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Longhorn League

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Longhorn League
ClassificationClass D (1947–1950)
Class C (1951–1955)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1947
Ceased1955
Replaced bySouthwestern League
PresidentHoward Green (1947–1948)
Hal Sayles (1949–1953)
Harry A. James (1954)
J.C. Cunningham (1955)
No. of teams15
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles2
Odessa Oilers
Midland Indians
Related
competitions		Rio Grande Valley League

The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from 1947 through 1955 in the Southwestern United States. In 1956, it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through 1957 before changing its name to the Sophomore League. Joe Bauman hit 72 home runs in 1954 to set the minor league record, while playing for the Roswell Rockets.

History

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The Longhorn League was a high–offense league that operated from 1947 through 1955. In 1956, it was renamed the Southwestern League. A league with only three teams ever affiliated with major league clubs, all for one year only, the league was home to veteran minor leaguers who were no longer of interest to major league teams. In two of the league's nine seasons, a Longhorn League player posted the top average in the minors – Jim Prince in 1947 and Tom Jordan in 1955. A .400 average or .700 slugging in this league was not uncommon.[1] The league is notable for Joe Bauman setting the all–time minor-league home run record in 1954 with 72 home runs.[2]

Cities represented

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Championship teams

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  • 1947 – Ballinger Cats
  • 1948 – Midland Indians
  • 1949 – Big Spring Broncs
  • 1950 – Odessa Oilers
  • 1951 – Odessa Oilers
  • 1952 – Midland Indians
  • 1953 – Carlsbad Potashers
  • 1954 – Artesia NuMexers
  • 1955 – San Angelo Colts

[1]

Standings & statistics

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1947 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Big Spring Broncs 81 48 .628 – 43,153 Pat Stasey
Midland Indians 75 55 .577 6.5 34,013 Harold Webb
Ballinger Cats 68 62 .523 13.5 42,662 Stuart Williams
Sweetwater Sports 63 67 .485 18.5 31,631 Rowland Murphy
Odessa Oilers 60 70 .462 21.5 38,415 Howie McFarland
Vernon Dusters 42 87 .326 39.0 30,758 Carl Kott

Playoffs: Big Springs 4 games, Sweetwater 3; Ballinger 4 games, Midland 3.
Finals: Ballinger 4 games, Big Springs 2.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
James Prince Midland BA .429 Jose Cendan Big Spring W 24
Orlando Moreno Big Spring Runs 186 Nippy Jones Ballinger SO 249
Pat Stasey
Bob Cowsar		 Big Spring
Sweetwater		 Hits 209 Ernie Nelson Midland ERA 3.87
Bob Cowsar Sweetwater RBI 176 Jose Cendan Big Spring PCT .828 24–5
Bob Cowsar Sweetwater HR 37

1948 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Big Spring Broncs 84 53 .613 – 59,503 Pat Stasey
Odessa Oilers 81 58 .583 4.0 61,193 Bill Davis / Merle Coleman
Midland Indians 79 60 .568 6.0 51,865 Harold Webb
Vernon Dusters 76 64 .543 9.5 50,250 Lloyd Rigby
Ballinger Cats 68 71 .489 17.0 34,413 Bill Atwood
Sweetwater Sports 64 76 .457 21.5 35,425 Clarence Gann
San Angelo Colts 63 77 .450 22.5 29,145 Robert Martin / Alvin Leedy
Del Rio Cowboys 42 98 .300 43.5 13,425 John Zanet /
Bill Lacy / Sam Harshany

Playoffs: Veron 4 games, Big Spring 2; Midland 4 games, Odessa 0.
Finals: Midland 4 games, Vernon 3.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pat Stasey Big Spring BA .389 Edward Jacome Vernon W 22
Wilfred Rheingans Odessa Runs 134 William Gann Sweetwater SO 207
Roberto Fernandez Big Spring Hits 203 Jerry Fahr Vernon ERA 1.96
Kenneth Peacock Sweetwater RBI 162 Eusebio Perez Big Spring PCT .833 15–3
Kenneth Peacock Sweetwater HR 34

1949 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Big Spring Broncs 94 45 .676 – 58,559 Pat Stasey
Midland Indians 74 66 .529 20.5 52,078 Harold Webb
Vernon Dusters 72 66 .522 21.5 50,386 Robert Huntley
San Angelo Colts 69 68 .504 24.0 83,245 Sam Harshany
Odessa Oilers 66 74 .471 28.5 60,426 Alex Monchak
Ballinger Cats 64 76 .457 30.5 44,815 Charlie English /
Stuart Williams / Lindsay Brown
Sweetwater Swatters 60 79 .432 34.0 33,770 Dick Gyselman / Kermit Lewis
Roswell Rockets 57 82 .410 37.0 43,584 Bob Crues / Potsy Allen

