# Georgia–Alabama League

The Georgia–Alabama League was a minor league baseball league that operated in its two namesake states. The circuit first operated from 1913 to 1917, was revived from 1928 to 1930, then returned to operation for a final time from 1946 through 1951. The league's existence thus spanned some 39 years, but it only fielded teams in 14 seasons. All versions of the Georgia–Alabama League were Class D leagues, the lowest classification in Organized Ball during their years of operation.
Sixteen cities fielded teams in the league at one time or another—nine from Alabama and seven from Georgia. No city was represented in all three of the league's runs. Out of the 14 seasons that the league played, the Georgia teams won eleven titles while the Alabama cities captured only three. Four Georgia teams won two titles each over the league's three eras: Newnan, Georgia, won the first of their two crowns in 1915, then waited some 34 years to collect the second in 1949; Lindale, Georgia, won in 1929 and 1930; Carrollton, Georgia, picked up two back-to-back titles in 1946 and 1947; and LaGrange, Georgia, took the league's last two championships in 1950 and 1951.
Attendance figures were available for the last run of six years, during which the league drew just shy of 2,000,000 fans to the parks. The turnstile count peaked at about 480,000 in 1947 but by 1951 it had dropped to a little over 175,000, which was insufficient to keep the circuit in operation.

## Cities represented

* Alexander City, Alabama: Alexander City Millers (1947–1951)
* Anniston, Alabama: Anniston Moulders (1913–1917); Anniston Nobles (1928–1930)
* Carrollton, Georgia: Carrollton Frogs (1928); Carrollton Champs (1929–1930); Carrollton Hornets (1946–1950)
* Cedartown, Georgia: Cedartown Sea Cows (1928–1929); Cedartown Braves (1930)
* Gadsden, Alabama: Gadsden Steel Makers (1913–1914); Gadsden Eagles (1928–1929)
* Gadsden, Alabama, Alabama City, Alabama & Attalla, Alabama: Tri-Cities Triplets (1917)
* Griffin, Georgia: Griffin Lightfoots (1915–1916); Griffin Griffs (1917); Griffin Pimientos (1947–1949); Griffin Tigers (1950); Griffin Pimientos (1951)
* Huntsville, Alabama: Huntsville Springers (1930)
* LaGrange, Georgia: LaGrange Terrapins (1913–1915); LaGrange Grangers (1916–1917); LaGrange Troupers (1946–1951)
* Lindale, Georgia: Rome-Lindale Romans (1917); Lindale Dragons (1928); Lindale Collegians (1929); Lindale Pepperells (1930)
* Newnan, Georgia: Newnan Cowetas (1913–1916); Newnan Brownies (1946–1950)
* Opelika, Alabama: Opelika Opelicans (1913); Opelika Pelicans (1914); Opelika Owls (1946–1951)
* Rome, Georgia: Rome Romans (1914–1916); Rome-Lindale Romans (1917); Rome Red Sox (1950–1951)
* Selma, Alabama: Selma River Rats (1914)
* Talladega, Alabama: Talladega Indians (1913–1914); Talladega Tigers (1915–1917); Talladega Indians (1928–1930)
* Tallassee, Alabama: Tallassee Indians (1946–1948); Tallassee Cardinals (1949)
* Valley, Alabama, Lanett, Alabama & West Point, Georgia: Valley Rebels (1946–1951)

