Sooner State League

Last updated
Sooner State League
Classification Class D (1947–1957)
Sport Minor League Baseball
Inaugural season1947
Ceased1957
President Jack Mealey (1947–1951)
Uke Clanton (1952–1955)
George Barr (1956–1957)
No. of teams15
Country United States of America
Most titles5
McAlester Rockets
Related
competitions
Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League

The Sooner State League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the league folded on February 12, 1959. It was the last Class D league west of the Mississippi River. The league franchises were based in Oklahoma and Texas.

Contents

Cities represented

[1]

Standings & statistics

1947 to 1952

1947 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Lawton Giants 9842.70024,248 Louis Brower
Ada Herefords 8651.62810.541,872 Uke Clanton
McAlester Rockets 7367.52125.043,657William Nebroak
Ardmore Indians 7267.51825.527,943Dutch Prather
Seminole Oilers 4890.34849.030,003 John Taber / Hugh Willingham
Duncan Cementers 3999.28358.08,220Otto Utt

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Lawton 2; McAlester 3 games, Ada 2; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 1.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Russell HawleyMcAlesterBA.382Forrest SmithAdaW23
Robert AndrlikArdmoreRuns158William DonagheyAdaSO244
A.B. EverettMcAlesterHits188Forest SmithAdaERA2.00
Paul RichardvilleAdaRBI111Joseph GaliotoLawtonPCT.800 20–5
Howard WeeksLawtonHR11
Paul RichardvilleAdaHR11

1948 schedule

1948 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
McAlester Rockets 9147.65963,060 Vern Hoscheit
Lawton Giants 7759.56613.033,861 Louis Brower
Seminole Oilers 7562.54715.540,053 Hugh Willingham
Chickasha Chiefs 7363.53717.035,640Ray Honeycutt
Ada Herefords 6376.45328.527,050 Uke Clanton
Ardmore Indians 6078.43531.037,944Donald Smith / Jim Cooke
Pauls Valley Raiders 5681.40934.527,071Dutch Prather / Jennings Poindexter
Duncan Cementers 5483.39436.527,066Jess Welch / Otto Utt

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 1; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 2; Finals: Seminole 4 games, McAlester 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Cromer SmothermanMcAlesterBA.347Bob GiddingsLawtonW25
Bob HyattPauls ValleyRuns122Tom KrutaArdmoreSO186
Al BillingsleyMcAlesterHits190Buddy YountMcAlesterERA2.11
Howard MartinMcAlesterRBI122Buddy YountMcAlesterPCT.944; 17–1
Howard MartinMcAlesterHR19

1949 schedule

1949 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Pauls Valley Raiders 8852.62961,085 Red Phillips
Lawton Giants 8752.6260.545,501 Louis Brower
Chickasha Chiefs 7861.5619.559,306Ray Honeycutt
Ada Herefords 6970.49718.533,525Bill Krueger
Duncan Uttmen 6574.46822.536,678Edward Marleau /
James Skidgel/ Hosea Pfeiffer
McAlester Rockets 5882.41430.056,733 Vern Hoscheit
Ardmore Indians 5781.41330.043,348Dutch Prather / James Skidgel
Seminole Oilers 5484.39133.033,258 Hugh Willingham / Paul Schoendienst

Playoffs: Pauls Valley 3 games, Ada 2; Lawton 3 games, Chickasha 0; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Pauls Valley 1.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pete Runnels ChickashaBA.372Jim MeltonPauls ValleyW23
Kelly WingoChickashaRuns123Joseph MiccicheLawtonSO297
Pete Runnels ChickashaHits188James SpencerLawtonERA1.96
A.B. PearsonPauls ValleyRBI123Joseph MiccicheLawtonPCT.769; 20–6
Daryl Spencer Pauls ValleyHR23
Bill MilliganAdaHR23
1950 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Ada Herefords 9641.70131,981Bill Krueger
McAlester Rockets 9248.6575.558,048 Vern Hoscheit
Chickasha Chiefs 8059.57517.043,759Ray Honeycutt
Ardmore Indians 7565.53622.544,454 Bennie Warren
Pauls Valley Raiders 6872.48629.525,848 Red Phillips / Joseph Jacobs
Seminole Ironmen 5583.39941.521,366Kelly Wingo /
Lloyd Giger / Dennis Rackley
Duncan Uttmen /
Shawnee Hawks
5185.37544.515,950Hosea Pfeiffer /
Dutch Prather / Kelly Wingo
Lawton Giants 37101.26859.531,817 Louis Brower

