The Texas Association was a sports league of minor league baseball teams in Texas that operated from 1923 through 1926. An earlier league, initially known as the Texas-Southern League, used the same name from mid-1896 through 1899. History of the Texas Association during the 1920s follows.

History

The league operated in 1923 with a six-team format. The Austin Rangers, Corsicana Oilers, Marlin Bathers, Mexia Gushers, Sherman Twins, and Waco Indians made up the league that year. While Mexia had the best win–loss record for the entire season, the league played a split season, with Sherman winning the first half, and Austin winning the second half. Sherman and Austin played a six-game playoff series, which ended in a tie at three games each.

The Sherman squad did not return for 1924 and was replaced by the Temple Surgeons; all other teams returned. Corsicana finished in first place during both halves of the split season, thus no playoffs were held.

For 1925, the Austin Rangers became the Austin Senators, while the Waco club did not return and was replaced by the Terrell Terrors; all other teams returned. On May 13, Marlin moved to Palestine to become the Palestine Pals. Corsicana again won both halves of a split season. Minor league legend Smead Jolley played for Corsicana that year, while 12-year major league veteran Boom-Boom Beck suited up for the Marlin/Palestine club.

1926 was the final year of the Texas Association, with all six teams returning from the previous year. Austin won the first half of the split season and Palestine won the second half. These two teams played a postseason series, won by Palestine, three games to none.

No effort was made to bring the league back for 1927. Teams of three cities moved to the newly formed Lone Star League (Palestine, Mexia and Corsicana) while three others ceased operations (Austin, Terrell, and Temple). Teams based in Austin and Temple later played in the Big State League of the late 1940s and early 1950s, while Terrell has yet to field another team.

Cities represented 1923-1926 Austin, TX: Austin Rangers 1923–1924; Austin Senators 1925–1926 Corsicana, TX: Corsicana Oilers 1923–1926 Marlin, TX: Marlin Bathers 1923–1925 Mexia, TX: Mexia Gushers 1923–1926 Palestine, TX: Palestine Pals 1925–1926 Sherman, TX & Denison, TX: Sherman-Denison Twins 1923 Temple, TX: Temple Surgeons 1924–1926 Terrell, TX: Terrell Terrors 1925–1926 Waco, TX: Waco Indians 1923–1924

Standings & statistics

1923 Texas Association schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Mexia Gushers8060.571--Hub Northen Austin Rangers 7266.5227.0Rankin Johnson Sherman-Denison Twins 7267.5187.5A. B. Sands / Otto McIvor Corsicana Oilers6870.49311.0Harvey Grubb Marlin Bathers 6573.47114.0Walt Alexander Waco Indians 5980.42420.5Ray Falk / H. House / Bill Reynolds / Warwick Comstock Playoff: Austin 3 games, Sherman 3. The series was declared a tie when the two clubs could not agree upon a site for the deciding game.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Tom PyleShermanBA.359Clarence TinerMexiaW23 Tom PyleSherman Runs94 Murray RichburgSherman SO197 Tom PyleShermanHits199Harvey MunsSherman PCT.690; 20–9 Don FlynnWaco/AustinHR22

1924 Texas Association schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Corsicana Oilers8342.664--John Vann Marlin Bathers 7355.57011.5Walt Alexander Waco Indians 6564.50420.0 Otto McIvor / Tom CarsonMexia Gushers6068.46924.5Tuffy Fowlkes Austin Rangers 5472.42929.5Cecil Griggs / Fats Fleharty / Otto McIvor Temple Surgeons 4882.36937.5Rankin Johnson Playoff: None +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Joe MunsonCarlsonBA.346Charles GressettMarlinW22 Bill EtheredgeCorsicana Runs106 Tex NugentTemple SO176 Bill EtheredgeCorsicanaHits159William HollisCorsicana PCT.789; 15–4 Stephen BarrettCorsicanaHR27 1925 Texas Association schedule 1st halfschedule 2nd half Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Corsicana Oilers8548.639--John Vann Mexia Gushers 7657.5719.0Frank Matthews Temple Surgeons 7459.55611.0 Roy Mitchell Austin Senators6370.47422.0Bennie Brownlow Marlin Bathers / Palestine Pals 5875.43627.0Fred Pipkin / Tommy McMillan Terrell Terrors 4390.32342.0Otto McIvor / Ed Fulton / Pete Adams Marlin moved to Palestine May 13.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Clyde GlassMexiaBA.367Joe CantrellCorsicanaW22 Cotton TuckerTemple Runs129 Dick WhitworthAustin SO152 Smead JolleyCorsicanaHits180Bob ArnoldMexia PCT.706; 12–5 Clyde GlassMexiaHits180 Stan KeyesTerrellHR28

1926 Texas Association Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Austin Senators7349.598--Charles MillerPalestine Pals 7253.5762.5Jack Stansbury / Bob Countryman Mexia Gushers 6362.50411.5 Frank Matthews Terrell Terrors5668.45218.0Jimmy Maloney Temple Surgeons5669.44818.5Roy Mitchell Corsicana Oilers 5372.42421.5John Vann Playoff: Palestine 3 games, Austin 0.

+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Clyde GlassMexiaBA.361Dick WhitworthAustinW24 Jimmie LongMexia Runs99 Dick WhitworthAustin SO176 Jimmie LongMexiaHits164Les CoxPalestine SO176 Norman PetersonAustinHR29Carl LittlejohnAustinPCT.824; 14–3

References