Clarksdale Planters
Encyclopedia
The Clarksdale Planters are a defunct minor league baseball
team that was based in Clarksdale, Mississippi
. They played under different names over their 13 nonconsecutive seasons, including the Ginners (1934–1936, 1941), the Red Sox (1937–1940), and finally the Planters (1947–1951). The team started out in the East Dixie League
from 1934 to 1935, and later joined the Cotton States League
from 1937 to 1941, and 1947 to 1951. Clarksdale ceased to have a team for five seasons (1942–1946). However, the team returned in 1947 under the Planters name. The team was classified as a Class-C team for all of their 13 years. Clarksdale was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians
for one season (1936), and the Boston Red Sox
for two seasons (1938–1939).
history stretching back to 1904. That season, the Clarksdale baseball club of the Delta League began its one year run. They were classified as Class D. The team featured Harry Kane
and Beals Becker
who were the only two players on the club that played or went on to play in Major League Baseball
. After the 1904 season, the Clarksdale club ceased operations. In 1913, Clarksdale included in Cotton States League, who at this time were classified as a Class-D league. The team played under the name the "Swamp Angels" and featured three players, Clarence Kraft
, John Merritt
, and Claude Thomas, who had or went on to have major league experience. Like the first professional team in Clarksdale, the Swamp Angels folded after one season. In 1921, Clarksdale was again a home to a professional baseball team. This time the Clarksdale Cubs would play for three seasons before folding. Their first season, 1921, the Cubs played in the Mississippi State League. The next two seasons, however, the Cubs played in the Cotton States League. Over their three year stint, the Cubs were classified as a Class-D team. The 1921 team featured major leaguers Happy Foreman
and Earl Webb
.
and Doc Land
, who both played limited time in the major leagues over their careers, tied for the most hits
on the Ginners with 147. Doc Land led the team in doubles
with 32, Carl Fairly led the team in triples with 12, and Frank Myers led the team in home runs with five. Pitching
leaders included George Mills and Roy Mackey in wins
with 10, Mackey in losses, and Mackey in innings pitched
with 209. Until 1936, the Clarksdale club played as the Planters, however, in 1937 the team was renamed the Red Sox.
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...
team that was based in Clarksdale, Mississippi
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 20,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coahoma County....
. They played under different names over their 13 nonconsecutive seasons, including the Ginners (1934–1936, 1941), the Red Sox (1937–1940), and finally the Planters (1947–1951). The team started out in the East Dixie League
East Dixie League
East Dixie League was the name of an American professional baseball league. It operated during two seasons from 1934 to 1935....
from 1934 to 1935, and later joined the Cotton States League
Cotton States League
The Cotton States League name was used five different times in baseball history. The first Cotton States League ran from 1902 through 1908 as a class D league. After the league shut down, another Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six '08 members returning for the new...
from 1937 to 1941, and 1947 to 1951. Clarksdale ceased to have a team for five seasons (1942–1946). However, the team returned in 1947 under the Planters name. The team was classified as a Class-C team for all of their 13 years. Clarksdale was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for one season (1936), and the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for two seasons (1938–1939).
Early history
Clarksdale, Mississippi has a professional baseballProfessional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
history stretching back to 1904. That season, the Clarksdale baseball club of the Delta League began its one year run. They were classified as Class D. The team featured Harry Kane
Harry Kane (baseball)
Harry Kane was a professional baseball player. He played from 1902-1932. He was nicknamed Klondike.-External links:...
and Beals Becker
Beals Becker
David Beals Becker was an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1915.-Biography:Becker was born in El Dorado, Kansas in 1886. He attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri and is the only Wentworth graduate ever to play major league baseball...
who were the only two players on the club that played or went on to play in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. After the 1904 season, the Clarksdale club ceased operations. In 1913, Clarksdale included in Cotton States League, who at this time were classified as a Class-D league. The team played under the name the "Swamp Angels" and featured three players, Clarence Kraft
Clarence Kraft
Clarence Otto Kraft was a Major League Baseball player. He played in three games for the Boston Braves in , but only appeared once in the field . He went 1-for-3 at the plate with one strikeout....
