The Spartanburg Peaches were 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 ...

franchise based in

Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in South Carolina, 11th ...

. From 1946 to 1955, the "Peaches" teams played exclusively as members of the Class B level

Tri-State League The Tri-State League was the name of six different circuits in American minor league baseball. History The first league of that name played for four years (1887–1890) and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia. The second league ...

, capturing league pennants in 1947 and 1953 and league championships in 1951 and 1955. The Peaches were a minor league affiliate of the

St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they ...

in 1946 and the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

from 1947 to 1955. The Spartanburg Peaches hosted their home minor league games at

Duncan Park Duncan Park is a baseball stadium, stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is primarily used for baseball and is currently the home of the Spartanburg High School baseball team and the Spartanburg Post 28 American Legion Baseball (ALB) team. ...

, which is still in use today after opening in 1926.

History

1946 to 1950 Tri-State League

Minor league baseball began in Spartanburg, North Carolina in 1904, when the "Spartanburg" team played the season as members of the independent Carolina Interstate League. The Peaches were preceded in minor league play by the 1939

Spartanburg Spartans The Spartanburg Spartans were a long running minor league baseball franchise based in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Spartanburg County, South Carolina, playing between 1907 and 1940. Also called the "Pioneers" and "Red Sox" for a short period ...

, who ended a tenure as members of the Class B level

South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its h ...

. In 1946, Spartanburg resumed minor league play as a minor league affiliate of the

, when the "Peaches" became members of the six-team Class B level Tri-State League, which reformed. The Anderson A's,

Asheville Tourists The Asheville Tourists are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. It is located in Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville teams have played under the Tourists moniker in different ...

Charlotte Hornets The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team ...

Knoxville Smokies The Knoxville Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The team was based in Kodak, Tennessee, a Knoxville suburb, fr ...

and Shelby Cubs teams joined the Spartanburg Peaches in beginning league play on April 24, 1946. The Spartanburg "Peaches" nickname corresponds with local agriculture history. There were peach orchards in the region in the era and the orchards continue today. The Peaches began play at

, which would remain the team's home ballpark for their duration. Duncan Park Stadium in 2016

The Peaches finished their first season of Tri-State League play in last place. With a 52–87 record in 1946, Spartanburg ended the season in sixth place in the six–team league regular season, finishing 41.0 games behind the first-place Charlotte Hornets. Spartanburg played the season under manager Ed Dancisak and did not qualify for the four team playoffs won by Charlotte. Pud Miller of Spartanburg led the Tri-State League with 19 home runs and pitcher Ralph Germano had 19 wins to lead the league. The 1947 Spartanburg Peaches became a minor league affiliate of the

and won the Tri-State League pennant, as the Class B level Tri-State League expanded to eight teams. After placing first with a 88–51 regular season record, finishing 4.0 games ahead of the second place Anderson Rebels, the Peaches qualified for the playoffs.

Kerby Farrell Major Kerby Farrell (September 3, 1913 – December 17, 1975) was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. He was a longtime minor league manager who spent a single season — 1957 — managing in Major League Baseball for the ...

managed the Peaches and began a tenure as the Spartanburg manager. In the first-round playoff series, the eventual champion Charlotte Hornets defeated the Peaches 4 games to 1. Pitcher James Kleckley of Spartanburg led the Tri-State League with 19 wins. In 1948 Tri-State League play, the Peaches finished in next to last place in the regular season. With Kerby Farrell returning as manager, Spartanburg continued play as a Cleveland Indians affiliate and ended the 1948 season with a record of 68–77, placing seventh in the standings of the eight-team league. The Peaches finished 26.5 games behind the first place Asheville Tourists and did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the Fayetteville Cubs. Spartanburg's Len Cross hit 29 home runs to lead the Tri-State League. Continuing play as an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, the 1949 Spartanburg Peaches advanced to the Tri–State League playoff finals. Spartanburg ended Tri–State League regular season with a record of 81–60, placing second in the eight-team league and finishing 2.0 games behind the first place

Florence Steelers The Florence Steelers were a minor league baseball team based in Florence, South Carolina. From 1948 to 1950, the "Steelers" played as members of the Class B (baseball), Class B level Tri-State League, winning the 1949 league championship. The St ...

as Kerby Farrell returned as manager. In the playoffs, the Peaches defeated the Anderson Rebels 3 games to 1 and advanced. In the finals, Florence won the championship by defeating the Spartanburg Peaches 4 games to 2 in the finals. In 1950, Spartanburg qualified for the 1950 Tri–State League playoffs, as Kerby Farrell again managed the team as a Cleveland Indians affiliate. The Peaches ended the 1950 Tri–State League regular season with a record of 80–63 to place third, finishing. 7.0 games behind the first place

. Spartanburg pitcher John Carmichael had 19 wins to lead the Tri-State League.

