Texas City Texans

Last updated
Texas City Texans
Minor league affiliations
Class
League
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1953
Conference titles (1)1977
Team data
Name
  • Texas City Texans (1951–1953)
  • Texas City Pilots (1954)
  • Texas City Texans (1955)
  • Texas City Exporters (1956)
  • Texas City Stars (1977)
BallparkTexan Park (1951–1956, 1977)

The Texas City Texans were a minor league baseball team based in Texas City, Texas. Between 1951 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.

Contents

Texas City was a minor league affiliate of both the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals in 1956.

History

Beginning minor league play in 1951, the Texas City Texans played as members of the Class B level Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953 and Big State League from 1955 to 1956. After a two-decade hiatus, Texas City hosted the Class A level Texas City Stars, who played as a member of the Lone Star League in 1977. [1] [2]

In 1951, Texas City shared the franchise with neighboring La Marque, Texas, playing as a charter member of the Gulf Coast League. [3]

The Gulf Coast League folded after the season 1953 season, with members Galveston White Caps, Harlingen Capitals, Laredo Apaches, Brownsville Charros, Port Arthur Seahawks, Corpus Christi Aces and Lake Charles Lakers. [4]

Texas City finished with records 70–84, 64–90 and 87–57, playing in the Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953. The Texas City teams finished with records of 71–67 and 59–81, playing as members of the Big States League in 1955 and 1956. The Texas City Texans captured the final Gulf Coast League Championship in 1953. [3] [4]

In 1954, the Texas City Pilots joined the Evangeline League. However, the franchise moved to Thibodaux, Louisiana on June 17, 1954, becoming the Thibodaux Pilots and ending the season with a record of 51–79. [3]

The Texas City Texans were reformed and joined the Big State League in 1955. Texas City played alongside the Corpus Christi Clippers, Waco Pirates, Tyler Tigers, Galveston White Caps, Port Arthur Sea Hawks, Harlingen Capitals and Austin Pioneers in league play. The franchise folded after the season. [5]

In 1956, the Beaumont Exporters, a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate in the Big State League briefly moved to Texas City and became the Texas City Exporters. The Exporters moved to Texas City on July 2, 1956, only to move back to Beaumont, Texas on July 8, 1956. Then, the Lubbock Hubbers, also of the Big State League, moved from Lubbock, Texas to Texas City on July 8, 1956, completing the season as the Texas City Texans. The team was an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. After the 1956 season, the Texas City franchise folded. The Big States League folded after the 1957 season. [3] [6]

In 1977, the Texas City Stars became members of the newly formed Class A Lone Star League, joining the Beeville Blazers, Corpus Christi Seagulls, Harlingen Suns, McAllen Dusters, and Victoria Rosebuds. The league had first formed as the Gulf States League in 1976. The Texas City Stars finished 16–22 in the Lone Star League first half standings. The Stars then won the second half in the North Division at 19–19. However, the playoffs were cancelled when the Corpus Christi Seagulls declined to participate in post-season play. The Lone Star League then folded after the 1977 season. [3]

(2009) Robinson Stadium. Texas City, Texas Robinson stadium.jpg
(2009) Robinson Stadium. Texas City, Texas

The ballpark

Texas City hosted minor league home games at Texan Park. The ballpark was also known as Pilot Park in the era. The ballpark had a capacity of 2,750 with dimensions (Left, Center, Right): 335–385–335. The franchise drew between 46,000 and 35,000 total during its minor league seasons of 1951 to 1955, averaging 500 to 600 fans per contest. Today, the ballpark site is still in use, known as Robinson Stadium. Robinson Stadium hosted the Bay Area Toros in the independent Continental Baseball League. The ballpark lies within Amoco Park. The location of Amoco Park is 1500 29th Street North in Texas City, Texas. [2] [7] [8]

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corpus Christi Hooks</span> Minor league baseball team

The Corpus Christi Hooks are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team is owned by the Houston Astros. The Hooks play their home games at Whataburger Field, which opened in 2005 and is located on Corpus Christi's waterfront.

The Big State League was a mid-level, Class B level circuit in American minor league baseball that played for 11 seasons, from 1947 through 1957. Its member clubs were exclusively based in Texas. The Corpus Christi Clippers (1955-1956), Texarkana Bears and Wichita Falls Spudders each won two league championships.

The Beaumont Exporters was the predominant name of a minor league baseball team located in Beaumont, Texas that played between 1920 and 1957 in the Texas League and the Big State League. Beaumont rejoined the Class AA Texas League (1983-1986) and evolved into today's Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

The Rio Grande Valley Giants was an American minor league baseball franchise in the Double-A Texas League located in Harlingen, Texas, that played from the beginning of the 1960 season through June 10, 1961. As its nickname implies, the team was affiliated with the San Francisco Giants. It played its home games at Harlingen Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laredo Apaches</span>

The Laredo Apaches were a minor league baseball team from Laredo, Texas that existed in two different incarnations: 1949-53 and again in 1995.

Schepps Palm Field was a minor league baseball venue located in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was home to the short-lived Corpus Christi Clippers of the Big State League from 1954 to 1957, and the Corpus Christi Giants from 1958 to 1959. The field was challenging to play on due to the widening cracks and hard surface.

The Gulf States League was a Class A level American minor baseball league that existed for one season — 1976 — and was based in the American states of Texas and Louisiana.

The Lone Star League was the name of three American minor professional baseball leagues located in the state of Texas during the 20th century. The leagues operated from 1927–1929, 1947–1948 and 1977.

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 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 exclusively in Texas.

The Beeville Orange Growers was the initial moniker of the minor league baseball teams that were 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.

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 Seguin Toros were a minor league baseball team based in Seguin, Texas. In 1976, the Toros played in the only season of the 1976 Class A level Gulf States League, advancing to the league finals in their only season of play. Seguin hosted minor league home games at the Fairgrounds Ball Park, now named Smokey Joe Williams Field in honor of Smokey Joe Williams.

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 under player/manager Leo Mazzone. 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 Refugio Oilers were a minor league baseball team based in Refugio, Texas and Refugio County, Texas. Refugio is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan.

The McAllen Giants were a minor league baseball franchise based in McAllen, Texas. In 1949 and 1950, the Giants played as members of the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League, hosting home games at Paris Field. The Giants qualified for the 1949 playoffs, before finishing last in 1950, which proved to be the final season of the league.

The McAllen Dusters were a minor league baseball franchise based in McAllen, Texas. In 1977, the Dusters played as members of the Class A level Lone Star League, hosting home games at the McAllen High School Field. The Dusters finished last in 1977, which proved to be the final season of the league.

References

  1. ↑ "Texas City, Texas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. 1 2 "Texas City Texans Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.
  4. 1 2 "1953 Gulf Coast League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ "1955 Big State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ↑ "1956 Lubbock Hubbers/Texas City Texans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ↑ "Texan Park in Texas City, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ↑ "City of Texas City". www.texas-city-tx.org.

Texas City - Baseball Reference

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.