Beaumont Exporters
Encyclopedia
The Beaumont Exporters were a franchise in American
minor league baseball
that played in the Texas League
from 1920-49 and 1953-55. The city of Beaumont, Texas
, was also represented in the Texas League from 1912-17 and 1919 as the Oilers, from 1950-52 as the Roughnecks, and from 1983-86 as the Golden Gators
. The Exporters played at Magnolia Ballpark
through 1929 and at Stuart Stadium
thereafter.
The Exporters languished near the bottom of the Texas circuit during the 1920s, but when the team became a farm system affiliate of the Detroit Tigers
in the 1930s, its fortunes changed. The 1932 club, featuring future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg
, won 100 games and swept the Dallas Steers
in the playoffs. Greenberg led the league with 39 home runs and 123 runs scored
, while pitcher
Schoolboy Rowe
— a Texan who would star with Greenberg on the 1934
-35
Tiger pennant-winners — posted a league-best 2.34 earned run average
. The Exporters won another championship in 1938, behind pitcher Dizzy Trout
, the league's MVP. In 1942, the team won the regular-season pennant, but fell in seven games in the playoffs. Then the entire Texas League suspended operations (1943-45) during World War II
.
After the war ended, the New York Yankees
replaced Detroit as the Exporters' parent club. A series of last-place teams was followed in 1950 with a championship club managed by Rogers Hornsby
— but it was known as the Roughnecks that season.
The Exporters name was restored in 1953, but no more titles followed. As an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs
(1954) and Milwaukee Braves
(1955), it trailed the other seven TL teams in attendance. The Exporters moved to Austin
in 1956.
The Golden Gators of 1983-86 were the transplanted Amarillo Gold Sox
, a farm team of the San Diego Padres
. They moved to Wichita, Kansas
, as the Wichita Pilots
in 1987.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
that played in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
from 1920-49 and 1953-55. The city of Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, was also represented in the Texas League from 1912-17 and 1919 as the Oilers, from 1950-52 as the Roughnecks, and from 1983-86 as the Golden Gators
Beaumont Golden Gators
The Beaumont Golden Gators were a minor league baseball team in the double A Texas League from 1983 to 1986. Owned by insurance man Ted Moor, the team was an affiliate of the San Diego Padres for their entire tenure...
. The Exporters played at Magnolia Ballpark
Magnolia Ballpark
Magnolia Ballpark was a ballpark located in Beaumont, TX and home to the Texas League Beaumont Exporters from 1920 to 1932. The right field foul line measured at 260 feet. The ballpark was located on Magnolia Ave...
through 1929 and at Stuart Stadium
Stuart Stadium
Stuart Stadium was a ballpark located in Beaumont, TX and home to the Texas League Beaumont Exporters from 1929 to 1955 except for 1943-1945 when the Texas League ceased operations during World War II. -Exporters' Success:...
thereafter.
The Exporters languished near the bottom of the Texas circuit during the 1920s, but when the team became a farm system affiliate of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the 1930s, its fortunes changed. The 1932 club, featuring future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, won 100 games and swept the Dallas Steers
Dallas Rangers
The Dallas Rangers were a high-level minor league baseball team located in Dallas, Texas, from 1958-64. The team was known by the Dallas Rangers name in 1958-59 and 1964 and as the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers from 1960-63...
in the playoffs. Greenberg led the league with 39 home runs and 123 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, while pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
— a Texan who would star with Greenberg on the 1934
1934 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Detroit Tigers *All-Star Game, July 10 at Polo Grounds: American League, 9-7-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player:**American League: Mickey Cochrane, Detroit Tigers, C...
-35
1935 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game, July 8 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 4-1-Other champions:*Negro League Baseball All-Star Game, August 11 at Comiskey Park: West, 11-8...
Tiger pennant-winners — posted a league-best 2.34 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. The Exporters won another championship in 1938, behind pitcher Dizzy Trout
Dizzy Trout
Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
, the league's MVP. In 1942, the team won the regular-season pennant, but fell in seven games in the playoffs. Then the entire Texas League suspended operations (1943-45) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the war ended, the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
replaced Detroit as the Exporters' parent club. A series of last-place teams was followed in 1950 with a championship club managed by Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
— but it was known as the Roughnecks that season.
The Exporters name was restored in 1953, but no more titles followed. As an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1954) and Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1955), it trailed the other seven TL teams in attendance. The Exporters moved to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in 1956.
The Golden Gators of 1983-86 were the transplanted Amarillo Gold Sox
Amarillo Gold Sox
The Amarillo Gold Sox was the name of a minor league baseball franchise that represented the city of Amarillo, Texas, in the Class D West Texas-New Mexico League, the Class A Western League and the Class AA Texas League at various times between 1939 and 1982....
, a farm team of the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. They moved to Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, as the Wichita Pilots
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
in 1987.
Notable players
- Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, Baseball Hall of Famerhttp://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=greenb001hen
External links
- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/4430/hebert/stadium.htm&date=2009-10-25+06:23:12