Sooner State League


The Sooner State League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the league folded on February 12, 1959. The league franchises were based in Oklahoma and Texas.

Cities represented

1947 to 1952

1947 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Lawton Giants9842.700–24,248Louis Brower
Ada Herefords8651.62810½41,872Uke Clanton
McAlester Rockets7367.5212543,657William Nebroak
Ardmore Indians7267.51825½27,943Dutch Prather
Seminole Oilers4890.3484930,003John Taber / Hugh Willingham
Duncan Cementers3999.283588,220Otto Utt
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Lawton 2; McAlester 3 games, Ada 2
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 1.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Russell HawleyMcAlesterBA.382Forrest SmithAdaW23
Robert AndrlikArdmoreRuns158William DonagheyAdaSO244
A.B. EverettMcAlesterHits188Forest SmithAdaERA2.00
Paul RichardvilleAdaRBI111Joseph GaliotoLawtonPCT.800 20–5
Howard WeeksLawtonHR11-----
Paul RichardvilleAdaHR11-----

1948 Sooner State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
McAlester Rockets9147.659–63,060Vern Hoscheit
Lawton Giants7759.5661333,861Louis Brower
Seminole Oilers7562.54715½40,053Hugh Willingham
Chickasha Chiefs7363.5371735,640Ray Honeycutt
Ada Herefords6376.45328½27,050Uke Clanton
Ardmore Indians6078.4353137,944Donald Smith / Jim Cooke
Pauls Valley Raiders5681.40934½27,071Dutch Prather / Jennings Poindexter
Duncan Cementers5483.39436½27,066Jess Welch / Otto Utt
Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 1; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 2
Finals: Seminole 4 games, McAlester 2.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Cromer SmothermanMcAlesterBA.347Bob GiddingsLawtonW25
Bob HyattPauls ValleyRuns122Tom KrutaArdmoreSO186
Al BillingsleyMcAlesterHits190Buddy YountMcAlesterERA2.11
Howard MartinMcAlesterRBI122Buddy YountMcAlesterPCT.944; 17–1
Howard MartinMcAlesterHR19-----

1949 Sooner State League

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Pauls Valley Raiders8852.629–61,085Red Phillips
Lawton Giants8752.626½45,501Louis Brower
Chickasha Chiefs7861.5619½59,306Ray Honeycutt
Ada Herefords6970.49718½33,525Bill Krueger
Duncan Uttmen6574.46822½36,678Edward Marleau /
James Skidgel/ Hosea Pfeiffer
McAlester Rockets5882.4143056,733Vern Hoscheit
Ardmore Indians5781.4133043,348Dutch Prather / James Skidgel
Seminole Oilers5484.3913333,258Hugh Willingham / Paul Schoendienst
Playoffs: Pauls Valley 3 games, Ada 2; Lawton 3 games, Chickasha 0
Finals: Lawton 4 games, Pauls Valley 1.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Pete RunnelsChickashaBA.372Jim MeltonPauls ValleyW23
Kelly WingoChickashaRuns123Joseph MiccicheLawtonSO297
Pete RunnelsChickashaHits188James SpencerLawtonERA1.96
A.B. PearsonPauls ValleyRBI123Joseph MiccicheLawtonPCT.769; 20–6
Daryl SpencerPauls ValleyHR23-----
Bill MilliganAdaHR23-----

1950 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Ada Herefords9641.701–31,981Bill Krueger
McAlester Rockets9248.6575½58,048Vern Hoscheit
Chickasha Chiefs8059.5751743,759Ray Honeycutt
Ardmore Indians7565.53622½44,454Bennie Warren
Pauls Valley Raiders6872.48629½25,848Red Phillips / Joseph Jacobs
Seminole Ironmen5583.39941½21,366Kelly Wingo /
Lloyd Giger / Dennis Rackley
Duncan Uttmen /
Shawnee Hawks		5185.37544½15,950Hosea Pfeiffer /
Dutch Prather / Kelly Wingo
Lawton Giants37101.26859½31,817Louis Brower
Duncan moved to Shawnee August 18.
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Ada 2; McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 0
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Clinton WeaverMcAlesterBA.378William DonagheyAdaW26
Ron JacksonAdaRuns154Jack UrbanMcAlesterSO279
Jack TaylorMcAlesterHits212Jack UrbanMcAlesterERA2.15
Stephen MolinariAdaRBI162Bill StarrAdaPCT.917; 11–1
Stephen MolinariAdaHR39-----

1951 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
Ardmore Indians9940.712–40,742Bennie Warren
Shawnee Hawks9644.6863½44,428Lou Fitzgerald
McAlester Rockets9148.655842,028Vern Hoscheit
Pauls Valley Raiders9050.6439½27,580Louis Brower
Ada Herefords5486.38645½12,779Stan Galle
Chickasha Chiefs4694.32953½21,107Kelly Wingo / Jerry Jackson /
Chet Bryan / William Reyes
Lawton Giants4694.32953½17,252Ray Baker
Seminole Ironmen37103.26462½16,915Ripper Collins / Dutch Prather
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Pauls Valley 0; McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 0
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Lou FitzgeraldShawneeBA.379Dee SandersMcAlesterW27
Joe NodarArdmoreRuns179Ken HemphillPauls ValleyW27
Dan TomaPauls ValleyHits195Armin SomonteArdmoreSO341
Manuel TemesArdmoreHits195Dee SandersMcAlesterERA1.67
Glenn SnyderArdmoreRBI155Dee SandersMcAlesterPCT.871; 27–4
Manuel TemesArdmoreRBI155-----
Dan DembyPauls ValleyHR30-----
Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyHR30-----

1952 Sooner State League
Team standingsWLPCTGBAttendManagers
McAlester Rockets8753.621–52,395William Cope
Pauls Valley Raiders8059.5766½34,500Louis Brower
Chickasha Chiefs7862.557927,494Ray Taylor
Shawnee Hawks7367.5211444,680Lou Fitzgerald / James Jolly
Sherman Twins7268.5141519,815Bennie Warren
Lawton Reds6377.4502452,807Tuck McWilliams
Ada Herefords5782.41029½38,387Bill Enos /
Virl Loman / Jim England
Ardmore Indians4991.3503824,362Jackie Sullivan /
Royce Mills / Hugh Willingham /
Clyde Baldwin / Julian Morgan
Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 1; Pauls Valley 3 games, Chickasha 1
Finals: McAlester 4 games, Pauls Valley 3.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ray TaylorChickashaBA.365Charles SeymourMcAlesterW25
Vincent DownsLawtonRuns142Charles SeymourMcAlesterSO292
Jim EnglandAdaHits198Charles SeymourMcAlesterERA1.91
Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyRBI148Charles SeymourMcAlesterPCT.806; 25–6
Bob HertelMcAlesterHR22-----
Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyHR22-----