Leesville Angels

Last updated
Leesville Angels
Minor league affiliations
Class Class C (1950)
League Gulf Coast League (1950)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (1)1950
Team data
NameLeesville Angels (1950)
BallparkLeesville City Park (1950)

The Leesville Angels were a minor league baseball franchise based in Leesville, Louisiana. In 1950, the Angels played a partial season as members of the Class C level Gulf Coast League after the Lufkin Angles franchise relocated to Leesville during the season. The Angels qualified for the Gulf Coast League playoffs. Leesville hosted minor league home games at the Leesville City Park.

Contents

History

Minor league baseball began in Leesville, Louisiana in 1950. The Lufkin Angels, based in Lufkin, Texas began play as members of the six–team Class C level Gulf Coast League. [1] The Crowley Millers, Galveston White Caps, Jacksonville Jax, Lake Charles Lakers and Port Arthur Seahawks teams joined the Angels in beginning league play on April 2, 1950. [2] [3]

During the season, on July 15, 1950, the Lufkin Angels, with a record of 43–51 moved to Leesville. [4] [5] Citing poor attendance at Lufkin home games as the reason for moving, the Lufkin Angels had also explored moving the team to Orange, Texas, before ultimately deciding instead on the move to Leesville. [6]

After the move to Leesville, the team compiled a record of 32–19 and ended the Gulf Coast League regular season in fourth place, which qualified the Angels for the four-team playoffs. [4] With a 75–70 overall record in 1950, playing under manager Carl Carter, the Angels finished 14.5 games behind the first place Crowley Millers in the final regular season standings. [5] [3] In the first round of the playoffs, Crowley defeated Leesville 4 games to 2, ending the Angels' season. [5] [4]

Angels pitcher Vallie Eaves had a 26–10 record in 1950, throwing 297 innings for Lufkin/Leesville at age 38. [7]

The Leesville franchise did not return to the Gulf Coast League in 1951, as the league expanded to eight teams and was elevated to a Class B level league. Five new teams joined the returning Galveston, Lake Charles and Port Arthur franchises. [5] [8] Leesville, Louisiana has not hosted another minor league team. [9]

The ballpark

Leesville hosted minor league home games at the Leesville City Park. The ballpark was located on the Shreveport Highway in Leesville. [10] Today, Leesville Municipal Park is still in use as a public park. It is located at 350 Country Club Road in Leesville. [11] [12]

Year–by–year record

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
195075–704thCarl CarterLufkin (43–51) moved to Leesville July 15
Lost in first round

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Complex League</span> American minor baseball league

The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the lowest rung on the North American minor-league ladder.

The Lufkin Foresters were a minor league baseball team based in Lufkin, Texas that played in the East Texas League in 1946 and in the Lone Star League in 1947 and 1948.

The Corpus Christi Clippers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Corpus Christi, Texas between 1910 and 1959. Corpus Christi teams played as members of the Southwest Texas League (1910–1911), Gulf Coast League (1926), Texas Valley League (1927–1928), Rio Grande Valley League (1931), Texas Valley League (1938), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950), Gulf Coast League (1951–1953), Big State League (1954–1957), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950) and Texas League (1958–1959).

The Texas City Texans were a minor league baseball team based in Texas City, Texas. Between 1951 and 1977, Texas City teams played as members of the Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953, Evangeline League in 1954, Big State League in 1955 and 1956 and the Lone Star League in 1977. Texas City won the 1953 league championship and hosted all minor league home games at Texan Park.

The Midland Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas. Between 1937 and 1959, Midland teams played as members of West Texas-New Mexico League (1937–1940), Longhorn League (1947–1955), Southwestern League (1956–1957) and Sophomore League (1958–1959), while hosting minor league games at City Park and then Christensen Stadium. Midland teams played as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals (1937–1938), Milwaukee Braves (1958–1959) and Washington Senators (1957).

The Opelousas Indians was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Opelousas, Louisiana. Between 1907 and 1941, Opelousas teams played as members of the Class D level 1907 Gulf Coast League, 1932 Cotton States League, playing that season known as the "Orphans" and Evangeline League from 1934 to 1941. The Indians won the 1937 league championship. Opelousas hosted minor league home games at Elementary School Park. The Opelousas Indians were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1935 to 1937 and in 1939.

The Hammond Berries were a minor league baseball franchise based in Hammond, Louisiana. From 1946 to 1951, the Berries played exclusively as members of the Evangeline League and captured Evangeline League championships in 1947, 1949 and 1951. The Hammond Berries played home minor league games at Berry Stadium, located on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University.

The Houma Indians was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Houma, Louisiana between 1940 and 1952. Houma teams played as exclusively as members of the Evangeline League. The Houma Indians won the 1946 and 1948 Evangeline League Championships. In 1946, four Houma players were implicated in a baseball gambling scandal.

