The Spartanburg Spartans were a long running minor league baseball franchise based in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Spartanburg County, South Carolina, playing between 1907 and 1940.
Also called the "Pioneers" and "Red Sox" for a short periods, the Spartanburg teams played as members of the South Carolina League (1907), Carolina Association (1908–1912), South Atlantic League (1919–1929), Palmetto League (1931) and a second stint in the South Atlantic League (1938–1940). The 1925 Spartanburg Spartans won the South Atlantic League championship.
Spartanburg teams hosted home minor league games at Wofford Park through 1925. The ballpark was located on the campus of Wofford College. Beginning in 1926, Spartanburg hosted home minor league games at Duncan Park, which is still in use today.
Today, Spartanburg continues minor league play as a member of the South Atlantic League, hosting the Hub City Spartanburgers based in Spartanburg.
History
Minor league baseball began in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1904, when the "Spartanburg" team played the season as members of the Independent level Carolina Interstate League. The Asheville, Brevard and Henderson teams joined with Spartanburg in the four-team league.
1907: South Carolina League
Spartanburg resumed minor league play in 1907, when the Spartanburg "Spartans" became members of the six-team Class D level South Carolina League, which reformed. The Anderson Electricians, Darlington Fiddlers, Greenville Edistoes, Orangeburg Cotton Pickers and Sumter Gamecocks teams joined with the Spartanburg Spartans in beginning league play on May 20, 1907.
The Spartanburg team being known by the "Spartans" nickname corresponds with local history. The Spartanburg County was formed in 1785, taking its name from the Spartan Regiment, a local militia unit that trained together and fought in the Revolutionary War. The Spartan Regiment teamed with Brigadier General Daniel Morgan's troops and defeated the British troops in the Battle of Cowpens.
In their first season of South Carolina League play, Spartanburg ended the 1907 season in third place in the final standings. The league did not hold playoffs in the era. With record of 36–35, playing the season under manager John McMakin, the Spartans ended the season finishing 12.0 games behind the first place Sumpter Gamecocks in the final standings. Spartanburg's J.C Watson won the South Caroling League batting championship, hitting. .327 on the season.
Spartanburg's 1907 player/manager John McMackin was a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina. McMackin had pitched 4 games in the major leagues for the 1902 Brooklyn Superbas before returning to the minor leagues. Prior to becoming the Spartanburg manager, McMackin coached the Clemson Tigers baseball team from 1904 to 1906. McMackin had been a baseball player while attending Clemson University and became the first Clemson Tiger to advance to the major leagues. Upon being hired to coach the baseball team at Clemson, McMackin replaced his former coach John Heisman, namesake of the Heisman Trophy. At age 29, the 1907 season was his last in professional baseball. McMackin pitched in 10 games, played the outfield and batted .266 with 13 stolen bases for the Spartans in 55 games.
The South Carolina League continued play as a four-team league in the 1908 season without Spartanburg as a member. The Sumter Gamecocks defended their title, followed by the Chester Collegians, Rock Hill Catawbas and Orangeburg Edistoes in the final standings as the South Carolina permanently folded following the 1908 season.
1908 to 1912: Carolina Association
Spartanburg left the South Carolina League to join a new league in 1908. With the Spartanburg Spartans as a charter member, the Carolina Association began play as a six–team Class D level league in the 1908 season. The Anderson Electricians and Greenville Spinners franchises moved with Spartanburg to the new league. The Charlotte Hornets of Charlotte, North Carolina, Greensboro Champs of Greensboro, North Carolina and Winston-Salem Twins of Winston-Salem, North Carolina teams joined with the three others beginning league play. The same six franchises played for the five-season duration of the league.
On May 9, 1908, Spartanburg turned a triple play against the Greensboro Champs.
The Spartans ended the season in third place in the first season of play, as the 1908 Carolina Association played a regular season without playoffs. The 1908 final standings were led by the Greensboro Champs who ended the season with a 51–38 record and were followed by the Greenville Spinners (48–36), Spartanburg , Winston-Salem Twins (41–48), Charlotte Hornets (40–47) and Anderson Electricians (32–53) in the final standings. With their third-place finish, Spartanburg ended the 1908 season 1.5 games behind league champion Greensboro. The Spartans played the season under player/manager Carlton Buesse. On the field, Buesse hit .246 while playing in 83 games for his Spartanburg team.
Spartanburg ended the season in last place in the final standings of the six-team Class D level league, while continuing Carolina Association league play in 1909. For the second consecutive season, the Greensboro Patriots franchise (65–44) won the league title. Greensboro was followed in the standings by the second place Anderson Electricians (63–48), Winston-Salem Twins (54–52), Greenville Spinners (61–51), Winston-Salem Twins (54–52) and last place Spartanburg. With a final record of 40–71, the Spartans were managed by the returning Carlton Buesse as Spartanburg ended the season 26.0 games behind first place Greensboro. Player/manager Carlton Buesse batted .232 while playing in 93 games for Spartanburg. Spartanburg's Harvey Ritter hit 11 home runs on the season to lead the Carolina Association.
