Cotton States League
The Cotton States League was a minor league baseball league that played between 1902 and 1955.
The Cotton States League formed on five separate occasions in its history. The first Cotton States League played from 1902 through 1908 as a Class D level league. After the league did not play in 1909, the Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six 1908 members returning for the new campaign and three new teams joining them. The league played for four seasons, through 1913 before being interrupted by World War I.
In 1922, the Cotton States League reformed after a nine-year hiatus. The 1923 league folded during the season on July 24, 1923, before resuming the next year. The league played for 11 seasons before folding on July 13, 1932, during the Great Depression.
The next revival of the Cotton States League took place in 1936, and the league played six seasons before folding, as many other minor leagues did when World War II began. This time, it operated as a Class C level league. Following the war, the league was resumed play in 1947 continuing play as Class C level league. The Cotton States League played through the 1955 season before permanently folding following its fifth incarnation in less than half a century. In 1953 the Cotton States League tried to evict the Hot Springs Bathers for attempting to include a black player, Jim Tugerson.
Cotton States League timeline
Cities represented/Teams/Seasons- Alexandria, Louisiana: Alexandria Reds
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Baton Rouge Cajuns ; Baton Rouge Essos ; Baton Rouge Highlanders ; Baton Rouge Standards ; Baton Rouge Senators
- Brookhaven, Mississippi: Brookhaven Truckers
- Clarksdale, Mississippi: Clarksdale Swamp Angels : Clarksdale Cubs ; Clarksdale Ginners ; Clarksdale Red Sox ; Clarksdale Planters
- Cleveland, Mississippi: Cleveland A's
- Columbus, Mississippi: Columbus Discoverers ; Columbus Joy Riders
- DeQuincy, Louisiana: DeQuincy Railroaders
- El Dorado, Arkansas: El Dorado Lions ; El Dorado Oilers
- Greenville, Mississippi: Greenville Cotton Pickers ; Greenville Grays ; Greenville Bucks ; Greenville Swamp Angels ; Greenville Bucks ; Greenville Buckshots ; Greenville Tigers
- Greenwood, Mississippi: Greenwood Scouts ; Greenwood Chiefs ; Greenwood Giants Greenwood Dodgers ; Greenwood Crackers ; Greenwood Choctaws
- Gulfport, Mississippi: Gulfport Crabs ; Gulfport Tarpons
- Gulfport, Mississippi/Biloxi, Mississippi: Gulfport-Biloxi Crabs
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi: Hattiesburg Tar Heels ; Hattiesburg Woodpeckers ; Hattiesburg Timberjacks ; Hattiesburg Hubmen ; Hattiesburg Hubbers ; Hattiesburg Pinetoppers
- Helena, Arkansas: Helena Seaporters
- Hot Springs, Arkansas: Hot Springs Bathers
- Jackson, Mississippi: Jackson Senators ; Jackson Tigers ; Jackson Drummers ; Jackson Lawmakers ; Jackson Senators ; Jackson Mississippians ; Jackson Senators
- Lake Charles, Louisiana: Lake Charles Newporters
- Laurel, Mississippi: Laurel Lumberjacks ; Laurel Cardinals
- Marshall, Texas: Marshall Tigers
- Meridian, Mississippi: Meridian White Ribbons ; Meridian Metropolitans ; Meridian Mets ; Meridian Millers
- Mobile, Alabama: Mobile Sea Gulls
- Monroe, Louisiana: Monroe Hill Citys ; Monroe Municipals ; Monroe Drillers ; Monroe Twins ; Monroe White Sox ; Monroe Sports
