Valdosta Tigers Explained

Valdosta Tigers
Firstseason:1939
Lastseason:1958
Allyears:1939–1942, 1946–1958
City:Valdosta, Georgia
Past Class Level:Class D
League:Georgia–Florida League
Pastmajorleague:
Pastnames:
  • Valdosta Tigers (1954–1958)
  • Valdosta Browns (1953)
  • Valdosta Dodgers (1946–1952)
  • Valdosta Trojans (1939–1942)
Pastparks:Pendleton Park
Leaguenum:2

The Valdosta Tigers were a "Class-D" minor league baseball team, based in Valdosta, Georgia, that operated in the Georgia–Florida League, from to . The club played its home games at Pendleton Park, which was located on the current site of South Georgia Medical Center.

History

They club through a number of affiliations and names during their existence. The team was originally an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, known as the Valdosta Trojans. In, the team became an affiliate for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team folded in, however after World War II ended, Valdosta received another team in the Georgia–Florida League, the Valdosta Dodgers, which was once again affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers.[1]

In, the Dodgers moved their operations to Thomasville, to become the Thomasville Dodgers. However, the St. Louis Browns took over the Valdosta team, which was then renamed the Valdosta Browns. A year later, the Browns left and the Detroit Tigers moved their Georgia–Florida League team to Valdosta. The renamed Valdosta Tigers then played from to 1958.[1]

The ballpark

Valdosta teams played at Pendleton Park which was located on Woodrow Wilson Drive, at a site near the city library and South Georgia Medical Center.">[2]

Notable alumni

Seasons

Year Record Finish Manager Playoff Series'
1939 73-63 2nd Won First Round
vs. Waycross Bears (3-2)
Lost League Finals
vs. Albany Cardinals (4-0)
1940 76-61 3rd Bill Morrell Lost in 1st round
vs. Waycross Bears (3-0)
1941 85-51 2nd Lost in 1st round
vs. Thomasville Lookouts (3-1)
1942 81-45 1st Stew Hofferth / Clancy Odell Won First Round
vs. Moultrie Packers (3-1)
Lost League Finals
vs. Waycross Bears (4-1)
1946 64-61 4th Bill Welp Lost in 1st round
vs. Moultrie Packers (3-1)
1947 54-84 7th Hugh Holliday Did not qualify
1948 81-58 2nd Lost in 1st round
vs. Albany Cardinals (3-1)
1949 86-54 2nd Doc Alexson Lost in 1st round
vs. Waycross Bears (3-0)
1950 81-56 2nd Lost in 1st round
vs. Tallahassee Pirates (4-3)
1951 81-45 1st Stan Wasiak Lost in 1st round
vs. Tifton Blue Sox (4-1)
1952 81-58 1st John Angelone Won 1-Game Playoff
vs. Waycross Bears (1-0)
Lost in 1st round
vs. Tifton Blue Sox (4-0)
1953 55-81 7th Did not qualify
1954 68-70 5th Marv Owen (29-52) / Stan Wasiak (39-28) Did not qualify
1955 68-70 4th Stan Wasiak Lost in 1st round
vs. Brunswick Pirates (3-2)
1956 94-45 1st League Champs
No playoff system
1957 77-62 2nd Stan Wasiak Lost League Finals
vs. Albany Cardinals (3-2)
1958 75-52 2nd League Champs
vs. Albany Cardinals (3-1)
[3] [4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Malone. Christian. Baseball in Valdosta. Valdosta Daily Times. October 31, 2012.
  2. Web site: Pro Baseball in Valdosta | Lowndes County Historical Society Museum.
  3. Web site: Valdosta Tigers minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com. www.statscrew.com.
  4. Web site: Valdosta Dodgers minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com. www.statscrew.com.