Georgia State League

From BR Bullpen

There have been several minor leagues that have used the title Georgia State League. Since classification of the minors began, all have been labeled as class D loops. In 1906 one such league operated for just a single season. In 1914 the Empire State League renamed itself the Georgia State League but this new GSL didn't even last two years. When the Americus Muckalees moved to Gainesville, FL and became the Gainesville Sharks, the league was renamed the Florida-Alabama-Georgia League to indicate the breadth of the circuit. Another try was made in 1920 but this one too failed to see a third season. The fourth and most successful Georgia State League of the 20th century got started in 1948 and ran through 1956 before it too folded. Douglas, GA and Baxley, GA (in various forms with and without Hazlehurst, GA) were represented all 9 seasons.

Cities Represented[edit]

1906[edit]

Teams & Stats[edit]

1906[edit]

President: J. W. Thomas

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Waycross Machinists 37 12 .755 - Carlton Beusse
Columbus # / Brunswick 29 17 .630 6.5 Martin / Dudley Lewis / Bill Hessler
Cordele 24 24 .500 12.5 Trammel Scott
Valdosta Stars ## 22 25 .468 14 Starr / Piepho / Walters / Bagwell
Albany 17 32 .347 20 E.D. Alexander / Walter Snodgrass
Americus Pallbearers ### 13 32 .289 22 Harry Powell / Coniff / James Whalen

# Columbus moved to Brunswick June 25.
## Valdosta disbanded July 4.
### Americus disbanded July 7.
Playoff: Waycross 3 games, Brunswick 1.
The League disbanded July 9.

Cities Represented[edit]

1914[edit]

Teams & Stats[edit]

1914[edit]

President: I. J. Kalmon

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Cordele Ramblers 57 44 .564 - Ed Reagan
Americus Muckalees 57 47 .548 1.5 Dave Gaston
Thomasville Hornets 53 50 .515 5 Martin Dudley
Brunswick Pilots 53 51 .510 5.5 Morse / Kite / Bitting / Jordan
Waycross Grasshoppers 53 53 .500 6.5 Wild Bill Clark / Jack Coveney
Valdosta Millionaires 41 69 .410 20.5 Joe Herold Frank Moffett

Playoff: Americus 4 games, Thomasville 0.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Will Bankston Cordele BA .359
Will Bankston Cordele Hits 144
Walt Brouthers Cordele Runs 87
Will Bankston Cordele HR 31

Cordele had the best record overall, but in the playoffs second half winner Americus beat first half winner Thomasville 4 games to 0.

Cities Represented[edit]

1920-1921[edit]

Cedartown launched the careers of two minor league stars - Ike Boone in 1920, and Ollie Tucker in 1921. Both led the league in BA, R, H, and HR.

Teams & Stats[edit]

1920-1921[edit]

1920
President: J. P. Nichols, Jr.

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Carrollton 53 39 .576 - ___?___ June 20 Charles Bell
Rome 50 40 .555 2 Tim Bowden
Lindale Pepperels 47 43 .522 5 Hardin Herndon
Cedartown Cedars 44 48 .478 9 D. Jones
Griffin 42 52 .447 12 Tighe Garrett
La Grange 39 53 .424 14 Red Smith / J. Culpepper
Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ike Boone Cedartown BA .403 Earl Johnson Carrollton W 20
Ike Boone Cedartown Hits 117
Ike Boone Cedartown Runs 63
Ike Boone Cedartown HR 10


1921 - schedule
President: H. P. Meikleham

Team Standings W L PCT GB Managers
Lindale Pepperells 69 29 .704 - Hardin Herndon
Griffin 53 48 .525 17.5 Harry Matthews
La Grange 52 49 .515 18.5 Fred Hager
Cedartown Cedars 52 49 .515 18.5 Bill Schwartz (schwabi02)
Rome 50 49 .505 19.5 Jim Fox
Carrolton 24 76 .240 46 Cy Hawkins / Jule Warren

Playoff: La Grange 4 games, Lindale 1.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ollie Tucker Cedartown BA .434
Ollie Tucker Cedartown Hits 146
Ollie Tucker Cedartown Runs 76
Ollie Tucker Cedartown HR 22

Cities Represented[edit]

1948-1956[edit]

Teams & Stats[edit]

1948-1956[edit]