- Natchez, Mississippi: Natchez Indians ; Natchez Hill Climbers ; Natchez Indians
- New Orleans, Louisiana: New Orleans Little Pels
- Opelousas, Louisiana: Opelousas Orphans
- Pensacola, Florida: Pensacola Snappers
- Pine Bluff, Arkansas: Pine Bluff Lumbermen ; Pine Bluff Judges ; Pine Bluff Cardinals ; Pine Bluff Judges
- Port Arthur, Texas: Port Arthur Refiners
- Selma, Alabama: Selma Centralites
- Texarkana, Texas: Texarkana Twins
- Vicksburg, Mississippi: Vicksburg Hill Billies
- Yazoo City, Mississippi: Yazoo City Zoos ; Yazoo City
Championship teams
First stage (1902–1908)
- 1902 – Natchez Indians
- 1903 – Baton Rouge Cajuns
- 1904 – Pine Bluff Lumbermen
- 1905 – Greenville Cotton Pickers
- 1906 – Mobile Sea Gulls
- 1907 – Mobile Sea Gulls
- 1908 – Jackson Senators
- 1909 – ''The league did not play''
Second stage (1910–1913)
- 1910 – Greenwood Scouts
- 1911 – Vicksburg Hill Billies
- 1912 – Vicksburg Hill Billies *
- 1913 – Jackson Lawmakers
- ''From 1914 through 1921 the league did not play''
Third stage (1922–1932)
- 1922 – Greenwood Indians; Playoff: Greenwood defeated Meridian Mets, 4 games to 0
- 1923 – Greenville Swamp Angels No playoff after the league disbanded
- 1924 – Hattiesburg Hubmen
- 1925 – Meridian Mets
- 1926 – Hattiesburg Pinetoppers
- 1927 – Jackson Red Sox; Playoff: Jackson defeated Monroe Drillers, 4 games to 1
- 1928 – Jackson Red Sox; Playoffs: Hattiesburg Pinetoppers defeated Meridian, 4 games to 1; Vicksburg Hill Billies defeated Jackson, 4 games to 2
- 1929 – Alexandria Reds; Playoffs: El Dorado Lions defeated Laurel Cardinals, 4 games to 1; Jackson Red Sox defeated Alexandria, 4 games to 1
- 1930 – Pine Bluff Judges; Playoff: Pine Bluff Judges defeated El Dorado, 4 games to 0
- 1931 – Jackson Red Sox; Playoff: Jackson defeated Vicksburg, 4 games to 0
- 1932 – Baton Rouge Senators; No playoff after the disbanding of the league
- ''From 1933 through 1935 the league did not play''
Fourth stage (1936–1941)
- 1936 – Greenwood Giants; Playoffs: El Dorado Lions defeated Greenwood, 3 games to 1; Greenville Bucks beat Pine Bluff, 3 games to 1
- 1937 – Pine Bluff Judges; Playoffs: Pine Bluff beat Greenville, 4 games to 1; El Dorado defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 1
- 1938 – Greenville Bucks; Playoffs: Monroe White Sox defeated beat Helena, 3 games to 1; Greenville defeated El Dorado, 3 games to 1
- 1939 – Monroe White Sox; Playoffs: Hot Springs Bathers defeated Monroe, 3 games to 2; Greenville Buckshots defeated Clarksdale, 3 games to 1
- 1940 – Monroe White Sox; Playoffs: Monroe defeated Greenville, 3 games to 1; El Dorado Oilers defeated Helena, 3 games to 1
- 1941 – Monroe White Sox; Playoffs: Vicksburg Hill Billies defeated Monroe, 3 games to 2; Hot Springs Bathers defeated Greenville, 3 games to 0
- ''From 1942 through 1946 the league did not play''
Fifth stage (1947–1955)
- 1947 – Greenwood Dodgers; Playoffs: Greenwood defeated Clarksdale Cubs, 3 games to 1; Greenville Bucks defeated El Dorado, 3 games to 2
- 1948 – Greenwood Dodgers; Playoffs: Greenwood defeated Natchez, 3 games to 0; Hot Springs Bathers defeated Clarksdale, 3 games to 0
- 1949 – Greenwood Dodgers; Playoffs: Natchez Indians defeated El Dorado, 4 games to 3; Pine Bluff Cardinals defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 2
- 1950 – Pine Bluff Judges; Playoffs: Hot Springs Bathers defeated Monroe, 4 games to 2; Natchez Indians defeated Pine Bluff, 4 games to1