Playoffs: Big Spring 4 games, San Angelo 0; Midland 4 games, Vernon 1; Finals: Big Spring 4 games, Midland 0.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pat Stasey Big Spring BA .376 Julio Ramos Big Spring W 22
Alex Monchak Odessa Runs 147 Julio Ramos Big Spring SO 262
Carlos Pascual
Harry Scherting		 Big Spring
Vernon		 Hits 188 Humberto Garcia Big Spring ERA 1.77
Frank Mormino Odessa RBI 140 Julio Ramos Big Spring PCT .846 22–4
Alex Monchak Odessa HR 35

1950 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Odessa Oilers 97 55 .638 – 73,226 Alex Monchak
Roswell Rockets 89 62 .589 7.5 82,671 Tom Jordan
Big Spring Broncs 84 68 .553 13.0 49,302 Pat Stasey
Vernon Dusters 83 70 .542 14.5 46,099 Joe Berry
San Angelo Colts 82 71 .536 15.5 97,936 James McClure
Sweetwater Swatters 68 84 .447 29.0 39,773 John Bottarini / Dom Chiola
Midland Indians 66 87 .431 31.5 47,042 Harold Webb / Ralph Blair
Ballinger Cats 39 111 .260 57.0 27,902 Dutch Funderburk / Larry Gilchrist

Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Vernon 1; Big Spring 4 games, Roswell 0.
Finals: Odessa 4 games, Big Spring 3.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tom Jordan Roswell BA .391 Billy Russell Vernon W 25
Leo Eastham Odessa Runs 166 Ray Hill Roswell SO 195
Tom Jordan Roswell Hits 216 James McClure San Angelo ERA 2.54
Tom Jordan Roswell RBI 180 Ray Drake Roswell PCT .846 11–2
Tom Jordan Roswell HR 44

1951 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
San Angelo Colts 93 47 .664 – 115,118 Dutch Funderburk
Big Spring Broncs 82 57 .590 10.5 43,370 Pat Stasey
Roswell Rockets 79 61 .564 14.0 65,361 Alex Monchak
Odessa Oilers 76 63 .547 16.5 58,825 Jackie Sullivan / Robert Martin
Midland Indians 69 70 .497 23.5 52,797 Harold Webb / Zeke Bonura
Vernon Dusters 67 71 .486 25.0 36,686 Joe Berry / Homer Matney
Sweetwater Swatters 46 93 .331 46.5 32,430 Earl Harriman / Warren Sliter /
Joe Bratcher / Julian Morgan /
Julian Pressley
Artesia Drillers 45 95 .321 48.0 34,545 Hayden Greer

Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, San Angelo 1; Roswell 4 games, Big Spring 2.
Finals: Odessa 4 games, Roswell 2.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Pat Stasey Big Spring BA .387 Dean Franks Roswell W 30
Leo Eastham Odessa Runs 157 Marshall Epperson Vernon SO 167
John Tayoan San Angelo Hits 209 Mike Fornieles Big Spring ERA 2.85
Wilbur Cearley Roswell RBI 141 Ray Sims Odessa PCT .917 11–1
Wayne Wallace San Angelo HR 36

1952 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Odessa Oilers 87 53 .621 – 72,665 Robert Martin
Big Spring Broncs 86 54 .614 1.0 49,652 Pat Stasey
Midland Indians 85 55 .607 2.0 64,188 Zeke Bonura / Jay Haney
Artesia Drillers 75 65 .536 12.0 42,972 Earl Perry
Roswell Rockets 65 75 .464 22.0 52,583 Alex Monchak
San Angelo Colts 65 75 .464 22.0 76,892 Mark Christman
Sweetwater Braves 52 88 .371 35.0 37,060 Alex Carrasquel / John Morris
Vernon Dusters 45 95 .321 42.0 30,105 Chester Fowler /
Albert Richardson / Pat McLaughlin

Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Artesia 1; Midland 4 games, Big Spring 0; Finals: Midland 4 games, Odessa 2.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Charles Buck Sweetwater BA .382 Gilberto Guerra Big Spring W 26
Leo Eastham Odessa Runs 157 Gilberto Guerra Big Spring SO 225
Charles Buck Sweetwater Hits 210 Israel Ten Midland ERA 2.51
Joe Bauman Artesia RBI 157 Keith Nicholls Midland PCT .750 24–8
Joe Bauman Artesia HR 50

1953 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Carlsbad Potashers 80 52 .606 – 83,462 Pat McLaughlin
San Angelo Colts 77 52 .597 1.5 68,146 Rudy Briner
Midland Indians 73 58 .557 6.5 52,035 Jay Haney
Artesia Drillers 72 62 .537 9.0 40,042 Earl Perry / Joe Bauman
Roswell Rockets 60 70 .462 19.0 35,459 Pat Stasey
Odessa Oilers 53 78 .405 26.5 41,931 Robert Martin
Big Spring Broncs 35 57 .380 NA 24,089 Hack Miller / Joe Niedson
Lamesa Lobos /
Winters-Ballinger Eagles		 10 31 .244 NA 8,314 Harold Webb