1948
President: Joseph W. Matt, Jr.

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Sparta Saints 81 37 .686 - 27,191 Woodrow Bottoms
Baxley Red Sox 66 54 .550 16 24,901 Bud Metheny
Fitzgerald Pioneers 65 55 .542 17 44,877 Bill Good
Eastman Dodgers 58 61 .487 23.5 43,891 Charles Farrar /John Pare
Vidalia-Lyons Twins 54 66 .446 28 31,580 Merritt Cain / Truman Connell
Douglas Rebels 34 85 .292 47.5 34,709 Bill Barnes / John Humphries / Emil Ray

Playoffs: Sparta 3 games, Eastman 2; Fitzgerald 3 games, Baxley 1;
Finals: Fitzgerald 4 games, Sparta, 3

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Woodrow Bottoms Sparta BA .375 Paul Brock Sparta W 21
Charles Ridgeway Fitzgerald Runs 106 Paul Brock Sparta SO 270
Truman Connell Vidalia-Lyons Hits 146 Jim Harden Eastman ERA 1.36
Alan Swygert Sparta RBI 88
Truman Connell Vidalia-Lyons HR 11


1949
President: Joseph W. Matt Jr.

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Eastman Dodgers 86 51 .628 - 43,691 Edgar Hartness
Douglas Trojans 77 62 .554 10 45,403 David Coble
Tifton Blue Sox 74 63 .540 12 53,846 Charles Farrar
Vidalia-Lyons Twins 72 65 .526 14 45,463 Michael Rossi / Julian Morgan / Santomauro
Sparta Saints 69 68 .504 17 33,436 Woodrow Bottoms / J. B. Ruark
Dublin Green Sox 63 75 .457 23.5 62,049 Bill Phebus / Bill Davis (minors) / Chambers
Baxley-Hazlehurst 57 81 .413 29.5 29,257 Mike Milosevich / Ray Baker
Fitzgerald Pioneers 52 85 .386 34 38,736 Bill Good / Charles DiCola / John Pawlick

Playoffs: Vidalia-Lyons 3 games, Eastman 2; Tifton 3 games, Douglas 2;
Finals: Tifton 4 games, Vidalia-Lyons 2

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
James Stoyle Sparta BA .400 Mike Rossi Vidalia-Lyons W 25
James Martin Douglas Runs 130 Noel Oquendo Fitzgerald SO 224
James Stoyle Sparta Hits 191 Jim Harden Eastman ERA 2.61
Edgar Hartness Eastman RBI 136
Ralph Burgamy Eastman/Dublin HR 28


1950
President: Earl Blue

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Dublin Green Sox 84 56 .600 - 50,160 Wissman / Ruark / Seal
Douglas Trojans 78 60 .565 5 32,590 David Coble / Fred Tschudin
Eastman Dodgers 79 61 .564 5 35,000 Edgar Hartness
Fitzgerald Pioneers 73 66 .525 10.5 42,227 Ray Harrell
Jesup Bees 69 69 .500 14 23,893 Herb Stein
Tifton Blue Sox 69 70 .496 14.5 54,784 William Barnes / David Coble
Vidalia-Lyons Twins 56 83 .403 29.5 30,350 Mike Kreshka / James Smith
Baxley-Hazlehurst Red Sox 48 91 .345 35.5 25,000 Bill Enos

Playoffs: Dublin 3 games, Fitzgerald 2; Eastman 3 games, Douglas 1;
Finals: Eastman 4 games, Dublin 3

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Edgar Hartness Eastman BA .400 Charles Smalley Dublin W 23
Edgar Hartness Eastman Runs 137 Charles Smalley Dublin SO 237
Edgar Hartness Eastman Hits 201 Charles Smalley Dublin ERA 2.46
Edgar Hartness Eastman RBI 134
Parnell Ruark Dublin HR 39


1951
President: J.T. Morris
Vice President: J.Z. Hargrove
Salary Limit: $2600.00 Per Month
Player Rule: Each club was allowed a roster of 17 players, not more than 4 veterans, not more than 9 limited service, and not less than 4 rookies. Player limit effective 20 days after the opening of season and 20 days before close of season.
Umpires: Joseph T. Briaca, Richard F. Leonard, Nicholas J. Mangieri, James M. Wells, Marvin E. Whitley, Stephen Summerhill.