A collegiate athletics star, Zora Clevenger played for Spartanburg in 1909 in his third and final season of professional baseball at age 27. A shortstop, Clevenger batted .208 while playing in 39 games Spartanburg. Clevenger had played on the football, basketball and baseball teams for the Indiana Hoosiers where he was the captain of all three teams. He began coaching all three sports upon his graduation from Indiana University. From 1904 to 1906, Clevenger served as the basketball and baseball coach at Indiana. His time at Indiana was followed by a stint at Nebraska Wesleyan that included his time with Spartanburg, as from 1908 to 1911 he coached all three sports at the school. From 1911 to 1915, Clevenger coached all three sports at Tennessee. His final collegiate coaching stint was at Kansas State, where he coached all three sports between 1916 and 1921. Following his time at Kansas State, Clevenger served as the athletic director at Missouri from 1921 to 1923. In 1923, returned to Indiana University where he served as athletic director for 23 years before his retirement in 1946. Clevenger was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Continuing Carolina Association minor league play in the 1910 season, the Spartanburg Spartans placed fifth in the six-team Class D level league's final standings. The Greenville Spinners (63–40) were the 1910 Carolina Association champions and finished 15.0 games ahead of Spartanburg. The Spartans were managed by Andy Roth and Bob Wood and ended the season with a 50–57 record. Following first place Greenville in the standings were the second place Charlotte Hornets (56–50), Anderson Electricians (56–54), Winston-Salem Twins (51–57), Spartanburg and the Greensboro Champs (46–64). Pitcher Jim Redfern of Spartanburg won 21 games to end the season as the Carolina Association co-leader in victories, while his Spartans teammate Bert Gardlin compiled a 15–5 record to lead the Carolina Association with a .750 winning percentage.
1910 manager Bob Wood, had retired as a player following the 1908 season. A catcher, Wood had played in the major leagues from 1898 to 1905 with the Cincinnati Reds (1898–1900), Cleveland Blues/Bronchos (1901–1902) and Detroit Tigers (1904–1905). Wood's partial season of managing Spartanburg at age 44 was his final season in professional baseball.
Replacing Bob Wood, Bill Laval became the Spartanburg player/manager in 1911. It was Laval's first season serving as a minor league manager at age 26 and he also began a career in collegiate athletics at the same time. In 1912 Laval became the coach for the Furman College baseball team, the Furman Paladins while continuing managing Spartanburg for a second season. Laval later served as a collegiate athletic director while continuing to coach baseball through 1950. He also coached basketball and football at the collegiate level. Laval served as a coach and athletic director at Furman College (1920–1928), South Carolina University (1928–1934), Emory and Henry College (1936–1938) and Newberry College (1938–1950).
Tilly Walker played for Spartanburg in both 1910 and 1911 in his first two professional seasons. After hitting .242 in 108 games for Spartanburg in 1910, Tilly made his major league debut after beginning the season with Spartanburg in 1911. After 35 games, Tilly was hitting .390 for the Spartans. His performance with Spartanburg caught the attention led to the Washington Senators purchasing Walker's contract from Spartanburg. Joining Washington, Tilly played 95 games for Senators and finished the season with a .278 average, 2 home runs and 12 stolen bases.
Spartanburg ended the season in fifth place in the 1911 Carolina Association final standings. Managed by Bill Laval, the Spartans finished 27.0 games behind the first place Winston-Salem Twins (72–37) in the final standings of the Class D level league. Spartanburg had a final record of 44–63. The Greensboro Patriots (66–43), Charlotte Hornets (52–58), Anderson Electricians (48–59) and Greenville Spinners (42–64) rounded out the 1911 final standings. Player/manager Billy Laval hit .263 in 102 games for Spartanburg, playing first base and also compiled a 4-9 record pitching for the Spartans.
Bill Laval returned as manager as the Spartanburg team became known as the "Red Sox" for the 1912 Carolina Association season. The team had purchased new white uniforms adorned with "SPARTANBURG" across the front in red lettering. The uniform sleeves had a red "S" on each sleeve. The team wore red caps with a white "S" on the front. The Spartanburg namesake uniform stockings were white with a large red stripe. The 1912 Spartanburg club was president was B.S. Doolittle, the secretary was E.O. Frierson and Mr. N.S. Trakas was vice president of the club. The Carolina Association team rosters were limited to 13 players and a total monthly salary of $1,400. To limit salary expenses, Laval utilized a three-man pitching rotation for part of the season, consisting of Wild Bill Clark, Bill Smith, and Ira Hogue.
Playing on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on June 17, 1912, Spartanburg defeated Charlotte 2-1. Playing at Wearn Field, the Red Sox were victorious after a single in the top of the 9th inning by Jack Coveney drove in the winning run. Wild Bill Clark pitched a complete game victory for Spartanburg. Wearn Field contained a "Bull Durham" sign on left field wall. If the sign was hit on the fly, players were awarded $50 the W.T. Blackwell and Company, who made Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco.