Tombstone
Formed: January 28, 1947 (East Texas League rebrands as Big State League)1Austin To Play In New League, The Victoria Advocate, Jan. 29, 1947
Disbanded: January 18, 19582Big State Loop Appears Doomed, AP via The Schenectady Gazette, Jan. 1, 1958
First Game: April 15, 1947
Last Game: September 16, 1957
Seasons: 11
States: 1
(Texas)
Leadership
President:
- 1947-1950: J. Walter Morris
- 1951-1955: Howard Green
- 1956-1957: Hal Sayles
Trophy Case
Background
The Big State League was a Class B minor league loop that operated solely in Texas for eleven summers between 1947 and 1957. It was formed when the East Texas League rebranded as the Big State League just before the start of the season.
When the league started out in 1947, all of the team were operated as independents (i.e. did not have Major League parent clubs). Beginning in 1948, some clubs began to acquire Major League affiliation. The league disbanded in early 1958 after finishing the 1957 season with just four active clubs.
Big State League Franchise List
| Franchise | Years Active | Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene Blue Sox | 1956-1957 | None |
| Austin Pioneers | 1947-1955 | None |
| Beaumont Exporters | 1956 | None |
| Beamount Pirates | 1957 | None |
| Bryan Indians | 1954 | None |
| Bryan Majors | 1953 | None |
| Corpus Christi Clippers | 1954-1957 | 1955 |
| Del Rio Indians | 1954 | None |
| Gainesville Owls | 1947-1951 | 1951 |
| Galveston White Caps | 1954-1955 | None |
| Greenville Majors | 1947-1950 | None |
| Harlingen Capitals | 1954-1955 | None |
| Longview Cherokees | 1952 | None |
| Longview Pirates | 1953 | None |
| Lubbock Hubbers | 1956 | None |
| Paris Indians | 1952-1953 | None |
| Paris Panthers | 1948 | None |
| Paris Red Peppers | 1947 | None |
| Port Arthur Redlegs | 1957 | None |
| Port Arthur Sea Hawks | 1955-1956 | 1956 |
| Sherman-Denison Twins | 1947-1951 | 1948 |
| Temple Eagles | 1949-1954 | None |
| Temple Redlegs | 1957 | None |
| Texarkana Bears | 1947-1953 | 1947-1950 |
| Texas City Exporters | 1956 | None |
| Texas City Hubbers | 1955 | None |
| Tyler East Texans | 1951-1953 | 1952 |
| Tyler Tigers | 1954-1955 | None |
| Victoria Eagles | 1956 | None |
| Victoria Rosebuds | 1957 | 1957 |
| Waco Dons | 1947 | None |
| Waco Pirates | 1948-1953 & 1954-1956 | 1949-1954 |
| Wichita Falls Spudders | 1947-1953 & 1956-1957 | 1953 |
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One Response
My father Adolfo M Gonzales played for the Mexican League and/or the Abilene Blue Sox….I think around 1954, all I have is a group picture of the team. I’d love to find out more information.
Thank you,