The Mount Airy Graniteers were a minor league baseball Class D team that represented the city of Mount Airy, North Carolina. The team played under two different names in two leagues over their 13 non-consecutive seasons spanning 1934–1950. The club joined the Bi-State League for the 1934 season. In 1935, the Graniteers changed its name to the Mount Airy Reds and continued to operate in the league through 1937.
During that span, Mount Airy had affiliation agreements with the Cincinnati Reds (1935–1936) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1937). Then, the team changed its name again to Mount Airy Graniteers and played uninterrupted until the 1941 season. After that, the city was without a professional club for the next four years.Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball
In 1946, the Graniteers resurrected in a new circuit, the Blue Ridge League (1946–1950), playing there uninterrupted until the 1950 season.
One of their most popular players was outfielder Gene Handley, who won a batting crown title with a .403 batting average in 1936. Other major contribution came from pitcher Bob Bowman, who posted a 30-11 record and a 2.91 ERA from 1946–48, including a 17-4 mark with a 3.29 ERA and 197.0 innings pitched in 1947.
In its storied 13-year history, surviving the ups and downs during wartime and postwar times, the team won championship titles in 1948 and 1950, while reaching the postseason in 1940, 1947 and 1949. Since 1950, no other team based in Mount Airy has participated in professional baseball.
Season-by-season Year League Record W-L % Finish GB Manager Playoffs 1934 BIST 33-43 .434 4th of six 19 Cecil HarrisG. Thomas 1935 BIST 67-47 .588 4th of eight 3½ Mickey Shader 1936 BIST 53-63 .457 6th of eight 20½ Mickey ShaderElbert ConwayFrank Packard 1937 BIST 52-61 5th of eight 16 Walter Novak 1938 BIST 49-69 .415 6th of eighth 28 Dick Goldberg 1939 BIST 42-70 .375 8th of eight 27 Guy LacyWalter Stephenson 1940 BIST 63-56 .529 3rd of eight 11 Walter Novack Lost in first round(vs. Bassett Furnituremakers, 4 Games to 1) 1941 BIST 42-70 .375 5th of six 23 Jimmy Maus 1946 BLRI 59-45 .567 2nd of four 11 Eddie Morgan No postseason 1947 BLRI 72-52 .581 2nd of four 3½ Chubby Dean Lost in first round(vs. Lenoir Red Sox 3 games to 1) 1948 BLRI 65-58 .528 4th of six 10 Noel Casbier League champions(vs. Galax Leafs 4 games to 3)Won in first round(vs. North Wilkesboro Flashers 3 games to 1) 1949 BLRI 68-58 .540 1st of six – Frank EssickPhil LundeenPete TreeceOkey Flowers Lost in first round(vs. Wytheville Statesmen 4 games to 2) 1950 BLRI 71-48 .596 2nd of six 13½ Zip PayneJoe Roseberry League champions(vs. Elkin Blanketeers, 4 games to 0)Won in first round(vs. Radford Rockets 3 games to 1)
MLB alumni
Bob Bowman Pat Cooper Jess Cortazzo Woody Crowson
Chubby Dean Vance Dinges Bill Donovan Joe Gantenbein
Gene Handley Frank Kalin Ernie Kish Ray Kolp
Guy Lacy Whitey Moore Ray Shore Walt Stephenson
See also Mount Airy Graniteers players Mount Airy Reds players
Sources