Longhorn League

Last updated

Longhorn League
Classification Class D (1947–1950)
Class C (1951–1955)
Sport Minor League Baseball
First season1947
Ceased1955
Replaced by Southwestern League
PresidentHoward Green (1947–1948)
Hal Sayles (1949–1953)
Harry A. James (1954)
J.C. Cunningham (1955)
No. of teams15
Country United States
Most titles2
Odessa Oilers
Midland Indians
Related
competitions		 Rio Grande Valley League

The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from 1947 through 1955 in the Southwestern United States. In 1956, it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through 1957 before changing its name to the Sophomore League. Joe Bauman hit 72 home runs in 1954 to set the minor league record, while playing for the Roswell Rockets.

Contents

History

The Longhorn League was a high–offense league that operated from 1947 through 1955. In 1956, it was renamed the Southwestern League. A league with only three teams ever affiliated with major league clubs, all for one year only, the league was home to veteran minor leaguers who were no longer of interest to major league teams. In two of the league's nine seasons, a Longhorn League player posted the top average in the minors – Jim Prince in 1947 and Tom Jordan in 1955. A .400 average or .700 slugging in this league was not uncommon. [1] The league is notable for Joe Bauman setting the all–time minor-league home run record in 1954 with 72 home runs. [2]

Cities represented

Championship teams

[1]

Standings and statistics

1947 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Big Spring Broncs 8148.628–43,153Pat Stasey
Midland Indians 7555.5776.534,013Harold Webb
Ballinger Cats 6862.52313.542,662Stuart Williams
Sweetwater Sports 6367.48518.531,631Rowland Murphy
Odessa Oilers 6070.46221.538,415 Howie McFarland
Vernon Dusters 4287.32639.030,758Carl Kott

Playoffs: Big Springs 4 games, Sweetwater 3; Ballinger 4 games, Midland 3.
Finals: Ballinger 4 games, Big Springs 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
James PrinceMidlandBA.429Jose CendanBig SpringW24
Orlando MorenoBig SpringRuns186 Nippy Jones BallingerSO249
Pat Stasey
Bob Cowsar		Big Spring
Sweetwater		Hits209Ernie NelsonMidlandERA3.87
Bob CowsarSweetwaterRBI176Jose CendanBig SpringPCT.828 24–5
Bob CowsarSweetwaterHR37

1948 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Big Spring Broncs 8453.613–59,503Pat Stasey
Odessa Oilers 8158.5834.061,193Bill Davis / Merle Coleman
Midland Indians 7960.5686.051,865Harold Webb
Vernon Dusters 7664.5439.550,250Lloyd Rigby
Ballinger Cats 6871.48917.034,413Bill Atwood
Sweetwater Sports 6476.45721.535,425Clarence Gann
San Angelo Colts 6377.45022.529,145Robert Martin / Alvin Leedy
Del Rio Cowboys 4298.30043.513,425John Zanet /
Bill Lacy / Sam Harshany

Playoffs: Veron 4 games, Big Spring 2; Midland 4 games, Odessa 0.
Finals: Midland 4 games, Vernon 3.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pat StaseyBig SpringBA.389Edward JacomeVernonW22
Wilfred RheingansOdessaRuns134William GannSweetwaterSO207
Roberto FernandezBig SpringHits203 Jerry Fahr VernonERA1.96
Kenneth PeacockSweetwaterRBI162Eusebio PerezBig SpringPCT.833 15–3
Kenneth PeacockSweetwaterHR34

1949 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Big Spring Broncs 9445.676–58,559Pat Stasey
Midland Indians 7466.52920.552,078Harold Webb
Vernon Dusters 7266.52221.550,386Robert Huntley
San Angelo Colts 6968.50424.083,245 Sam Harshany
Odessa Oilers 6674.47128.560,426 Alex Monchak
Ballinger Cats 6476.45730.544,815 Charlie English /
Stuart Williams / Lindsay Brown
Sweetwater Swatters 6079.43234.033,770 Dick Gyselman / Kermit Lewis
Roswell Rockets 5782.41037.043,584Bob Crues / Potsy Allen

