The Central Texas League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1914 to 1917. The Central Texas League played as a six–team Class D level league and consisted of teams based exclusively in Texas. The Central Texas League never completed a full season in its four seasons of play and was sometimes called the Central Texas Trolley League. The Ennis Tigers played in each season of the league, which had a different champion each season.
History The Central Texas League began play in 1914, as a six–team Class D level minor league, with all six franchises based in Texas. The first league president was A.M. Frazier. The Corsicana Athletics, Ennis Tigers, Hillsboro, Texas, Italy, Texas, Waxahachie Buffaloes and West, Texas teams were the charter franchises. The league was also known informally as the Central Texas Trolley League in its inception.
In their first season of league play, the league played a split schedule. After Central Texas League games began on May 10, 1914, the second half was shortened when the league ceased play on July 25, 1914. After the league stopped play the Central Texas League did have a playoff. The Waxahachie Buffaloes won the first half standings (26–15) and West won the shortened second half standings. In the playoff, the Waxahachie Buffaloes won the championship when they defeated West 3 games to 2.
In 1915, the Central Texas League reformed and the league began play on May 17, 1915 with six members. The six teams in 1915 were the Corsicana A's, Ennis Tigers, Kaufman Kings, Mexia Gassers, Terrell Cubs and Waxahachie Athletics. The 1915 league presidents were Earl C. Brown and Hulen P. Robertson. The league folded on July 24, 1915. The Ennis Tigers won the first half of the schedule. The Mexia Gassers won the second half of the schedule. No playoffs were held and Ennis had the best overall record at 35–26, 3.0 games ahead of the Corsicana A's.
The Central Texas League formed again and began play on April 28, 1916. The six league members in 1916 were the Ennis Tigers, Marlin Marlins, Mexia Gassers, Temple Governors, Terrell Terrors and Waxahachie Athletics. The 1916 league presidents were Earl C. Brown and Jack C. Castellaw. The league disbanded July 16, 1916. At 36–25, the Temple Governors had the best overall record, 1.0 game ahead of the Ennis Tigers, who finished with a 35–26 record.
The Central Texas League played its final season in 1917. The league dropped two franchises and began play in 1917 as a four–team league before permanently folding before the season was completed. The Central Texas League began play on May 21, 1917 with the Ennis Tigers, Marlin Marlins, Mexia Gassers and Temple Governors as the four league members. The league president was Earl C. Smith. On June 1, 1917, the Temple Governors franchise, with a 4–4 record moved to become the Corsicana Athletics. On June 6, 1917 the Central Texas League permanently folded. The Mexia Gassers had the best overall record at 8–6 when the league folded. No playoffs were held.
Central Texas League teams Team name(s)City representedBallparkYear(s) activeCorsicana AthleticsCorsicana, TexasAthletic Park to , Ennis TigersEnnis, TexasUnknown to HillsboroHillsboro, TexasHillsboro City Park ItalyItaly, TexasItaly High School* Kaufman Kings Kaufman, TexasShannon Park* Marlin MarlinsMarlin, TexasMarlin City Park to Mexia GassersMexia, TexasGusher Park to Temple GovernorsTemple, TexasUnknown to Terrell Cubs 1915Terrell Terrors 1916Terrell, TexasGill Park to Waxahachie Buffaloes 1914Waxahachie Athletics 1915-1916Waxahachie, TexasJungle Park to WestWest, TexasWest High School*
Standings & statistics 1914 Central Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Waxahachie Buffaloes3523.603–Luther Burleson / Dee PoindexterWest2926.5274½ Eli WalkerEnnis Tigers3128.5254½Ed Wicker Italy2929.5006T.A. Craig Corsicana Athletics 2632.4489Gus KennedyHillsboro2133.38912L.C. Eastland Season ended July 25. Playoff: Waxahachie 3 games, West 2.
+Player statisticsPlayerTeamStatTot ShaferWaxahachieBA.294SpeedCorsicanaRuns32QuerryWestHits40DarnabyWestHR4
1915 Central Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Ennis Tigers3526.574–Ed WickerCorsicana A's3229.5253 Roy MortonTerrell Cubs3230.5163½Hank Griffin Kaufman Kings3032.4845½Dee Poindexter Mexia Gassers 2833.4597Roy Akin Waxahachie Athletics2734.4438Anson ColeLeague disbanded July 24.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Fred WendeWilson WhiteEnnisTerrellBA.3026.3025Bugs ReynoldsTerrellW12 A.R. SheltonCorsicanaRuns49Bugs ReynoldsTerrellSO157 A.R. SheltonCorsicanaHits59Ben DavenportMexiaPCT.750 6–2 Roy LeslieWilson WhiteEnnisTerrellHR7
1916 Central Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersTemple Governors3625.590–Paul Trammell Ennis Tigers3526.5741 Ed Wicker Mexia Gassers3229.5254Roy Akin / Grady WhiteTerrell Terrors2932.4757Hank Griffin / Lester Pratt Doc Nance Waxahachie Athletics 2635.42610Dee PoindexterMarlin Marlins2536.41011Bob Tarleton / Bob Countryman Fielder MurrayLeague disbanded July 16.
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Roy LeslieEnnisBA.359Lester Gaines EnnisW15 Babe Green EnnisRuns65Ray FrancisTempleSO126 A. Edens EnnisHits68 Ted Bowen MexiaERA1.26 A. Edens EnnisHR10 Lester Gaines EnnisPct.750; 15-5 W.C. Comstock MarlinHR10 Ossee Ball TemplePct.750; 9–3
1917 Central Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Mexia Gassers86.571–Roy AkinEnnis Tigers87.533½ Ed WickerMarlin Marlins78.4671½ H. Sinclair / Ray Wakefield Temple Governors / Corsicana Athletics68.4292Charles RobertsLeague disbanded June 6
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot A.V. FreemanEnnisW3 Carl Hill MexiaPct.750; 3–1 Carl Hill MexiaW3 A.V. Freeman EnnisIP57 F.D. Poteet MexiaW3
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni Ross Youngs, (1915) Waxahachie Athletics, Inducted 1972
References
External links Central Texas League - Baseball Reference