East Texas League

From BR Bullpen

There were many short-lived circuits that used the name East Texas League. The first played in 1916, but only until July 19. One of the longest-running East Texas Leagues started in 1923 and played for four years. In 1931 a one-week operation used the name, this one with just four teams. From 1936 through 1940 a five-year East Texas League was in operation. Unlike the prior leagues (all class D) this one was a class C league. A third one-year East Texas League (class C) played in 1946. Finally, in 1949 and 1950 the league was revived with the same league president as in 1946, again dying a quick death.

Cities Represented - Teams and Statistics[edit]

1916[edit]

1916 East Texas League
President: Lawrence Jordan

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Palestine Athletics 14 9 .609 - Dick Brewer
Lufkin Lumbermen 14 9 .609 - Lee Lemon
Nacogdoches Cogs 10 9 .526 2 Tom Cherry
Crockett ## 9 13 .409 4.5 Bob Countryman
Rusk Governors 7 11 .389 4.5 Jack Ashton
Jacksonville Tomato Pickers # 3 6 .333 NA Art Wickes

# Jacksonville joined the league June 29 and disbanded July 13.
## Crockett disbanded July 15.
The league disbanded July 19.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Lee Lemon Lufkin BA .407 George Crevenstine Lufkin W 6
J.T. Ellis Nacogdoches Runs 10 George Crevenstine Lufkin Pct 1.000; 6-0
J.T. Ellis Nacogdoches Hits 13
Haywood McDaniel Palestine Hits 13
Hank Utzman Lufkin HR 3

1923-1926[edit]

1923 East Texas League
President: Ike Hockwald

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Paris Grays 76 43 .639 0 Paul Trammell
Greenville Staplers 70 48 .593 5.5 Bennie Brownlow
Marshall Indians 63 55 .534 12.5 Hick Munsell / Jackie Reid / Jones / Parker
Mt. Pleasant Cats 53 66 .445 23 Frank Youree / Roy Storey
Sulphur Springs Lions 53 67 .442 23.5 Roy Eichord
Longview Cannibals 41 77 .348 34.5 Jack Lockhart / Grady White / Hick Munsell

Attendance: Mt. Pleasant, 13,029

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Fred Craig Greenville BA .328 Jackie Reid Marshall W 20
Chalmers Williams Paris Runs 105 Jack Robertson Greenville SO 193
Fred Craig Greenville Hits 156 Jack Robertson Greenville Pct .731; 19-7
Lillard Belcher Marshall/Paris HR 31


1924 East Texas League - schedule
President: T. Lamar Denman

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Tyler Trojans 83 37 .692 0 Frank "Pop" Kitchens
Greenville Hunters 71 50 .587 12.5 Bennie Brownlow
Texarkana Twins 63 56 .529 19.5 Hub Northen//Wesley Bradshaw
Longview Cannibals 56 63 .471 26.5 Les Tullos / Jack Johnston
Mt. Pleasant Cats 56 63 .471 26.5 Paul Trammell / Edgar "Dutch" Behrens
Sulphur Springs Saints 56 66 .459 28 Johnny Meanor / Abe Bowman
Marshall Indians 48 69 .410 33.5 Bugs Young / Johnnie Baggan
Paris North Stars 43 72 .374 37.5 Bill Byers / Rollie Zeider

Attendance: Mt. Pleasant, 17,003; Tyler, 63,000

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tom Osborne Mt. Pleasant BA .432 Red Roberts Greenville W 23
George Jackson Tyler Runs 103 Lloyd Brown Paris SO 224
Tom Osborne Mt. Pleasant Hits 171 Carl Yowell Tyler Pct .813; 13-3
Pete Daniels Marshall HR 35


1925 East Texas League - schedule
President: H.E. Crosby

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Paris Bearcats 76 46 .623 0 Les Tullos
Tyler Trojans 69 55 .556 8 Frank "Pop" Kitchens
Greenville Hunters 63 61 .508 14 Walt Alexander / Lee Ballanfant
Longview Cannibals / Mt. Pleasant ## 63 61 .508 14 Jack Johnston / Willie Crosby
Texarkana Twins 58 64 .475 18 Mike Prendergast/Paul Trammell/Verdo Elmore
Marshall Indians 51 69 .425 24 Johnnie Baggan / Cecil Coombs
Mt. Pleasant Cats 22 22 .500 NA Bob Countryman
Sulphur Springs Spartans # 11 35 .239 NA Abe Bowman