The Statesville Owls were a minor league baseball team located in Statesville, North Carolina. Statesville minor league teams played a member of the North Carolina Association (1900), Tar Heel League (1939–1940), North Carolina State League,, Tar Heel League (1953), Western Carolina League (1960–1962) and Western Carolinas League, winning three league championships.

The Minot Mallards were a minor league baseball team based in Minot, North Dakota. Earlier Minot teams preceded the Mallards and played as members of the 1917 Northern League and 1923 North Dakota League. Beginning play in 1950, the Mallards played as members of the Manitoba-Dakota League (1950–1957), Northern League and Prairie League (1995–1997), winning seven league championships in their history. The Mallards hosted minor league home games at Corbett Field and were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1958 to 1960 and Kansas City Athletics in 1962.

The Edinburg Bobcats were a minor league baseball franchise based in Edinburg, Texas. In 1926 and 1927, the Bobcats played as members of two Class D level leagues. Edinburg played a partial season in the Gulf Coast League in 1926, winning the league championship and in the 1927 Texas Valley League. The Edinburg Bobcats hosted home minor league home games exclusively at the Edinburg High School Field.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Lafayette, Louisiana between 1907 and 2000. Lafayette teams played as members of the 1907 Gulf Coast League 1920 Louisiana State League and Evangeline League. Lafayette teams won four league championships and one pennant in the era. The early Lafayette teams preceded the 1975 and 1976 Lafayette Drillers, who played as members of the Texas League and the 1998 to 2000 Bayou Bullfrogs of the Texas-Louisiana League.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Lake Charles, Louisiana in various seasons between 1906 and 1957. Lake Charles teams played as members of the South Texas League (1906), Gulf Coast League (1907–1908), Cotton States League (1929–1930), Evangeline League (1934–1942), Gulf Coast League (1950–1953) and Evangeline League (1954–1957). Lake Charles teams won three league championships and two league pennants.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Roswell, New Mexico, in various seasons between 1923 and 1959, before resuming play in 2011. Roswell teams played as members of the Panhandle-Pecos Valley League in 1923, West Texas–New Mexico League in 1937, Longhorn League from 1949 to 1955, Southwestern League in 1956, Sophomore League in 1959 and Pecos League from 2011 to present. The 1959 Roswell Pirates were a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rosewll hosted home games at League Park in 1937 and Fair Park Stadium.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Galveston, Texas in various seasons between 1888 and 1955. The Galveston White Caps played as members of the Gulf Coast League from 1950 to 1953 and Big State League from 1954 to 1955. Earlier Galveston teams played ender various monikers in the Texas League between 1888 and 1937. Galveston teams won four league championships.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Harlingen, Texas in various seasons between 1931 and 2014. Harlingen teams played as members of the 1931 Rio Grande Valley League, 1938 Texas Valley League, 1950 Rio Grande Valley League, the Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953, Big State League in 1954 and 1955, Texas League in 1960 and 1961, 1976 Gulf States League and 1977 Lone Star League, winning four league championships. The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings played in various leagues between 1994 and 2014. The Harlingen minor league home ballpark was Harlingen Field.

The Alexandria White Sox were a minor league baseball franchise based in Alexandria, Louisiana. In 1907 and 1908, the White Sox played exclusively as members of the Class D level Gulf Coast League. The Gulf Coast League folded during the 1908 season.

The Alexandria Hoo Hoos were a minor league baseball team based Alexandria, Louisiana. In 1909, the Hoo Hoos played briefly as members of the Class D level Arkansas State League, before folding during the season. The Hoo Hoos were preceded by the 1908 Alexandria White Sox of the Gulf Coast League.

The Monroe Sports were a minor league baseball team based in Monroe, Louisiana. The Sports played as members of the Class C level Cotton States League from 1950 to 1955, winning the 1955 league championship. The Sports became a New York Yankees affiliate in 1955 and continued the affiliation in 1956, when the team joined the Class C level Evangeline Leaguefor one season after the Cotton States League folded. The Sports hosted home minor league games at Casino Park.

The Orange Hoo–Hoos were a minor league baseball team based in Orange, Texas. In 1907 and 1908, the Hoo–Hoos played as members of the Class D level Gulf Coast League, before the league folded during the 1908 season. Orange hosted minor league home games at Orange City Park.

References

  1. ↑ "1950 Lufkin/Leesville Angels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ↑ "1950 Gulf Coast League (GCL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. 1 2 "1950 Gulf Coast League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "1950 Lufkin/Leesville Angels minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  6. ↑ Burleigh, Dawn (November 20, 2021). "And Now You Know: Orange considered as home for a professional baseball team". Orange Leader.
  7. ↑ "Vallie Eaves Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ "1951 Gulf Coast League (GCL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ↑ "Leesville, Louisiana Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ "Leesville City Park in Leesville, LA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ↑ "Leesville Municipal Park". Vernon Parish. May 6, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Leesville Municipal Park and Splash Pad". Leesville, LA.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.