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Jesup Bees 86 43 .667 - 23,931 James Stoyle
Dublin Green Sox 78 50 .609 7.5 40,166 Parnell Ruark / William Kushta
Eastman Dodgers 76 54 .585 10.5 22,736 Pep Rambert
Douglas Trojans 62 68 .477 24.5 21,839 Lefty Guise
Hazlehurst-Baxley Red Sox 52 77 .403 34 24,120 William Kushta / Al Faehr
Fitzgerald Pioneers 34 96 .262 52.5 26,247 Duncan / McGhee / Ruark / Ridgeway

Playoffs: Eastman 4 games, Dublin 2; Douglas 4 games, Jesup 0;
Finals: Dublin 4 games, Eastman 3

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Alvin Jenkins Jesup BA .376 Don Rudolph Jesup W 28
Alvin Jenkins Jesup Runs 135 Don Rudolph Jesup SO 148
Alvin Jenkins Jesup Hits 207 Lefty Guise Douglas ERA 2.16
Parnell Ruark Dublin RBI 140
Parnell Ruark Dublin HR 32


1952
President: Bill Estroff
Vice President: Claude Cook
Secretary: Frank Johnson
Salary Limit: $2600.00 Per Month
Player Rule: Each club was allowed a roster of 16 players, not more than 3 veterans, not more than 5 limited service, and not less than 8 rookies. Player limit effective 20 days after the opening of the season and 20 days before close of season.
Umpires: James R. Lathrop, Raymond F. Brackett, Calvin T. Drummond, Francis M. Terres, Robert J. Kerrigan, William S. Haines Jr., Nick F. Reff, Ed Kubrick.

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Eastman Dodgers 75 49 .605 - 32,600 Robert Reid
Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals 72 52 .581 3 27,586 Arnold Riesgo
Vidalia Indians 66 58 .532 9 37,485 Bull Hamons
Douglas Trojans 64 61 .512 11.5 27,532 Van Davis
Statesboro Pilots 59 65 .476 16 32,146 Charles Quimby
Fitzgerald Pioneers 56 70 .444 20 33,172 Ace Adams / Charles Ridgeway
Dublin Green Sox 55 71 .437 21 34,434 Pfeifer / Hearn / Bearden
Jesup Bees 52 73 .416 23.5 16,657 James Stoyle / Jim Warren

Playoffs: Douglas 4 games, Eastman 2; Vidalia 4 games, Hazlehurst-Baxley 2;
Finals: Vidalia 4 games, Douglas 2

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jim Beavers Hazle-Baxley BA .363 Noel Oquendo Dublin W 20
Jim Beavers Hazle-Baxley Runs 119 Walter Bauman Hazle-Baxley W 20
Jim Beavers Hazle-Baxley Hits 191 Noel Oquendo Dublin SO 245
James Burns Vidalia RBI 155 James Harp Eastman ERA 2.40
Charles Quimby Statesboro HR 31


1953
League Office: Sylvania, GA
President: Bill Estroff
Vice President: C.B. McAllister
Secretary: Charlie Odom
Salary Limit: $2600.00 Per Month
Player Rule: Each club was allowed a roster of 16 players, not more than 3 veterans, not more than 5 limited service, and not less than 8 rookies.
Umpires: Calvin T. Drummond, Francis M Terres, Michael Angelo Genevrino, BW King, Jr. , Nickey Mann, Theodore Max Howe, Raymond T. Young, George P. Kelly, Joseph T. Vanak.

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Hazlehurst-Baxley 84 41 .672 - 19,101 Arnold Riesgo
Jesup Bees 78 46 .629 5.5 20,629 Bill Steinecke
Eastman Dodgers 77 49 .611 7.5 29,232 Robert Reid
Douglas Trojans 76 50 .603 8.5 26,613 Charles Bledsoe
Statesboro Pilots 49 77 .389 35.5 38,431 Red Thrasher / Jack Hines
Sandersville Wacos 48 77 .384 36 33,895 Grant / Ruark / Morgan / Morgan
Dublin Irish 47 78 .376 37 25,394 John George / Frank Oceak
Vidalia Indians 41 82 .333 42 28,665 Bull Hamons / Jake Daniel / Donald Cross

Playoffs: Hazlehurst-Baxley 4 games, Douglas 1; Eastman 4 games, Jesup 0;
Finals: Hazlehurst-Baxley 4 games, Eastman 3

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Parnell Ruark Sanders/Dub BA .372 Fred Huthmaker Hazle/Baxley W 19
Bob Zuccarini Hazle-Baxley Runs 131 Charles Ready Jesup SO 161
James Sosebee Jesup Hits 186 Carlo Lopez Statesboro ERA 2.37
Van Davis Douglas RBI 159
Van Davis Douglas HR 44


1954
President: Bill Estroff

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Vidalia Indians 85 44 .659 - 53,334 James Beavers
Douglas Trojans 85 45 .654 .5 35,589 Charles Bledsoe
Dublin Irish 82 48 .631 3.5 57,945 George Kinnamon
Statesboro Pilots 57 73 .438 28.5 18,532 Jack Hines
Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals 47 82 .364 38 18,121 Arnold Riesgo / Bill McGhee
Sandersville Wacos 33 97 .254 52.5 25,600 Stan West / David Madison

