The Central Texas League was a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

league that played from 1914 to 1917. The Central Texas League played as a six–team Class D level league and consisted of teams based exclusively in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. The Central Texas League never completed a full season in its four seasons of play and was sometimes called the Central Texas Trolley League. The

Ennis Tigers The Ennis Tigers were a minor league baseball franchise based in Ennis, Texas. From 1914 to 1917, the Tigers played exclusively as members of the Class D level Central Texas League. Ennis played for the duration of the Central Texas League, winni ...

played in each season of the league, which had a different champion each season.

History

The Central Texas League began play in 1914, as a six–team Class D level minor league, with all six franchises based in Texas. The first league president was A.M. Frazier. The

Corsicana Athletics Corsicana is a city in and the county seat of Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45, 50 miles southeast of Dallas. Its population was 25,109 at the 2020 census. Corsicana is considered an important agribusiness ce ...

Hillsboro, Texas Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County, Texas, United States. It is located between Dallas, Fort Worth and Waco, directly on Interstate 35 in North Central Texas. Hillsboro draws trade from throughout the county, and from Inte ...

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Waxahachie Buffaloes Waxahachie ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Texas, United States. Its population was 41,140 in 2020. The city was founded in 1850, and incorporated in 1871. Much of the employment is provided by a number of industries and by ...

and

West, Texas West is a city in McLennan County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 2,531. It is named after Thomas West, the first postmaster of the city. The city is located in the north-central part of Texas, approximat ...

teams were the charter franchises. The league was also known informally as the Central Texas Trolley League in its inception. In their first season of league play, the league played a split schedule. After Central Texas League games began on May 10, 1914, the second half was shortened when the league ceased play on July 25, 1914. After the league stopped play the Central Texas League did have a playoff. The Waxahachie Buffaloes won the first half standings (26–15) and West won the shortened second half standings. In the playoff, the Waxahachie Buffaloes won the championship when they defeated West 3 games to 2. In 1915, the Central Texas League reformed and the league began play on May 17, 1915 with six members. The six teams in 1915 were the Corsicana A's, Ennis Tigers, Kaufman Kings, Mexia Gassers, Terrell Cubs and

Waxahachie Athletics The Waxahachie Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Waxahachie, Texas. The "Athletics" played in 1915 and 1916. With the Athletics preceded by 1914 Waxahachie Buffaloes, the Waxahachie teams played exclusively as members of the Cl ...

. The 1915 league presidents were Earl C. Brown and Hulen P. Robertson. The league folded on July 24, 1915. The Ennis Tigers won the first half of the schedule. The Mexia Gassers won the second half of the schedule. No playoffs were held and Ennis had the best overall record at 35–26, 3.0 games ahead of the Corsicana A's. The Central Texas League formed again and began play on April 28, 1916. The six league members in 1916 were the Ennis Tigers, Marlin Marlins, Mexia Gassers, Temple Governors, Terrell Terrors and Waxahachie Athletics. The 1916 league presidents were Earl C. Brown and Jack C. Castellaw. The league disbanded July 16, 1916. At 36–25, the Temple Governors had the best overall record, 1.0 game ahead of the

, who finished with a 35–26 record. The Central Texas League played its final season in 1917. The league dropped two franchises and began play in 1917 as a four–team league before permanently folding before the season was completed. The Central Texas League began play on May 21, 1917 with the Ennis Tigers, Marlin Marlins, Mexia Gassers and Temple Governors as the four league members. The league president was Earl C. Smith. On June 1, 1917, the Temple Governors franchise, with a 4–4 record moved to become the Corsicana Athletics. On June 6, 1917 the Central Texas League permanently folded. The Mexia Gassers had the best overall record at 8–6 when the league folded. No playoffs were held.

Central Texas League teams

Standings & statistics

1914 Central Texas League

Season ended July 25.
Playoff: Waxahachie 3 games, West 2.

1915 Central Texas League

League disbanded July 24.

1916 Central Texas League

League disbanded July 16.

1917 Central Texas League

League disbanded June 6

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
alumni

Ross Youngs Ross Middlebrook "Pep" Youngs (April 10, 1897 – October 22, 1927) was an American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Pep", he played ten seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants (NL), New York Giants from 1917 through 19 ...

, (1915)

, Inducted 1972

References

External links

Central Texas League - Baseball Reference
{{Professional Baseball Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Texas Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States Sports leagues established in 1914 Sports leagues disestablished in 1917 1914 establishments in Texas 1917 disestablishments in Texas