Southeastern League

American baseball league(s)

Southeastern LeagueClassification| Independent (1897)
Class D (1910–1912)
Class B (1926–1930, 1932, 1937–1942, 1946–1950)
Independent (2002–2003)

|

Sport| Minor League Baseball
First season| 1897
Ceased| 2003
President| Judge J. G. Bloodworth (1897)
J. H. O'Neill (1910–1911)
H. W. Roberts (1912)
Cliff Green (1926-1930)
Roy Williams (1932)
Maurice I. Bloch (1936)
Stuart X. Stephenson (1937–1941)
Pat Moulton (1942)
Stuart X. Stephenson (1946–1950)
James Gamble (2002–2003)
No. of teams| 28
Country| United States of America
Most titles| 4
Pensacola
Mobile

The Southeastern League was the name of four separate baseball leagues in minor league baseball which operated in the Southeastern and South Central United States in numerous seasons between 1897 and 2003. Two of these leagues were associated with organized baseball; the third and most recent incarnation was an independent league that operated for two seasons in 2002–03.

## History

[edit]

### Class D league (1910–12)

[edit]

After playing a season in 1897, the Southeastern League reformed and lasted for three years, from 1910 through 1912. At Class D, it was considered on the lowest rung of the minor league ladder, and had six clubs located in the American states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Stung by the midseason collapse of two of its six franchises, this league disbanded on August 2, 1912.

### Class B league (1926–50)

[edit]

In 1926 a new, Class B Southeastern League took the field, with six teams — representing Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Florida; and Albany, Columbus and Savannah, Georgia. Although this league would be periodically shut down by the Great Depression and World War II, it continued as a Class B circuit, four levels below Major League Baseball, through 1950.

Its lineup of teams in its final season included the champion Pensacola Fliers, Meridian Millers, Montgomery Rebels, Jackson Senators, Vicksburg Billies, Selma Cloverleafs, Gadsden Pilots and Anniston Rams. Both Gadsden and Anniston withdrew from the league before the end of the season.

### Independent league (2002–03)

[edit]

The most recent version of the Southeastern League was an independent circuit, with member teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team.

The league began play in 2002 after the demise of the All-American Association. For its inaugural season, it placed teams in Montgomery, Ozark, and Selma, Alabama, along with Pensacola, Florida, Americus, Georgia, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Ozark Patriots and Americus Arrows franchises folded at mid-season. The Pensacola Pelicans won the inaugural league championship.

After completing the season, the league added two franchises for 2003. The league had high hopes for its new team in Macon, Georgia, and Houma, Louisiana, along with the already successful clubs in Montgomery and Pensacola. However, after just two games the Selma Cloverleafs folded, forcing the league to operate the club as a road team for the duration of the season under the name "Southeastern Cloverleafs." The Macon Peaches also fared a lot worse than expected. Still, the league completed the year, with Pensacola compiling the league's best mark at 42-23 and Baton Rouge defeating Pensacola, 3 games to 1, in the league championship series.

Ultimately, the league could not survive the arrival of affiliated baseball to Montgomery. The Orlando Rays of the Southern League, who had played at Walt Disney World for four years, became the Montgomery Biscuits and effectively drove the Wings out of town. In addition, the Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks of the Central Baseball League moved to Pensacola and assumed the Pelicans name. As a result, the league folded prior to the 2004 season.

## Cities represented

[edit]

### Member teams (2003)

[edit]

* Baton Rouge, LA: Baton Rouge Riverbats
* Houma, LA: Houma Hawks
* Macon, GA: Macon Peaches
* Montgomery, AL: Montgomery Wings
* Pensacola, FL:Pensacola Pelicans
* Selma, AL: Selma/Southeastern Cloverleafs

### 1910-1950

[edit]

