Longview Pirates

• Location: Longview, TX
• League: Big State League 1953
• Affiliation: Pittsburgh Pirates 1953
• Ballpark:

The Longview Pirates were the last minor league team located in Longview, TX (through 2007). They only came about because a tornado destroyed Katy Park, home of the Waco Pirates, while leaving a trail of death devastation in Waco, TX on May 11, 1953. The team was forced to relocate and played out the remainder of the season in Longview. They finished 4th in the league, 9 games out, and were swept by the Wichita Falls Spudders in 4 games in the playoffs. They drew 32,646 fans, 5th in the Big State League. They scored 752 runs, third-most in the circuit, while allowing 690, the 5th-most. The City of Waco rebuilt its ballpark, and the Pirates returned to play there in 1954.

Among the notable names were Fred Green (13-8, 3.24, 107 BB, 169 K in 203 IP), who led the league in strikeouts, and Dick Hall (.246/~.314/.384), then an outfielder and second baseman. Salon de la Fama member Oscar Rodriguez hit .322/~.379/.402 in 29 games. OF Jacques Monette (.314/~.388/.532, 20 HR, 108 R, 95 RBI) led the league with 14 triples and was the team's top hitter. Ramon Salgado (10-4, 1.71) was their top hurler.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs	Notes
1953	61-51 (77-68 overall)	4th	Buster Chatham	Lost in 1st round	Waco moved to Longview on May 22

Source: 1954 Baseball Guide

Further Reading

• Sam Zygner: "Remembering the 1954 Waco Pirates and the Mejias Streak", The Baseball Research Journal, Vol. 43, number 2, Fall 2014, pp. 46-54.