1951 to 1955 Tri-State League, two championships

Playing under a new manager, the Spartanburg Peaches captured the 1951 Tri-State League championship. Under manager Harry Griswold, Spartanburg continued as a Cleveland Indians affiliate and placed fourth with a 73–67 record in the regular season, finishing 27.0 games behind the first place Charlotte Hornets. In the first-round playoff series, the Peaches defeated the pennant winning Charlotte team 3 games to 1 and advanced. In the finals, the Spartanburg Peaches swept the Ashville Tourists 4 games to 0 to win the Tri-State League championship. Spartanburg's Albert Neal led the Tri-State League with both 44 home runs and 154 RBI. In 1952, Spartanburg continued play as a Cleveland Indians affiliate in the eight-team Class B level Tri-State League, qualified for the playoffs for a fourth straight season and advanced to the finals. The Peaches ended the Tri-State League regular season with a record of 83-55, placing third in the standings, 5.5 games behind the first place Gastonia Rockets. Merrill "Pinky" May served as the Spartanburg manager. In the first round of the four-team playoffs, the Spartanburg Peaches defeated the Gastonia three games to two. Advancing to the finals, the Peaches lost to the Charlotte Hornets 4 games to 1. Pitcher Bill Upton of Spartanburg had 21 wins to lead the Tri-state League. Spartanburg won the Tri-State League pennant, remaining a Cleveland Indians affiliate, as the 1953 Tri-State League reduced to six teams. Playing under manager

Jimmy Bloodworth James Henry Bloodworth (July 26, 1917 – August 17, 2002) was an American professional baseball second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators (1901–1960), Washington Senators (1937 and 1939–41), Detroi ...

, the Peaches won the regular season by a large margin, placing first the Tri-State League regular season standings with a 96–54 record, finishing 13.0 games ahead of the second place Ashville Tourists. In the first round of the four-team playoffs, the Charlotte Hornets swept Spartanburg in three games to end their season. The Peaches' Joe Fuller led the Tri-State League with both 228 total hits and 134 runs scored, while teammates James Finn Had 140 RBI and Lamar Bowen hit 26 home runs, both leading the league. Spartanburg pitcher Eugene Law had 24 wins to lead the Tri-State League. Defending their Tri-State League championship in 1954, the Spartanburg Peaches qualified for the playoffs for a sixth straight season, as the league continued as a six-team Class B level league. With a final regular season record of 66–72, the Peaches placed fourth. Jimmy Bloodworth remained as manager as the Cleveland Indians affiliate Peaches ended the regular season 19.0 games behind the first place Ashville Tourists. In the four-team playoffs, Spartanburg lost in first round to the

3 games to 2. In the final season of the Tri-State League, the 1955 league was reduced to four teams and the Spartanburg Peaches were the 1955 Tri-State League champions. With the Ashville Tourists,

Greenville Spinners The Greenville Spinners was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams located in Greenville, South Carolina between 1907 and 1962. Greenville teams played as members of the South Carolina League in 1907, Carolina Association (1908–19 ...

and

Rock Hill Chiefs The Rock Hill Chiefs were a minor league baseball team based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA between 1947 and 1955. The Rock Hill "Chiefs" teams played as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Tri-State League, winning the 1950 league ...

teams in the league, the Peaches played a final season as a Cleveland Indians affiliate and ended their last season with a record of 74–44, playing under manager

Spud Chandler Spurgeon Ferdinand "Spud" Chandler (September 12, 1907 – January 9, 1990) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed starting pitcher and played his entire career for the New York Yankees ...

. The Peaches won the league pennant, finishing 12.5 games ahead of second place Greenville in the overall standings. The Tri-State League played a split-season schedule in 1955, with Greenville winning the first half and Spartanburg winning the second half. The two teams then met in a final series, with Spartanburg winning the championship by sweeping Greenville in three games. Robert Jarvis of Spartanburg won the Tri-State batting title, hitting .361 with a league leading 157 total hits. Paul Jones had 18 home runs and scored 106 runs and William Kallas had 86 RBI, both league leaders. The Tri-State League did not return to play in 1956. After an eight-season absence, minor league baseball returned to Spartanburg in 1963, when the

Spartanburg Phillies Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 census, making it the 11th-most populous city in the state. The Office of Management and Budg ...

began a second tenure as members of the South Atlantic League, returning to play in the league. Shibe_Park_seats_at_Duncan_Park_Stadium

The ballpark

The Spartanburg Peaches teams hosted home Tri-State League games at

. The ballpark was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 2016. The Duncan Park Stadium hosted its first game on July 8, 1926, when the minor league Spartanburg Spartans defeated the

Macon Peaches The Macon Peaches was the predominant name of the American minor league baseball franchise representing Macon, Georgia, during the 20th century. Although Macon did not field teams during and immediately after World War I, the height of the Great ...

by the score of 5-1. In 1937, the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

, with six future members of the

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 ...

