# Longhorn League

The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from 1947 through 1955 in the Southwestern United States. In 1956, it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through 1957 before changing its name to the Sophomore League. Joe Bauman hit 72 home runs in 1954 to set the minor league record, while playing for the Roswell Rockets.

## History

The Longhorn League was a high–offense league that operated from 1947 through 1955. In 1956, it was renamed the Southwestern League. A league with only three teams ever affiliated with major league clubs, all for one year only, the league was home to veteran minor leaguers who were no longer of interest to major league teams. In two of the league's nine seasons, a Longhorn League player posted the top average in the minors – Jim Prince in 1947 and Tom Jordan in 1955. A .400 average or .700 slugging in this league was not uncommon. The league is notable for Joe Bauman setting the all–time minor-league home run record in 1954 with 72 home runs.

## Cities represented

* Artesia, New Mexico: Artesia Drillers 1951–1953; Artesia Numexers 1954–1955
* Ballinger, Texas: Ballinger Cats 1947–1950
* Big Spring, Texas: Big Spring Broncs 1947–1950; Big Spring Cosden Cops 1955
* Carlsbad, New Mexico: Carlsbad Potashers 1953–1957
* Del Rio, Texas: Del Rio Cowboys 1948
* Hobbs, New Mexico: Hobbs Sports 1955
* Lamesa, Texas: Lamesa Lobos 1953
* Midland, Texas: Midland Indians 1947, 1949–1950, 1954–1955
* Odessa, Texas: Odessa Oilers 1947–1954; Odessa Eagles1955
* Roswell, New Mexico: Roswell Rockets 1949–1955
* San Angelo, Texas: San Angelo Colts 1948–1955
* Sweetwater, Texas: Sweetwater Sports 1947–1948; Sweetwater Swatters 1949–1951; Sweetwater Braves 1952; Sweetwater Spudders 1954
* Vernon, Texas: Vernon Dusters 1947–1952
* Wichita Falls, Texas: Wichita Falls Spudders 1954
* Winters, Texas and Ballinger, Texas: Winters-Ballinger Eagles 1953

## Championship teams

* 1947 – Ballinger Cats
* 1948 – Midland Indians
* 1949 – Big Spring Broncs
* 1950 – Odessa Oilers
* 1951 – Odessa Oilers
* 1952 – Midland Indians
* 1953 – Carlsbad Potashers
* 1954 – Artesia NuMexers
* 1955 – San Angelo Colts

