# Lone Star League

The Lone Star League was the name of three American minor professional baseball leagues located in the state of Texas during the 20th century. The leagues operated from 1927–1929 (as a Class D circuit), 1947–1948 (Class C) and 1977 (Class A).

## History

Each of the three leagues was the result of a reorganization of a previous circuit. The Lone Star League of the 1920s was created by merging two Class D loops, the East Texas League and the Texas Association; it disbanded on May 16, 1929. The eight-member postwar Lone Star circuit of 1947–1948 was formed from a foundation of four teams that had played in the Class C East Texas League of 1946. After the demise of the LSL, the East Texas League was revived for the 1949–1950 seasons.
The 1977 Lone Star League was the successor of the failed Gulf States League of 1976, inheriting Texas-based GSL franchises in Beeville, Corpus Christi, Harlingen and Victoria. Like the GSL, it was an official Class A minor league, not an "independent league," although its six teams were not affiliated with Major League Baseball farm systems. The 1977 Lone Star League played an 80-game regular season schedule from June 10 to the end of August.
The defending Gulf States League champion Corpus Christi Seagulls, managed by future Major League pitching coach Leo Mazzone, dominated the Lone Star League, winning 53 of its 80 games and the South Division title. No championship playoff was held and the league folded after the 1977 campaign.

## Standings & statistics
### 1927 to 1929

1927 Lone Star League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Palestine Pals | 69 | 51 | .575 | – | Rip Ripperton |
| Texarkana Twins | 67 | 53 | .558 | 2.0 | Charlie Miller |
| Mexia Gushers | 68 | 55 | .553 | 2.5 | Les Hayes / Jim Kendrick / Abe Bowman |
| Tyler Trojans | 63 | 55 | .534 | 5.0 | George Jackson |
| Paris Snappers | 54 | 67 | .446 | 15.5 | Red Snapp / T. H. Fisher |
| Corsicana Oilers | 48 | 72 | .400 | 21.0 | Les Nunamaker / Bennie Brownlow |
| Marshall Indians | 12 | 17 | .414 | NA | Abe Bowman |
| Longview Cannibals | 9 | 20 | .310 | NA | Bennie Brownlow |
Longview withdrew May 21. Marshall folded to even the number of teams. Both teams were disbanded May 22. Finals: Tyler 4 games, Mexia 2.
Player Statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Carl Reynolds | Palestine | BA | .376 | Gene McClung | Corsic/Mex | W | 21 |
| Buster Wisrock | Marsh/Tyl | Runs | 87 | Gene McClung | Corsicana/Mexia | W | 21 |
| Carl Reynolds | Palestine | Hits | 180 | E. H. McBride | Long/Cors | SO | 139 |
| Tom Pyle | Tyler | HR | 26 | Atlas Carter | Mexia | Pct | .810; 17–4 |
1928 Lone Star League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Texarkana Twins | 75 | 47 | .615 | – | Charlie Miller |
| Palestine Pals | 72 | 51 | .585 | 3.5 | Walt Alexander |
| Tyler Trojans | 67 | 53 | .558 | 7.0 | George Jackson |
| Mexia Gushers | 55 | 66 | .455 | 19.5 | Roy Leslie |
| Corsicana Oilers | 55 | 68 | .447 | 20.5 | Ray Falk |
| Paris Colts/Rustlers | 42 | 81 | .341 | 33.5 | Abe Bowman / Connally Ludwick / Turkey Gross |
Finals: Palestine 4 games, Texarkana 1.
Player Statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Charlie Dorman | Tyler | BA | .408 | Ed Hopkins | Texarkana | W | 19 |
| Charlie Dorman | Tyler | Runs | 122 | Ed Hopkins | Texarkana | SO | 134 |
| Charlie Dorman | Tyler | Hits | 188 | Phil Gallivan | Texarkana | Pct | .750; 15–5 |
| Charlie Dorman | Tyler | HR | 39 |
1927 Lone Star League schedule
| Team name | W | L | GB | Pct. | Manager |
| Tyler Trojans | 12 | 8 | .600 | – | Roy Leslie |
| Palestine Pals | 12 | 8 | .600 | – | Dillard Payne |
| Sherman Snappers | 9 | 9 | .500 | 2.0 | Red Snapp |
| Texarkana Twins | 6 | 14 | .300 | 6.0 | Ray Corgan |
Texarkana disbanded May 16. The league disbanded on the same date.
Player Statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Clyde Pratt | Sherman | BA | .442 | Leon Pettit | Tyler | W | 5 |
| Embert Mueller | Tyler | Runs | 25 | Leon Pettit | Tyler | SO | 40 |
| Clyde Pratt | Sherman | Hits | 34 | Leon Pettit | Tyler | Pct | 1.000; 5–0 |
| Ed Kallina | Sherman | HR | 6 |
| John King | Tyler | HR | 6 |

