Morganton Aggies

Last updated
Morganton Aggies
Minor league affiliations
Class Class D (1948–1952)
League Western Carolina League (1948–1952)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Conference titles (1)1951
Wild card berths (2)
  • 1948
  • 1949
Team data
NameMorganton Aggies (1948–1952)
BallparkMorganton High School Park (1948–1952)

The Morganton Aggies were a minor league baseball team based in Morganton, North Carolina. From 1948 to 1952, the Aggies played exclusively as members of the Class D level Western Carolina League, winning the 1951 league pennant. Morgantown hosted home minor league games at the Morganton High School Park.

Contents

History

Morganton, North Carolina first hosted league baseball play in 1948, when the Morganton "Aggies" became charter members of the eight–team Class D level Western Carolina League. [1] The Forest City Owls, Hendersonville Skylarks, Lenoir Red Sox, Lincolnton Cardinals, Marion Marauders, Newton-Conover Twins and Shelby Farmers teams joined Morganton as charter members. [2] [3]

In their first season of play the Morganton Aggies placed third in Western Carolina League regular season standings. [4] Ending the regular season with a record of 54–53 and qualifying for the league four-playoffs. Playing the season under managers Les McGarity, Homer Daugherty, Wayne Stewart and Boger McGimsey, Morganton finished 13.5 games behind the first place Lincolnton Cardinals in the Western Carolina League regular season standings. In the first round of the 1948 playoffs, Lincolnton defeated Morganton 4 games to 2. The Cardinals then defeated Newton-Conover in the finals to win the league championship. [5] [3] [6]

The Morganton Aggies placed fourth in the 1949 Western Carolina League regular season standings and reached the playoff Finals the eight–team league. [7] The Aggies ended the regular season with a record of 58–49, playing under manager Sam Bell. The Wagonmakers finished 13.5 games behind the first place Newton-Conover Twins and qualified for the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Aggies defeated the Lincolnton Cardinals 4 games to 3 to advance to the final. In the Western Carolina League Finals, the Rutherford County Owls defeated the Morganton Aggies 4 games to 1 to win the championship. [8] [3] [9] Morganton's Boger McGimsey led the Western Carolina League with 118 RBI, while teammate Lelon Jaynes of Morganton led the league pitchers with both 19 wins and 202 strikeouts. [3]

In 1950, Morgantown placed fifth in the Western Carolina League final regular season standings. [10] Managed by the returning Sam Bell, Homer Daugherty and Jim Poole, Morganton ended the season with a record of 54–57 to finish 15.5 games behind the first place Newton-Conover Twins in the final regular standings. With their fifth place finish in the eight–team league, Morganton did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the Lenoir Red Sox. [11] [3] [12]

The 1951 Morganton Aggies won the Western Carolina League pennant and reached the league finals. [13] Morganton finished with a regular season record of 71–39 to place first in the regular season standings, playing under manager George Bradshaw. Morganton finished 4.5 games ahead of the second place Shelby Farmers. In the Western Carolina League playoffs, Morganton defeated the Lincolnton Cardinals 4 games to 3 to advance. In the Finals, the Shelby Farmers defeated Morganton Aggies 4 games to 3 in the seven-game series. [14] [3] [15] Aggie player Bordie Waddle led the Western Carolina League with 24 home runs. Pitcher Pete Treece of Morganton led the league with both 25 wins and 263 strikeouts. [3]

In their final season of play, the Morganton Aggies folded during the 1952 Western Carolina League season. The league began the season reduced to six teams. On August 3, 1951, Morganton folded. The Aggies had a record of 41–51 playing under managers George Bradshaw and Pete Treece when the franchise permanently folded. The Western Carolina League completed the 1952 season with five teams. [16] [17] [3]

Ater the 1952 season, the Western Carolina League combined with the North Carolina State League to form the Tar Heel League, playing in 1953 and 1954 before folding and then resuming play in 1960, without Morganton as a member in each instance. Morganton, North Carolina has not hosted another minor league team. [18] [3]

From 2005 to 2013, Morganton hosted the "Morganton Aggies," who revived the former nickname, as the new amateur team played summer collegiate baseball as members of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League for nine seasons. [19]

(1922) Morganton High School. Morganton, North Carolina Morganton High School, Fireproof Construction (6811925015).jpg
(1922) Morganton High School. Morganton, North Carolina