* Albany, GA: Albany Nuts (1926-1928)
* Anniston, AL: Anniston Models (1911-1912); Anniston Rams (1938-1942, 1946-1950)
* Asheville, NC: Asheville Moonshiners (1910)
* Bessemer, AL: Bessemer Pipemakers (1912)
* Columbus, GA: Columbus Foxes (1926-1930, 1932)
* Decatur, AL: Decatur Twins (1911)
* Gadsden, AL: Gadsden Steel Makers (1910-1912); Gadsden Pilots (1938-1941, 1946-1948); Gadsden Chiefs (1949); Gadsden Pilots (1950)
* Huntsville, AL: Huntsville Westerns (1911); Huntsville Mountaineers (1912)
* Jackson, MS: Jackson Senators (1932, 1937-1942, 1946-1950)
* Jacksonville, FL: Jacksonville Tars (1926-1930)
* Johnson City, TN: Johnson City Soldiers (1910)
* Knoxville, TN: Knoxville Appalachians (1910)
* Macon, GA: Macon Peaches (1932)
* Meridian, MS: Meridian Scrappers (1937-1939); Meridian Bears (1940); Meridian Eagles (1941-1942); Meridian Peps (1946-1948); Meridian Millers (1949-1950)
* Mobile, AL: Mobile Red Warriors (1932; Mobile Shippers 1937-1942)
* Montgomery, AL: Montgomery Lions (1926-1930); Montgomery Capitals (1932); Montgomery Bombers (1937-1938); Montgomery Rebels (1939-1942, 1946-1950)
* Morristown, TN: Morristown Jobbers (1910)
* Pensacola, FL: Pensacola Pilots (1927); Pensacola Fliers (1928-1930); Pensacola Pilots (1937-1942); Pensacola Fliers (1946-1950)
* Rome, GA: Rome Romans (1910); Rome Hillies (1911); Rome Romans (1912)
* Savannah, GA: Savannah Indians (1926-1928)
* St. Augustine, FL: St. Augustine Saints (1926-1927)
* Selma, AL: Selma Centralites (1911-1912); Selma Selmians (1927); Selma Cloverleafs (1928-1930, 1932, 1937-1941, 1946-1950)
* Talladega, AL: Talladega Highlanders (1912)
* Tampa, FL: Tampa Krewes (1928); Tampa Smokers (1929-1930)
* Vicksburg, MS: Vicksburg Billies (1946-1949); Vicksburg Hill Billies (1950)
* Waycross, GA: Waycross Saints (1927)

## Standings & statistics

[edit]

### Year 1897

[edit]

1897 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Knoxville Indians | 22 | 10 | .688 | - | Frank Moffett
Atlanta Crackers | 19 | 10 | .655 | 1½ | Jack Sheridan
Chattanooga Blues | 7 | 26 | .212 | 15½ | A.M. Gifford
Columbus Babies | 3 | 6 | .333 | NA | James Smith Jr.
Asheville Moonshiners | 11 | 10 | .524 | NA | John Jobe

Columbus disbanded April 29; Asheville entered the league May 6

### Years 1910-1912

[edit]

1910 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Knoxville Appalachians | 50 | 30 | .625 | - | Frank Moffett
Morristown Jobbers | 46 | 37 | .554 | 5½ | E. Fisher / E. Sherrill
Johnson City Soldiers | 45 | 39 | .536 | 7 | Nat Taylor / Ed Garner
Asheville Moonshiners | 44 | 41 | .518 | 8½ | David Gaston
Rome Romans | 43 | 41 | .512 | 9 | Joe Patton / C.G. Milford
Gadsden Steel Makers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 30 | Paul Stevenson / J. Foreman
Baldorf
Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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|
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Roy Thrasher | Asheville/Rome | BA | .324
E.H. Graham | Morristown | Runs | 55
Roy Thrasher | Asheville/Rome | Hits | 96
Sephia Silvers | Knoxville | HR | 3
Roy Thrasher | Asheville/Rome | SB

1911 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Anniston Models | 68 | 39 | .636 | - | Walter Ford / Thomas Fisher
Gadsden Steel Makers | 62 | 42 | .596 | 4½ | King Bailey
Selma Centralites | 53 | 51 | .510 | 13½ | Bill May / C.L. Howell
Frank Anderson / Ralph Savidge
Rome Hillies | 47 | 57 | .452 | 19½ | Carlton Beusse / Don Burt
Huntsville Westerns | 46 | 56 | .451 | 19½ | V. Campbell / Bill Watkins
Newt Horn / Wild Bill Evans / Arthur Riggs
Decatur Twins | 37 | 68 | .352 | 30 | Don Burt / Gordon Hickman
Con Harlow
Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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Tommy Long | Gadsden | BA | .364 |  | Clarence Smith | Anniston | W | 24
Tommy Long | Gadsden | Runs | 97 |  | Clarence Smith | Anniston | SO | 248
Tommy Long | Gadsden | Hits | 149 |  | Sam Nelson | Anniston | PCT | .750 12-4
Tommy Long | Gadsden | HR | 18 |  |  |  |  |

