The Sooner State League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the league folded on February 12, 1959. The league franchises were based in Oklahoma and Texas.
Cities represented Ada, Oklahoma: Ada Herefords (1947–1954); Ada Cementers (8/3/1954) Ardmore, Oklahoma: Ardmore Indians (1947–1952); Ardmore Cardinals (1953–1957) Chickasha, Oklahoma: Chickasha Chiefs (1948–1952) Duncan, Oklahoma: Duncan Cementers (1947–1948); Duncan Uttmen (1949–1950) Gainesville, Texas: Gainesville Owls (1953–1955) Greenville, Texas: Greenville Majors (1957) Lawton, Oklahoma: Lawton Giants (1947–1951); Lawton Reds (1952–1953); Lawton Braves (1954–1957) McAlester, Oklahoma: McAlester Rockets (1947–1956) Muskogee, Oklahoma: Muskogee Giants (1955–1957) Paris, Texas: Paris Orioles (1955–1957) Pauls Valley, Oklahoma: Pauls Valley Raiders (1948–1954) Ponca City, Oklahoma: Ponca City Cubs (1955–1957) Seminole, Oklahoma: Seminole Oilers (1947–1949); Seminole Ironmen (1950–1951); Seminole Oilers (1954–1957) Shawnee, Oklahoma: Shawnee Hawks (1950–1957) Sherman, Texas & Denison, Texas: Sherman Twins (1952); Sherman-Denison Twins (1953)
Standings & statistics
1947 to 1952 1947 Sooner State League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Lawton Giants9842.700–24,248Louis Brower Ada Herefords8651.62810½41,872 Uke Clanton McAlester Rockets7367.52125 43,657 William Nebroak Ardmore Indians7267.51825½27,943Dutch Prather Seminole Oilers4890.34849 30,003John Taber / Hugh Willingham Duncan Cementers3999.28358 8,220 Otto Utt Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Lawton 2; McAlester 3 games, Ada 2 Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Russell Hawley McAlesterBA.382 Forrest Smith AdaW23 Robert Andrlik ArdmoreRuns158 William Donaghey AdaSO244 A.B. EverettMcAlesterHits188 Forest SmithAdaERA2.00 Paul Richardville AdaRBI111 Joseph Galioto LawtonPCT.800 20–5 Howard Weeks LawtonHR11 Paul RichardvilleAdaHR11
1948 Sooner State League 1948 schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers McAlester Rockets9147.659–63,060Vern Hoscheit Lawton Giants7759.56613 33,861 Louis Brower Seminole Oilers7562.54715½40,053 Hugh Willingham Chickasha Chiefs7363.53717 35,640 Ray Honeycutt Ada Herefords6376.45328½27,050 Uke Clanton Ardmore Indians6078.43531 37,944Donald Smith / Jim Cooke Pauls Valley Raiders5681.40934½27,071 Dutch Prather / Jennings Poindexter Duncan Cementers5483.39436½27,066 Jess Welch / Otto Utt Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 1; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 2 Finals: Seminole 4 games, McAlester 2.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Cromer Smotherman McAlesterBA.347 Bob Giddings LawtonW25 Bob Hyatt Pauls ValleyRuns122 Tom Kruta ArdmoreSO186 Al Billingsley McAlesterHits190 Buddy Yount McAlesterERA2.11 Howard Martin McAlesterRBI122 Buddy Yount McAlesterPCT.944; 17–1 Howard Martin McAlesterHR19
1949 Sooner State League 1949 schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Pauls Valley Raiders8852.629–61,085Red Phillips Lawton Giants8752.626½45,501 Louis Brower Chickasha Chiefs7861.5619½59,306 Ray Honeycutt Ada Herefords6970.49718½33,525Bill Krueger Duncan Uttmen6574.46822½36,678 Edward Marleau / James Skidgel/ Hosea Pfeiffer McAlester Rockets5882.41430 56,733Vern Hoscheit Ardmore Indians5781.41330 43,348 Dutch Prather / James Skidgel Seminole Oilers5484.39133 33,258Hugh Willingham / Paul Schoendienst Playoffs: Pauls Valley 3 games, Ada 2; Lawton 3 games, Chickasha 0 Finals: Lawton 4 games, Pauls Valley 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Pete RunnelsChickashaBA.372 Jim MeltonPauls ValleyW23 Kelly Wingo ChickashaRuns123 Joseph Micciche LawtonSO297 Pete RunnelsChickashaHits188 James Spencer LawtonERA1.96 A.B. Pearson Pauls ValleyRBI123 Joseph Micciche LawtonPCT.769; 20–6 Daryl SpencerPauls ValleyHR23 Bill Milligan AdaHR23