The ballpark

The Morganton Aggies teams hosted their home minor league games at the Morganton High School Ballpark. Today, the ballpark site is still in use, as is the high school building. The high school building site currently houses the Burke County Public School Central office. The building is located at 510 South College Street in Morganton, North Carolina. [20] [21] [22] [23]

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1948–19525Morganton Aggies Class D Western Carolina League Morganton High School Park

Year-by-year records

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
194854–533rdLes McGarity / Homer Daugherty /
Wayne Stewart / Boger McGimsey		Lost in 1st round
194958–494thSam BellLost League Finals
195054–575thSam Bell /
Homer Daugherty / Jim Poole 		Did not qualify
195171–391st George Bradshaw Won league pennant
Lost League Finals
195241–51NA George Bradshaw / Pete TreeceTeam folded August 3

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

The original Western Carolina League was a Class D circuit in Minor League Baseball which was ideated and created by John Henry Moss.

The Pittsburg Browns were a minor league baseball team based in Pittsburg, Kansas. From 1946 to 1951, the Browns played as members of the Class D level Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, winning the 1946 league championship. The Browns hosted home minor league games at Jaycee Park.

The West Frankfort Cardinals were an American minor league baseball team based in West Frankfort, Illinois. The West Frankfort Cardinals played as members of the Illinois State League in 1947 to 1948 and the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League in 1949 and 1950, qualifying for the league playoffs twice. The two leagues were the direct predecessors to the Midwest League. West Frankfort was a minor affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals for their duration, while hosting home games at Memorial Stadium.

The Rock Hill Chiefs was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA between 1908 and 1968. Rock Hill teams played as members of the South Carolina League (1908), Tri-State League (1947–1955) and Western Carolinas League (1963–1968).

The Vidalia Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Vidalia, Georgia. With the exception of 1951, Vidalia teams between 1948 and 1956 played exclusively as members of the Class D level Georgia State League, winning Georgia State League championships in 1952 and 1954. From 1948 to 1950, Vidalia played as the "Vidalia-Lyons Twins," in partnership with neighboring Lyons, Georgia. The "Indians" nickname was adopted as Vidalia served as a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1952 to 1956. Vidalia hosted home games in all minor league seasons at Vidalia Municipal Stadium.

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 Wichita Indians were a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The "Indians" played as members of the Class A level Western League from 1950 to 1955, winning the 1955 league Championship. The Wichita Indians were an affiliate of the 1950 St. Louis Browns in 1950, Cleveland Indians from 1951 to 1952, St. Louis Browns in 1953 and Baltimore Orioles in 1954 and 1955.

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 Concord Weavers were a minor league baseball team based in Concord, North Carolina. Between 1936 and 1951, Concord teams played as a member of the Independent level Carolina League from 1936 to 1938 and the Class D level North Carolina State League from 1939 to 1942 and 1945 to 1951, winning two league pennants and one championship. The franchise played as the Concord Nationals from 1949 to 1950 and Concord Sports in 1951, with Concord teams hosting minor league home games at Webb Field.

The Ada Herefords was a minor league baseball team based in Ada, Oklahoma. From 1947 to 1954, the Herefords played exclusively as a member of the Class D level Sooner State League, winning the league pennant in 1950. The Herefords were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns from 1947 to 1953 and remained an affiliate when St. Louis relocated to become the Baltimore Orioles in 1954. Ada Hosted minor league home games at Hereford Park.

The Salina Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team based in Salina, Kansas. The Salina Blue Jays and their immediate predecessor, the Salina "Millers" played as members of the Southwestern League (1922–1926) and Western Association, winning the 1926 league championship and two league pennants. The Salina Millers were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1941 and the Blue Jays were a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate from 1946 to 1952. Salina hosted home minor league games at Oakdale Park from 1922 to 1926 and Kenwood Field from 1938 to 1952. The 1922 Salina Millers team was preceded by the 1914 Salina Coyotes of the Kansas State League.

The Mooresville Moors were a minor league baseball team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Between 1936 and 1953, the Mooresville Moors teams played as members of the 1936 Carolina League, the North Carolina State League from 1937 to 1942 and 1945 to 1952 before playing a final season in the 1953 Tar Heel League. The Mooresville Moors won six North Carolina State League Championships.