## Standings & statistics
### 1913 to 1917

1913 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Gadsden Steel Makers | 51 | 38 | .573 | - | Elmer Randall |
| Newnan Cowetas | 46 | 44 | .511 | 5.5 | E.S. Bagwell / Ed Shulze |
| Opelika Opelicans | 46 | 45 | .505 | 6.0 | Ed Ery |
| Anniston Moulders | 45 | 45 | .500 | 6.5 | Chick Hannon |
| LaGrange Terrapins | 42 | 48 | .467 | 9.5 | William "Ducky" Holmes |
| Talladega Indians | 40 | 50 | .444 | 11.5 | Charles Reece |
No Playoffs Scheduled
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| George Randall | Gadsden | BA | .410 | Ed Ery | Opelika | W | 19 |
| Larry Pezold | Gadsden | Runs | 76 | Ed Ery | Opelika | Pct | .792; 19-5 |
| Midge Craven | Newnan | Hits | 121 |
1914 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Selma River Rats | 60 | 35 | .632 | - | W. Guiterrez / Arthur Riggs |
| Newnan Cowetas | 56 | 37 | .602 | 3.0 | Warren Sanders |
| LaGrange Terrapins | 55 | 43 | .561 | 6.5 | Ed Lafitte |
| Opelika Pelicans | 52 | 45 | .536 | 9.0 | Kirk Newell / Elmer Steele |
| Rome Romans | 46 | 50 | .479 | 14.5 | Jack Reidy |
| Anniston Moulders | 41 | 54 | .432 | 19.0 | Bob Ragsdale / Louis Procter |
| Talladega Indians | 37 | 55 | .402 | 21.0 | Carl Pace / Lovell Draper / Howard Baker / Clarence Garrett |
| Gadsden Steel Makers | 32 | 60 | .348 | 26.5 | Bruce Hayes / Lou Jorda / L. Mills |
Gadsden became a road club August 3.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Lloyd Howell | Newnan | BA | .332 | Jack Reidy | Rome | Hits | 117 |
| Jack Reidy | Rome | Runs | 76 |
1915 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Newnan Cowetas | 39 | 20 | .661 | - | Henry Mathewson |
| Talladega Tigers | 39 | 22 | .639 | 1.0 | Clarence Garrett |
| Griffin Lightfoots | 32 | 28 | .533 | 7.5 | Doc Martin / Ed Reagan |
| Rome Romans | 27 | 31 | .466 | 11.5 | Art Burleson |
| Anniston Moulders | 22 | 38 | .367 | 17.5 | Elmer Steele |
| LaGrange Terrapins | 18 | 38 | .327 | 19.5 | Ed Lafitte |
The league disbanded July 14.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Don Flynn | Newnan | BA | .358 | Jack Nabors | Talladega/Newnan | W | 12 |
| George Cochran | Rome | Runs | 47 | Whitey Glazner | Anniston | SO | 101 |
| Don Flynn | Newnan | Hits | 76 | Milt Watson | Griffin | Pct | 1.000; 7-0 |
| Don Flynn | Newnan | HR | 15 |
1916 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Rome Romans | 43 | 22 | .662 | - | Frank Manush |
| Newnan Cowetas | 41 | 26 | .612 | 3.0 | Henry Mathewson |
| LaGrange Grangers | 39 | 29 | .574 | 5.5 | Grady Bowen / Ed Lafitte |
| Talladega Tigers | 26 | 38 | .406 | 16.5 | Clarence Garrett |
| Anniston Moulders | 23 | 39 | .371 | 18.5 | Bill Reynolds |
| Griffin Lightfoots | 23 | 41 | .359 | 19.5 | Kid Reagan / Phil Wells |
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Don Flynn | Newnan | BA | .365 | Joseph Wiley | Rome | W | 15 |
| Don Flynn | Newnan | Runs | 52 | Robert Watkins | Newnan | W | 15 |
| Ben Shaw | Rome | Hits | 89 | Rufus Nolly | LaGrange | Pct | .857; 12-2 |
1917 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Anniston Moulders | 13 | 5 | .722 | - | Bill Pierre |
| Griffin Griffs | 10 | 7 | .588 | 2.5 | Matty Matthews |
| Tri-Cities Triplets | 10 | 8 | .556 | 3 | Martin Dudley |
| Rome Romans | 9 | 9 | .500 | 4.0 | Dannie Overton |
| Talladega Tigers | 6 | 12 | .333 | 7.0 | Ed Goosetree |
| LaGrange Grangers | 5 | 12 | .294 | 7.5 | Heisman Jones |
The league disbanded May 23.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| W.W. Waldron | Griffin | BA | .388 | E.A. Verrett | Talladega | W | 4 |
| W. W. Waldron | Griffin | Runs | 21 | Conrad Fields | LaGrange | SO | 39 |
| W. W. Waldron | Griffin | Hits | 26 | Bennett | Tri-Cities | Pct | 1.000; 3-0 |