- 1951 – Monroe Sports; Playoffs: Natchez Indians defeated Monroe, 4 games to 2; Pine Bluff Judges defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 3
- 1952 – Meridian Millers; Playoffs: Meridian defeated Monroe, 4 games to 2; Natchez Indians defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 2
- 1953 – Meridian Millers; Playoffs: Meridian defeated Jackson, 4 games to 2; El Dorado Oilers defeated Pine Bluff, 4 games to 0
- 1954 – Greenville Tigers; Playoffs: Greenville defeated Monroe, 4 games to 1; El Dorado Oilers defeated Meridian, 4 games to 3
Standings & statistics
1902 to 1908
1902 Cotton States League| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Natchez Indians | 55 | 51 | .519 | — | George Blackburn |
| Baton Rouge Cajuns | 53 | 54 | .495 | 2½ | Robert Pender |
| Vicksburg Hill Climbers | 52 | 53 | .495 | 2½ | Jesse Reynolds |
| Greenville Cotton Pickers | 53 | 55 | .491 | 3 | Bell Hebron |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Howard Murphy | Baton Rouge | BA | .400 |
1903 Cotton States League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Baton Rouge Red Sticks | 74 | 42 | .638 | — | Robert Pender |
| Vicksburg Hill Billies | 70 | 46 | .603 | 4 | Billy Earle |
| Natchez Indians | 59 | 59 | .500 | 16 | Albert Haupt |
| Pine Bluff Lumbermen | 54 | 60 | .474 | 19 | George Blackburn / Frank Christian |
| Greenville Grays | 53 | 64 | .453 | 21½ | William A. Smith |
| Monroe Hill Citys | 36 | 75 | .324 | 35½ | Henry Hunt / Con Strothers Jim McDermott |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| William A. Smith | Greenville | BA | .308 | Howie Camnitz | Vicksburg | W | 26 | |
| Ed Zinram | Natchez | Hits | 144 | Howie Camnitz | Vicksburg | SO | 294 | |
| Howie Camnitz | Vicksburg | Pct | .788; 26–7 |
1904 Cotton States League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Pine Bluff Lumbermen | 73 | 43 | .629 | — | Bert Blue / George Reed |
| Vicksburg Hill Climbers | 68 | 48 | .586 | 5 | Billy Earle |
| Monroe Hill Citys | 62 | 56 | .525 | 12 | George Leidy |
| Greenville Cotton Pickers | 51 | 61 | .455 | 20 | Bobby Rothermel |
| Baton Rouge Red Sticks | 49 | 63 | .438 | 22 | Robert Pender |
| Natchez Indians | 42 | 74 | .362 | 31 | George Blackburn / William Breitenstein |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| Howard Murphy | Pine Bluff | BA | .343 | Robert Lee Vernuelle | Pine Bluff | W | 24 | |
| Ollie Gfroerer | Pine Bluff | Runs | 102 | Gordon Hickman | Monroe | W | 24 | |
| Howard Murphy | Pine Bluff | Hits | 156 | Ross Helm | Monroe | SO | 221 | |
| Forrest Plass | Vicksburg | SB | 72 | Walt Deaver | Pine Bluff | Pct | .762; 16–5 |
1905 Cotton States League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Greenville Cotton Pickers | 50 | 25 | .667 | — | George Reed |
| Meridian White Ribbons | 49 | 35 | .583 | 5½ | Tom Stouch |
| Pine Bluff Lumbermen | 42 | 31 | .575 | 7 | Guy Sample |
| Jackson Senators | 46 | 37 | .554 | 8 | Tommy Reynolds / Ace Stewart |
| Baton Rouge Cajuns | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9½ | Wilson Matthews |
| Vicksburg Hill Climbers | 32 | 43 | .427 | 18 | Frank Belt / Kid Keenan |
| Hattiesburg Tar Heels | 21 | 46 | .313 | 25 | Cooney Best / Perry Werden |
| Natchez Indians / Mobile Sea Gulls | 24 | 53 | .312 | 27 | George Kelley / George Reed |
Natchez moved to Mobile June 26.