The Rutherford County Owls were a minor league baseball team based in the Rutherford County, North Carolina cities of Spindale, North Carolina and Forest City, North Carolina. Between 1936 and 1960, the Rutherford County based teams played as members of the 1936 Carolina League, the Western Carolina League from 1948 to 1952, Tar Heel League from 1953 to 1954 and Western Carolina League in 1960, winning the 1949 league championship and qualifying for the playoffs six other times. The franchise played as the Forest City Owls in the 1948 and 1953 seasons.

The Hendersonville Skylarks were a minor league baseball team based in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Hendersonville played an initial season in the 1904 Carolina Interstate League, before the Skylarks became members of the Class D level Western Carolina League in 1948 and 1949. The Skylarks hosted home games at the Western North Carolina Fairgrounds.

The Lenoir Red Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Lenoir, North Carolina. Between 1937 and 1951, Lenoir teams played as members of the 1937 and 1938 Carolina League, 1939 and 1940 Tar Heel League, 1946 and 1947 Blue Ridge League and the Western Carolina League from 1948 to 1951, winning three league championships. Lenoir teams hosted home minor league games at the Lenoir High School Field.

The Newton–Conover Twins were a minor league baseball team based in Newton, North Carolina. The team was operated in partnership with neighboring Conover, North Carolina. Newton–Conover Twins teams played as members of the North Carolina State League in 1937 and 1938, Tar Heel League in 1939 and 1940 and the Western Carolina League from 1948 to 1951 and again from 1961 to 1963.

Minor league baseball teams were based in Lexington, North Carolina between 1937 and 1967. Lexington teams played as members of the Carolina League in 1936, North Carolina State League from 1937 to 1942 and 1945 to 1952, Tar Heel League in 1953 Western Carolina League from 1960 to 1961 and Western Carolinas League from 1963 to 1967. Lexington won two league championships.

The New Bern Bears were a minor league baseball team based in New Bern, North Carolina. Between 1937 and 1952, with a break during World War II, the Bears teams played exclusively as members of the Coastal Plain League, winning three league championships with six playoff appearances. New Bern hosted minor league home games at Kafer Park.

The Franklin Kildees were a minor league baseball team based in Franklin, Virginia. From 1948 to 1951, Franklin played as members of the Class D level Virginia League, winning the 1949 league pennant. The team played as the "Cubs" in 1948, with Franklin hosting minor league home games at Franklin Park.

The Springfield Giants were a minor league baseball team based in Springfield, Ohio. The "Giants" were an affiliate of the New York Giants and played as members of the Class D level Ohio State League from 1944 and 1947, before the league changed names in 1948. The Giants continued play as members of the Class D level Ohio–Indiana League from 1948 to 1951. Hosting minor league home games at Municipal Stadium, the Springfield Giants won the 1944 and 1946 league pennants and made eight playoff appearances, qualifying for the postseason in each season of play.

References

  1. ↑ "1948 Western Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ↑ "1948 Western Carolina League (WCL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  4. ↑ "1948 Morganton Aggies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ "1948 Morganton Aggies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ↑ "1948 Western Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ↑ "1949 Morganton Aggies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ "1949 Morganton Aggies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ↑ "1949 Western Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ "1950 Morganton Aggies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ↑ "1950 Morganton Aggies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. ↑ "1950 Western Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ↑ "1951 Morganton Aggies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ↑ "1951 Morganton Aggies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. ↑ "1951 Western Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ↑ "1952 Morganton Aggies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ↑ "1952 Morganton Aggies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. ↑ "Morganton, North Carolina Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. ↑ SCHENKEL, PAUL. "Aggies shut it down after 9 years". Morganton.com | The News Herald.
  20. ↑ "High School Park in Morganton, NC minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. ↑ EPLEY, JUSTIN. "Central office relocating to Morganton Jr. High building by '20". Morganton.com | The News Herald.
  22. ↑ Writer, Tammie Gercken Staff. "Former students raising funds for memorial monument". Morganton.com | The News Herald.
  23. ↑ "View, Morganton High School, Burke County, North Carolina (Morganton High School (Morganton, N.C.)) - bh1052pnc001 - NC State University Libraries' Rare and Unique Digital Collections | NC State University Libraries' Rare and Unique Digital Collections". d.lib.ncsu.edu.
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.