McAllen Packers

Last updated
McAllen Packers
Minor league affiliations
Class Class D (1938)
League Texas Valley League (1938)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameMcAllen Packers (1938)
BallparkLegion Park (1938)

The McAllen Packers were a minor league baseball franchise based in McAllen, Texas. In 1938, the Packers played as members of the Class D level Texas Valley League, hosting home games at Legion Park.

Contents

History

The Packers were preceded by the 1931 McAllen Palms, who played one season as members of the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League, winning the league championship in a shortened season, as the league folded following the season. [1] [2]

The McAllen "Packers" began minor league play as members of the 1938 Texas Valley League. After a nine–season hiatus, the Texas Valley League reformed as a six–team Class D level league, with the Brownsville Charros, Corpus Christi Spudders, Harlingen Hubs, Refugio Oilers and Taft Cardinals joining McAllen as league members, beginning play on April 14, 1938. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The "Packers" nickname ties to the local agriculture industry in McAllen and the surrounding region. In the era, numerous packing facilities were in operation to pack produce for distribution to other regions. [6]

The Packers finished the regular season in 5th place in the overall final standings. [7] During the season, the Texas Valley League adopted a split–season schedule. McAllen was in 5th place with a 28–40 record on June 24, 1938, in the final first–half standings, following 1st place Corpus Christi, 2nd place Harlingen, 3rd place Taft and 4th place Refugio. [8]

McAllen placed 5th and ended the 1938 regular season with an overall record of 65–72, playing the season under managers Ray Friday and Wally Kopp. [7] The Packers finished 27.5 games behind the 1st place Corpus Christi Spudders in the final regular season standings. McAllen did not qualify 1938 four–team Texas Valley League playoffs. [2] [9] [10] [4]

The final Texas Valley League regular season standings were led by the Corpus Christi Spudders (92–44), who finished 8.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Harlingen Hubs (84–53), with Taft (68–67) and Refugio (67–67) finishing in 3rd place and 4th place to qualify for the four–team playoffs. Corpus Christi had won the 1st half of the split–season schedule, and tied with Harlingen for the 2nd–half championship. The McAllen Packers (65–72) and Brownsville Charros (30–103) finished in 5th and 6th place, missing the playoffs. In the league finals, Harlingen defeated Corpus Christi to win the title. Both Harlingen (Detroit Tigers) and Corpus Christi (St. Louis Browns) were major league affiliate teams, the only two affiliated teams in the league. [2] [9] [10] [4]

Following the 1938 season, the Texas Valley League permanently folded. [2] McAllen next hosted minor league baseball, with the 1949 McAllen Giants, who resumed play in the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League. [11]

The ballpark

The McAllen Packers hosted minor league home games at Legion Park. [12]

Year–by–year record

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
193865–725thRay Friday / Wally KoppDid not qualify

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refugio, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Refugio is a town in Refugio County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,890 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Refugio County. Refugio is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan.

The Rio Grande Valley League was a minor league baseball league, with franchises based exclusively in Texas. The Rio Grande Valley League had two incarnations, playing in 1931 and 1949 to 1950.

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 was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Texas City, Texas from 1951 to 1956 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 Southwest Texas League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1910 and 1911 seasons. The Southwest Texas League played as a six–team Class D level league and consisted of teams based exclusively in Texas.

The Texas Valley League was a minor league baseball league that played in three different periods. The league was an Independent league from 1901 to 1908 and a Class D level league from 1927 to 1928 and in 1938. In every season of play, the Texas Valley League consisted of teams based in Texas.

The Mission Grapefruiters were a minor league baseball team based in Mission, Texas. The Grapefruiters played as members of the Class D level Gulf Coast League in 1926 and Texas Valley League from 1927 to 1928, winning the 1927 league pennant.

The Beeville Orange Growers was the initial moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Beeville, Texas between 1910 and 1977. The Beeville Orange Growers played exclusively as members of the Southwest Texas League in 1910 and 1911, winning the 1911 league championship. The Beeville Bees played in the 1926 Gulf Coast League, with the name revived for the 1976 Gulf States League team. The Beeville Blaze played as members of the 1977 Lone Star League.

The Taft Cardinals were a minor league baseball franchise based in Taft, Texas in 1938. Taft played as members of the Class D level Texas Valley League in their only season of minor league play.

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

The Donna Cardinals were a minor league baseball team based in Donna, Texas. In 1949 and 1950, Donna based teams played exclusively as members of the Rio Grande Valley League. The 1950 Donna-Weslaco Twins played in partnership with neighboring Weslaco, Texas. Donna hosted minor league games at Avila Park.

The Wink Spudders were a minor league baseball team based in Wink, Texas in 1937 and 1938. The Wink Spudders teams played exclusively as members of the West Texas-New Mexico League.

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 Corpus Christi Seagulls were a minor league baseball team based in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1976 and 1977. The Seagulls played as members of the Class A level Gulf States League in 1976 and Lone Star League in 1977, winning the league championship in both seasons. The Seagulls hosted minor league home games at Cabaniss Field.

Playing a partial season in 1931, the La Feria Nighthawks were a minor league baseball team based in La Feria, Texas. La Feria played as members of the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League in their only season of minor league play. The team was established when the Corpus Christi Seahawks franchise moved to La Feria during the season. The Nighthawks won the second–half pennant and lost in the league finals. La Feria played home games in Harlingen, Texas.

The San Benito Saints were a minor league baseball team based in San Benito, Texas. In 1931, San Benito played as members of the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League, finishing in last place in their only season of minor league play. The Saints hosted home games at the San Benito Base Ball Park.

The Robstown Rebels were a minor league baseball team based in Robstown, Texas in 1949 and 1950. Preceded by the 1949 Robstown Cardinals, the Robstown teams played exclusively as members of the Rio Grande Valley League, playing partial seasons in both years. Robstown hosted home minor league games at the Sun Sport Ball Park.

The Refugio Oilers were a minor league baseball franchise based in Refugio, Texas, which is the county seat for Refugio County, Texas. In 1938, the Oilers played as members of the Class D level Texas Valley League, qualifying for the playoffs while hosting home games at Ryals Field in their only season of minor league play. Refugio is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan.

References

  1. ↑ "1931 McAllen Palms Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN   978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ↑ "1938 Texas Valley League (TVL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "1938 Texas Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ Presswood, Mark (2009). "The Minor League in Texas: Professional Baseball Had an Early Start in Small Towns" (PDF). Texas Almanac 2008–2009: 180–191.
  6. ↑ Morales, Pamela (August 3, 2020). "Stories from the Rio Grande - Season One".
  7. 1 2 "1938 McAllen Packers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ Deck, Lefty (24 June 1938). "Split Season Adopted by Ball Officials". The Timely Remarks. Refugio County. 10 (34): 1, 8.
  9. 1 2 "1938 McAllen Packers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. 1 2 "1938 Texas Valley League (TVL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ↑ "1949 McAllen Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ↑ "Legion Park in McAllen, TX minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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.