1912 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Gadsden Steel Makers | 43 | 33 | .566 | - | Johnny Siegle
Selma Centralites | 42 | 35 | .545 | 1½ | Lindsay Stickney
Anniston Models | 41 | 35 | .539 | 2 | Thomas Fisher
Rome Romans | 37 | 36 | .507 | 4½ | Harry Matthews
Huntsville Mountaineers /
Talladega Highlanders | 33 | 44 | .429 | 10.5 | Arthur Riggs
Bessemer Pipemakers | 29 | 42 | .408 | 11½ | Gordon Hickman

Huntsville (24-29) moved to Talladega July 9; Bessemer disbanded July 14; Anniston disbanded July 19
Second half started July 22. The league disbanded August 2 with the following official second half standings: Gadsden (7-4), Talladega (5-5), Selma (5-6), and Rome (5-7).

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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|
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Earl Hanna | Selma | BA | .345
Earl Hanna | Selma | Runs | 62
Earl Hanna | Selma | Hits | 115
John Cochran | Bessemer / Anniston | HR | 12

### Years 1926-1930, 1932

[edit]

1926 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Columbus Foxes | 72 | 49 | .595 | - | Hardin Herndon
Montgomery Lions | 70 | 49 | .588 | ½ | Joe Brennan / Charles Leonard
Jacksonville Tars | 64 | 60 | .516 | 9½ | Bob Fisher / [Red Smith
Albany Nuts | 53 | 64 | .453 | 12 | George Stinson / Sumpter Clarke
St. Augustine Saints | 55 | 70 | .440 | 19 | Fred Graf / Bob Folmar
Savannah Indians | 49 | 71 | .408 | 22½ | Bill Robertsor / William Holland
Army Magness

Playoff: Columbus 4 games, Montgomery 1

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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John Kloza | Montgomery | BA | .380 |  | Lawton McWhirter | Montgomery | W | 19
Burney Acton | Montgomery | Runs | 103 |  | Paul Doss | Columbus | SO | 110
Henry Parrish | Columbus | Hits | 174 |  | Lawton McWhirter | Montgomery | PCT | .792 19-5
Henry Parrish | Columbus | HR | 28 |  |  |  |  |

1927 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Jacksonville Tars | 90 | 63 | .588 | - | Tommy McMillan
Montgomery Lions | 86 | 67 | .562 | 4 | Charles Leonard / Bill Pierre
Columbus Foxes | 80 | 71 | .530 | 9 | Hardin Herndon
Pensacola Pilots | 79 | 73 | .520 | 10½ | Bill Holden / Jim Johnston
Savannah Indians | 72 | 79 | .477 | 17 | Joe Brennan / Harry Snyder
Albany Nuts | 69 | 81 | .460 | 19½ | Sumpter Clarke
St. Augustine Saints / Waycross Saints | 66 | 85 | .437 | 23 | Bob Folmar / Roy Ellam
Selma Selmians | 65 | 88 | .425 | 25 | Fred Graf / Tex Hoffman

St. Augustine (42-53) moved to Waycross July 25

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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John Kloza | Albany | BA | .404 |  | Ben Cantwell | Jacksonville | W | 25
Henry Parrish | Columbus | Runs | 114 |  | Bill Clowers | Pensacola | SO | 172
Mel Simons | Montgomery | Hits | 198 |  | Ben Cantwell | Jacksonville | PCT | .833 25-4
Henry Parrish | Columbus | HR | 34 |  |  |  |  |

1928 Southeastern League

Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Pensacola Fliers | 92 | 54 | .630 | - | Jim Johnston
Montgomery Lions | 91 | 57 | .615 | 2 | Bill Pierre
Tampa Krewes | 72 | 76 | .486 | 21 | Roy Ellam
Jacksonville Tars | 71 | 78 | .477 | 22½ | Art Bourg / Hardin Herndon
Columbus Foxes | 61 | 84 | .421 | 30½ | Hardin Herndon / Bill White
Selma Cloverleafs | 59 | 83 | .415 | 31 | Polly McLarry / Zinn Beck
Albany Nuts | 62 | 60 | .508 | NA | Joe Schepner / Tommy McMillan
Savannah Indians | 49 | 65 | .430 | NA | Ray Schmandt