Duncan moved to Shawnee August 18.
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Ada 2; McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 0; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Clinton WeaverMcAlesterBA.378William DonagheyAdaW26
Ron JacksonAdaRuns154 Jack Urban McAlesterSO279
Jack TaylorMcAlesterHits212 Jack Urban McAlesterERA2.15
Stephen MolinariAdaRBI162 Bill Starr AdaPCT.917; 11–1
Stephen MolinariAdaHR39
1951 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Ardmore Indians 9940.71240,742 Bennie Warren
Shawnee Hawks 9644.6863.544,428 Lou Fitzgerald
McAlester Rockets 9148.6558.042,028 Vern Hoscheit
Pauls Valley Raiders 9050.6439.527,580 Louis Brower
Ada Herefords 5486.38645.512,779 Stan Galle
Chickasha Chiefs 4694.32953.521,107Kelly Wingo / Jerry Jackson /
Chet Bryan / William Reyes
Lawton Giants 4694.32953.517,252Ray Baker
Seminole Ironmen 37103.26462.516,915 Ripper Collins / Dutch Prather

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Pauls Valley 0; McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 0; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Lou Fitzgerald ShawneeBA.379 Dee Sanders McAlesterW27
Joe NodarArdmoreRuns179Ken HemphillPauls ValleyW27
Dan TomaPauls ValleyHits195Armin SomonteArdmoreSO341
Manuel TemesArdmoreHits195 Dee Sanders McAlesterERA1.67
Glenn SnyderArdmoreRBI155 Dee Sanders McAlesterPCT.871; 27–4
Manuel TemesArdmoreRBI155
Dan DembyPauls ValleyHR30
Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyHR30
1952 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
McAlester Rockets 8753.62152,395William Cope
Pauls Valley Raiders 8059.5766.534,500 Louis Brower
Chickasha Chiefs 7862.5579.027,494Ray Taylor
Shawnee Hawks 7367.52114.044,680 Lou Fitzgerald / James Jolly
Sherman Twins 7268.51415.019,815 Bennie Warren
Lawton Reds 6377.45024.052,807Tuck McWilliams
Ada Herefords 5782.41029.538,387Bill Enos /
Virl Loman / Jim England
Ardmore Indians 4991.35038.024,362Jackie Sullivan /
Royce Mills / Hugh Willingham /
Clyde Baldwin / Julian Morgan

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 1; Pauls Valley 3 games, Chickasha 1; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Pauls Valley 3.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ray TaylorChickashaBA.365Charles SeymourMcAlesterW25
Vincent DownsLawtonRuns142Charles SeymourMcAlesterSO292
Jim EnglandAdaHits198Charles SeymourMcAlesterERA1.91
Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyRBI148Charles SeymourMcAlesterPCT.806; 25–6
Bob HertelMcAlesterHR22
Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyHR22

[1]

1953 to 1955

1953 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Ardmore Cardinals 9146.66443,000 Bennie Warren
Shawnee Hawks 8653.6196.039,441 Boyd Bartley
Ada Herefords 8454.6097.536,128 Louis Brower
McAlester Rockets 8356.5979.040,485William Cope
Pauls Valley Raiders 6374.46028.018,453Richard Klaus
Sherman-Denison Twins 6177.44230.518,784Red McCarty
Lawton Reds 4789.34643.518,029Tuck McWilliams
Gainesville Owls 36102.26155.520,523James Grigg /
Ernest Shadid / Jesse Landrum

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Ardmore 1; Ada 3 games, Shawnee 1; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ada 1.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Russ Snyder McAlesterBA.432J.L. RhodesAdaW21
Al ViottaArdmoreRuns159Don HuffmanShawneeSO250
Russ Snyder McAlesterHits240James PetersonShawneeERA1.94
Al ViottaArdmoreRBI161Robert ShipmanMcAlesterPCT.813; 13–3
Ron SlawskiAdaHR31
Bob NordenAdaHR31
1954 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Shawnee Hawks 9248.65742,189 Jack Banta
Lawton Braves 8158.58310.547,431 Travis Jackson
McAlester Rockets 7664.54316.053,410Bunny Mick
Ardmore Cardinals 7267.51819.531,090 Bennie Warren / Frank Mancuso
Gainesville Owls 7268.51420.014,385Richard Rigazio
Ada Herefords / Cementers 6476.4572828,482 Louis Brower / John Densmore
Seminole Oilers 6179.43631.016,840Tom Warren / Ray Taylor
Pauls Valley Raiders 4199.29351.029,468Lloyd Pearson / Bennie Warren