Lou Gehrig Henry Louis Gehrig ( ; June 19, 1903June 2, 1941), also known as Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was ...

Bill Dickey William Malcolm Dickey (June 6, 1907 – November 12, 1993) was an American professional baseball catcher and manager. He played in Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees for 17 seasons. Dickey managed the Yankees as a player-manager i ...

Lefty Gomez Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, Gomez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1930 and 1943 for the New York Yankees and the Washingto ...

Tony Lazzeri Anthony Michael Lazzeri (December 6, 1903 – August 6, 1946) was an American professional baseball second baseman during the 1920s and 1930s, predominantly with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was part of the famed " Murd ...

Red Ruffing Charles Herbert "Red" Ruffing (May 3, 1905 – February 17, 1986) was an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1924 through 1947. He played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, ...

and

Joe DiMaggio Joseph Paul DiMaggio (; born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, ; November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), nicknamed "Joltin' Joe", "the Yankee Clipper" and "Joe D.", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career ...

, played an exhibition game at Duncan Park as the team was returning from their spring training.

Negro league baseball The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relativel ...

teams played games Duncan Park, with

Hank Aaron Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. Considered one ...

Satchel Paige Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige (July 7, 1906 – June 8, 1982) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Negro league baseball and Major League Baseball (MLB). His career spanned five decades and culminated with his induction in ...

Larry Doby Lawrence Eugene Doby (December 13, 1923 – June 18, 2003) was an American professional baseball player in the Negro league baseball, Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB) who was the second black player to break baseball color line, bas ...

, and

Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first Black American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the Baseball color line, ...

playing in games at the ballpark. When

Shibe Park Shibe Park ( , rhymes with "vibe"), known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a ballpark located in Philadelphia. It was the home of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League (AL) from 1909 to 1954 and the Philadelphia Phillies of the Natio ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

was demolished, Duncan Park received 582 seats from the old stadium. The 102-acre Duncan Park was founded in 1926. Today, Duncan Park is still in use as a public park with the ballpark within. The park is located at 1000 Duncan Park Drive in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

* Al Aber (1948–1949) *

(1953–1954, MGR) * Dick Brown (1954) *

(1955, MGR) 4x MLB All-star *

Rocky Colavito Rocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito Jr. (August 10, 1933 – December 10, 2024) was an American professional baseball player, coach, and television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1955 to 1968, most prom ...

(1952)

Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball. Awards Most Valuable Player *George Burns (1926) *Lou Boudreau (1948) * Al Rosen (1953) Cy Young *Gaylord Perry (1972) *CC Sabathia (2 ...

Gordy Coleman Gordon Calvin "Gordy" Coleman (July 5, 1934 – March 12, 1994) was an American professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball with the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. He helped the Reds win the 1961 National Leagu ...

(1954) *

(1947–1950, MGR) * Jim Fridley (1949) *

Jerry Lynn Jeremy Lynn (born June 12, 1963), better known by the ring name Jerry Lynn, is an American retired professional wrestler signed with All Elite Wrestling as a producer and coach. Lynn has worked for professional wrestling promotion, promotions ...

(1946) *

Pinky May Merrill Glend "Pinky" May (January 18, 1911 – September 4, 2000) was an American professional baseball player and third baseman who appeared in 665 games in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies from through . He later became a l ...

(1952, MGR) MLB All-star * Pete Milne (1947) *

Billy Moran William Nelson Moran (November 27, 1933 – October 21, 2021) was an American professional baseball player. Primarily a second baseman, he played in the Major Leagues from 1958–59 and 1961–65 for the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels. ...

(1953) * Dolan Nichols (1953) *

Dan Osinski Daniel Osinski (November 17, 1933 – September 13, 2013), nicknamed "The Silencer", was an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The , right-hander was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season. ...

(1955) * Frankie Pack (1946) *

Ted Petoskey Frederick Lee "Ted" Petoskey (January 5, 1911 – November 30, 1996) was a three-sport athlete at the University of Michigan, a Major League Baseball player, a collegiate coach in three sports and an athletic director. At the University of Michi ...

(1946) * Stan Pitula (1951) * Bill Upton (1952) * Ken Wood (1946) *

George Zuverink George Zuverink (August 20, 1924 – September 8, 2014) was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of eight Major League Baseball seasons (1951–1952, 1954–1959) with the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Red ...

(1948) *

Spartanburg Peaches players Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 census, making it the 11th-most populous city in the state. The Office of Management and Budg ...

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Spartanburg - Baseball Reference
Defunct baseball teams in South Carolina Defunct Tri-State League teams Baseball teams established in 1946 Baseball teams disestablished in 1955 St. Louis Browns minor league affiliates Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates Spartanburg, South Carolina