Albany and Savannah disbanded August 12

Playoff: Montgomery 4 games, Pensacola 2

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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Moose Clabaugh | Jacksonville | BA | .366 |  | Floyd Van Pelt | Montgomery | W | 26
Tom Pyle | Pensacola | Runs | 110 |  | Floyd Van Pelt | Montgomery | SO | 183
Tom Pyle | Pensacola | Hits | 197 |  | Ralph Stewart | Montgomery | ERA | 2.24
Parker Perry | Albany / Selma | RBI | 118 |  | Floyd Van Pelt | Montgomery | PCT | .703 26-11
Sam Stuart | Columbus | HR | 17 |  |  |  |  |

1929 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Tampa Smokers | 79 | 56 | .585 | - | Pop Kitchens
Selma Cloverleafs | 77 | 60 | .562 | 3 | Zinn Beck
Montgomery Lions | 73 | 64 | .533 | 7 | Roy Ellam
Jacksonville Tars | 68 | 68 | .500 | 9½ | Tommy McMillan / Rube Marquard
Columbus Foxes | 58 | 74 | .439 | 19.5 | Frank Kohlbecker / Bill White
Pensacola Fliers | 52 | 85 | .380 | 28 | Jim Johnston / Tom Pyle

Playoff: Montgomery 4 games, Tampa 3

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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Dick Tangeman | Pensacola | BA | .373 |  | Roy Appleton | Tampa | W | 26
Art Bourg | Jacksonville | Runs | 108 |  | Ray Phelps | Jacksonville | SO | 136
Tom Pyle | Pensacola | Hits | 190 |  | Edward Chambers | Montgomery / Pensacola | ERA | 2.16
Parker Perry | Selma | RBI | 107 |  | Roy Appleton | Tampa | PCT | .735 25-9
Parker Perry | Selma | HR | 12 |  |  |  |  |

1930 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Selma Cloverleafs | 94 | 43 | .686 | - | Zinn Beck
Tampa Smokers | 73 | 65 | .529 | 21½ | Pop Kitchens
Jacksonville Tars | 69 | 66 | .511 | 24 | Rube Marquard
Montgomery Lions | 61 | 73 | .455 | 31½ | Roy Ellam
Columbus Foxes | 63 | 79 | .444 | 34½ | Bill White / Bobby Lennox
Pensacola Pilots | 53 | 87 | .379 | 42½ | Tom Pyle / Ray Kennedy
Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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Rip Radcliff | Selma | BA | .369 |  | Henry Brewer | Selma | W | 25
Ralph Dunbar | Columbus | Runs | 104 |  | Thornton Lee | Tampa | SO | 145
Rip Radcliff | Selma | Hits | 199 |  | Roy Appleton | Tampa | ERA | 2.22
Rip Radcliff | Selma | RBI | 116 |  | Leo Mackey | Selma | PCT | .875 14-2
Rip Radcliff | Selma | HR | 15 |  |  |  |  |

1932 Southeastern League

Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers

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Mobile Red Warriors | 19 | 13 | .594 | - | Clay Hopper
Columbus Foxes | 19 | 14 | .576 | ½ | Jack Sheehan
Selma Cloverleafs | 16 | 16 | .500 | 3 | Art Phelan
Macon Peaches | 15 | 18 | .455 | 4½ | Sheery Smith
Jackson Senators | 15 | 18 | .455 | 4½ | Hank DeBerry
Montgomery Capitals | 13 | 18 | .419 | 5½ | Jim Johnston

The league folded May 21

Player statistics Player | Team | Stat | Tot |  | Player | Team | Stat | Tot

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Robert Schleischer | Selma | BA | .398 |  | Albert Fisher | Mobile | W | 6
Jack Sheehan
Clarence Beasley | Columbus
Columbus | Runs | 37 |  | Jackie Reid | Jackson | SO | 47
Buster Mills | Mobile | Hits | 47 |  | Albert Fisher | Mobile | ERA | 2.14
J.W. McKee | Columbus | RBI | 39 |  |  |  |  |
Fred Sington | Columbus | HR | 6 |  |  |  |  |

## References

[edit]

* Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3d edition. Durham, N.C: Baseball America, 2007.

* v
* t
* e

Southeastern League

* Americus Arrows
* Baton Rouge Riverbats
* Houma Hawks
* Macon Peaches
* Montgomery Wings
* Ozark Patriots
* Pensacola Pelicans
* St. Augustine Saints
* Selma Cloverleafs

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