Playoffs: Vandalia 4 games, Statesboro 2; Douglas 4 games, Dublin 3;
Finals: Vandalia 4 games, Douglas 0

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Belasco Bossard Douglas BA .360 Phil Gilbert Vidalia W 22
Sam Buell Dublin Runs 150 Jimmie Highland Hazle/Bax SO 247
Drew Gilbert Douglas Hits 173 Phil Gilbert Vidalia ERA 2.23
Van Davis Douglas RBI 135
Van Davis Douglas HR 31


1955
President: W. H. Lovett

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Douglas Trojans 62 46 .574 - 32,925 Bob Wellman
Sandersville Giants 56 51 .523 5.5 31,005 Pete Pavlick
Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals 57 53 .518 6 10,397 Sam Goodsoozian
Vidalia Indians 56 54 .509 7 24,251 Ed Levy
Dublin Irish 49 61 .445 14 16,997 George Kinnamon
Statesboro Pilots # 25 40 .385 NA 8,750 James Sosebee / Gerald Peters

# Statesboro withdrew July 1.
Playoffs: Douglas 3 games, Vidalia 1; Sandersville 3 games, Hazlehurst-Baxley 1;
Finals: Douglas 3 games, Sandersville 3; Rain forced postponement of the series and the teams were declared co-champions.

Player Statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Jack Elias Sandersville BA .332 Leo Quatro Sandersville W 15
Felix Torres Douglas Runs 101 Victor Davis Sandersville SO 189
Bob Wilson Vidalia Hits 132 Richard Welage Douglas ERA 2.36
Willie McCovey Sandersville RBI 113
Bob Wellman Douglas HR 21


1956
President: Oswald Hadden

Team Standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Douglas Reds 77 43 .642 - 32,316 Johnny Vander Meer
Sandersville Giants 70 50 .583 7 31,287 Pete Pavlick
Vidalia Indians 63 57 .525 14 17,273 Mark Wylie
Thomson Orioles 61 59 .508 16 40,849 Lloyd Brown / Fred Hofmann / Enid Drake
Hazlehurst-Baxley Tigers 49 71 .408 28 9,565 Wayne Wallace / Stanley Wasiak
Dublin Irish 40 80 .333 37 20,577 Robert Clark / Caldwell / Wallace

Playoffs: Douglas 3 games, Vidalia 2; Sandersville 3 games, Thomson 2;
Finals: Douglas 3 games, Sandersville 1

Player StatisticsAl Milley||Sandersville||HR||21||||||||||
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Frank Reveira Sandersville BA .332 Gilbert Bassetti Sandersville W 21
Pete Pavlick Sandersville Runs 95 Dick Stigman Vidalia SO 263
Daniel Almeida Vidalia Hits 145 Dick Stigman Vidalia ERA 1.44
Al Milley Sandersville RBI 103
Dan Sarver Sandersville Runs 95

League Records 1948-1956[edit]

Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Mike Milosevich Tifton G 147 49 Jack Collins Sparta AB 627 49
Jim Stoyle Sparta BA .400 49 Edgar Hartness Eastman BA .400 50
Sam Buell Dublin R 150 54 Alvin Jenkins Jesup H 207 51
Van Davis Douglas RBI 159 53 Edgar Hartness Eastman 2B 48 50
Ted Paterson Sparta 3B 24 49 Van Davis Douglas HR 45 53
Edgar Hartness Eastman TB 331 50 Jerome Silverman Vidalia/Lyons SAC 23 49
Charles Ridgeway Fitzgerald SB 80 48 Robert Reid Eastman BB 165 53
Sam Buell Dublin SO 152 54


Pitching
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Cecil Hutson Jesup GA 75 53 Mike Rossi Vidalia/Lyons CG 32 49
Don Rudolph Jesup WINS 28 51 Raul Villamea Dublin L 20 52
Jim Harden Eastman PCT .929 13-1 48 Jim Harden Eastman ERA 1.36 48
Mike Rossi Vidalia/Lyons IP 325 49 Paul Brock Sparta ShO 9 49
Paul Brock Sparta SO 270 48 Ralph Hisey Dublin/East BB 187 49

Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]

Source[edit]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition


Further Reading[edit]

  • Matt Monagan: "The youngest ballplayer ever was HOW old? A 12-year-old moved up from batboy and also integrated the Georgia State League", mlb.com, February 9, 2021. [1]
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