### 1928 to 1930

1928 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Cedartown Sea Cows | 55 | 34 | .618 | - | W.F. Kleton / Sherry Smith |
| Carrollton Frogs | 54 | 34 | .614 | 0.5 | Paul Fittery |
| Anniston Nobles | 47 | 42 | .528 | 8.0 | Ben Bruner / Bud Ammons |
| Talladega Indians | 45 | 43 | .511 | 9.5 | Earl Hawkins / Louis Walker |
| Gadsden Eagles | 37 | 49 | .430 | 16.5 | Doc Newton / Joe Schepner |
| Lindale Dragons | 26 | 62 | .295 | 28.5 | Earl Donaldson |
Playoffs: Talladega 2 games, Anniston 1, for the second half title. Finals: Carrollton 4 games, Talladega 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Clark Taliaferro | Carrollton | BA | .392 | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | W | 21 |
| Joyner White | Carrollton | Runs | 92 | Abe White | Carrollton | SO | 141 |
| Murray Howell | Carrollton | Hits | 152 | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | Pct | .913; 21-2 |
| Joyner White | Carrollton | HR | 27 | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | ERA | 1.60 |
1929 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Lindale Collegians | 60 | 39 | .606 | - | Jack Moulton |
| Carrollton Champs | 56 | 44 | .560 | 4.5 | Paul Fittery |
| Talladega Indians | 49 | 49 | .500 | 10.5 | Howard Camp |
| Gadsden Eagles | 49 | 50 | .495 | 11.0 | Louis Walker |
| Anniston Nobles | 44 | 56 | .440 | 16.5 | Bud Ammons / Verdo Elmore |
| Cedartown Sea Cows | 40 | 60 | .400 | 20.5 | Frank Thrasher / Sherry Smith |
Playoff: Carrollton 4 games, Lindale 0.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Bernard Lewis | Talladega | BA | .420 | James Soward | Gadsden | W | 17 |
| Charles Knowles | Cedartown | Runs | 92 | Abe White | Carrollton | SO | 101 |
| Bernard Lewis | Talladega | Hits | 159 | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | Pct | .889; 16-2 |
| Charles Knowles | Cedartown | HR | 25 |
1930 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Lindale Pepperells | 63 | 38 | .624 | - | Jack Moulton |
| Cedartown Braves | 60 | 41 | .594 | 3.0 | Sherry Smith |
| Anniston Nobles | 57 | 44 | .564 | 6.0 | Paul Fittery / Dixie Walker |
| Huntsville Springers | 35 | 66 | .347 | 28.0 | Bill Pierre / Erskine Thompson / Tubby Walton / Dixie Carroll / Clarence Hart |
| Carrollton Champs | 38 | 46 | .452 | NA | Carl East / Erskine Thomason |
| Talladega Indians | 33 | 51 | .393 | NA | Walter Barbare / Cliff Verner |
Carrollton and Talladega disbanded August 14. Playoff: Cedartown 4 games, Lindale 3, one tie.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Bernard Lewis | Lindale | BA | .422 | Paul Fittery | Anniston | W | 16 |
| Jack Shipley | Cedartown | Runs | 131 | Abe White | Lindale | SO | 143 |
| Bernard Lewis | Lindale | Hits | 175 | Sherry Smith | Cedartown | Pct | .875; 14-2 |
| George Kelly | Cedartown | HR | 26 | Sherry Smith | Cedartown | ERA | 3.34 |