Playoffs: Big Spring 4 games, San Angelo 0; Midland 4 games, Vernon 1; Finals: Big Spring 4 games, Midland 0.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pat StaseyBig SpringBA.376Julio RamosBig SpringW22
Alex Monchak OdessaRuns147Julio RamosBig SpringSO262
Carlos Pascual
Harry Scherting		Big Spring
Vernon		Hits188Humberto GarciaBig SpringERA1.77
Frank MorminoOdessaRBI140Julio RamosBig SpringPCT.846 22–4
Alex Monchak OdessaHR35

1950 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Odessa Oilers 9755.638–73,226 Alex Monchak
Roswell Rockets 8962.5897.582,671 Tom Jordan
Big Spring Broncs 8468.55313.049,302Pat Stasey
Vernon Dusters 8370.54214.546,099 Joe Berry
San Angelo Colts 8271.53615.597,936James McClure
Sweetwater Swatters 6884.44729.039,773 John Bottarini / Dom Chiola
Midland Indians 6687.43131.547,042Harold Webb / Ralph Blair
Ballinger Cats 39111.26057.027,902Dutch Funderburk / Larry Gilchrist

Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Vernon 1; Big Spring 4 games, Roswell 0.
Finals: Odessa 4 games, Big Spring 3.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Tom Jordan RoswellBA.391Billy RussellVernonW25
Leo EasthamOdessaRuns166Ray HillRoswellSO195
Tom Jordan RoswellHits216James McClureSan AngeloERA2.54
Tom Jordan RoswellRBI180Ray DrakeRoswellPCT.846 11–2
Tom Jordan RoswellHR44

1951 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
San Angelo Colts 9347.664–115,118Dutch Funderburk
Big Spring Broncs 8257.59010.543,370Pat Stasey
Roswell Rockets 7961.56414.065,361 Alex Monchak
Odessa Oilers 7663.54716.558,825 Jackie Sullivan / Robert Martin
Midland Indians 6970.49723.552,797Harold Webb / Zeke Bonura
Vernon Dusters 6771.48625.036,686 Joe Berry / Homer Matney
Sweetwater Swatters 4693.33146.532,430Earl Harriman / Warren Sliter /
Joe Bratcher / Julian Morgan /
Julian Pressley
Artesia Drillers 4595.32148.034,545Hayden Greer

Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, San Angelo 1; Roswell 4 games, Big Spring 2.
Finals: Odessa 4 games, Roswell 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pat StaseyBig SpringBA.387Dean FranksRoswellW30
Leo EasthamOdessaRuns157Marshall EppersonVernonSO167
John TayoanSan AngeloHits209 Mike Fornieles Big SpringERA2.85
Wilbur CearleyRoswellRBI141Ray SimsOdessaPCT.917 11–1
Wayne WallaceSan AngeloHR36

1952 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Odessa Oilers 8753.621–72,665Robert Martin
Big Spring Broncs 8654.6141.049,652Pat Stasey
Midland Indians 8555.6072.064,188 Zeke Bonura / Jay Haney
Artesia Drillers 7565.53612.042,972Earl Perry
Roswell Rockets 6575.46422.052,583 Alex Monchak
San Angelo Colts 6575.46422.076,892 Mark Christman
Sweetwater Braves 5288.37135.037,060 Alex Carrasquel / John Morris
Vernon Dusters 4595.32142.030,105Chester Fowler /
Albert Richardson / Pat McLaughlin

Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Artesia 1; Midland 4 games, Big Spring 0; Finals: Midland 4 games, Odessa 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Charles BuckSweetwaterBA.382Gilberto GuerraBig SpringW26
Leo EasthamOdessaRuns157Gilberto GuerraBig SpringSO225
Charles BuckSweetwaterHits210Israel TenMidlandERA2.51
Joe Bauman ArtesiaRBI157Keith NichollsMidlandPCT.750 24–8
Joe Bauman ArtesiaHR50

1953 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Carlsbad Potashers 8052.606–83,462 Pat McLaughlin
San Angelo Colts 7752.5971.568,146Rudy Briner
Midland Indians 7358.5576.552,035Jay Haney
Artesia Drillers 7262.5379.040,042Earl Perry / Joe Bauman
Roswell Rockets 6070.46219.035,459Pat Stasey
Odessa Oilers 5378.40526.541,931Robert Martin
Big Spring Broncs 3557.380NA24,089 Hack Miller / Joe Niedson
Lamesa Lobos /
Winters-Ballinger Eagles 		1031.244NA8,314Harold Webb