Hattiesburg and Pine Bluff folded July 16. League disbanded July 31, with National Association approval, due to Yellow Fever epidemic.
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| Mike Welday | Greenville | BA | .349 | Slim Sallee | Meridian | W | 10 | |
| Mike Welday | Greenville | Runs | 62 | Slim Sallee | Meridian | Pct | .714; 10–4 | |
| Mike Welday | Greenville | Hits | 99 | - | - | - | - | - |
1906 Cotton States League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Mobile Sea Gulls | 74 | 44 | .627 | — | George Reed / Joe Wright Charles Miller |
| Meridian Ribboners | 65 | 54 | .546 | 9½ | Guy Sample |
| Jackson Senators | 58 | 60 | .492 | 16 | Ace Stewart |
| Gulfport Crabs | 58 | 61 | .487 | 16½ | Eric Miller / John Bolin Link Stickney |
| Baton Rouge Cajuns | 57 | 63 | .475 | 18 | Bernie McCay |
| Vicksburg Hill Billies | 44 | 74 | .373 | 30 | Billy Earle / Cy Hooker |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| Guy Woodruff | Baton Rouge | BA | .314 | Robert Lee Venuelle | Mobile | W | 26 | |
| J.D. Jefferies | Jackson | Runs | 73 | McCain Robinson | Jackson | SO | 197 | |
| Curt Gardner | Meridian | Hits | 137 | Bill Phillips | Mobile | Pct | .917; 11–1 |
1907 Cotton States League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Mobile Sea Gulls | 82 | 52 | .612 | — | Bernie McCay |
| Vicksburg Hill Billies | 77 | 57 | .575 | 5 | George Blackburn |
| Jackson Senators | 71 | 62 | .534 | 10½ | Harry Salliard / Roy Montgomery |
| Gulfport Crabs | 68 | 67 | .504 | 14½ | Bob Gilks |
| Meridian White Ribbons | 64 | 70 | .478 | 18 | Guy Sample |
| Columbus Discoverers | 42 | 96 | .304 | 42 | Jack Law |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | |
| Roy Montgomery | Jackson | BA | .340 | William Bruner | Mobile | W | 25 | |
| Woodie Thornton | Mobile | Runs | 76 | Jack Ryan | Gulfport | SO | 220 | |
| Woodie Thornton | Mobile | Hits | 150 | Rufus Nolley | Mobile | Pct | .767; 23–7 |
1908 Cotton States League
| Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Jackson Senators | 68 | 42 | .618 | — | Roy Montgomery |
| Vicksburg Hill Climbers | 66 | 49 | .574 | 4½ | George Blackburn |
| Gulfport-Biloxi Sand Crabs | 63 | 52 | .548 | 7½ | Bob Gilks |
| Columbus Discoverers | 58 | 56 | .509 | 12 | John Toft / Ace Stewart Bill May / Louis Hall |
| Meridian White Ribbons | 46 | 68 | .404 | 24 | Fred Schmidt / John Hankey Nig Fuller |
| Monroe Municipals | 41 | 75 | .353 | 30 | Jack Auslet / Dan Collins W. Dobard |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Frank Manush | Columbus | BA | .296 | Al Demaree | Columbus | W | 23 |
| Frank Manush | Columbus | Runs | 74 | Guy Sample | Vicksburg | Pct | .760; 19–6 |
| Frank Manush | Columbus | Hits | 136 | - | - | - | - |
'''The Cotton States League did not play in 1909'''