Coastal Plain League (Class D)

The Coastal Plain League was a Minor league baseball affiliated circuit which, except for the war years (1942–1945), operated in North Carolina between 1937 and 1952. It was classified as a "D" league. It grew out of a semi-pro league that operated from 1935 to 1936 under the same Coastal Plain League name. Today, the summer collegiate baseball league has revived the Coastal Plain League name.

Cities represented

Ayden, NC: Ayden Aces (1937–1938) Edenton, NC: Edenton Colonials (1952) Fayetteville, NC: Fayetteville Cubs (1946) Goldsboro, NC: Goldsboro Goldbugs (1937–1941,1946–1949); Goldsboro Cardinals (1950–1951); Goldsboro Jets (1952) Greenville, NC: Greenville Greenies (1937–1941,1946–49); Greenville Robins (1950–1951) Kinston, NC: Kinston Eagles (1937–1941, 1946–1952) New Bern, NC: New Bern Bears (1937–1941, 1946–1952) Roanoke Rapids, NC: Roanoke Rapids Blue Jays (1947); Roanoke Rapids Jays (1948–1952) Rocky Mount, NC: Rocky Mount Leafs (1941); Rocky Mount Rocks (1946); Rocky Mount Leafs (1947–1952) Snow Hill, NC: Snow Hill Billies (1937–1940) Tarboro, NC: Tarboro Combs (1937); Tarboro Serpents (1938–1939); Tarboro Tars (1940); Tarboro Orioles (1941); Tarboro Tars (1946–1948); Tarboro Athletics (1949); Tarboro Tars (1950); Tarboro A's (1951); Tarboro Tars (1952) Williamston, NC: Williamston Martins (1937–1941) Wilson, NC: Wilson Tobs (1939–1941, 1946–1952)

Tarboro was also known as the Goobers in 1939

Coastal Plain League Champions

1937 – Snow Hill 1938 – New Bern 1939 – Williamston 1940 – Tarboro 1941 – Wilson 1946 – Rocky Mount 1947 – Kinston 1948 – Tarboro 1949 – Greenville 1950 – New Bern 1951 – New Bern 1952 – Edenton

Standings & statistics 1937 to 1941 1937 Coastal Plain Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Snow Hill Billies6236.633- Dwight Wall / Peahead Walker Williamston Martins5541.5736Arthur Hauger Tarboro Serpents5342.5587½Snake Henry New Bern Bears4845.51611½ Doc Smith Ayden Aces4746.50512½ Nick Harrison / Monk Joyner Goldsboro Goldbugs4751.48015 Clarence Roper Greenville Greenies4058.40822Bo Farley Kinston Eagles3265.33029½ Krim Bess / Vern Taylor Playoff: Snow Hill 3 games, New Bern 1; Tarboro 3 games, Williamston 1.Finals: Snow Hill 4 games, Tarboro 1.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Monk Joyner AydenBA.380 Owen Elliott GoldsboroW18 Dwight Wall Snow HillRuns88 James Rollins WilliamstonSO202 Monk Joyner AydenHits136 Emil Zak Snow HillPct.842; 16–3 Monk Joyner AydenRBI97 Monk Joyner AydenHR24 Joe Bistroff Snow HillHR24

1938 Coastal Plain League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers New Bern Bears6349.563- Doc Smith Tarboro Serpents6047.561½Snake Henry Snow Hill Billies6149.5551Peahead Walker Kinston Eagles6050.5452Tommy West Williamston Martins5656.5007Arthur Hauger Goldsboro Goldbugs4765.42016 Clarence Roper / Mule Shirley Greenville Greenies4568.39818½ Monk Joyner / Rube Wilson Ayden Aces3876.33326 Frank Sidle /Bill Herring / Frank Rodgers Playoff: New Bern 4 games, Kinston 0; Snow Hill 4 games, Tarboro 2.Finals: New Bern 4 games, Snow Hill 0.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Doyt MorrisAydenBA.377 Jim Mooney TarboroW19 Alf AndersonNew BernRuns101 Cliff Wentz KinstonSO179 Johnny WyrostekKinstonHits149Eddie HurleyKinstonPct.750; 15–5 Bill F. Harper New BernRBI84+Les BurgeNew BernHR22

1939 Coastal Plain League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Greenville Greenies7448.607- Rube Wilson Goldsboro Goldbugs6953.5665Mule Shirley Williamston Martins6557.5339Paul O'Malley Kinston Eagles6559.52410Snake Henry / Ray Lucas / Bill HerringNew Bern Bears6259.51211½ Doc Smith Wilson Tobs6461.51211½ Frank Rodgers Snow Hill Billies5664.46717Peahead Walker Tarboro Tars3690.28640 Guy Schatzer / Fred Neisler / Larry Merville Playoff: Kinston 4 games, Greenville 2; Williamston 4 games, Goldsboro 1.Finals: Williamston 4 games, Kinston 1.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Uriah Norwood New BernBA.336Bill Herring KinstonW22 Claude Capps GoldsboroRuns99 Don King GreenvilleERA1.25 Ed Black GreenvilleHits151 Harry Swain WilliamstonSO186 Harry Soufas Snow HillHits151 Joe Bistroff Snow HillRBI108 Charles Whitaker Snow HillHits151 Joe Bistroff Snow HillHR32