## Standings and statistics

1947 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Big Spring Broncs | 81 | 48 | .628 | – | 43,153 | Pat Stasey |
| Midland Indians | 75 | 55 | .577 | 6.5 | 34,013 | Harold Webb |
| Ballinger Cats | 68 | 62 | .523 | 13.5 | 42,662 | Stuart Williams |
| Sweetwater Sports | 63 | 67 | .485 | 18.5 | 31,631 | Rowland Murphy |
| Odessa Oilers | 60 | 70 | .462 | 21.5 | 38,415 | Howie McFarland |
| Vernon Dusters | 42 | 87 | .326 | 39.0 | 30,758 | Carl Kott |
Playoffs: Big Springs 4 games, Sweetwater 3; Ballinger 4 games, Midland 3. Finals: Ballinger 4 games, Big Springs 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| James Prince | Midland | BA | .429 | Jose Cendan | Big Spring | W | 24 |
| Orlando Moreno | Big Spring | Runs | 186 | Nippy Jones | Ballinger | SO | 249 |
| Pat Stasey Bob Cowsar | Big Spring Sweetwater | Hits | 209 | Ernie Nelson | Midland | ERA | 3.87 |
| Bob Cowsar | Sweetwater | RBI | 176 | Jose Cendan | Big Spring | PCT | .828 24–5 |
| Bob Cowsar | Sweetwater | HR | 37 |
1948 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Big Spring Broncs | 84 | 53 | .613 | – | 59,503 | Pat Stasey |
| Odessa Oilers | 81 | 58 | .583 | 4.0 | 61,193 | Bill Davis / Merle Coleman |
| Midland Indians | 79 | 60 | .568 | 6.0 | 51,865 | Harold Webb |
| Vernon Dusters | 76 | 64 | .543 | 9.5 | 50,250 | Lloyd Rigby |
| Ballinger Cats | 68 | 71 | .489 | 17.0 | 34,413 | Bill Atwood |
| Sweetwater Sports | 64 | 76 | .457 | 21.5 | 35,425 | Clarence Gann |
| San Angelo Colts | 63 | 77 | .450 | 22.5 | 29,145 | Robert Martin / Alvin Leedy |
| Del Rio Cowboys | 42 | 98 | .300 | 43.5 | 13,425 | John Zanet / Bill Lacy / Sam Harshany |
Playoffs: Veron 4 games, Big Spring 2; Midland 4 games, Odessa 0. Finals: Midland 4 games, Vernon 3.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Pat Stasey | Big Spring | BA | .389 | Edward Jacome | Vernon | W | 22 |
| Wilfred Rheingans | Odessa | Runs | 134 | William Gann | Sweetwater | SO | 207 |
| Roberto Fernandez | Big Spring | Hits | 203 | Jerry Fahr | Vernon | ERA | 1.96 |
| Kenneth Peacock | Sweetwater | RBI | 162 | Eusebio Perez | Big Spring | PCT | .833 15–3 |
| Kenneth Peacock | Sweetwater | HR | 34 |
1949 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Big Spring Broncs | 94 | 45 | .676 | – | 58,559 | Pat Stasey |
| Midland Indians | 74 | 66 | .529 | 20.5 | 52,078 | Harold Webb |
| Vernon Dusters | 72 | 66 | .522 | 21.5 | 50,386 | Robert Huntley |
| San Angelo Colts | 69 | 68 | .504 | 24.0 | 83,245 | Sam Harshany |
| Odessa Oilers | 66 | 74 | .471 | 28.5 | 60,426 | Alex Monchak |
| Ballinger Cats | 64 | 76 | .457 | 30.5 | 44,815 | Charlie English / Stuart Williams / Lindsay Brown |
| Sweetwater Swatters | 60 | 79 | .432 | 34.0 | 33,770 | Dick Gyselman / Kermit Lewis |
| Roswell Rockets | 57 | 82 | .410 | 37.0 | 43,584 | Bob Crues / Potsy Allen |
Playoffs: Big Spring 4 games, San Angelo 0; Midland 4 games, Vernon 1; Finals: Big Spring 4 games, Midland 0.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Pat Stasey | Big Spring | BA | .376 | Julio Ramos | Big Spring | W | 22 |
| Alex Monchak | Odessa | Runs | 147 | Julio Ramos | Big Spring | SO | 262 |
| Carlos Pascual Harry Scherting | Big Spring Vernon | Hits | 188 | Humberto Garcia | Big Spring | ERA | 1.77 |
| Frank Mormino | Odessa | RBI | 140 | Julio Ramos | Big Spring | PCT | .846 22–4 |
| Alex Monchak | Odessa | HR | 35 |
1950 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Odessa Oilers | 97 | 55 | .638 | – | 73,226 | Alex Monchak |
| Roswell Rockets | 89 | 62 | .589 | 7.5 | 82,671 | Tom Jordan |
| Big Spring Broncs | 84 | 68 | .553 | 13.0 | 49,302 | Pat Stasey |
| Vernon Dusters | 83 | 70 | .542 | 14.5 | 46,099 | Joe Berry |
| San Angelo Colts | 82 | 71 | .536 | 15.5 | 97,936 | James McClure |
| Sweetwater Swatters | 68 | 84 | .447 | 29.0 | 39,773 | John Bottarini / Dom Chiola |
| Midland Indians | 66 | 87 | .431 | 31.5 | 47,042 | Harold Webb / Ralph Blair |
| Ballinger Cats | 39 | 111 | .260 | 57.0 | 27,902 | Dutch Funderburk / Larry Gilchrist |
Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Vernon 1; Big Spring 4 games, Roswell 0. Finals: Odessa 4 games, Big Spring 3.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Tom Jordan | Roswell | BA | .391 | Billy Russell | Vernon | W | 25 |
| Leo Eastham | Odessa | Runs | 166 | Ray Hill | Roswell | SO | 195 |
| Tom Jordan | Roswell | Hits | 216 | James McClure | San Angelo | ERA | 2.54 |
| Tom Jordan | Roswell | RBI | 180 | Ray Drake | Roswell | PCT | .846 11–2 |
| Tom Jordan | Roswell | HR | 44 |
1951 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| San Angelo Colts | 93 | 47 | .664 | – | 115,118 | Dutch Funderburk |
| Big Spring Broncs | 82 | 57 | .590 | 10.5 | 43,370 | Pat Stasey |
| Roswell Rockets | 79 | 61 | .564 | 14.0 | 65,361 | Alex Monchak |
| Odessa Oilers | 76 | 63 | .547 | 16.5 | 58,825 | Jackie Sullivan / Robert Martin |
| Midland Indians | 69 | 70 | .497 | 23.5 | 52,797 | Harold Webb / Zeke Bonura |
| Vernon Dusters | 67 | 71 | .486 | 25.0 | 36,686 | Joe Berry / Homer Matney |
| Sweetwater Swatters | 46 | 93 | .331 | 46.5 | 32,430 | Earl Harriman / Warren Sliter / Joe Bratcher / Julian Morgan / Julian Pressley |
| Artesia Drillers | 45 | 95 | .321 | 48.0 | 34,545 | Hayden Greer |
Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, San Angelo 1; Roswell 4 games, Big Spring 2. Finals: Odessa 4 games, Roswell 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Pat Stasey | Big Spring | BA | .387 | Dean Franks | Roswell | W | 30 |
| Leo Eastham | Odessa | Runs | 157 | Marshall Epperson | Vernon | SO | 167 |
| John Tayoan | San Angelo | Hits | 209 | Mike Fornieles | Big Spring | ERA | 2.85 |
| Wilbur Cearley | Roswell | RBI | 141 | Ray Sims | Odessa | PCT | .917 11–1 |
| Wayne Wallace | San Angelo | HR | 36 |
1952 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Odessa Oilers | 87 | 53 | .621 | – | 72,665 | Robert Martin |
| Big Spring Broncs | 86 | 54 | .614 | 1.0 | 49,652 | Pat Stasey |
| Midland Indians | 85 | 55 | .607 | 2.0 | 64,188 | Zeke Bonura / Jay Haney |
| Artesia Drillers | 75 | 65 | .536 | 12.0 | 42,972 | Earl Perry |
| Roswell Rockets | 65 | 75 | .464 | 22.0 | 52,583 | Alex Monchak |
| San Angelo Colts | 65 | 75 | .464 | 22.0 | 76,892 | Mark Christman |
| Sweetwater Braves | 52 | 88 | .371 | 35.0 | 37,060 | Alex Carrasquel / John Morris |
| Vernon Dusters | 45 | 95 | .321 | 42.0 | 30,105 | Chester Fowler / Albert Richardson / Pat McLaughlin |
Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Artesia 1; Midland 4 games, Big Spring 0; Finals: Midland 4 games, Odessa 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Charles Buck | Sweetwater | BA | .382 | Gilberto Guerra | Big Spring | W | 26 |
| Leo Eastham | Odessa | Runs | 157 | Gilberto Guerra | Big Spring | SO | 225 |
| Charles Buck | Sweetwater | Hits | 210 | Israel Ten | Midland | ERA | 2.51 |
| Joe Bauman | Artesia | RBI | 157 | Keith Nicholls | Midland | PCT | .750 24–8 |
| Joe Bauman | Artesia | HR | 50 |
1953 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Carlsbad Potashers | 80 | 52 | .606 | – | 83,462 | Pat McLaughlin |
| San Angelo Colts | 77 | 52 | .597 | 1.5 | 68,146 | Rudy Briner |
| Midland Indians | 73 | 58 | .557 | 6.5 | 52,035 | Jay Haney |
| Artesia Drillers | 72 | 62 | .537 | 9.0 | 40,042 | Earl Perry / Joe Bauman |
| Roswell Rockets | 60 | 70 | .462 | 19.0 | 35,459 | Pat Stasey |
| Odessa Oilers | 53 | 78 | .405 | 26.5 | 41,931 | Robert Martin |
| Big Spring Broncs | 35 | 57 | .380 | NA | 24,089 | Hack Miller / Joe Niedson |
| Lamesa Lobos / Winters-Ballinger Eagles | 10 | 31 | .244 | NA | 8,314 | Harold Webb |
Lamesa/Winters–Ballinger disbanded June 7; Big Spring disbanded July 31. Playoffs: Carlsbad 4 games, Artesia 3; Midland 4 games, San Angelo 3; Finals: Carlsbad 4 games, Midland 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Ike Jackson | Carlsbad | BA | .388 | Audie Malone | Carlsbad | W | 25 |
| Joe Bauman | Artesia | Runs | 135 | Marshall Epperson | Carlsbad | SO | 214 |
| Ike Jackson | Carlsbad | Hits | 190 | Mario Saldana | San Angelo | ERA | 3.46 |
| Joe Bauman | Artesia | TB | 376 | Audie Malone | Carlsbad | PCT | .806 25–6 |
| Joe Bauman | Artesia | HR | 53 |
1954 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| Artesia Numexers | 92 | 46 | .667 | – | 54,450 | John Gibson / Jimmy Adair |
| Roswell Rockets | 87 | 51 | .630 | 5.0 | 53,280 | Pat Stasey |
| Carlsbad Potashers | 87 | 52 | .626 | 5.5 | 60,963 | Pat McLaughlin |
| Midland Indians | 80 | 59 | .576 | 12.5 | 43,109 | Rudy Briner |
| Big Spring Broncs | 70 | 65 | .519 | 20.5 | 42,078 | Robert Martin |
| Odessa Oilers | 54 | 82 | .397 | 37.0 | 26,281 | Jack Knight / Wayne Batson |
| San Angelo Colts | 53 | 86 | .381 | 39.5 | 72,727 | Hillis Layne |
| Wichita Falls Spudders / Sweetwater Spudders | 27 | 109 | .199 | 64.0 | 20,101 | Red McCarty |
Wichita Falls moved to Sweetwater May 6. Playoffs: Artesia 4 games, Midland 2; Carlsbad 4 games, Roswell 2; Finals: Artesia 4 games, Carlsbad 2.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | BA | .400 | Robert Weaver | Carlsbad | W | 21 |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | Runs | 188 | Julio Ramos | Sweet/Mid | SO | 222 |
| Ike Jackson | Carlsbad | Hits | 215 | Bartolo DiMaggio | Artesia | ERA | 3.60 |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | RBI | 224 | Wayne Goodell | Artesia | PCT | .720 18–7 |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | HR | 72 |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | TB | 456 |
1955 Longhorn League schedule
| Team name | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| San Angelo Colts | 85 | 55 | .607 | – | 62,446 | Pat McLaughlin |
| Roswell Rockets | 79 | 56 | .585 | 3.5 | 39,911 | Hayden Greer |
| Artesia Numexers | 80 | 57 | .584 | 3.5 | 28,880 | Tom Jordan |
| Carlsbad Potashers | 72 | 67 | .518 | 12.5 | 46,152 | Thurman Tucker |
| Midland Indians | 67 | 72 | .482 | 17.5 | 62,602 | Bill Capps |
| Hobbs Sports | 62 | 77 | .446 | 22.5 | 46,101 | Pat Stasey |
| Big Spring Cosden Cops | 57 | 83 | .407 | 28.0 | 27,918 | Robert Martin |
| Odessa Eagles | 51 | 86 | .372 | 32.5 | 34,574 | Tony York |
Playoffs: San Angelo 4 games, Carlsbad 1; Roswell 4 games, Artesia 3. Finals: San Angelo 4 games, Roswell 0.
Player statistics :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| Tom Jordan | Artesia | BA | .407 | Evelio Hernandez | Hobbs | W | 23 |
| Elias Osorio | San Angelo | Runs | 142 | Evelio Hernandez | Hobbs | SO | 227 |
| Tom Jordan | Artesia | Hits | 221 | Red Swanson | Midland | ERA | 3.04 |
| Tom Jordan | Artesia | RBI | 159 | Ed Locke | Artesia | PCT | .741 20–7 |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | HR | 46 |
| Tom Jordan | Artesia | 2B | 69 |