1950 Sooner State League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Ada Herefords9641.701–31,981 Bill Krueger McAlester Rockets9248.6575½58,048 Vern Hoscheit Chickasha Chiefs8059.57517 43,759 Ray Honeycutt Ardmore Indians7565.53622½44,454Bennie Warren Pauls Valley Raiders6872.48629½25,848Red Phillips / Joseph Jacobs Seminole Ironmen5583.39941½21,366 Kelly Wingo /Lloyd Giger / Dennis Rackley Duncan Uttmen / Shawnee Hawks5185.37544½15,950 Hosea Pfeiffer / Dutch Prather / Kelly Wingo Lawton Giants37101.26859½31,817Louis Brower Duncan moved to Shawnee August 18. Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Ada 2; McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 0 Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotClinton Weaver McAlesterBA.378 William Donaghey AdaW26 Ron Jackson AdaRuns154Jack UrbanMcAlesterSO279 Jack Taylor McAlesterHits212Jack UrbanMcAlesterERA2.15 Stephen Molinari AdaRBI162Bill StarrAdaPCT.917; 11–1 Stephen Molinari AdaHR39
1951 Sooner State League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Ardmore Indians9940.712–40,742Bennie Warren Shawnee Hawks9644.6863½44,428 Lou Fitzgerald McAlester Rockets9148.6558 42,028 Vern Hoscheit Pauls Valley Raiders9050.6439½27,580Louis Brower Ada Herefords5486.38645½12,779Stan Galle Chickasha Chiefs4694.32953½21,107 Kelly Wingo / Jerry Jackson /Chet Bryan / William Reyes Lawton Giants4694.32953½17,252 Ray BakerSeminole Ironmen37103.26462½16,915 Ripper Collins / Dutch Prather Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Pauls Valley 0; McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 0 Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Lou FitzgeraldShawneeBA.379Dee SandersMcAlesterW27 Joe Nodar ArdmoreRuns179Ken Hemphill Pauls ValleyW27 Dan Toma Pauls ValleyHits195 Armin Somonte ArdmoreSO341 Manuel Temes ArdmoreHits195Dee SandersMcAlesterERA1.67 Glenn SnyderArdmoreRBI155Dee SandersMcAlesterPCT.871; 27–4 Manuel Temes ArdmoreRBI155 Dan Demby Pauls ValleyHR30 Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyHR30
1952 Sooner State League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers McAlester Rockets8753.621–52,395 William Cope Pauls Valley Raiders8059.5766½34,500 Louis Brower Chickasha Chiefs7862.5579 27,494 Ray TaylorShawnee Hawks7367.52114 44,680Lou Fitzgerald / James Jolly Sherman Twins7268.51415 19,815Bennie Warren Lawton Reds6377.45024 52,807Tuck McWilliams Ada Herefords5782.41029½38,387Bill Enos / Virl Loman / Jim EnglandArdmore Indians4991.35038 24,362Jackie Sullivan / Royce Mills / Hugh Willingham /Clyde Baldwin / Julian Morgan Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 1; Pauls Valley 3 games, Chickasha 1 Finals: McAlester 4 games, Pauls Valley 3.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotRay Taylor ChickashaBA.365 Charles Seymour McAlesterW25 Vincent DownsLawtonRuns142 Charles Seymour McAlesterSO292 Jim England AdaHits198 Charles Seymour McAlesterERA1.91 Don Williamson Pauls ValleyRBI148 Charles Seymour McAlesterPCT.806; 25–6 Bob Hertel McAlesterHR22 Don WilliamsonPauls ValleyHR22
1953 to 1955 1953 Sooner State League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Ardmore Cardinals9146.664–43,000Bennie Warren Shawnee Hawks8653.6196 39,441 Boyd Bartley Ada Herefords8454.6097½36,128 Louis Brower McAlester Rockets8356.5979 40,485 William CopePauls Valley Raiders6374.46028 18,453 Richard Klaus Sherman-Denison Twins6177.44230½18,784 Red McCarty Lawton Reds4789.34643½18,029 Tuck McWilliams Gainesville Owls36102.26155½20,523 James Grigg / Ernest Shadid / Jesse Landrum Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Ardmore 1; Ada 3 games, Shawnee 1 Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ada 1.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Russ SnyderMcAlesterBA.432 J.L. Rhodes AdaW21 Al ViottaArdmoreRuns159 Don Huffman ShawneeSO250 Russ SnyderMcAlesterHits240 James Peterson ShawneeERA1.94 Al Viotta ArdmoreRBI161 Robert Shipman McAlesterPCT.813; 13–3 Ron Slawski AdaHR31 Bob Norden AdaHR31