### 1946 to 1951

1946 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
| Carrollton Hornets | 75 | 55 | .577 | - | Luther Gunnells |
| Valley Rebels | 72 | 58 | .554 | 3.0 | Cat Milner |
| Tallassee Indians | 71 | 59 | .546 | 4.0 | Joe Heving |
| Newnan Brownies | 68 | 62 | .523 | 7.0 | George Nix / Lloyd Brown |
| LaGrange Troupers | 59 | 71 | .454 | 16.0 | Newton Parker / Jack Daniels |
| Opelika Owls | 45 | 85 | .346 | 30.0 | Jim Hitchcock / Zack Sensussler |
Playoffs: Tallassee 3 games, Carrollton 2; Valley 3 games, Newnan 2; Finals: Tallassee 3 games, Valley 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Luther Gunnells | Carrollton | BA | .381 | John B. Johnson | Newnan | W | 20 |
| Jack Daniels | Valley/LaGrange | Runs | 118 | John B. Johnson | Newnan | SO | 138 |
| Jack Daniels | Valley/LaGrange | Hits | 159 | Lloyd Brown | Newnan | ERA | 2.17 |
| Jack Daniels | Valley/LaGrange | RBI | 122 | Jack Daniels | Valley/LaGrange | HR | 30 |
1947 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Carrollton Hornets | 75 | 49 | .605 | - | 52,245 | Red Roberts |
| Opelika Owls | 76 | 50 | .603 | 0.0 | 65,173 | Luther Gunnells |
| Valley Rebels | 75 | 51 | .595 | 1.0 | 79,829 | Frank Luce |
| Newnan Brownies | 72 | 53 | .576 | 3.5 | 80,600 | Joe Abreu / Ed Westbrook |
| Tallassee Indians | 62 | 63 | .496 | 13.5 | 44,693 | John Hill |
| Griffin Pimientos | 53 | 68 | .438 | 20.5 | 66,142 | Abe White |
| LaGrange Troupers | 46 | 78 | .371 | 29.0 | 55,746 | Carl East / Howard Ermisch |
| Alexander City Millers | 39 | 86 | .312 | 36.5 | 34,462 | Doug Taitt |
Playoff: Valley 3 games, Carrollton 1; Opelika 3 games, Newnan 1; Finals: Valley 3 games, Opelika 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Red Roberts | Carrollton | BA | .385 | Paul Brock | Newnan | W | 23 |
| Ted Browning | Newnan | Runs | 122 | Paul Brock | Newnan | SO | 220 |
| Vern Morgan | Valley | Hits | 184 | Jesse Danna | Valley | ERA | 2.15 |
| Ken Guettler | Griffin | RBI | 103 | Ken Guettler | Griffin | HR | 25 |
1948 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Valley Rebels | 75 | 51 | .595 | - | 60,163 | Jesse Danna |
| Carrollton Hornets | 73 | 53 | .579 | 2.0 | 53,000 | Red Roberts / Oliver Hill |
| Newnan Brownies | 68 | 58 | .540 | 7.0 | 65,257 | Norman Veazey |
| Alexander City Millers | 63 | 63 | .500 | 12.0 | 44,053 | Ben Catchings / Marvin Chappell / Luther Gunnells |
| Opelika Owls | 62 | 64 | .492 | 13.0 | 59,000 | Luther Gunnells / Jim Ball |
| Griffin Pimientos | 55 | 71 | .437 | 20.0 | 63,672 | Abe White / Paul Campbell |
| LaGrange Troupers | 54 | 72 | .429 | 21.0 | 53,589 | James Acton |
| Tallassee Indians | 54 | 72 | .429 | 21.0 | 34,696 | Hugh East / Robert Comiskey |
Playoff: Valley 3 games, Newnan 1; Carrollton 3 games, Alexander City 2 ; Finals: Valley 4 games, Carrollton 0.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Fred Campbell | Griffin | BA | .357 | William Kallaher | Opelika | W | 23 |
| Robert Edwards | Valley | Runs | 114 | Eugene Doerflinger | Carrollton | W | 23 |
| George Bailey | Opelika | Hits | 174 | Eugene Doerflinger | Carrollton | SO | 2.33 |
| Fred Campbell | Griffin | RBI | 105 | Leon Lindsey | Alexander City | ERA | 2.00 |
| James Acton | LaGrange | HR | 14 |
1949 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Newnan Brownies | 74 | 52 | .587 | - | 56,976 | Robert Schmidt |
| Alexander City Millers | 69 | 57 | .548 | 5.0 | 37,373 | Red Roberts |
| Tallassee Cardinals | 66 | 60 | .524 | 8.0 | 43,364 | Bob Comiskey / Fred Blackwell |
| LaGrange Troupers | 65 | 61 | .516 | 9.0 | 59,952 | Claude Cooper |
| Valley Rebels | 62 | 64 | .492 | 12.0 | 52,859 | Jesse Danna / Vern Morgan / Woody Bottoms |
| Opelika Owls | 62 | 64 | .492 | 12.0 | 44,885 | Jim Ball |
| Carrollton Hornets | 56 | 70 | .444 | 18.0 | 36,029 | William Seal / William Rucker |
| Griffin Pimientos | 50 | 76 | .397 | 24.0 | 47,825 | Buck Etchison / Rudy York / Dee Sanders / Sam Gibson |
Playoffs: Newnan 3 games, Tallassee 2; Alexander City 3 games, LaGrange 1 ; Finals: Alexander City 4 games, Newnan 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Joel Chapman | Valley | BA | .351 | John McFadden | Newnan | W | 21 |
| John Heusman | Alexander City | Runs | 108 | John McFadden | Newnan | SO | 180 |
| J. W. Spruil | Valley | Hits | 153 | Elmer Wallace | Newnan | ERA | 2.02 |
| Robert Schmidt | Newnan | RBI | 108 | Carl Franson | Newnan | HR | 28 |
1950 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| LaGrange Troupers | 73 | 48 | .603 | - | 53,781 | Claude Cooper |
| Alexander City Millers | 73 | 53 | .579 | 2.5 | 36,546 | Red Roberts |
| Carrollton Hornets | 66 | 57 | .537 | 8.0 | 26,365 | Doc Marshall |
| Newnan Brownies | 62 | 60 | .508 | 11.5 | 37,215 | Robert Schmidt |
| Valley Rebels | 58 | 65 | .472 | 16.0 | 31,619 | Myril Hoag / Jack Daniels |
| Griffin Tigers | 57 | 64 | .471 | 16.0 | 37,167 | Abe White / Jack Bearden |
| Opelika Owls | 52 | 72 | .419 | 22.5 | 36,912 | Woody Bottoms / Gene Bailey / Wheeler Flemming |
| Rome Red Sox | 49 | 71 | .408 | 23.5 | 30,482 | Norm Veazey / John Stowe / Myril Hoag |
Playoffs: LaGrange 2 games, Carrollton 0; Alexander City 2 games, Newnan 0 ; Finals: LaGrange 3 games, Alexander City 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Eugene Solt | Carrollton | BA | .365 | Don Bessent | LaGrange | W | 22 |
| Fred DeSouza | Carrollton | Runs | 149 | Don Bessent | LaGrange | SO | 229 |
| Eugene Solt | Carrollton | Hits | 168 | Don Bessent | LaGrange | ERA | 2.33 |
| Eugene Solt | Carrollton | RBI | 151 |
| Eugene Solt | Carrollton | HR | 38 |
1951 Georgia–Alabama League
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| LaGrange Troupers | 67 | 47 | .588 | - | 33,734 | Claude Cooper |
| Valley Rebels | 64 | 52 | .552 | 4.0 | 37,515 | George Grant |
| Rome Red Sox | 58 | 57 | .504 | 9.5 | 41,000 | Leon Culberson |
| Griffin Pimientos | 58 | 58 | .500 | 10.0 | 24,804 | Mike Conte / Fred Campbell / Jack Bearden |
| Alexander City Millers | 33 | 45 | .423 | NA | 19,737 | Sam Demma / Bill Brown |
| Opelika Owls | 23 | 44 | .343 | NA | 18,000 | Wheeler Flemming / Gene Bailey |
Opelika disbanded July 1; Alexander City disbanded July 15.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Joe Campbell | Griffin | BA | .379 | Marvin Chappell | LaGrange | W | 21 |
| Fred Campbell | Griffin | Runs | 111 | Marvin Chappell | LaGrange | SO | 120 |
| Claude Shoemake | Rome | Hits | 171 | Joe Pennington | Valley | ERA | 2.45 |
| Claude Shoemake | Rome | RBI | 135 | Claude Shoemake | Rome | HR | 26 |

