Rio Grande Valley League

The Rio Grande Valley League was established in 1931 as a four-team class D circuit, operating just one season. On June 5 the Corpus Christi club moved to La Feria, TX, although the team played its home games in nearby Harlingen, TX. The circuit ceased operations on July 29th.

Eighteen years later it was restablished with six teams. On June 5 the Donna Cardinals moved to Robstown, TX. It expanded to eight clubs in 1950 and upgraded to class C. On May 4, the Donna-Weslaco Twins disbanded and on May 13, the Robstown Rebels disbanded. It was gone by 1951.

Cities Represented

1931

• Corpus Christi, TX: Corpus Christi Seahawks 1931
• Harlingen, TX: Harlingen Ladds 1931
• La Feria, TX: La Feria Nighthawks 1931
• McAllen, TX: McAllen Palms 1931
• San Benito, TX: San Benito Saints 1931

Teams and Statistics

1931-D

1931 Rio Grande Valley League - schedule
Presidents: George P. Blevins / C.F.C. Ladd

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
McAllen Palms	55	37	.598	-	Tex Covington
Corpus Christi / La Feria Nighthawks #	49	46	.516	7.5	Pat Withers / Ray Pipken
Harlingen Ladds	43	49	.467	12	Paul Trammel
San Benito Saints	40	55	.421	16.5	Bishop Clements / Elgar Waitman

# Corpus Christi (20-23) moved to La Feria June 5, first home game June 10. La Feria played its home games at Harlingen.
The league disbanded July 30.
Playoff: McAllen 3 games, La Feria 0.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Johnny Rizzo	Corpus/La Feria	BA	.385		Adrian Johnson	Harlingen	W	14
Frank Denson	McAllen	Runs	99		Adrian Johnson	Harlingen	SO	148
Frank Denson	McAllen	Hits	109		Horace Hardy	McAllen	Pct	.786; 11-3
Harry Bonds	McAllen	HR	8
Frank Denson	McAllen	SB	70

Cities Represented

1949-1950

• Brownsville, TX: Brownsville Charros 1949-1950
• Corpus Christi, TX: Corpus Christi Aces 1949-1950
• Del Rio, TX: Del Rio Cowboys 1949-1950
• Donna, TX: Donna Cardinals 1949
• Donna-Weslaco, TX: Donna-Weslaco Twins 1950
• Harlingen, TX: Harlingen Capitols 1950
• Laredo, TX: Laredo Apaches 1949-1950
• McAllen, TX: McAllen Giants 1949-1950
• Robstown, TX: Robstown Cardinals 1949; Robstown Rebels 1950

Teams and Statistics

1949-D

1949 Rio Grande Valley League - schedule
President: William R. Byrd

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Corpus Christi Aces	89	51	.686	-	97,192	William Gann
Laredo Apaches	80	60	.571	9	47,857	William Cearley / Ishmael Montalvo
Brownsville Charros	75	65	.536	14	51,416	Joseph King
McAllen Giants	70	68	.507	18	22,598	Frank Matthews / Philip Kuykendall
Del Rio Cowboys	58	80	.420	30	32,323	Boyd SoRelle
Donna / Robstown #	45	93	.326	43	19,753	Russell Frisch / Charlie Engle / Mimi Cavazos

# Donna moved to Robstown June 6.
Playoffs: Corpus Christi 4 games, McAllen 0; Brownsville 4 games, Laredo 2.
Finals: Corpus Christi 4 games, Brownsville 0.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Joseph King	Brownsville	BA	.354		Gilberto Garza	Laredo	W	21
Lloyd Pearson	Corpus Christi	Runs	140		Edward Arthur	McAllen	SO	178
Bernard Pardue	Corpus Christi	Hits	205		Robert Wiltse	Brownsville	ERA	2.08
Don Petschow	Brownsville	RBI	146		Harold Jackson	McAllen	PCT	.741 20-7
Don Petschow	Brownsville	HR	28

1950-C

1950 Rio Grande Valley League - schedule
President: William R. Byrd /Kelly Nemeck

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Harlingen Capitols	86	62	.581	-	80,001	Sam Harshaney
Laredo Apaches	84	62	.575	1	57,948	Leo Najo / Jack Smith / Manuel Salvatierra
Corpus Christi Aces	79	64	.552	4.5	68,313	Red Davis
Brownsville Charros	80	67	.544	5.5	56,146	Joseph King
Del Rio Cowboys	76	69	.524	8.5	30,568	Robert Hamric
McAllen Giants	42	102	.292	42	32,473	Boyd SoRelle / Philip Kuykendall
Robstown Rebels #	13	18	.419	NA	6,637	Fabian Kowalik
Donna-Weslaco Twins ##	4	20	.167	NA	3,008	Baldy Quinn

## Donna-Weslaco disbanded May 4.
# Robstown disbanded May 13.
Playoffs: Harlingen 4 games, Brownsville 2; Corpus Christi 4 games, Laredo 1.
Finals: Corpus Christi 4 games, Harlingen 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Lloyd Pearson	Corpus Christi	BA	.383		Dick Midkiff	Del Rio	W	22
Joe Koppe	Corpus Christi	Runs	181		William Guthrie	Harlingen	SO	195
Lloyd Pearson	Corpus Christi	Hits	207		Dick Midkiff	Del Rio	ERA	3.77
Jesse McClain	Harlingen	Hits	207		Dick Midkiff	Del Rio	PCT	.733 22-8
Jesse McClain	Harlingen	RBI	173
Jesse McClain	Harlingen	HR	53

League Records 1910-1950

Batting
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Jake McClain	Harlingen	GA	147	50		Ted Squillante	Harlingen	GA	147	50
Johnny Rizzo	Corpus/La Feria	BA	.385	31		Manuel Cavazos	Robs/McAllen	AB	617	50
Bernard Pardue	Corpus Christi	AB	617	49		Joe Koppe	Corpus Christi	Runs	181	50
Steve K. Carter	Harlingen	Hits	207	38		Lloyd Pearson	Corpus Christi	Hits	207	50
Jake McClain	Harlingen	Hits	207	50		Jake McClain	Harlingen	RBI	173	50
Herbert Fash	Taft	2B	54	38		John Scolinas	Corpus Christi	3B	21	38
Jake McClain	Harlingen	HR	53	50		Jake McClain	Harlingen	TB	410	50
Leo Najo	McAllen	Sac	22	38		J.P. Sheffield	Victoria	SB	94	10
Walter Graham	Laredo	BB	161	50		Lewis Hull	McAllen	SO	132	49

Pitching
Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr		Player	Team	Stat	Tot	Yr
Simon Luna	McAllen/Laredo	GA	52	50		Eugene Hinrichs	Harlingen	CG	31	38
Eugene Hinrichs	Harlingen	W	27	38		Edwardo Beltran	Robstown	L	17	49
Miguel Martin	Browns/Robs	L	17	49		Roy Morton (17-3)	Brownsville	Pct	.850	10
Tom Finger	Corpus Christi	ERA	2.75	38		Eugene Hinrichs	Harlingen	IP	310	38
Charles Kelsey	Harlin/McAllen	BB	228	50		Eugene Hinrichs	Harlingen	SO	223	38

See the Southwest Texas League for 1910-11
See the Texas Valley League for 1927-28 & 1938

Source

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