 48
Clyde Whlitener Goldsboro 2B 42 49 Lister Rock Williamston 3B 18 40
John Hanley Rocky Mt HR 35 48 Papa Williams Kins/Rock Mt TB 328 48
Grover Fowler Rocky Mt Runs 138 48 William Bevill New Bern SB 92 49
Kenneth Andrews Tarboro BB 159 48 Cornelius Hartbarger Tarboro SO 117 49


Pitching
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Tony Napoles Tarboro GA 49 48 Red Benton Rocky Mount CG 32 48
Bill Kennedy Rocky Mount W 28 46 Edward Neville Tarboro W 28 47
Red Benton Rocky Mount W 28 48 Alton Brown Roanoke Rapids W 28 50
Joe Alamo Greenville L 21 47 Bill Kennedy Rocky Mount PCT .903 46
Bill Kennedy Rocky Mount ERA 1.03 46 Red Benton Rocky Mount IP 339 48
Bill Kennedy Rocky Mount SO 456 46 Harry Helmer Rocky Mount BB 196 48

Collegiate summer league[edit]

Currently there is a collegiate summer league known as the Coastal Plain League. It began play in 1997 and it has 14 teams. [1]

Source[edit]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition.

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