Waco Cubs
Encyclopedia
The Waco Cubs were a minor league baseball
team based in Waco, Texas
for six years (1925–1930, 1933). The Cubs were members of the Texas League
from 1925 to 1930 and the Dixie League
in 1933. They played at Katy Park
for their entire six year existence. After the 1930 season, the Cubs were moved from Waco to Galveston, Texas
and were re-named the Galveston Buccaneers
. After the Cubs were re-established in 1933, they were moved mid-season to Pine Bluff, Arkansas
and renamed the "Judges". While in the Texas League, there were classified as a Class-A team. During their 1933 re-establishment, they were classified as a Class-C team.
who played in the city from 1906 to 1919.
The Cubs originated from a Texas League
franchise from Galveston, Texas
that was purchased by a businessman in 1924 and relocated to Waco the following year. The team name "Cubs" was chosen after a contest. In their first season, 1925, the Cubs played two exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals
during spring training
. The Detroit Tigers
beat the Cubs 7–0 in an exhibition game in 1928. In 1929, the Cubs played an exhibition game against the New York Yankees
drawing an estimated crowd of 11,000 despite the fact that Katy Park
, the site of the event, could only hold 4,000 people. In that game, Yankees players Babe Ruth
and Lou Gehrig
were solicited for autographs while playing in the field
, interrupting the game numerous times. Fans even rushed the field and stole the baseball in that game. The Yankees won that game by a score of 13 to 3. During the Cubs 1930 season, outfielder
Gene Rye
hit three home run
s in one inning
. The Cubs were sold in 1931 for US$23,000 (the same amount the franchise was purchased for in 1930) and was relocated to Galveston, Texas. They were then renamed the "Buccaneers
". For their first five years of existence in the Texas League, the Cubs were managed
by former Major League Baseball
player Del Pratt
.
team for the next two season, Waco was awarded a Dixie League
franchise in 1933 and they named the Cubs after the Texas League predicator. For the 1933 season, the Cubs were managed by Archie Tanner. They were classified as a Class-C team. That season, the Cubs hosted the first ever night game
at Katy Park. Mid-season in 1933, the Cubs were moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas
and renamed the "Judges".
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...
team based in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
for six years (1925–1930, 1933). The Cubs were members of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
from 1925 to 1930 and the Dixie League
Dixie League (1933 baseball)
The Dixie League was a class C baseball league formed in 1933, with teams based in the US states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. After one season of competition, the Dixie League was split into the East Dixie and West Dixie leagues, both of them competing in the 1934 and 1935 seasons....
in 1933. They played at Katy Park
Katy Park
Katy Park was a baseball park located in Waco, TX and was used by many minor league baseball teams as well as the Baylor Bears for a short time. -Significant Moments:* The New York Yankees played an exhibition game against the Waco Cubs on April 4, 1929...
for their entire six year existence. After the 1930 season, the Cubs were moved from Waco to Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
and were re-named the Galveston Buccaneers
Galveston Buccaneers
The Galveston Buccaneers were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1931 to 1937. Based in Galveston, Texas, USA, they played in the Texas League. Their home ballpark was Moody Stadium. Notable players include Del Pratt, Beau Bell, Wally Moses and Harry Brecheen...
. After the Cubs were re-established in 1933, they were moved mid-season to Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
and renamed the "Judges". While in the Texas League, there were classified as a Class-A team. During their 1933 re-establishment, they were classified as a Class-C team.
Texas League (1925–1930)
The earliest predicator to the Cubs were the Waco NavigatorsWaco Navigators
The Waco Navigators were a Texas League baseball team based in Waco, Texas, USA that played from 1906 to 1919. They played their home games at Katy Park....
who played in the city from 1906 to 1919.
The Cubs originated from a Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
franchise from Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
that was purchased by a businessman in 1924 and relocated to Waco the following year. The team name "Cubs" was chosen after a contest. In their first season, 1925, the Cubs played two exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. The Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
beat the Cubs 7–0 in an exhibition game in 1928. In 1929, the Cubs played an exhibition game against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
drawing an estimated crowd of 11,000 despite the fact that Katy Park
Katy Park
Katy Park was a baseball park located in Waco, TX and was used by many minor league baseball teams as well as the Baylor Bears for a short time. -Significant Moments:* The New York Yankees played an exhibition game against the Waco Cubs on April 4, 1929...
, the site of the event, could only hold 4,000 people. In that game, Yankees players Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
and Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
were solicited for autographs while playing in the field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
, interrupting the game numerous times. Fans even rushed the field and stole the baseball in that game. The Yankees won that game by a score of 13 to 3. During the Cubs 1930 season, outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Gene Rye
Gene Rye
Eugene Rudolph Rye [Half Pint] was a utility player in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the season. Listed at 5'6", 165 lb., Rye batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
hit three home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in one inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
. The Cubs were sold in 1931 for US$23,000 (the same amount the franchise was purchased for in 1930) and was relocated to Galveston, Texas. They were then renamed the "Buccaneers
Galveston Buccaneers
The Galveston Buccaneers were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1931 to 1937. Based in Galveston, Texas, USA, they played in the Texas League. Their home ballpark was Moody Stadium. Notable players include Del Pratt, Beau Bell, Wally Moses and Harry Brecheen...
". For their first five years of existence in the Texas League, the Cubs were managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
by former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Del Pratt
Del Pratt
Derrill Burnham "Del" Pratt was a star running back for the University of Alabama before becoming a professional baseball player. Pratt signed with the St. Louis Browns in...
.
Dixie League (1933)
Without a minor league baseballMinor 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...
team for the next two season, Waco was awarded a Dixie League
Dixie League (1933 baseball)
The Dixie League was a class C baseball league formed in 1933, with teams based in the US states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. After one season of competition, the Dixie League was split into the East Dixie and West Dixie leagues, both of them competing in the 1934 and 1935 seasons....
franchise in 1933 and they named the Cubs after the Texas League predicator. For the 1933 season, the Cubs were managed by Archie Tanner. They were classified as a Class-C team. That season, the Cubs hosted the first ever night game
Night game
A night game is a sporting event that takes place, completely or partially, after the local sunset. Depending on the sport, this can be done either with floodlights or with the usual low-light conditions.-Cricket:...
at Katy Park. Mid-season in 1933, the Cubs were moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
and renamed the "Judges".