Tar Heel League
Encyclopedia
The Tar Heel League was the name of a mid-20th century Class D professional minor baseball league
, based in North Carolina
in the United States
. It operated during the full seasons of , and , and from the opening of the season through June 21, .
The first incarnation of the league began and ended the 1939 season with six clubs, but the following year saw the Shelby Nationals and Newton-Conover Twins — one third of the Tar Heel League — drop out on July 19, 1940. The entire league then shut down for 1941 and through World War II
.
During the postwar boom in minor league baseball, the Tar Heel circuit remained dormant, while the Class D North Carolina State League
resumed play in and a new Class D circuit, the Western Carolina League
, entered organized baseball
in . When the 1950s brought dwindling attendance to minor league baseball and clubs and leagues began to contract, the North Carolina State and Western Carolina leagues merged into a revived Tar Heel League for 1953. An unwieldy, ten-club circuit, the 1953 THL shed two teams on June 11 and relocated a third. The 1954 Tar Heel League could field only four teams, and it gave up the ghost 50 games into the season. The Western Carolina League returned to baseball in 1960, and still plays as the Class A South Atlantic League
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, based in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It operated during the full seasons of , and , and from the opening of the season through June 21, .
The first incarnation of the league began and ended the 1939 season with six clubs, but the following year saw the Shelby Nationals and Newton-Conover Twins — one third of the Tar Heel League — drop out on July 19, 1940. The entire league then shut down for 1941 and through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
During the postwar boom in minor league baseball, the Tar Heel circuit remained dormant, while the Class D North Carolina State League
North Carolina State League
The North Carolina State League was a "Class D" league in Minor League Baseball. The original version of the league existed from 1913-1917 as the successor to the Carolina Association...
resumed play in and a new Class D circuit, the Western Carolina League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
, entered organized baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
in . When the 1950s brought dwindling attendance to minor league baseball and clubs and leagues began to contract, the North Carolina State and Western Carolina leagues merged into a revived Tar Heel League for 1953. An unwieldy, ten-club circuit, the 1953 THL shed two teams on June 11 and relocated a third. The 1954 Tar Heel League could field only four teams, and it gave up the ghost 50 games into the season. The Western Carolina League returned to baseball in 1960, and still plays as the Class A South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
.
Member teams
- Forest City OwlsForest City OwlsThe Forest City Owls are a baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The team played its inaugural 2008 season in Forest City, North Carolina after the same franchise , owned by Ken Silver, moved from Spartanburg, South Carolina in the offseason...
- Gastonia Cardinals (champions, 1939)
- Hickory RebelsHickory RebelsThe Hickory Rebels were a minor league baseball team based in Hickory, North Carolina, USA that existed on-and-off from 1939 to 1960. They played in the Tar Heel League , North Carolina State League and Western Carolinas League . They were affiliated with the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs ....
(in first place when league folded, 1954) - High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms
- Lenoir Indians
- Lenoir Reds
- Lexington Indians
- Lincolnton Cards
- Marion Marauders (champions, 1953)
- Newton-Conover Twins
- Salisbury Rocots
- Shelby Clippers
- Shelby Nationals
- Statesville Blues
- Statesville Owls (champions, 1940)
- Statesville Sports