Texas Association


The Texas Association was a sports league of minor league baseball teams in Texas that operated from 1923 through 1926. An earlier league, initially known as the Texas-Southern League, used the same name from mid-1896 through 1899. History of the Texas Association during the 1920s follows.

History

The league operated in 1923 with a six-team format. The Austin Rangers, Corsicana Oilers, Marlin Bathers, Mexia Gushers, Sherman Twins, and Waco Indians made up the league that year. 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. Sherman and Austin played a six-game playoff series, which ended in a tie at three games each.
The Sherman squad did not return for 1924 and was replaced by the Temple Surgeons; all other teams returned. Corsicana finished in first place during both halves of the split season, thus no playoffs were held.
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. On May 13, Marlin moved to Palestine to become the Palestine Pals. Corsicana again won both halves of a split season. Minor league legend Smead Jolley played for Corsicana that year, while 12-year major league veteran Boom-Boom Beck suited up for the Marlin/Palestine club.
1926 was the final year of the Texas Association, with all six teams returning from the previous year. Austin won the first half of the split season and Palestine won the second half. These two teams played a postseason series, won by Palestine, three games to none.
No effort was made to bring the league back for 1927. Teams of three cities moved to the newly formed Lone Star League while three others ceased operations. 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.

Cities represented 1923-1926

  • Austin, TX: Austin Rangers 1923–1924; Austin Senators 1925–1926
  • Corsicana, TX: Corsicana Oilers 1923–1926
  • Marlin, TX: Marlin Bathers 1923–1925
  • Mexia, TX: Mexia Gushers 1923–1926
  • Palestine, TX: Palestine Pals 1925–1926
  • Sherman, TX & Denison, TX: Sherman-Denison Twins 1923
  • Temple, TX: Temple Surgeons 1924–1926
  • Terrell, TX: Terrell Terrors 1925–1926
  • Waco, TX: Waco Indians 1923–1924

    Standings & statistics

1923 Texas Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Mexia Gushers8060.571--Hub Northen
Austin Rangers7266.5227.0Rankin Johnson
Sherman-Denison Twins7267.5187.5A. B. Sands / Otto McIvor
Corsicana Oilers6870.49311.0Harvey Grubb
Marlin Bathers6573.47114.0Walt Alexander
Waco Indians5980.42420.5Ray Falk / H. House /
Bill Reynolds / Warwick Comstock
Playoff: Austin 3 games, Sherman 3. The series was declared a tie when the two clubs could not agree upon a site for the deciding game.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Tom PyleShermanBA.359Clarence TinerMexiaW23
Tom PyleShermanRuns94Murray RichburgShermanSO197
Tom PyleShermanHits199Harvey MunsShermanPCT.690; 20–9
Don FlynnWaco/AustinHR22-----

1924 Texas Association

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Corsicana Oilers8342.664--John Vann
Marlin Bathers7355.57011.5Walt Alexander
Waco Indians6564.50420.0Otto McIvor / Tom Carson
Mexia Gushers6068.46924.5Tuffy Fowlkes
Austin Rangers5472.42929.5Cecil Griggs /
Fats Fleharty / Otto McIvor
Temple Surgeons4882.36937.5Rankin Johnson
Playoff: None
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Joe MunsonCarlsonBA.346Charles GressettMarlinW22
Bill EtheredgeCorsicanaRuns106Tex NugentTempleSO176
Bill EtheredgeCorsicanaHits159William HollisCorsicanaPCT.789; 15–4
Stephen BarrettCorsicanaHR27-----

1925 Texas Association


Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Corsicana Oilers8548.639--John Vann
Mexia Gushers7657.5719.0Frank Matthews
Temple Surgeons7459.55611.0Roy Mitchell
Austin Senators6370.47422.0Bennie Brownlow
Marlin Bathers / Palestine Pals5875.43627.0Fred Pipkin / Tommy McMillan
Terrell Terrors4390.32342.0Otto McIvor /
Ed Fulton / Pete Adams
Marlin moved to Palestine May 13.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Clyde GlassMexiaBA.367Joe CantrellCorsicanaW22
Cotton TuckerTempleRuns129Dick WhitworthAustinSO152
Smead JolleyCorsicanaHits180Bob ArnoldMexiaPCT.706; 12–5
Clyde GlassMexiaHits180-----
Stan KeyesTerrellHR28-----

1926 Texas Association

Playoff: Palestine 3 games, Austin 0.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Clyde GlassMexiaBA.361Dick WhitworthAustinW24
Jimmie LongMexiaRuns99Dick WhitworthAustinSO176
Jimmie LongMexiaHits164Les CoxPalestineSO176
Norman PetersonAustinHR29Carl LittlejohnAustinPCT.824; 14–3