, John Merritt
John Merritt (baseball)
John Howard Merritt was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played one game for the New York Giants in 1913.-External links:...
, and Claude Thomas, who had or went on to have major league experience. Like the first professional team in Clarksdale, the Swamp Angels folded after one season. In 1921, Clarksdale was again a home to a professional baseball team. This time the Clarksdale Cubs would play for three seasons before folding. Their first season, 1921, the Cubs played in the Mississippi State League. The next two seasons, however, the Cubs played in the Cotton States League. Over their three year stint, the Cubs were classified as a Class-D team. The 1921 team featured major leaguers Happy Foreman
Happy Foreman
August G. Foreman was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played between and for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox...
and Earl Webb
Earl Webb
William Earl Webb was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball, playing from 1925 to 1933. He played for five teams, including the Boston Red Sox for three years. He was born in White County, Tennessee and died in Jamestown, Tennessee. In 1931, while playing for the Red Sox, he hit a...
.
Ginners and Red Sox
In 1934, the Baton Rouge Red Sticks, who were playing in the East Dixie League, moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi during the season and the team was renamed the "Ginners". That season, the team went 47–82. Bill MarshallBill Marshall (baseball)
William Henry Marshall was an American professional baseball second baseman. He batted and threw right-handed. Marshall played seven games in Major League Baseball: one for the Boston Red Sox in 1931 and six for the Cincinnati Reds in 1934. In 1931, he was the fourth youngest player in the...
and Doc Land
Doc Land
William Gilbert Land was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He played one game for the Washington Senators, appearing as their starting center fielder in the last game of the season, filling in for Sam West.-External links:...
, who both played limited time in the major leagues over their careers, tied for the most hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
on the Ginners with 147. Doc Land led the team in doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
with 32, Carl Fairly led the team in triples with 12, and Frank Myers led the team in home runs with five. Pitching
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...
leaders included George Mills and Roy Mackey in wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
with 10, Mackey in losses, and Mackey in innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
with 209. Until 1936, the Clarksdale club played as the Planters, however, in 1937 the team was renamed the Red Sox.
Year-by-year results
| Season | Manager(s) | Record | MLB affiliate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | — | 47–82 | — |
| 1935 | Harry Strohm | — | — |
| 1936 | Harry Strohm | — | Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona... |
| 1937 | Red Barnes Red Barnes Emile Deering "Red" Barnes was an American professional baseball outfielder with Washington Senators and the Chicago White Sox from -. He had a .269 career batting average in 286 career games. He was born in Suggsville, Alabama and died in Mobile, Alabama.He was the cousin of former major leaguer... |
— | — |
| 1938 | Nemo Leibold Nemo Leibold Harry Loran "Nemo" Leibold was an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1913-1925. He played for the Cleveland Naps, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Senators... |
— | Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"... |
| 1939 | Leroy Jones | — | Boston Red Sox |
| 1940 | Leroy Jones | — | — |
| 1941 | Leroy Jones | 48–88 | — |
| 1947 | Calvin Chapman Calvin Chapman Calvin Louis Chapman was an infielder and outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Cincinnati Reds.-External links:... |
— | — |
| 1948 | Chet Morgan Chet Morgan Chester Collins Morgan , nicknamed "Chick," was a Major League Baseball player for the Detroit Tigers in 1935 and 1938 . He was the starting center fielder for the Tigers in 1938. He played in 88 games for the Tigers in his career and had a batting average of .277 with a .330 on base percentage... |
— | — |
| 1949 | Chet Morgan, Clinton Dahlberg | — | — |
| 1950 | Chet Morgan | 62–76 | — |
| 1951 | Herschel Bobo, Joseph Kopach,Jim Pruett Jim Pruett James Calvin Pruett was a professional baseball player. He was a catcher over parts of two seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics. For his career, he compiled a .231 batting average in 13 at-bats.... , Dolph Regelsky |
53–87 | — |