The LaGrange Grangers were a minor league baseball team based in LaGrange, Georgia. From 1913 to 1917, the Grangers and their predecessor, the LaGrange "Terrapins," played exclusively as members of the Class D level Georgia–Alabama League.
| LaGrange Grangers | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1913–1917) |
| League | Georgia–Alabama League (1913–1917) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | LaGrange Terrapins (1913–1915) LaGrange Grangers (1916–1917) |
| Ballpark | LaGrange Athletic Field (1913–1917) |
The LaGrange Grangers hosted home minor league games at the LaGrange Athletic Field.
The Grangers were succeeded in Georgia–Alabama League play decades later by the 1946 LaGrange Troupers.
History
editIn 1913, the LaGrange "Terrapins" began play as charter members of the six–team, Class D level Georgia–Alabama League. The Anniston Moulders, Gadsden Steel Makers, Newnan Cowetas, Opelika Opelicans and Talladega Indians teams joined LaGrange in beginning league play on May 5, 1913.[1][2][3]
In their first season of play, the Terrapins placed fifth in the 1913 Georgia–Alabama League standings.[4] LaGrange ended the season with a record of 42–48, as Ducky Holmes served as manager. The Terrapins finished 9.5 games behind the first place Gadsden Steel Makers in the final standings, as the league held no playoffs.[5][6]
Continuing play in the 1914 Georgia–Alabama League, the Terrapins placed third in the final standings, as the league expanded to eight teams for one season.[7][8] The Terrapins ended the 1914 season with a record of 55–43, to place third in the standings of the eight–team league. Jim Lafitte served as manager, as LaGrange finished 6.5 games behind the first place Selma River Rats in the final standings.[9][6]
The 1915 LaGrange Terrapins finished last in the six–team Alabama–Georgia League. On July 14, 1915, LaGrange was in sixth place when the league folded.[10] The Terrapins ended their shortened 1915 season with a record of 18–38, finishing 21.0 games behind the first place Newnan Cowetas, as Jim Lafitte returned as manager.[11][12][6]
Despite folding during the season before, the Georgia–Alabama League reformed in 1916, with LaGrange continuing play as the LaGrange "Grangers."[13][14]
The "Grangers" nickname corresponds to its use by LaGrange High School, established in 1903.[15][16]
With Grady Bowen as manager, the Grangers placed third in the six-team league. LaGrange ended the season with a record of 39–29, finishing 5.5 games behind the first place Rome Romans in the final standings, as the league ended play on July 22, 1916.[17][18] Rufus Nolly of LaGrange had a 12-2 pitching record, leading the league.[6]
LaGrange and the Georgia–Alabama League continued play in 1917. The season was short lived, beginning play on May 3, 1917, and concluding on May 23, 1917, when the league folded.[6][19] The Grangers were in last place with a 5–12 record when the league folded. Heisman Jones was the manager as LaGrange ended their 1917 season in sixth place, finishing 5.5 games behind the first place Anniston Moulders in the final standings.[20][21][6]
The LaGrange Grangers were succeeded in minor league play by the 1920 and 1921 "LaGrange" team that played as members of the Class D level Georgia State League, winning the 1920 league championship.[22][6] LaGrange next hosted minor league baseball when the 1946 LaGrange Troupers returned to play in the reformed Class D level Georgia–Alabama League, hosting home games at Callaway Stadium.[23][24]
The ballpark
editFrom 1913 to 1917, the LaGrange Terrapins and Grangers teams hosted minor league home games exclusively at the LaGrange Athletic Field. The ballpark was located at West Battle & West Haralson Street at North Greenwood Street & Gordon Street in LaGrange, Georgia.[25]
Timeline
edit| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League | Ballpark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913–1915 | 3 | LaGrange Terrapins | Class D | Georgia–Alabama League | LaGrange Athletic Field |
| 1916–1917 | 2 | LaGrange Grangers |
Year–by–year records
edit| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 42–48 | 5th | Ducky Holmes | No playoffs held |
| 1914 | 55–438 | 3rd | Jim Lafitte | No playoffs held |
| 1915 | 18–38 | 6th | Jim Lafitte | League folded July 14 |
| 1916 | 39–29 | 3rd | Grady Bowen | No playoffs held |
| 1917 | 5–12 | 6th | Heisman Jones | League folded May 23 |
Notable alumni
edit- Ralph Head (1913–1915)
- Ducky Holmes (1913, MGR)
- LaGrange Terrapins players
References
edit- ^ "1913 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Minor League Baseball".
- ^ "1913 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1913 Newnan Cowetas Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1913 La Grange Terrapins minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "1915 La Grange Terrapins Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1914 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1914 Newnan Cowetas minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1915 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1915 La Grange Terrapins minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1915 Newnan Cowetas minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1916 La Grange Grangers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1916 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "LHS History - LaGrange High School". www.troup.org.
- ^ "LaGrange High School". LaGrange High School.
- ^ "1916 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1916 La Grange Grangers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1917 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1917 La Grange Grangers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1917 La Grange Grangers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Griffin, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "La Grange, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1946 Newnan Brownies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "La Grange Athletic Field in La Grange, GA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.