The Lone Star League was the name of three
American minor professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Moder ...
leagues located in the state of
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 ...
during the 20th century. The leagues operated from 1927–1929 (as a Class D circuit), 1947–1948 (Class C) and 1977 (Class A).
History
Each of the three leagues was the result of a reorganization of a previous circuit. The Lone Star League of the 1920s was created by merging two Class D loops, the
East Texas League and the
Texas Association; it disbanded on May 16, 1929. The eight-member postwar Lone Star circuit of 1947–1948 was formed from a foundation of four teams that had played in the Class C East Texas League of 1946. After the demise of the LSL, the East Texas League was revived for the 1949–1950 seasons.
The Lone Star League was the successor of the failed
Gulf States League of , inheriting Texas-based GSL franchises in
Beeville,
Corpus Christi,
Harlingen and
Victoria. Like the GSL, it was an official Class A minor league, not an "
independent league," although its six teams were not affiliated with
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
farm system
In sports, a farm team (also referred to as farm system, developmental system, feeder team, or nursery club) is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful pl ...
s. The 1977 Lone Star League played an 80-game regular season schedule from June 10 to the end of August.
The defending Gulf States League champion
Corpus Christi Seagulls, managed by future Major League
pitching coach Leo Mazzone, dominated the Lone Star League, winning 53 of its 80 games and the South Division title. No championship playoff was held and the league folded after the 1977 campaign.
Member teams
*
Beeville, TX:
Beeville Blazers 1977
*
Bryan, TX:
Bryan Bombers 1947–1948
*
Corsicana, TX:
Corsicana Oilers 1927–1928
*
Corpus Christi, TX:
Corpus Christi Seagulls 1977
*
Gladewater, TX:
Gladewater Bears 1948
*
Harlingen, TX:
Harlingen Suns 1977
*
Henderson, TX:
Henderson Oilers 1947–1948
*
Jacksonville, TX:
Jacksonville Jax 1947
*
Kilgore, TX:
Kilgore Drillers 1947–1948
*
Longview, TX:
Longview Cannibals 1927;
Longview Texans 1947–1948
*
Lufkin, TX:
Lufkin Foresters 1947–1948
*
McAllen, TX:
McAllen Dusters 1977
*
Marshall, TX:
Marshall Indians 1927;
Marshall Comets 1947;
Marshall Tigers 1948
*
Mexia, TX:
Mexia Gushers 1927–1928
*
Palestine, TX:
Palestine Pals 1927–1929
*
Paris, TX:
Paris Snappers 1927;
Paris Colts/Rustlers 1928
*
Sherman, TX:
Sherman Snappers 1929
*
Texas City, TX:
Texas City Stars 1977
*
Texarkana, TX:
Texarkana Twins 1927–1929
*
Tyler, TX:
Tyler Trojans 1927–1929, 1947–1948
*
Victoria, TX:
Victoria Rosebuds 1977
Standings & statistics
1927 to 1929
1927 Lone Star League''
schedule Longview withdrew May 21. Marshall folded to even the number of teams. Both teams were disbanded May 22.
Finals: Tyler 4 games, Mexia 2.
1928 Lone Star League''
scheduleFinals: Palestine 4 games, Texarkana 1.
1927 Lone Star League''
scheduleTexarkana disbanded May 16. The league disbanded on the same date.
1947 to 1948, 1977
1947 Lone Star League''
schedulePlayoffs: Kilgore 4 games, Tyler 0;Marshall 4 games, Longview 1.
Finals: Kilgore 4 games, Marshall 2.
1948 Lone Star League''
schedulePlayoffs: Kilgore 4 games, Henderson 3; Longview 4 games, Tyler 3.
Finals: Kilgore 4 games, Longview 0.
1977 Lone Star League
Playoffs: None. Corpus Christi refused to play. Victoria and Texas City cancelled their series for a North Division championship.
References
*{{Cite book, editor1-last=Johnson, editor1-first=Lloyd, editor2-last=Wolff, editor2-first=Miles, title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, edition=2nd, location=Durham, N.C., publisher=Baseball America, year=1997, isbn=978-0-9637189-8-3
External links
1927–1929 Lone Star League pageat
Baseball Reference1947–1948 Lone Star League pageat
Baseball Reference1977 Lone Star League pageat
Baseball Reference
Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States
Baseball leagues in Texas
Sports leagues established in 1927
Sports leagues disestablished in 1977