Lamesa/Winters–Ballinger disbanded June 7; Big Spring disbanded July 31.
Playoffs: Carlsbad 4 games, Artesia 3; Midland 4 games, San Angelo 3; Finals: Carlsbad 4 games, Midland 2.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Ike Jackson Carlsbad BA .388 Audie Malone Carlsbad W 25
Joe Bauman Artesia Runs 135 Marshall Epperson Carlsbad SO 214
Ike Jackson Carlsbad Hits 190 Mario Saldana San Angelo ERA 3.46
Joe Bauman Artesia TB 376 Audie Malone Carlsbad PCT .806 25–6
Joe Bauman Artesia HR 53

1954 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Artesia Numexers 92 46 .667 – 54,450 John Gibson / Jimmy Adair
Roswell Rockets 87 51 .630 5.0 53,280 Pat Stasey
Carlsbad Potashers 87 52 .626 5.5 60,963 Pat McLaughlin
Midland Indians 80 59 .576 12.5 43,109 Rudy Briner
Big Spring Broncs 70 65 .519 20.5 42,078 Robert Martin
Odessa Oilers 54 82 .397 37.0 26,281 Jack Knight / Wayne Batson
San Angelo Colts 53 86 .381 39.5 72,727 Hillis Layne
Wichita Falls Spudders /
Sweetwater Spudders		 27 109 .199 64.0 20,101 Red McCarty

Wichita Falls moved to Sweetwater May 6. Playoffs: Artesia 4 games, Midland 2; Carlsbad 4 games, Roswell 2; Finals: Artesia 4 games, Carlsbad 2.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Joe Bauman Roswell BA .400 Robert Weaver Carlsbad W 21
Joe Bauman Roswell Runs 188 Julio Ramos Sweet/Mid SO 222
Ike Jackson Carlsbad Hits 215 Bartolo DiMaggio Artesia ERA 3.60
Joe Bauman Roswell RBI 224 Wayne Goodell Artesia PCT .720 18–7
Joe Bauman Roswell HR 72
Joe Bauman Roswell TB 456

1955 Longhorn League schedule

Team name W L PCT GB Attend Managers
San Angelo Colts 85 55 .607 – 62,446 Pat McLaughlin
Roswell Rockets 79 56 .585 3.5 39,911 Hayden Greer
Artesia Numexers 80 57 .584 3.5 28,880 Tom Jordan
Carlsbad Potashers 72 67 .518 12.5 46,152 Thurman Tucker
Midland Indians 67 72 .482 17.5 62,602 Bill Capps
Hobbs Sports 62 77 .446 22.5 46,101 Pat Stasey
Big Spring Cosden Cops 57 83 .407 28.0 27,918 Robert Martin
Odessa Eagles 51 86 .372 32.5 34,574 Tony York

Playoffs: San Angelo 4 games, Carlsbad 1; Roswell 4 games, Artesia 3.
Finals: San Angelo 4 games, Roswell 0.

Player statistics
Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Tom Jordan Artesia BA .407 Evelio Hernandez Hobbs W 23
Elias Osorio San Angelo Runs 142 Evelio Hernandez Hobbs SO 227
Tom Jordan Artesia Hits 221 Red Swanson Midland ERA 3.04
Tom Jordan Artesia RBI 159 Ed Locke Artesia PCT .741 20–7
Joe Bauman Roswell HR 46
Tom Jordan Artesia 2B 69

[1]

League Records 1947-1955

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Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
[ William Peeler Vernon GA 153 50 Jim Prince Midland BA .429 47
Felix Gomez Big Spring AB 642 50 Joe Bauman Roswell Runs 188 54
Tom Jordan Artesia Hits 221 55 Joe Bauman Roswell RBI 224 54
Tom Jordan Artesia 2B 69 55 Roman Loyko Odessa 3B 24 52
Joe Bauman Roswell HR 72 54 Joe Bauman Roswell EBH 110 54
Joe Bauman Roswell TB 456 54 Orlando Moreno Big Spring HS 43 47
Tony Guerrero Odes/San Ang Sac 22 50 Duane White Roswell SB 53 55
Leo Eastham Odessa BB 170 50 Joe Calderon Artesia SO 142 53
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Dean Franks Roswell W 30 51 Dean Franks Roswell CG 30 51
Lee Zamora Sweetwater BB 192 50 Julio Ramos Big Spring Pct .846, 22–4 49
Lloyd Wallis Vernon L 22 52 Roy Sims Odessa Pct .917, 11–1 51
Humberto Garcia Big Spring ERA 1.77 49 Eddie Jacome Midland IP 338 51
Billy Russell Vernon Sho 7 50 Julio Ramos Big Spring SO 262 49

[1]

Sources

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  • Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 1993. Language: English. Format: Paperback, 420pp. ISBN 0-9637189-1-6

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. ^ "When Joe Bauman Hit 72 Home Runs – Society for American Baseball Research".
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