The High Point Furniture Makers were a minor league baseball team based in High Point, North Carolina. From 1920 to 1932, High Point teams played exclusively as members of the Class C level Piedmont League, winning league pennants in 1922 and 1928. The team became known as the High Point "Pointers" in 1923.
High Point hosted minor league games at two different ballparks in the era. The team played at Welch Field from 1920 to 1928, before moving to Willis Park in 1929 through 1932.
In 1932, High Point hosted two separate teams in the Piedmont League, the second playing as a New York Giants minor league affiliate.
The "Furniture Makers" nickname corresponded to the large furniture manufacturing industry in High Point in the era.
History 1920 to 1922: Piedmont League / High Point Furniture Makers
High Point, North Carolina first hosted league baseball play in 1920, when the High Point "Furniture Makers" became charter members of the six–team Class D level Piedmont League. The Danville Tobacconists, Durham Bulls, Greensboro Patriots, Raleigh Nats and Winston-Salem Twins teams joined with High Point to begin league play on April 21, 1920.
The Piedmont League was named for the region, as the league member teams were located in the Piedmont plateau and Piedmont Triad regions in the eastern United States.
The High Point use of the "Furniture Makers" nickname corresponds with local history and the manufacturing industry in the era of the baseball team. High Point has a lengthy history as a being a hub for the furniture manufacturing industry. High Point has been called the "Furniture Making capital of America." Today, there are over 100 furniture stores and outlets in High Point.https://empirecommunities.com/high-point-usa-furniture-capital/
Founded in 1909, today, the High Point Market furniture showcase is held twice annually with over 11 million square feet (1 km2) 2,000 exhibitors and utilizes 180 buildings. The event highlights retail vendors and pays homage to the city's furniture making history in the process. Between 70,000 and 80,000 attendees attend each session and the market has contributed an estimated $6.7 billion to the area's economy in its history.
As a symbol of the furniture making industry in High Point, the World's Largest Chest of Drawers was constructed in 1926. At 32 feet tall, the chest of drawers is still standing today as a landmark in High Point. They are located at 508 Hamilton Street in High Point.
High Point hired Bill Piere as manager during the 1920 season, Pierre had managed both the Lakeland Highlanders of the Florida State League and the Augusta Dollies of the South Atlantic League in 1919. Following his stint with the Furniture Makers, Pierre later became a major league scout for the Detroit Tigers, signing Don Bryant among others.
Beginning Piedmont League play on April 21, 1920, the High Point furniture makers placed third in the six–team Piedmont League regular season standings. The High Point franchise began hosting home minor leagues at Welch Field. The Furniture Makers ended the regular season with a record of 57–57, playing the season under managers Dick Miller and Bill Pierre. High Point finished 9.0 games behind the first place Greensboro Patriots in the final Piedmont League regular season standings. The Furniture Makers did not qualify for the two–team playoffs won by the Greensboro over the second place Raleigh Nats. High Point pitcher Jess "Rube" Eldridge led the Piedmont League with a 1.35 ERA.
Player/manager Dick Miller hit .282 with 4 home runs in 56 games for High Point in 1920. Miller ended the season playing for the Wilson Bugs of the Class B level Virginia League, where he hit .366 in 44 games. Miller remained with Wilson for the next two seasons, which were the last of his minor league career.
Pitching for the Furniture Makers at age 31, Rube Eldridge was a native of Elkin, North Carolina, who began his professional career in 1909. The left-handed Eldridge compiled a 13–6 record with his 1.36 ERA pitching for High Point in 1920, also pitching briefly for the Columbus Senators and Charlotte Hornets in 1920. Eldridge would pitch for High Point through 1925 before returning in 1927. Eldridge was nicknamed "The Duke of Spero." On July 16, 1920, High Point purchased Eldridge from Charlotte for cash.
On July 20, 1920, Eldridge made his debut with High Point, pitching the Furniture Makers to a doubleheader victory over Raleigh 3-1 and 1–0 in winning both games. On August 7, 1920, Eldridge pitched a seven-hit 1–0 shutout against the Greensboro Patriots. after the game, Eldridge was sold to the Columbus Senators, a move effective at the end of the Piedmont League. High Point revelated that the team received an amount that "greatly" exceeded $999 in the transaction.
Left-handed pitcher Raleigh Aitchison played for the Furniture Makers in 1921. In his final season of professional play as a player at age 33, Aitchison was attempting to comeback after having been away from the game due to a condition called an “ulcerated jaw.” Atchison compiled a 1–3 record with a 6.84 ERA, pitching in 6 games for the Pointers.
Continuing in their second season of play, the High Point Furniture Makers placed second in the 1921 Piedmont League pennant. The Furniture makers placed first in the six–team Piedmont League regular season standings, as the league was upgraded to become a Class C level league. ending the regular season with a record of 65–55, playing under returning manager Bill Pierre. High Point finished 3.0 games behind the first place Raleigh Red Birds in the Piedmont League regular season standings and qualified for the two–team playoff as the league played a split season schedule. The Greensboro Patriots defeated the High Point 4 games to 1 in the Finals. First baseman Red Holt of High Point led the Piedmont League with both 26 home runs and 118 RBI. High Point pitcher Thomas Day led the Piedmont League in winning percentage, with a .875 mark and a 14–2 record.
