Rio Grande Valley League

Last updated
Rio Grande Valley League
Classification Class D (1931, 1949)
Class C (1950)
Sport Minor League Baseball
First season1931
Ceased1950
PresidentGeorge P. Blevins (1931)
C.F.C. Ladd (1931)
William R. Byrd (1949–1950)
Kelly Nemeck (1950)
No. of teams10
Country United States of America
Most titles1
McAllen Palms (1931)
Corpus Christi Aces (1949)
Harlingen Capitols (1930)
Related
competitions		 East Texas League

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.

Contents

History

In 1931, the league initially featured the Corpus Christi Seahawks of Corpus Christi, the Harlingen Ladds of Harlingen, the McAllen Palms of McAllen and the San Benito Saints of San Benito. Corpus Christi moved to La Feria to become the La Feria Nighthawks in June. The league disbanded on July 30. McAllen finished in first place with a 55–37 record; they also won the league playoff against La Feria 3 games to 0. Johnny Rizzo, who played in the major leagues from 1938 to 1942, played for Corpus Christi/La Feria. [1] Tex Covington managed McAllen.

The league returned as a Class D level circuit in 1949, featuring the Donna Cardinals of Donna, the Corpus Christi Aces, the Laredo Apaches of Laredo, the Brownsville Charros of Brownsville, the McAllen Giants and the Del Rio Cowboys of Del Rio. On June 6, Donna moved to Robstown to become the Robstown Cardinals. Charlie Engle managed Donna/Robstown for part of the season. Corpus Christi finished first in the standings and faced McAllen in the postseason, winning 4 games to 0. Brownsville matched against Laredo and won 4 games to 2. In the finals, Corpus Christi beat Brownsville 4 games to 0.

In 1950, the league became a Class C level circuit. Laredo, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Del Rio returned from 1949. Robstown became the Robstown Rebels. Donna and Weslaco featured the Donna-Weslaco Twins. Harlingen featured the Harlingen Capitals. On May 4, Donna-Weslaco disbanded; Robstown did the same on May 13. The playoffs had first-place finisher Harlingen beating Brownsville 4 games to 2. and Corpus Christi beating Laredo 4 games to 1. In the finals, Corpus Christi beat Harlingen 4 games to 1. Notably, Sam Harshaney managed Harlingen, Leonardo Alanís and Jack Smith managed Laredo, John Davis managed Corpus Christi and Fabian Kowalik managed Robstown. Monty Stratton, Joe Koppe, Dick Midkiff and Vicente Amor played in the league that year.

Cities represented

[2]

Standings & statistics

1931 Rio Grande Valley League

schedule

Team StandingsWLPCTGBManagers
McAllen Palms 5537.598-- Tex Covington
Corpus Christi Seahawks /
La Feria Nighthawks 		4946.5167.5Pat Withers /
Ray Pipken
Harlingen Ladds 4349.46712.0Paul Trammel
San Benito Saints 4055.42116.5Bishop Clements /
Elgar Waitman

Corpus Christi (20–23) moved to La Feria June 5. La Feria played its home games at Harlingen.
The league disbanded July 30.
Playoff: McAllen 3 games, La Feria 0.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Johnny Rizzo Corpus/La FeriaBA.385Adrian JohnsonHarlingenW14
Frank DensonMcAllenRuns99Adrian JohnsonHarlingenSO148
Frank DensonMcAllenHits109Horace HardyMcAllenPct.786; 11–3
Harry BondsMcAllenHR8
Frank DensonMcAllenSB70

1949 Rio Grande Valley League

schedule

Team StandingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Corpus Christi Aces 8951.686--97,192William Gann
Laredo Apaches 8060.5719.047,857William Cearley / Ishmael Montalvo
Brownsville Charros 7565.53614.051,416Joseph King
McAllen Giants 7068.50718.022,598Frank Matthews / Philip Kuykendall
Del Rio Cowboys 5880.42030.032,323Boyd SoRelle
Donna Cardinals /
Robstown Cardinals 		4593.32643.019,753Russell Frisch /
Charlie Engle / Mimi Cavazos

Donna moved to Robstown June 6.
Playoffs: Corpus Christi 4 games, McAllen 0; Brownsville 4 games, Laredo 2.
Finals: Corpus Christi 4 games, Brownsville 0.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Joseph KingBrownsvilleBA.354Gilberto GarzaLaredoW21
Lloyd PearsonCorpus ChristiRuns140Edward ArthurMcAllenSO178
Bernard PardueCorpus ChristiHits205Robert WiltseBrownsvilleERA2.08
Don PetschowBrownsvilleRBI146Harold JacksonMcAllenPCT.741 20–7
Don PetschowBrownsvilleHR28

1950 Rio Grande Valley League

schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Harlingen Capitols 8662.581-80,001 Sam Harshaney
Laredo Apaches 8462.5751.057,948 Leo Najo /
Jack Smith / Manuel Salvatierra
Corpus Christi Aces 7964.5524.568,313Red Davis
Brownsville Charros 8067.5445.556,146Joseph King
Del Rio Cowboys 7669.5248.530,568Robert Hamric
McAllen Giants 42102.29242.032,473Boyd SoRelle / Philip Kuykendall
Robstown Rebels 1318.419NA6,637 Fabian Kowalik
Donna-Weslaco Twins 420.167NA3,008Baldy Quinn

Donna-Weslaco disbanded May 4; Robstown disbanded May 13.
Playoffs: Harlingen 4 games, Brownsville 2; Corpus Christi 4 games, Laredo 1.
Finals: Corpus Christi 4 games, Harlingen 1.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Lloyd PearsonCorpus ChristiBA.383 Dick Midkiff Del RioW22
Joe Koppe Corpus ChristiRuns181William GuthrieHarlingenSO195
Lloyd PearsonCorpus ChristiHits207 Dick Midkiff Del RioERA3.77
Jesse McClainHarlingenHits207 Dick Midkiff Del RioPCT.733 22–8
Jesse McClainHarlingenRBI173
Jesse McClainHarlingenHR53

[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Johnny Rizzo Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. 1 2 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
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