Lone Star League
Encyclopedia
The Lone Star League was the name of three American
minor
professional baseball
leagues located in the state of Texas
during the 20th century. The leagues operated from 1927–1929 (as a Class D circuit), 1947–1948 (Class C) and 1977 (Class A).
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
farm systems. 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor
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...
professional baseball
Professional 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....
leagues located in the state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
during the 20th century. The leagues operated from 1927–1929 (as a Class D circuit), 1947–1948 (Class C) and 1977 (Class A).
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
East Texas League
The East Texas League was a Texas-based league in minor league baseball that existed on-and-off from 1916 to 1950.-1916:In 1916, the first East Texas League began play. A Class-D league, it folded on July 19 of that season. The "league champions," by default, were the Palestine Athletics and Lufkin...
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
Gulf States League
The Gulf States League was a Class A American minor baseball league that existed for one season — — and was based in the American states of Texas and Louisiana. Although its teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball farm systems, the GSL was an "official" minor circuit and a member...
of , inheriting Texas-based GSL franchises in Beeville
Beeville, Texas
Beeville is a city in Bee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,129 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bee County...
, Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, Harlingen
Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, United States, about from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than , and is the second largest city in Cameron County and the sixth largest in the Rio Grande Valley...
and Victoria
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
. 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
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...
farm systems. 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
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
Leo Mazzone
Leo Mazzone
Leo David Mazzone is a former pitcher in minor league baseball and coach in Major League Baseball. He began working with the Atlanta Braves' organization in 1979.-Early life:...
, 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.
1927–1929
- Corsicana Oilers
- Longview CannibalsLongview CannibalsThe Longview Cannibals were a semi-pro and minor league baseball team based in Longview, Texas, USA that existed on-and-off from 1895 to 1939. In 1912, they officially joined the professional South Central League. From 1923 to 1926, in 1931 and from 1936 to 1939, they played in the East Texas League...
- Marshall IndiansMarshall IndiansThe Marshall Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Marshall, Texas, USA that played from 1923 to 1927 in the East Texas League and Lone Star League . Notable players include Homer Peel, George Watkins and Chief Hogsett. The team finished with a winning record only once over the course...
- Mexia Gushers
- Palestine Pals (Champions, 1928)
- Paris Snappers/Colts/Hustlers/Rustlers
- Sherman Snappers
- Texarkana TwinsTexarkana TwinsThe Texarkana Twins were a South Central League , East Texas League , Lone Star League and Cotton States League baseball team based in Texarkana, Texas, USA...
- Tyler Trojans (Champions, 1927)
1947–1948
- Bryan Bombers
- Gladewater Bears
- Henderson OilersHenderson OilersThe Henderson Oilers were a minor league baseball team that played in the East Texas League in 1931, from 1936 to 1940 and in 1946; in the Dixie League in 1933; in the West Dixie League from 1934 to 1935 and from 1949 to 1950; and in the Lone Star League from 1947 to 1948...
- Jacksonville JaxJacksonville JaxThe Jacksonville Jax were a minor league baseball team based at Ragsdale Park in Jacksonville, Texas, USA. They played in the West Dixie League from 1934-1935, the East Texas League from 1936-1940, and again in 1946, the Lone Star League in 1947 and the Gulf Coast League in 1950. In 1934, they were...
- Kilgore Drillers (Champions, 1947–1948)
- Longview Texans
- Lufkin ForestersLufkin ForestersThe Lufkin Foresters were a minor league baseball team based in Lufkin, Texas that played in the East Texas League in 1946 and in the Lone Star League in 1947 and 1948.-Year-by-year record:...
- Marshall Comets/Tigers
- Tyler Trojans
1977
- Beeville Blazers
- Corpus Christi Seagulls
- Harlingen Suns
- McAllen Dusters
- Texas City Stars
- Victoria RosebudsVictoria RosebudsThe Victoria Rosebuds were a minor league baseball team in the Double-A Texas League located in Victoria, Texas, between 1958 and May 27, 1961, when the club was transferred to Ardmore, Oklahoma, because of attendance woes. Club owner Tom O'Connor, Jr., a local rancher, suffered a heart attack in...