1954 Sooner State League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Shawnee Hawks9248.657–42,189Jack Banta Lawton Braves8158.58310½47,431 Travis Jackson McAlester Rockets7664.54316 53,410 Bunny Mick Ardmore Cardinals7267.51819½31,090Bennie Warren / Frank Mancuso Gainesville Owls7268.51420 14,385 Richard Rigazio Ada Herefords / Cementers6476.4572828,482Louis Brower / John Densmore Seminole Oilers6179.43631 16,840 Tom Warren / Ray Taylor Pauls Valley Raiders4199.29351 29,468 Lloyd Pearson / Bennie Warren Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Shawnee 2; Lawton 3 games, McAlester 2 Finals: Lawton 4 games, Ardmore 0.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Ray Mitchell ShawneeBA.371 Wendell Doss LawtonW24 Bill FoxShawneeRuns139 Joe Roberson ShawneeSO225 Bill Fox ShawneeHits193 Joe Roberson ShawneeERA2.52 Jim Humbert ShawneeRBI136 Tom Warren SeminolePCT.909 10–1 Gene GreenArdmoreHR34
1955 Sooner State League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Lawton Braves9544.683–45,554 Travis Jackson Shawnee Hawks7761.55817½37,817Jack Banta Muskogee Giants7466.52921½47,485 Richard Klaus Paris Orioles6869.49626 44,805Jimmy Adair Ardmore Cardinals6575.46430½33,731Frank Mancuso McAlester Rockets6575.46430½47,295 Marvin Crater Gainesville Owls /Ponca City Cubs5683.40339 26,169Eddie Carnett Seminole Oilers5683.40339 26,775 Charles Hopkins / Al Evans Gainesville moved to Ponca City May 19. Playoffs: Lawton 3 games, Paris 1; Muskogee 3 games, Shawnee 2Finals: Lawton 4 games, Muskogee 2.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Hal Gordon SeminoleBA.345 Bob Dudley LawtonW23 William Caye MuskogeeRuns117 Dale Hendrickson LawtonSO256 Walt Massefski ParisHits178 Dale Hendrickson LawtonERA1.26 Walt Massefski ParisRBI107 Mike Kirmer LawtonPCT.813 13–3 James Brown ArdmoreHR21
1956 to 1957 1956 Sooner State League 1956 schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Ardmore Cardinals8356.597–47,110 J.C. Dunn Lawton Braves8060.5713½30,550 Travis Jackson Seminole Oilers7466.5299½31,249 Burl Storie Paris Orioles7267.51811 37,764Jimmy Adair / Barney Lutz Ponca City Cubs7070.50013½20,674 Don Biebel Muskogee Giants6376.45320 37,983 Richard Klaus McAlester Rockets6079.43223 32,302 Marvin Crater Shawnee Hawks5684.40027½24,872 Jack Banta Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Paris 2; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 1 Finals: Seminole 4 games, Ardmore 3.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Russell Gragg Ponca CityBA.352 John Bartek ArdmoreW21 Robert Stangel ArdmoreRuns132 Vincent Kilpela ArdmoreSO276 Russell Gragg Ponca CityHits183[ Mike Mazzamorra SeminoleERA2.28 J.C. Dunn ArdmoreRBI134John Bartek ArdmorePCT.778 21-6 Gene OliverArdmoreHR39 Mike Mazzamorra SeminolePCT.778 21–6
1957 Sooner State League1957 schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Paris Orioles7451.592–33,953 Barney Lutz / Bill Capps Ardmore Cardinals7452.587½36,201 J.C. Dunn / Mike Ryba Muskogee Giants7155.5633½21,253 Andy Gilbert Shawnee Hawks6462.50810½22,301 Ed Serrano Greenville Majors6263.4961223,066 Tom Gott Lawton Braves5966.47215 15,065 Travis Jackson Ponca City Cubs5274.41322½21,253 Don Biebel Seminole Oilers4679.36828 17,379 Lee Anthony Playoffs: Paris 3 games, Shawnee 1; Ardmore 3 games, Muskogee 0 Finals: Ardmore 4 games, Paris 0.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Jim McKnightArdmoreBA.340Jack CurtisPonca CityW18 Dick SimpsonParisRuns116Jack CurtisPonca CitySO219 Dick SimpsonParisHits163 John Jeanes ParisERA2.41 Jim McKnightArdmoreRBI112 Rudy Stoehr GreenvillePCT.750 12–4 Bob Beattie Paris HR25
Hall of Fame alumni Whitey Herzog, 1949–1950 McAlester Rockets Travis Jackson, 1954–1957 Manager Lawton Braves Billy Williams, 1956–1957 Ponca City Cubs
References McCann, M. (n.d.). Minor League Baseball History. Retrieved April 27, 2007, from https://www.webcitation.org/5knFK7bID?url=http://www.geocities.com/big_bunko/soonerstate4757.htm Pierce, Peter G., Baseball in the Cross Timbers: The Story of the Sooner State League (Oklahoma Heritage Association 2009)