# Sulphur Springs disbanded June 7.
Mt. Pleasant and Longview merged June 7, playing games in both cities as the Longview-Mt. Pleasant Longcats until July 12, when the club settled permanently in Longview. The records on June 7 were Longview 18-27 and Mt. Pleasant 22-22.
Playoff: Paris 2 games, Texarcana 1, one tie, for the first half championship.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tom Pyle Greenville BA .388 Gus Burleson Paris W 19
Jim Holloway Tyler Runs 115 Kearby Lybrand Tyler W 19
Joe Granade Texar/Tyler Hits 182 Kearby Lybrand Tyler SO 154
Jim Holloway Tyler HR 41 Gus Burleson Paris Pct .760; 19-6


1926 East Texas League - schedule
President: T.H. Fisher

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Longview Cannibals 83 39 .680 0 Bennie Brownlow
Texarkana Twins 66 54 .550 16 Tex Wisterzil
Greenville Hunters 62 57 .521 19.5 George Jackson
Tyler Trojans 57 64 .471 25.5 Frank "Pop" Kitchens
Marshall Snappers/Marshall Indians 55 67 .451 28 Red Snapp / Wisrock & Massey / Bernsen
Paris Bearcats 39 81 .325 43 Les Tullos / Faustin Gallegos / Red Snapp

Attendance: Tyler, 40,720.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Moose Clabaugh Tyler BA .376 Abe Bowman Longview W 20
Moose Clabaugh Tyler Runs 106 Noel Haynes Paris SO 120
Joe Granade Texarkana Hits 180 Abe Bowman Longview Pct .833; 20-4
Moose Clabaugh Tyler HR 62
Moose Clabaugh Tyler RBI 164

1931[edit]


1931 East Texas League - schedule
President: Harry Wanderling

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Henderson Oilers 4 1 .800 0 Hick Munsell / Bennie Bedford
Longview Cannibals 4 3 .571 1 Abe Bowman
Kilgore Gushers 1 3 .250 2.5 Turkey Gross
Tyler Trojans 1 3 .250 2.5 Frank "Pop" Kitchens

Tyler disbanded May 5; rest of league disbanded May 7.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
M.B. Hauser Henderson BA .462 Jackie Reid Longview W 2
Kenneth Westbrook Westbrook BA .462 Rudy Leopold Kilgore SO 22
Gilbert Humphries Longview Runs 9 Jackie Reid Longview Pct 1.000; 2-0
Lester Seward Longview Hits 11
M.B. Hauser Henderson HR 4

1936-1940 C[edit]


1936 East Texas League - schedule
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Tyler Trojans 94 56 .627 0 Wally Dashiell
Gladewater Bears 93 59 .612 2 Eddie Hock
Longview Cannibals 86 64 .573 8 Tex Jeanes
Jacksonville Jax 80 69 .537 13.5 Ray Flaskamper / Horace Simmons
Palestine Pals 74 77 .490 20.5 Bobby Goff
Henderson Oilers 70 80 .467 24 Jimmy Dalrymple / Gus Burleson
Marshall Orphans//Marshall Tigers 59 90 .396 34.5 Harvey Albrecht / Tex Nugent / Bama Jones
Kilgore Braves 45 106 .298 .49.5 Lee Cunningham / Seebold / Fitzpatrick / Rawlins

Playoffs: Tyler 4 games, Jacksonville 2; Gladewater 4 games, Longview 1.
Finals: Gladewater 4 games, Tyler 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tex Jeanes Longview BA .362 Kip Saurbrun Tyler W 23
Charles Baron Tyler Runs 133 Stidham Talley Palestine SO 203
Walter Paschal Longview Hits 194 L. Meadows Jacksonville ERA 2.72
Larry Kinzer Tyler Hits 194 James Gravin Jacksonville PCT .846; 11-2
Larry Kinzer Tyler RBI 121
Merv Connors Longview HR 24
Clary Hack Gladewater HR 24


1937 East Texas League - schedule
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Tyler Trojans 85 52 .620 0 Wally Dashiell
Jacksonville Jax 85 55 .607 1.5 Tony Robello
Marshall Tigers 76 62 .551 9.5 Bama Jones / Jim Dalrymple
Henderson Oilers 74 62 .544 10.5 Gus Burleson / Guy Curtright
Palestine Pals 75 64 .540 11 Archie "Abe" Miller
Longview Cannibals 70 70 .500 16.5 Harry Faulkner / Wally Paschal
Texarkana Liners 46 91 .336 39 Bill Windle / Eddie Hock
Kilgore Rangers 42 97 .302 44 Tom Estel / Jimmy Kerr

Playoffs: Marshall 4 games, Tyler 1; Jacksonville 4 games, Henderson 3.
Finals: Jacksonville 4 games, Marshall 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jesse Newman Palestine BA .363 Red Lynn Jacksonville W 32
Walter Bliss Palestine Runs 124 Walter Shaffer Henderson SO 274
Norman Peterson Jacksonville Hits 207 Red Lynn Jacksonville ERA 2.65
Tony Robello Jacksonville RBI 130 Rufus Meadows Tyler PCT .806; 25-6
Tony Robello Jacksonville HR 33