### 1947 to 1948, 1977

1947 Lone Star League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Kilgore Drillers | 78 | 60 | .565 | – | 71,685 | Joe Kracher |
| Longview Texans | 78 | 61 | .561 | 0.5 | 73,134 | Jesse Landrum |
| Marshall Comets | 76 | 63 | .547 | 2.5 | 51,494 | Jerry Feille /Paul Kardow |
| Tyler Trojans | 76 | 64 | .543 | 3.0 | 64,810 | Hack Miller |
| Jacksonville Jax | 73 | 67 | .521 | 6.0 | 37,817 | Watty Watkins |
| Lufkin Foresters | 72 | 68 | .514 | 7.0 | 42,692 | Dixie Parsons |
| Henderson Oilers | 65 | 72 | .474 | 12.5 | 50,000 | Ray Honeycutt |
| Bryan Bombers | 38 | 101 | .273 | 40.5 | 36,817 | Mike Mistovich / Harry Logan / Joe Moore |
Playoffs: Kilgore 4 games, Tyler 0;Marshall 4 games, Longview 1. Finals: Kilgore 4 games, Marshall 2.
Player Statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| John Stone | Henderson | BA | .396 | Jake Henson | Jacksonville | W | 21 |
| Lew Morton | Henderson | Runs | 145 | Robert Ross | Kilgore | W | 21 |
| Bob Marquis | Lufkin | Runs | 145 | Okie Flowers | Longview | SO | 218 |
| John Stone | Henderson | Hits | 224 | Frank Martin | Longview | ERA | 2.55 |
| John Stone | Henderson | RBI | 185 | Robert Ross | Kilgore | PCT | .750 21–7 |
| John Stone | Henderson | HR | 32 |
1948 Lone Star League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Kilgore Drillers | 94 | 44 | .681 | – | 67,255 | Joe Kracher |
| Longview Texans | 89 | 50 | .640 | 5.5 | 65,033 | Dixie Parsons |
| Tyler Trojans | 77 | 63 | .550 | 18 | 67,101 | Hack Miller |
| Henderson Oilers | 69 | 70 | .496 | 25.5 | 48,116 | Guy Sturdy / John Stone / Roland Miller / Mel Hicks |
| Bryan Bombers | 66 | 74 | .471 | 2.09 | 43,513 | Jesse Landrum |
| Gladewater Bears | 59 | 81 | .421 | 36.0 | 48,056 | Jim Dalrymple / Arthur Nelson |
| Marshall Tigers | 55 | 83 | .399 | 39.0 | 38,940 | Harry Davis / Red Jones |
| Lufkin Foresters | 48 | 92 | .343 | 47.0 | 46,037 | Red Jones / Stan Bartkowski / Fred Millican |
Playoffs: Kilgore 4 games, Henderson 3; Longview 4 games, Tyler 3. Finals: Kilgore 4 games, Longview 0.
Player Statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Joe Kracher | Kilgore | BA | .433 | Ralph Pate | Longview | W | 23 |
| Al Kubski | Longview | Runs | 140 | Willis Chamness | Kilgore | SO | 162 |
| Allen Cross | Kilgore | Hits | 193 | Otho Nitcholas | Tyler | ERA | 1.97 |
| John Stone | Henderson | RBI | 146 | Ralph Pate | Longview | PCT | .885 23–3 |
| John Stone | Henderson | HR | 23 |
1977 Lone Star League
| North standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Victoria Rosebuds | 38 | 42 | .475 | – | 14,198 | Tom Zimmer |
| Beeville Blazers | 37 | 43 | .463 | 1.0 | 7,150 | Bill Bryk |
| Texas City Stars | 35 | 41 | .461 | 1.0 | 12,305 | Al Gallagher |
| South standings | W | L | PCT | GB | ATTEND | Managers |
| Corpus Christi Seagulls | 53 | 27 | .663 | – | 93,137 | Leo Mazzone |
| Harlingen Suns | 40 | 38 | .513 | 12.0 | 68,203 | Paul Thomas / Mike Krizmanich |
| McAllen Dusters | 33 | 45 | .423 | 19.0 | 35,752 | Shannon Kelly / Jack Allen |
Playoffs: None. Corpus Christi refused to play. Victoria and Texas City cancelled their series for a North Division championship.
Player Statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Ken Jones | Beeville | BA | .393 | Nick Baltz | Beeville | W | 12 |
| Mike Manderino | Beeville | Runs | 76 | Armando Reyes | Corpus Christi | SO | 101 |
| Lloyd Thompson | Corpus Christi | Hits | 109 | Armando Reyes | Corpus Christi | ERA | 2.59 |
| Charles Diering | Victoria | Hits | 109 | Jim Rainey | Corpus Christi | RBI | 67 |
| Mark Sinovich | Corpus Christi | HR | 16 |