The Dyersburg Deers were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Dyersburg, Tennessee, from 1923 to 1925. They were members of the Class D Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (KITTY League) from 1923 to 1924 during which time they were known as the Dyersburg Forked Dears. They played as simply the Dyersburg Deers in the Class D Tri-State League in 1925. Their home games were played at Scot's Field.
| Dyersburg Deers | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1923–1925) |
| League |
|
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | Unaffiliated (1923–1925) |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (2) |
|
| First-half titles (2) |
|
| Team data | |
| Name |
|
| Ballpark | Scot's Field (1923–1925) |
Over three seasons of competition, Dyersburg accumulated a regular season record of 170–141 (.547). They won the KITTY League championship in both 1923 and 1924. Their postseason record was 8–2 (.800).
History
editThe Dyersburg Forked Deers began competition in 1923 as members of the Class D Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League.[1] Their scheduled season opener on May 15 was rained out. They won the next day's game against the Fulton Railroaders, 3–2 in 10 innings, at Scot's Field before a home audience of around 1,200 people.[1][2] On August 24, June Greene pitched a 10–0 no-hitter against Fulton in the second game of a doubleheader.[3] The Forked Dears won the first half of the league's split season, qualifying for the championship playoffs.[4] They then defeated the Mayfield Pantmakers to win the KITTY League championship, four games to two.[5] Their season record was 51–47 (.520).[4]
The Forked Deers repeated as first half champions in 1924.[6][7] They won a second KITTY League championship by sweeping the Paris Parisians in four games in the best-of-seven championship series.[8] They accumulated a 60–48 (.556) record during the season.[7]
The KITTY League failed to reorganize for the 1925 season,[9] so Dyersburg joined the Class D Tri-State League.[10] They also shortened their name to simply the Dyersburg Deers.[11] On August 17, William Cason no-hit the Blytheville Tigers in a 4–0 home win.[3] The Deers compiled a season record of 59–46 (.562) but failed to win either half of the season.[10]
Dyersburg did not field another team in 1926.[12] Over three years of competition the team accumulated a record of 170–141 (.547).[12]
Season-by-season results
edit| Season | Regular season | Postseason | Ref. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | Finish | GB | Record | Win % | Result | ||
| 1923 | 51–47 | .520 | 3rd | 6 | 4–2 | .667 | Won first half title Won KITTY League championship vs. Mayfield Pantmakers, 4–2[5] |
[4] |
| 1924 | 60–48 | .556 | 1st | — | 4–0 | 1.000 | Won first half title Won KITTY League championship vs. Paris Parisians, 4–0[8] |
[7] |
| 1925 | 59–46 | .562 | 3rd | 7+1⁄2 | — | — | — | [10] |
| Totals | 170–141 | .547 | — | — | 8–2 | .800 | — | — |
Notable players
editThree players also played in at league one game in Major League Baseball during their careers. These players and their seasons with Dyersburg were:
- June Greene (1924–1925)[13]
- Phil Hensiek (1925)[14]
- Jack Knight (1925)[15]
References
edit- ^ a b "1923 Dyersburg Forked Deers Roster". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "10 Innings at Dyers". The Paducah Sun-Democrat. Paducah. May 17, 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b McGill, Chuck. "Minor League No-Hitters". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ a b c "1923 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ a b "Dyersburg Crowned League Champion After Winning Series from Mayfield". News-Democrat. Paducah. September 12, 1923. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Parisians Shut Out By League Leading Deers". The Paducah Sun-Democrat. Paducah. July 11, 1923. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "1924 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ a b "Deers Win Title of Kitty Loop from Paris". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. September 17, 1924. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kitty League Lost to Fans for 1925 Season". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. February 10, 1925. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "1925 Tri-State League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "Mayfield Yanks to Play Deers". News-Democrat. Paducah. June 3, 1925. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Sports in Dyersburg, Tennessee". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "June Greene Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "Phil Hensiek Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "Jack Knight Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2020.