1938 East Texas League - schedule
President: C.P. Mosley

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Marshall Tigers 84 55 .604 0 Guy Sturdy / Willard Coker / Abe Miller
Texarkana Liners 80 60 .571 4.5 Sam Gray
Henderson Oilers 75 65 .536 9.5 Ed Hall
Tyler Trojans 72 66 .522 11.5 Doug Taitt / Fred Browning / Red Rollings
Kilgore Rangers 64 74 .464 19.5 Jimmy Dalrymple
Longview Cannibals 63 75 .457 20.5 Harold Funk
Palestine Pals 60 79 .432 24 Archie "Abe" Miller / Neil Andrews / John Kosey
Jacksonville Jax 58 82 .414 26.5 Tony Robello

Playoffs: Tyler 4 games, Marshall 1; Henderson 4 games, Texarkana 3.
Finals: Tyler 4 games, Henderson 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Gordon Houston Texarkana BA .384 Jack Van Orsdol Marshall W 21
Gabby Lusk Texarkana Runs 152 Eugene Davis Texarkana SO 231
Ed Hall Henderson Hits 196 Fred Isert Kilgore ERA 2.30
Tony Robello Jacksonville RBI 146 Vallie Eaves Texarkana PCT .789 15-4
Tony Robello Jacksonville HR 38


1939 East Texas League - schedule
President: C.P. Mosley

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Henderson Oilers 85 55 .607 0 Jake Atz
Kilgore Boomers 80 59 .576 4.5 Jimmy Dalrymple
Palestine Pals 76 63 .547 8.5 Ray Flood / Jack Calvey
Marshall Tigers 72 68 .514 13 Cal Cowman / Hub Northen / Lusk / Sturdy
Tyler Trojans 70 69 .504 14.5 Bobby Goff
Texarkana Liners 64 75 .460 20.5 Eph Lobaugh
Longview Cannibals/Longview White Sox 59 79 .428 25 Jack Fitzpatrick
Jacksonville Jax 51 89 .364 34 Zinn / Hancock / Stebbins / Grant / Middleton

Total Attendance: 227,000
Playoffs: Henderson 4 games, Marshall 3; Kilgore 4 games, Palestine 1.
Finals: Kilgore 4 games, Henderson 0.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Lou Kahn Palestine BA .346 Steve Rachunok Henderson W 22
Eddie Knoblauch Kilgore Runs 125 Bill Roberson Tyler SO 222
Eddie Knoblauch Kilgore Hits 189 Ed Lopat Longview ERA 2.11
Gilbert Turner Marshall RBI 112 Frank Perko Kilgore PCT .833 20-4
Gilbert Turner Marshall HR 26


1940 East Texas League - schedule
President: C.P. Mosley

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Longview Texans 79 53 .598 0 Tex Jeanes / Al Costello
Henderson Oilers 79 55 .590 1 Jake Atz
Tyler Trojans 79 56 .585 1.5 Bobby Goff / Sam Hancock
Marshall Tigers 67 64 .511 11.5 Salty Parker
Kilgore Boomers 55 78 .414 24.5 Jimmy Dalrymple
Texarkana Liners 47 87 .351 33 Abe Miller / Clair Bates
Palestine Pals # 25 20 .556 NA Elmer Kirchoff
Jacksonville Jax # 14 32 .304 NA Cecil "Stormy" Davis / Walter Bohl

# Palestine and Jacksonville disbanded June 5.
Playoffs: Marshall 3 games, Henderson 2; Tyler 3 games, Longview 2.
Finals: Tyler 4 games, Marshall 3.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Salty Parker Marshall BA .349 Pat Beasley Longview W 20
Billy Binstrub Tyler Runs 120 Bob Gillespie Henderson SO 224
George Kovach Palestine/Tyler Hits 175 Pat Beasley Longview ERA 2.33
George Kovach Palestine/Tyler RBI 108 Jim Steger Henderson PCT .778 14-4
Tom Jordan Marshall HR 19

1946, 1949-1950 C[edit]

1946 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Henderson Oilers 83 56 .597 0 Ray Honeycutt
Texarkana Bears 81 58 .582 2 Gabby Lusk / Joe Kracher
Tyler Trojans 76 63 .547 7 Doug Taitt / Dutch Prather
Greenville Majors 71 67 .514 11.5 Sal Gliatto / Alex Hooks
Sherman Twins 70 70 .500 13.5 Guy Sturdy
Paris Red Peppers 68 72 .486 15.5 Homer Peel
Jacksonville Jax 60 78 .435 22.5 Lloyd Rigby
Lufkin Foresters 47 92 .338 36 Hank Doty / Mike Mistovich

