| Cleveland A's | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class C (1935) Class D (1936) |
| League | East Dixie League (1935) Cotton States League (1936) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | Philadelphia Athletics (1936) |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Wild card berths (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Cleveland Bengals (1935) Cleveland A's (1935) |
| Ballpark | Boyle Park (1935–1936) |
The Cleveland A's (or the interchangeable "Athletics") were a minor league baseball team based in Cleveland, Mississippi. In 1935, the Cleveland "Bengals" played a partial season as members of the Class C level East Dixie League. After the East Dixie League folded, the A's joined the 1936 Class D level Cotton States League, as a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics. Cleveland hosted home minor league games exclusively at Boyle Park.
Cleveland, Mississippi first hosted minor league baseball in 1935, when the Cleveland Bengals played briefly as members of the eight–team Class C level East Dixie League. [1] On June 18, 1935, the Columbus Bengals moved to Cleveland, Mississippi with a record of 36–41 at the time of the move. After compiling a 28–32 record while based in Cleveland, the team placed sixth in the final standings with an overall record of 64–73, playing the season under manager Henry "Slim" Brewer. The Columbus/Cleveland Bengals finished 19.5 games behind the first place Pine Bluff Judges in the final standings. The East Dixie League permanently folded following the 1935 season and Cleveland continued minor league play in a new league. [2] [3] [4]
In 1936, Cleveland continued minor league play, when the A's became members of the eight–team Class D level Cotton States League, playing as a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics and adopting the nickname. The Clarksdale Ginners, El Dorado Lions, Greenville Bucks, Greenwood Giants, Helena Seaporters, Jackson Senators and Pine Bluff Judges joined Cleveland in beginning league play on April 22, 1936. [5]
The A's ended the 1936 regular season in seventh place in the Cotton States League. [6] With Henry Brewer returning as manager, Cleveland ended the season with a 57–80 record and finished 20.5 games behind the first place Greenwood Chiefs in the final Cotton States League standings. The A's were also managed for part of the season by Mays Copeland and did not qualify for the post season playoffs won by El Dorado. [7] [4]
After drawing 8,600 total fans in 1935, the Cleveland franchise did not return to play in the 1837 Cotton States league [8] Cleveland, Mississippi has not hosted another minor league team. [9]
Cleveland hosted minor league home games at Boyle Park. The ballpark had dimensions of (Left, Center, Right): 375–500–375. [10]
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Affiliate | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 1 | Cleveland Bengals | Class C | East Dixie League | None | Boyle Park |
| 1936 | 1 | Cleveland A's | Class D | Cotton States League | Philadelphia Athletics |
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 64–73 | 6th | Henry Brewer | Columbus (36–41) moved to Cleveland June 18 |
| 1936 | 57–80 | 7th | Henry Brewer / Mays Copeland | Did not qualify |
Fred "Pap" Williams, also listed as Pappy Williams in contemporary reports and Papa Williams in secondary sources, was a professional baseball first baseman and manager whose career spanned from 1935 to 1955. In 1945, Williams made 16 appearances for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. He totaled four hits in 19 at-bats, with one walk. Williams batted and threw right-handed.
The Clarksdale Planters are a defunct minor league baseball team that was based in Clarksdale, Mississippi. They played under different names over their 13 nonconsecutive seasons, including the Ginners, the Red Sox (1937–1940), and finally the Planters (1947–1951). The team started out in the East Dixie League from 1934 to 1935, and later joined the Cotton States League from 1937 to 1941, and 1947 to 1951. Clarksdale ceased to have a team for five seasons (1942–1946). However, the team returned in 1947 under the Planters name. The team was classified as a Class-C team for all of their 13 years. Clarksdale was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians for one season (1936), and the Boston Red Sox for two seasons (1938–1939).
The East Dixie League was an American professional minor league baseball league that operated for two seasons from 1934 to 1935 as a Class C level league.
The Rock Island Islanders was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Rock Island, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities, between 1892 and 1937. Rock Island teams played as members of the Illinois–Iowa League (1892), Western Association (1894), Eastern Iowa League (1895), Western Association (1898–1899), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1911), Central Association (1914), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, Mississippi Valley League (1922–1933) and Western League (1934–1937).
The Pine Bluff Judges were a minor league baseball team, based in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They existed between 1930 and 1955 and were primarily an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles playing in the Cotton States League.
The Pensacola Snappers were a minor league baseball team based in Pensacola, Florida. In 1913, the Snappers played as members of the Class D level Cotton States League, finishing second in the league standings before the league folded following the season. Pensacola played minor league home games at Maxent Park, which had hosted major league spring training in 1913.
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The Vicksburg Hill Billies was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Vicksburg, Mississippi between 1893 and 1955. Vicksburg teams played as a member of the Mississippi State League (1893–1894), Cotton States League, Southeastern League (1946–1950) and Cotton States League (1955).
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The Yazoo City Zoos were a minor league baseball team based in Yazoo City, Mississippi between 1904 and 1912. The Yazoo City Zoos played as members of the Delta League in 1904 and the Cotton States League from 1910 to 1912.
The Laurel Cardinals was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Laurel, Mississippi. From 1923 to 1929, Laurel teams played exclusively as a member of the Cotton States League, hosting home games at Kamper Park. The Laurel Cardinals were minor league affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1928 and 1929, having first played as the Laurel "Lumberjacks."
The Gulfport Tarpons were a minor league baseball team based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Gulfport teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Cotton States League. The Gulfport "Crabs" teams played in the league from 1906 to 1908, with the Tarpons playing from 1926 to 1928. The Tarpons hosted home minor league games at the Fair Grounds.
The Brookhaven Truckers were a minor league baseball team based in Brookhaven, Mississippi. After the Brookhaven team played as a member of the 1904 Class D level Delta League, the Truckers were a member of the Class D level Cotton States League in 1924 and 1925, hosting home games at the High School Park.
The Columbus Discoverers were a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Mississippi. Between 1907 and 1935, the Columbus Discoverers and "Joy Riders" teams played as members of the Cotton States League from 1907 to 1908 and 1912 to 1913, before the 1935 Columbus "Bengals" played a partial season in the East Dixie League. Columbus hosted home minor league games exclusively at Fairgrounds Park.
Minor league baseball teams were based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in various seasons between 1902 and 2003. The Baton Rouge minor league teams played as members of the Cotton States League, Dixie League (1933), East Dixie League (1934), Evangeline League (1946–1957), Gulf States League (1976), All-American Association (2001) and Southeastern League (2002–2003).
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