| Texas Association | |
| Sport: | Baseball |
| Founded: | 1923 |
| Folded: | 1926 |
| Teams: | 6 |
| Champion: | Palestine Pals |
| Champ Season: | 1926 |
| Country: | United States |
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.[1] History of the Texas Association during the 1920s follows.
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.[1] 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.[1] Sherman and Austin played a six-game playoff series, which ended in a tie at three games each.[2] [1]
The Sherman squad did not return for 1924 and was replaced by the Temple Surgeons; all other teams returned.[1] Corsicana finished in first place during both halves of the split season, thus no playoffs were held.[1]
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.[1] On May 13, Marlin moved to Palestine to become the Palestine Pals. Corsicana again won both halves of a split season.[1] Minor league legend Smead Jolley played for Corsicana that year,[3] while 12-year major league veteran Boom-Boom Beck suited up for the Marlin/Palestine club.[4]
1926 was the final year of the Texas Association, with all six teams returning from the previous year.[1] Austin won the first half of the split season and Palestine won the second half.[1] These two teams played a postseason series, won by Palestine, three games to none.[1]
No effort was made to bring the league back for 1927.[5] 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).[1] 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.[1]
Austin Rangers 1923–1924; Austin Senators 1925–1926
Corsicana Oilers 1923–1926
Marlin Bathers 1923–1925
Mexia Gushers 1923–1926
Palestine Pals 1925–1926
Temple Surgeons 1924–1926
Terrell Terrors 1925–1926
Waco Indians 1923–1924
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexia Gushers | 80 | 60 | .571 | -- | ||
| 72 | 66 | .522 | 7.0 | |||
| 72 | 67 | .518 | 7.5 | |||
| Corsicana Oilers | 68 | 70 | .493 | 11.0 | ||
| 65 | 73 | .471 | 14.0 | |||
| 59 | 80 | .424 | 20.5 | Ray Falk / H. House / Bill Reynolds / Warwick Comstock |
| Tom Pyle | Sherman | BA | .359 | Clarence Tiner | Mexia | W | 23 | ||
| Tom Pyle | Sherman | Runs | 94 | Murray Richburg | Sherman | SO | 197 | ||
| Tom Pyle | Sherman | Hits | 199 | Harvey Muns | Sherman | PCT | .690; 20–9 | ||
| Don Flynn | Waco/Austin | HR | 22[6] |
schedule 1st half
schedule 2nd half
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corsicana Oilers | 85 | 48 | .639 | -- | ||
| 76 | 57 | .571 | 9.0 | Frank Matthews | ||
| 74 | 59 | .556 | 11.0 | Roy Mitchell | ||
| Austin Senators | 63 | 70 | .474 | 22.0 | Bennie Brownlow | |
| 58 | 75 | .436 | 27.0 | |||
| 43 | 90 | .323 | 42.0 | Otto McIvor / Ed Fulton / Pete Adams |
| Clyde Glass | Mexia | BA | .367 | Joe Cantrell | Corsicana | W | 22 | ||
| Cotton Tucker | Temple | Runs | 129 | Dick Whitworth | Austin | SO | 152 | ||
| Smead Jolley | Corsicana | Hits | 180 | Bob Arnold | Mexia | PCT | .706; 12–5 | ||
| Clyde Glass | Mexia | Hits | 180 | ||||||
| Stan Keyes | Terrell | HR | 28 |
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Senators | 73 | 49 | .598 | -- | Charles Miller | |
| 72 | 53 | .576 | 2.5 | |||
| 63 | 62 | .504 | 11.5 | Frank Matthews | ||
| Terrell Terrors | 56 | 68 | .452 | 18.0 | Jimmy Maloney | |
| Temple Surgeons | 56 | 69 | .448 | 18.5 | Roy Mitchell | |
| 53 | 72 | .424 | 21.5 |
| Clyde Glass | Mexia | BA | .361 | Dick Whitworth | Austin | W | 24 | ||
| Jimmie Long | Mexia | Runs | 99 | Dick Whitworth | Austin | SO | 176 | ||
| Jimmie Long | Mexia | Hits | 164 | Les Cox | Palestine | SO | 176 | ||
| Norman Peterson | Austin | HR | 29 | Carl Littlejohn | Austin | PCT | .824; 14–3 |