1940 Coastal Plain Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Wilson Tobs7749.611- Frank Rodgers Tarboro Tars7251.5853½ Arthur McHenry /Bill Steinecke / Wes Ratteree Goldsboro Goldbugs6658.53210 Mack Arnette Kinston Eagles6360.51612½ Denny Sothern / Sid Stringfellow / William Averette Snow Hill Billies6264.49215 Dwight Wall New Bern Bears5867.46418½ Guy Shatzer / Gene McCarty /Marv Farrell / Danny Sothern Greenville Greenies5371.42723 Rube Wilson Williamston Martins4778.37629½Dixie Parker / Harry Swain Playoff: Kinston 4 games, Wilson 3; Tarboro 4 games, Goldsboro 1.Finals: Tarboro 4 games, Kinston 2.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Earl Carnahan WilsonBA.354Walter WilsonGoldsboroW21 Charles Metelski TarboroRuns115 Harry Swain WilliamstonSO215 Doyt MorrisWilsonHits185Bill ZinserKinstonERA2.08 Earl Carnahan WilsonRBI119Luis OlmoWilsonHR18

1941 Coastal Plain League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Wilson Tobs8730.744- Bill Herring Greenville Greenies6454.54223½Rube Wilson New Bern Bears6157.51726½Doc Smith / Jake Wade Rocky Mount Leafs5959.50028½ Norm McCaskill / Gus Brittain Goldsboro Goldbugs5861.48730 Mack Arnette / Dave McKinney Williamston Martins5661.47931Frank Rodgers Tarboro Orioles4472.37942½ Poke Whalen Kinston Eagles4277.35346 Arthur McHenry / Joe DeMasi Playoff: Wilson 4 games, Rocky Mount 1; Greenville 4 games, New Bern 2.Finals: Wilson 4 games, Greenville 2.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Earl Carnahan WilsonBA.370Bill WebbWilsonW23 Erv DickensWilsonRuns114Julio AcostaGoldsboroSO199 Earl Carnahan WilsonHits176 Joe Talley WilsonERA1.93 Lyle Thompson New BernRBI111 Fred Eason WilsonHR18 The league did not play From 1942 thru 1945 due to World War II

1946 to 1952 1946 Coastal Plain League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Rocky Mount Rocks7451.592-104,218 Harry Soufas Kinston Eagles6756.545654,120 Frank Rodgers Wilson Tobs6757.5406½108,229 Irv Dickens Goldsboro Goldbugs6460.5169½92,123 Bill Herring Tarboro Tars6165.48413½46,679 Michael Kardish / Bull Hamons Greenville Greenies5867.4641662,359 Horace Payne New Bern Bears5768.4561790,485Abe White Fayetteville Cubs5175.40523½77,007 John Intlekofer / Don Anderson Playoff: Rocky Mount 4 games, Goldsboro 1; Kinston 4 games, Wilson 3.Finals: Rocky Mount 4 games, Kinston 2.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Vern Shetler New BernBA.362 Bill Kennedy Rocky MountW28 John Wolfe WilsonRuns123 Bill Kennedy Rocky MountSO456 Ray Carlson GreenvilleHits158 Bill Kennedy Rocky MountERA1.03 Verne Blackwell GreenvilleRBI114 Charles Munday Rocky MountHR21 1947 Coastal Plain League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Wilson Tobs7961.564-138,548 Max Wilson Kinston Eagles7465.5324½68,986 Steve Collins Tarboro Tars7466.529575,281 Bull Hamons New Bern Bears7366.5255½104,426 Jake Daniel / Harry Soufas / Tom Murray / Worlise Knowles Goldsboro Goldbugs7267.5186½88,607 Bill Herring Rocky Mount Leafs6871.48910½100,794 Charlie Mundy Roanoke Rapids Blue Jays6080.42919115,837 Stu Martin Greenville Greenies5882.4142166,316 Johnny Pare / Larry Baldwin / Ordie Timm Playoff: Wilson 4 games, New Bern 1; Kinston 4 games, Tarboro 2.Finals: Kinston 4 games, Wilson 2.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot LeRoy Kennedy TarboroBA.381 Eddie Neville TarboroW28 Sal Zunno New BernRuns133 Sam McLawhorne KinstonSO238 Herb May Rocky MountHits190Bill Herring GoldsboroERA1.79 Harry Soufas New BernRBI122 Harry Soufas New BernHR25 1948 Coastal Plain League schedule

Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Tarboro Tars8753.621-67,767 Bull HamonsKinston Eagles8059.5766½76,770 Steve Collins Goldsboro Goldbugs7961.564881,499Bill HerringRocky Mount Leafs7861.5618½94,811Turkey Tyson New Bern Bears6970.49617½69,548 Harry Soufas /Tal Abernathy / Winston Palmer Wilson Tobs6179.4362695,238Max Wilson / Irv Dickens / Bob Latshaw Roanoke Rapids Jays5486.3863387,187 Stu MartinGreenville Greenies5089.36036½60,938 Bill Phebus /Bob Cohen / Kelly Kee Playoff: Tarboro 4 games, Rocky Mount 2; Kinston 4 games, Goldsboro 3.Finals: Tarboro 4 games, Kinston 1.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Valentine Gonzalez Roanoke RapidsBA.383 Red Benton Rocky MountW28 Grover Fowler Rocky MountRuns138Harry HelmerRocky MountSO268 Quentin Martin Rocky MountHits207Bill HerringGoldsboroERA2.60 Ray Komanecky TarboroRBI137 John Hanley Rocky MountHR35

1949 Coastal Plain Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Rocky Mount Leafs7960.568-80,786 Quentin Martin / Red Benton Kinston Eagles7464.536½88,814 Steve Collins New Bern Bears7366.525672,291 Bull Hamons Greenville Greenies7167.5147½72,420Fred WilliamsGoldsboro Goldbugs6868.5009½71,690 Steve Mizerak / Max Wilson Tarboro Athletics6868.5009½41,212Joe Antolick Roanoke Rapids Jays6078.43518½68,247Russ Meers / Glen Lockamy Wilson Tobs5779.41920½71,413 Ross Morrow Playoff: Greenville 4 games, Rocky Mount 2; Kinston 4 games, New Bern 2.Finals: Greensville 4 games, Kinston 2.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Clyde Whitener GoldsboroBA.355 Bill Padgett New BernW22 John Tepedino GreenvilleRuns132 Robert Mangum GoldsboroSO248 Clyde Whitener GoldsboroHits194 Vincent Gohl TarboroERA1.27 Fred WilliamsGreenvilleRBI122 Quentin Martin Rocky MountHR27

1950 Coastal Plain League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Roanoke Rapids Jays8058.580-80,665 Glen Lockamy / Walt McJunkin Rocky Mount Leafs7365.525762,027 Red Benton New Bern Bears7167.514963,486 Harry Land Kinston Eagles7068.5071051,794 Walter Millies Wilson Tobs6870.4931284,159Bill HerringGreenville Robins6770.48912½49,140Randy Heflin Tarboro Athletics6771.4861336,467Joe Antolick Goldsboro Cardinals5683.40324½35,719 James Herbison Playoff: Kinston 4 games, Roanoke Rapids 0; New Bern 4 games, Rocky Mount 2.Finals: New Bern 4 games, Kinston 0.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Quentin Martin Rocky MountBA.351Alton BrownRoanoke RapidsW28 Dallas Orf TarboroRuns110Alton BrownRoanoke RapidsSO204 Quentin Martin Rocky MountHits171 Leo GroeschenKinstonERA1.74 Warriner Bass Roanoke RapidsRBI148 Paul Smith GoldsboroHR24

1951 Coastal Plain Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Kinston Eagles7947.627-41,516 Wes Livengood New Bern Bears7254.571745,388 Harry Land Goldsboro Cardinals7055.5508½36,529 George Ferrell Wilson Tobs6957.5481054,753Joe Antolick / Alfred Rehm Roanoke Rapids Jays5966.47219½34,132Morrie Aderholt Rocky Mount Leafs3986.31239½27,753Jim Mills / Bull Hamons / Red Benton Tarboro Athletics 1322.371NA6,431Joe Rullo Greenville Robins 1024.294NA5,932 John Streza Tarboro and Greensville disbanded June 6.Playoff: Wilson 4 games, Kinston 2; New Bern 4 games, Goldsboro 2.Finals: New Bern 4 games, Wilson 3.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Kite ThomasGoldsboroBA.343 Alexander Zych KinstonW22 Bob Horan KinstonRuns109 Robert Slaybaugh GoldsboroSO223 Kite ThomasGoldsboroHits175Bunky StewartNew BernERA1.16 Jim McComasWilsonRBI95 Jim McComas WilsonHR20

1952 Coastal Plain Leagueschedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Kinston Eagles7647.608-43,301 Wayne Blackburn Wilson Tobs7151.5824½57,565 Jake McComas / Alfred RehmEdenton Colonials6955.5577½24,420Vernon Mustian /Tom Ingel / Gashouse Parker Goldsboro Jets6359.51612½35,365Wes Livengood Roanoke Rapids Jays6361.50813½36,830Pete Appleton Rocky Mount Leafs5963.48416½40,629 Paul Badgett / Quentin Martin /Turkey Tyson / Tommy Warren Tarboro Tars4971.40825½28,439 Bill Long New Bern Bears4083.3253629,056Con Dempsey / John Pavlich / Steve Collins Playoff: Goldsboro 4 games, Kinston 3; Edenton 4 games, Wilson 0.Finals: Edenton 4 games, Goldsboro 1.