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Shawnee 2; Lawton 3 games, McAlester 2; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Ardmore 0.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ray MitchellShawneeBA.371Wendell DossLawtonW24
Bill FoxShawneeRuns139Joe RobersonShawneeSO225
Bill FoxShawneeHits193Joe RobersonShawneeERA2.52
Jim HumbertShawneeRBI136Tom WarrenSeminolePCT.909 10–1
Gene Green ArdmoreHR34
1955 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Lawton Braves 9544.68345,554 Travis Jackson
Shawnee Hawks 7761.55817.537,817 Jack Banta
Muskogee Giants 7466.52921.547,485Richard Klaus
Paris Orioles 6869.49626.044,805 Jimmy Adair
Ardmore Cardinals 6575.46430.533,731 Frank Mancuso
McAlester Rockets 6575.46430.547,295Marvin Crater
Gainesville Owls /
Ponca City Cubs
5683.40339.026,169 Eddie Carnett
Seminole Oilers 5683.40339.026,775Charles Hopkins / Al Evans

Gainesville moved to Ponca City May 19.
Playoffs: Lawton 3 games, Paris 1; Muskogee 3 games, Shawnee 2; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Muskogee 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Hal GordonSeminoleBA.345Bob DudleyLawtonW23
William CayeMuskogeeRuns117Dale HendricksonLawtonSO256
Walt MassefskiParisHits178Dale HendricksonLawtonERA1.26
Walt MassefskiParisRBI107Mike KirmerLawtonPCT.813 13–3
James BrownArdmoreHR21

[1]

1956 to 1957

1956 schedule

1956 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Ardmore Cardinals 8356.59747,110J.C. Dunn
Lawton Braves 8060.5713.530,550 Travis Jackson
Seminole Oilers 7466.5299.531,249Burl Storie
Paris Orioles 7267.51811.037,764 Jimmy Adair / Barney Lutz
Ponca City Cubs 7070.50013.520,674Don Biebel
Muskogee Giants 6376.45320.037,983Richard Klaus
McAlester Rockets 6079.43223.032,302Marvin Crater
Shawnee Hawks 5684.40027.524,872 Jack Banta

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Paris 2; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 1; Finals: Seminole 4 games, Ardmore 3.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Russell GraggPonca CityBA.352John BartekArdmoreW21
Robert StangelArdmoreRuns132Vincent KilpelaArdmoreSO276
Russell GraggPonca CityHits183[ Mike MazzamorraSeminoleERA2.28
J.C. DunnArdmoreRBI134John BartekArdmorePCT.778 21-6
Gene Oliver ArdmoreHR39Mike MazzamorraSeminolePCT.778 21–6

1957 schedule

1957 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Paris Orioles 7451.59233,953 Barney Lutz / Bill Capps
Ardmore Cardinals 7452.5870.536,201J.C. Dunn / Mike Ryba
Muskogee Giants 7155.5633.521,253 Andy Gilbert
Shawnee Hawks 6462.50810.522,301Ed Serrano
Greenville Majors 6263.4961223,066Tom Gott
Lawton Braves 5966.47215.015,065 Travis Jackson
Ponca City Cubs 5274.41322.521,253Don Biebel
Seminole Oilers 4679.36828.017,379Lee Anthony

Playoffs: Paris 3 games, Shawnee 1; Ardmore 3 games, Muskogee 0; Finals: Ardmore 4 games, Paris 0.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jim McKnight ArdmoreBA.340 Jack Curtis Ponca CityW18
Dick Simpson ParisRuns116 Jack Curtis Ponca CitySO219
Dick Simpson ParisHits163John JeanesParisERA2.41
Jim McKnight ArdmoreRBI112Rudy StoehrGreenvillePCT.750 12–4
Bob BeattieParisHR25

[1]

Hall of Fame alumni

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 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)