# Valdosta Tigers

The Valdosta Tigers were a "Class-D" minor league baseball team, based in Valdosta, Georgia, that operated in the Georgia–Florida League, from 1939 to 1958. The club played its home games at Pendleton Park, which was located on the current site of South Georgia Medical Center.

## History

They club through a number of affiliations and names during their existence. The team was originally an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, known as the Valdosta Trojans. In 1941, the team became an affiliate for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team folded in 1942, however after World War II ended, Valdosta received another team in the Georgia–Florida League, the Valdosta Dodgers, which was once again affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 1953, the Dodgers moved their operations to Thomasville, to become the Thomasville Dodgers. However, the St. Louis Browns took over the Valdosta team, which was then renamed the Valdosta Browns. A year later, the Browns left and the Detroit Tigers moved their Georgia–Florida League team to Valdosta. The renamed Valdosta Tigers then played from 1954 to 1958.

## The ballpark

Valdosta teams played at Pendleton Park which was located on Woodrow Wilson Drive, at a site near the city library and South Georgia Medical Center."

## Notable alumni

* Bud Clancy (1942)
* Roger Craig (1950)
* Fred Gladding (1956-1957)
* Don Hoak (1947) MLB All-Star
* Bob Johnson (1955)
* Turk Lown (1942)
* Dick McAuliffe (1958) 3 x MLB All-Star
* Stubby Overmire (1958)
* Marv Owen (1954)
* Eddie Robinson (1939-1940) 4 x MLB All-Star
* Zack Taylor (1915)
* John Tsitouris (1954-1955)
* Don Wert (1958) MLB All-Star

## Seasons

| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoff Series' |
| 1939 | 73-63 | 2nd | Bill Morrell | Won First Round vs. Waycross Bears (3-2) Lost League Finals vs. Albany Cardinals (4-0) |
| 1940 | 76-61 | 3rd | Bill Morrell | Lost in 1st round vs. Waycross Bears (3-0) |
| 1941 | 85-51 | 2nd | Stew Hofferth | Lost in 1st round vs. Thomasville Lookouts (3-1) |
| 1942 | 81-45 | 1st | Stew Hofferth / Clancy Odell | Won First Round vs. Moultrie Packers (3-1) Lost League Finals vs. Waycross Bears (4-1) |
| 1946 | 64-61 | 4th | Bill Welp | Lost in 1st round vs. Moultrie Packers (3-1) |
| 1947 | 54-84 | 7th | Hugh Holliday | Did not qualify |
| 1948 | 81-58 | 2nd | Lou Rochelli | Lost in 1st round vs. Albany Cardinals (3-1) |
| 1949 | 86-54 | 2nd | Doc Alexson | Lost in 1st round vs. Waycross Bears (3-0) |
| 1950 | 81-56 | 2nd | Stan Wasiak | Lost in 1st round vs. Tallahassee Pirates (4-3) |
| 1951 | 81-45 | 1st | Stan Wasiak | Lost in 1st round vs. Tifton Blue Sox (4-1) |
| 1952 | 81-58 | 1st | John Angelone | Won 1-Game Playoff vs. Waycross Bears (1-0) Lost in 1st round vs. Tifton Blue Sox (4-0) |
| 1953 | 55-81 | 7th | Rollie Stuckmeyer / Gil Torres | Did not qualify |
| 1954 | 68-70 | 5th | Marv Owen (29-52) / Stan Wasiak (39-28) | Did not qualify |
| 1955 | 68-70 | 4th | Stan Wasiak | Lost in 1st round vs. Brunswick Pirates (3-2) |
| 1956 | 94-45 | 1st | Bill Adair | League Champs No playoff system |
| 1957 | 77-62 | 2nd | Stan Wasiak | Lost League Finals vs. Albany Cardinals (3-2) |
| 1958 | 75-52 | 2nd | Stubby Overmire | League Champs vs. Albany Cardinals (3-1) |