## League records 1947–1955

Batting :
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr |
| [ William Peeler | Vernon | GA | 153 | 50 | Jim Prince | Midland | BA | .429 | 47 |
| Felix Gomez | Big Spring | AB | 642 | 50 | Joe Bauman | Roswell | Runs | 188 | 54 |
| Tom Jordan | Artesia | Hits | 221 | 55 | Joe Bauman | Roswell | RBI | 224 | 54 |
| Tom Jordan | Artesia | 2B | 69 | 55 | Roman Loyko | Odessa | 3B | 24 | 52 |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | HR | 72 | 54 | Joe Bauman | Roswell | EBH | 110 | 54 |
| Joe Bauman | Roswell | TB | 456 | 54 | Orlando Moreno | Big Spring | HS | 43 | 47 |
| Tony Guerrero | Odes/San Ang | Sac | 22 | 50 | Duane White | Roswell | SB | 53 | 55 |
| Leo Eastham | Odessa | BB | 170 | 50 | Joe Calderon | Artesia | SO | 142 | 53 |
| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr |
| Dean Franks | Roswell | W | 30 | 51 | Dean Franks | Roswell | CG | 30 | 51 |
| Lee Zamora | Sweetwater | BB | 192 | 50 | Julio Ramos | Big Spring | Pct | .846, 22–4 | 49 |
| Lloyd Wallis | Vernon | L | 22 | 52 | Roy Sims | Odessa | Pct | .917, 11–1 | 51 |
| Humberto Garcia | Big Spring | ERA | 1.77 | 49 | Eddie Jacome | Midland | IP | 338 | 51 |
| Billy Russell | Vernon | Sho | 7 | 50 | Julio Ramos | Big Spring | SO | 262 | 49 |

## Sources

* Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 1993. Language: English. Format: Paperback, 420pp. ISBN 0-9637189-1-6