Total Attendance: 700,000
Playoffs: Texarkana 4 games, Tyler 1; Henderson 4 games, Greenville 3.
Finals: Henderson 4 games, Texarkana 2.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Don Stokes Tyler/Sherman BA .361 Elton Davis Henderson W 26
Gene Olive Henderson Runs 128 Louis Christy Tyler/Henderson SO 190
Gene Olive Henderson Hits 211 Elton Davis Henderson ERA 2.31
Paul Martin Henderson RBI 127 Elton Davis Henderson PCT .813 26-6
Frank Sacka Paris HR 30


1949 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Longview Texans 89 51 .636 0 63,103 Dixie Parsons
Gladewater Bears 87 53 .621 2 50,328 Hal Van Pelt
Paris Panthers 75 62 .547 12.5 66,509 Jim Walkup
Kilgore Drillers 75 65 .536 14 52,701 Joe Kracher
Marshall Browns 69 68 .504 18.5 60,585 Walter DeFreitas
Tyler Trojans 62 78 .443 27 56,064 Carl McNabb / Mel Hicks
Henderson Oilers 51 88 .367 37.5 34,500 Mel Hicks / George Milstead
Bryan Bombers 48 91 .345 40.5 40,000 Felix Penso / Stan Goletz

Playoffs: Kilgore 4 games, Longview 3; Gladewater 4 games, Paris 3.
Finals: Gladewater 4 games, Kilgore 0.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Vern Washington Gladewater BA .387 George Yanen Paris W 22
Al Kubski Longview Runs 132 James Upchurch Marshall SO 210
John Stone Henderson Hits 199 Rafael Rivas Gladewater ERA 2.09
Joe Burns Longview RBI 136
Nick Gregory Kilgore HR 23


1950 East Texas League
President: J. Walter Morris

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Gladewater Bears 92 45 .672 0 27,789 Dutch Meyer / Hal Van Pelt
Marshall Browns 88 46 .657 2.5 47,254 Bruce Ogrodowski
Kilgore Drillers 78 59 .569 14 37,742 Al Kubski
Longview Texans 67 67 .500 23.5 41,146 Dixie Parsons
Tyler Trojans 60 78 .435 32.5 54,778 Otto Nitcholas / Stan Goletz / Joe Kracher
Henderson Oilers 60 79 .432 33 23,384 Burl Storie / John Stone / Bill Sinton
Paris Panthers # 30 59 .337 NA 30,600 Jim Walkup / Joe Weeks
Bryan Sports # 23 65 .261 NA 26,050 Bones Sanders

# Paris and Bryan disbanded July 20.
Playoffs: Longview 4 games, Gladewater 3; Marshall 4 games, Kilgore 1.
Finals: Marshall 4 games, Longview 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Dutch Meyer Gladewater BA .375 Darwin Dobbs Tyler W 21
Hal Van Pelt Gladewater Runs 130 John Fine Longview SO 178
Jack Jones Longview Hits 168 Howard Waters Marshall ERA 1.87
Jack Jones Longview RBI 128 Norm Wielansky Marshall PCT .792 19-5
Jack Jones Longview HR 26
Merv Connors Kilgore HR 26

Single Season League Records 1916-1950[edit]

Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Ruether Jones Tyler G 142 47 Joe Kracher Kilgore BA .433 48
Bob Marquis Lufton AB 598 47 Bob Marquis Lufton RUNS 145 47
John L. Stone Henderson HITS 224 47 John L. Stone Henderson RBI 185 47
Emil DeJonghe Henderson 2B 61 37 Dave Short Longview 3B 22 39
Moose Clabaugh Tyler HR 62 26 John L. Stone Henderson EBH 90 47
John L. Stone Henderson TB 390 47 Joe Longnecker Tyler SAC 48 24
Tommy Tatum Henderson SB 60 39 Floyd Brooks Lufkin BB 143 47
Bob Neighbors Kilgore SO 146 38


Pitching
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Red Lynn Jacksonville GA 51 37 Red Lynn Jacksonville W 31 37
Elton Davis Henderson CG 31 46 George Yanen Paris CG 31 49
Paul D. Cook Bryan L 20 47 Ralph Pate Longview PCT .885 23-3 48
Hugo Klaerner Longview ERA 1.80 35 Red Lynn Jacksonville IP 312 37
Walt Schafer Henderson SO 269 37 Andrew Davis Jacksonville BB 183 38

Source[edit]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second and Third Editions.

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