Texas Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923 |
| Ceased | 1926 |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | United States |
| Last champion(s) | Palestine Pals (1926) |
| Most titles |
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The Texas Association was a sports league of minor league baseball teams in Texas that operated from 1923 through 1926.[1]: 113 An earlier league, initially known as the Texas-Southern League, used the same name from mid-1896 through 1899.[1]: 108–109, 171 History of the Texas Association during the 1920s follows.
The league operated in 1923 with a six-team format. The Austin Rangers, Corsicana Oilers, Marlin Bathers, Mexia Gushers, Sherman Twins,[2] and Waco Indians made up the league that year.[1]: 291 While Mexia had the best win–loss record for the entire season, the league played a split season, with Sherman winning the first half, and Austin winning the second half.[1]: 291 Sherman and Austin played a six-game playoff series, which ended in a tie at three games each.[2][1]: 291
The Sherman squad did not return for 1924 and was replaced by the Temple Surgeons; all other teams returned.[1]: 295 Corsicana finished in first place during both halves of the split season, thus no playoffs were held.[1]: 295
For 1925, the Austin Rangers became the Austin Senators, while the Waco club did not return and was replaced by the Terrell Terrors; all other teams returned.[1]: 298 On May 13, Marlin moved to Palestine to become the Palestine Pals. Corsicana again won both halves of a split season.[1]: 298 Minor league legend Smead Jolley played for Corsicana that year,[3] while 12-year major league veteran Boom-Boom Beck suited up for the Marlin/Palestine club.[4]
1926 was the final year of the Texas Association, with all six teams returning from the previous year.[1]: 303 Austin won the first half of the split season and Palestine won the second half.[1]: 303 These two teams played a postseason series, won by Palestine, three games to none.[1]: 303
No effort was made to bring the league back for 1927.[5] Teams of three cities moved to the newly formed Lone Star League (Palestine, Mexia and Corsicana) while three others ceased operations (Austin, Terrell, and Temple).[1]: 99–100 Teams based in Austin and Temple later played in the Big State League of the late 1940s and early 1950s, while Terrell has yet to field another team.[1]: 99–100