## League records 1913–1951

Batting :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr |
| Jack Daniels | Valley/LaGrange | G | 129 | 46 | Johnny Allen | LaGrange | G | 129 | 46 |
| Bernard Lewis | Lindale | BA | .422 | 30 | McDonald Turner | Newnan | AB | 526 | 48 |
| Fred DeSouza | Carrollton | R | 149 | 50 | Malvern Morgan | Lanett | H | 184 | 47 |
| Eugene Solt | Carrollton | RBI | 151 | 50 | John Stowe | Rome | 2B | 39 | 51 |
| Earl Persons | Gadsden | 3B | 17 | 29 | Eugene Solt | Carrollton | HR | 38 | 50 |
| Bernard Lewis | Lindale | EBH | 69 | 30 | Eugene Solt | Carrollton | TB | 311 | 50 |
| Jack Shipley | Cedartown | SAC | 21 | 29 | John Heusman | Alexander City | SB | 85 | 49 |
| Fred DeSouza | Carrollton | BB | 165 | 50 | Ted Przeworski | LaGrange/Carroll | SO | 118 | 48 |
Pitching :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr |
| Marvin Chappell | Alexander City | GA | 51 | 49 | Paul Brock | Newnan | CG | 28 | 47 |
| Bill Kallaher | Opelika | WI | 23 | 48 | Paul Brock | Newnan | WI | 23 | 48 |
| Gene Doerflinger | Carrollton | WI | 23 | 48 | Claude Jackson | Opelika | L | 17 | 49 |
| John Nabors | Talladega/New | Pct | .933-12-1 | 15 | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | ERA | 1.60 | 28 |
| Paul Fittery | Carrollton | Pct | .913-21-2 | 28 | Paul Brock | Newnan | IP | 313 | 47 |
| Marvin Chappell | Alexander City | ShO | 6 | 49 | Gene Doerflinger | Carrollton | SO | 233 | 48 |
| Mickey Mihalik | Newnam | BB | 149 | 48 |

## Sources

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition via Baseball-Reference.com under GFDL.