Lamesa/Winters–Ballinger disbanded June 7; Big Spring disbanded July 31.
Playoffs: Carlsbad 4 games, Artesia 3; Midland 4 games, San Angelo 3; Finals: Carlsbad 4 games, Midland 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ike JacksonCarlsbadBA.388Audie MaloneCarlsbadW25
Joe Bauman ArtesiaRuns135Marshall EppersonCarlsbadSO214
Ike JacksonCarlsbadHits190Mario SaldanaSan AngeloERA3.46
Joe Bauman ArtesiaTB376Audie MaloneCarlsbadPCT.806 25–6
Joe Bauman ArtesiaHR53

1954 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Artesia Numexers 9246.667–54,450John Gibson / Jimmy Adair
Roswell Rockets 8751.6305.053,280Pat Stasey
Carlsbad Potashers 8752.6265.560,963 Pat McLaughlin
Midland Indians 8059.57612.543,109Rudy Briner
Big Spring Broncs 7065.51920.542,078Robert Martin
Odessa Oilers 5482.39737.026,281 Jack Knight / Wayne Batson
San Angelo Colts 5386.38139.572,727 Hillis Layne
Wichita Falls Spudders /
Sweetwater Spudders 		27109.19964.020,101Red McCarty

Wichita Falls moved to Sweetwater May 6. Playoffs: Artesia 4 games, Midland 2; Carlsbad 4 games, Roswell 2; Finals: Artesia 4 games, Carlsbad 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Joe Bauman RoswellBA.400Robert WeaverCarlsbadW21
Joe Bauman RoswellRuns188Julio RamosSweet/MidSO222
Ike JacksonCarlsbadHits215Bartolo DiMaggioArtesiaERA3.60
Joe Bauman RoswellRBI224Wayne GoodellArtesiaPCT.720 18–7
Joe Bauman RoswellHR72
Joe Bauman RoswellTB456

1955 Longhorn League schedule

Team nameWLPCTGBAttendManagers
San Angelo Colts 8555.607–62,446 Pat McLaughlin
Roswell Rockets 7956.5853.539,911Hayden Greer
Artesia Numexers 8057.5843.528,880 Tom Jordan
Carlsbad Potashers 7267.51812.546,152 Thurman Tucker
Midland Indians 6772.48217.562,602Bill Capps
Hobbs Sports 6277.44622.546,101Pat Stasey
Big Spring Cosden Cops 5783.40728.027,918Robert Martin
Odessa Eagles 5186.37232.534,574 Tony York

Playoffs: San Angelo 4 games, Carlsbad 1; Roswell 4 games, Artesia 3.
Finals: San Angelo 4 games, Roswell 0.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Tom Jordan ArtesiaBA.407 Evelio Hernandez HobbsW23
Elias OsorioSan AngeloRuns142 Evelio Hernandez HobbsSO227
Tom Jordan ArtesiaHits221 Red Swanson MidlandERA3.04
Tom Jordan ArtesiaRBI159Ed LockeArtesiaPCT.741 20–7
Joe Bauman RoswellHR46
Tom Jordan Artesia2B69

[1]

League records 1947–1955

Batting
PlayerTeamStatTotYrPlayerTeamStatTotYr
[ William PeelerVernonGA15350Jim PrinceMidlandBA.42947
Felix GomezBig SpringAB64250 Joe Bauman RoswellRuns18854
Tom Jordan ArtesiaHits22155 Joe Bauman RoswellRBI22454
Tom Jordan Artesia2B6955Roman LoykoOdessa3B2452
Joe Bauman RoswellHR7254 Joe Bauman RoswellEBH11054
Joe Bauman RoswellTB45654Orlando MorenoBig SpringHS4347
Tony GuerreroOdes/San AngSac2250Duane WhiteRoswellSB5355
Leo EasthamOdessaBB17050Joe CalderonArtesiaSO14253
PlayerTeamStatTotYrPlayerTeamStatTotYr
Dean FranksRoswellW3051Dean FranksRoswellCG3051
Lee ZamoraSweetwaterBB19250Julio RamosBig SpringPct.846, 22–449
Lloyd WallisVernonL2252Roy SimsOdessaPct.917, 11–151
Humberto GarciaBig SpringERA1.7749Eddie JacomeMidlandIP33851
Billy RussellVernonSho750Julio RamosBig SpringSO26249

[1]

Sources

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  2. ↑ "When Joe Bauman Hit 72 Home Runs – Society for American Baseball Research".
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