At age 30, player/manager Hardin Herndon played in 118 games for High Point, hitting .286. A first baseman, Herndon played for the Class D level Lindale Pepperells in 1921 before joining High Point as manager. Herndon began a four-season tenure as the High Point player/manager.
In their final season as the Furniture Makers, High Point won the league pennant. The 1922 Furniture Makers continued play and won the 1922 Piedmont League pennant, as eight–team Piedmont League played a split season schedule. With a record of 70–55, playing under manager Hardin Herndon, the Furniture Makers finished 2.5 games ahead of the second place Durham Bulls in the final regular season standings. High Point qualified for the two–team playoff, be winning the first half pennant in the split season schedule. The Second half pennant was won Durham. In the final, Durham defeated 4 games to 3.
Rube Eldridge compiled a 26–9 record with a 2.76 ERA pitching for High Point in 1922, throwing 296 innings on the season.
1923 and 1924: Piedmont League / High Point Pointers
In 1923, the franchise became known under the High Point "Pointers" nickname. The Pointers continued High Point's membership in the six–team Class C level Piedmont League. The Danville Tobacconists, Durham Bulls, Greensboro Patriots, Raleigh Capitals, and Winston-Salem Twins teams joined High Point as the 1923 Piedmont league continued play.
As defending champions, High Point ended the 1923 season in third place in the overall Piedmont League final standings. High Point ended the Piedmont League regular season with record of 65–58, managed by the returning Hardin Herndon. The Pointers finished 9.0 games behind the first place Danville Tobacconists in the overall standings. High Point did not qualify for the playoff, as Greensboro won the first half pennant in the split season schedule and Danille won the second half pennant. In the final, Danville defeated Greensboro. Player/manager Hardin Herndon batted .288, while playing in 76 games for High Point. John Kane of High Point had 189 total hits on the season to lead the Piedmont League. Rube Eldridge compiled a 27–10 record with a 3.79 ERA pitching for High Point in 1923. His 27 wins led the Piedmont league.
Second place in 1924 six-team Piedmont league Record of 71–52 returning manager Hardin Herndon No playoffs held, 4.5 games behind the first place Durham Bulls. Player/manager Harry Herndon hit .284 with 14 home runs and 31 doubles in 119 games. Arnold Townsend of High Point hit 27 home runs with 102 RBI to lead the Piedmont League in both categories, while Loren Thrasher led the league with both 160 hits and 93 runs scored.
On August 2, 1924, Rube Eldridge quit the High Point team on. On August 11, 1924, Eldridge says he did not quit the High Point team and turned down an offer of $400 a month from a high-level independent team in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania.
1925 and 1926: Relocations with Danville
The High Point Pointers continued play in the Class C level Piedmont League in 1925, before the franchise relocated during the season, On June 18, 1925, the Pointers had compiled a record of 18–32, when the team moved to Danville, Virginia and finished the season as the Danville Leafs. The team had a 40–35 record while based in Danville and was managed by Hardin Herndon and Lloyd Smith during the season. Despite being replaced as manager, Hardin Herndon remained with the team for the entire season, hitting .301 in 118 games with 14 home runs at age 33. Ending the season with an overall record of 58–67 overall and in third place, High Point/Danville finished 18.5 games behind first place Winston-Salem Twins in the overall standings. In the split season schedule of the league the Durham Bulls won the first half pennant and Winston-Salem won the second half pennant. Durham then won in the final over the Twins in seven games.
The Piedmont League began the 1926 season without a High Point team, as the Danville Leafs continued play in the Piedmont league, which played a split season schedule. However Danville would return to High Point during the season. On May 12, 1926, the Danville Leafs had compiled a 11–10 record when the franchise relocated back to High Point, 11 months after leaving their former host city. After compiling a 63–41 record while based in High Point, the team ended the season with an overall record of 74–51. The Pointers finished in second place, while playing the season under manager Bob Higgins in both locations. High Point/Danville finished just 1.0 game behind the first place Greensboro Patriots in the overall standings. However, with the split season schedule, High Point did not qualify for the playoff as Durham won the first half of the split season schedule and third place Durham Bulls (73–71) won the second half pennant. Greensboro the defeated Durham in the final.
In 1926, Pointers pitcher Ray Phelps compiled a 27–8 record pitching in 40 games for High Point, at age 22. He led the Piedmont league both wins and strikeouts with 151. Phelps played a partial season in returning to High Point in 1927 before beginning a three-season tenure pitching with the Jacksonville Tars. In 1930, Phelps made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
High Point player (and future manager) Dan Boone won the 1926 Piedmont League batting title, hitting .399. Boone also hit 28 home runs and 214 total hits on the season while playing exclusively at first base. Boone's 117 RBI and 112 runs scored also led the Piedmont League. Boone had been a pitcher in the major leagues from 1919 to 1923, with the Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians compiling an 8–13 record in 42 games.
1927 to 1931: Piedmont League