West Texas League
Encyclopedia
The West Texas League was a class-D minor league baseball league that existed from 1920 to 1922 and from 1928 to 1929.
The Abilene Eagles beat the Ranger Nitros in the playoffs to win the league championship.
For the 1921 season, the Swatters, Eagles, Resorters, Nitros and Scouts returned to the league. The Resorters moved to Ballinger
to become the Ballinger Bearcats
. The Cisco Scouts changed their name to the Cisco Orphans. The Eastman Judges left the league and a new team, the San Angelo Bronchos
, joined. The Abilene Eagles won their second championship in a row, beating the Swatters .
There were multiple new teams in 1922: the Amarillo Gassers
, Lubbock Hubbers
, Clovis Buzzers
and Stamford Colonels
. No team represented Ballinger, Cisco
or Mineral Wells
. Amarillo won the league championship, beating the Buzzers.
The league ceased play following the 1922 season.
The Lubbock Hubbers were the only returning team from the 1922 season. The Red Snappers beat the Aces to take the league championship.
New teams for the 1929 season include the San Angelo Sheep Herders
and Big Spring Cowboys
. The Ballinger Bearcats returned to the league. Coleman won the league championship.
1920-1922
The following teams played in 1920:- Abilene EaglesAbilene EaglesThe Abilene Eagles were a West Texas League minor league baseball team based in Abilene, Texas, USA. They existed from 1920 to 1922, winning the league championship in both 1920 and 1921under managers Bugs Young and Ed Kizziar and Grady White and Hub Northen . They finished in sixth place in 1922...
- Ranger NitrosRanger NitrosThe Ranger Nitros were a West Texas League baseball team based in Ranger, Texas, USA that existed from 1920 to 1922. Major league baseball players Tom Lovelace and Jim Galloway played for them . In 1921, they were managed by Sled Allen...
- Mineral Wells ResortersMineral Wells ResortersThe Mineral Wells Resorters were a West Texas League and Texas-Oklahoma League baseball team based in Mineral Wells, Texas, USA. In 1920, they were managed by Bill Burns and Charley Stis and had Bunny Roser on the team. In 1921, they began as the Resorters but moved to Ballinger, Texas to become...
- Cisco ScoutsCisco ScoutsThe Cisco Scouts were a West Texas League baseball team based in Cisco, Texas, USA that played from 1920 to 1921. In 1921, they changed their name to the Cisco Orphans, but eventually disbanded....
- Gorman BuddiesGorman BuddiesThe Gorman Buddies were a West Texas League baseball team based in Gorman, Texas, USA that played for part of the 1920 season. Before the season ended, they moved to Sweetwater, Texas to become the Sweetwater Swatters. They are the only professional team to come out of Gorman, Texas.Major league...
/Sweetwater SwattersSweetwater SwattersThe Sweetwater Swatters were a West Texas League and Longhorn League baseball team based in Sweetwater, Texas, USA. They began as the Gorman Buddies in 1920, however they moved to Sweetwater partway through the season.... - Eastland JudgesEastland JudgesThe Eastland Judges were a West Texas League baseball team based in Eastland, Texas, USA that played in 1920. Managed by James Maloney, they featured one major league baseball player: Joe Bratcher....
The Abilene Eagles beat the Ranger Nitros in the playoffs to win the league championship.
For the 1921 season, the Swatters, Eagles, Resorters, Nitros and Scouts returned to the league. The Resorters moved to Ballinger
Ballinger, Texas
Ballinger is a small town in the heart of Texas. Ballinger holds itself as county seat of Runnels County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,243 at the 2000 census...
to become the Ballinger Bearcats
Ballinger Bearcats
The Ballinger Bearcats were a West Texas League baseball team based in Ballinger, Texas, USA that played in both incarnations of the league, in 1921 and in 1929. In 1921, they began as the Mineral Wells Resorters, moving to Ballinger partway through the season....
. The Cisco Scouts changed their name to the Cisco Orphans. The Eastman Judges left the league and a new team, the San Angelo Bronchos
San Angelo Bronchos
The San Angelo Bronchos were a West Texas League baseball team based in San Angelo, Texas, USA that played in 1921 and 1922. They were the first professional baseball team to ever come out of San Angelo, Texas....
, joined. The Abilene Eagles won their second championship in a row, beating the Swatters .
There were multiple new teams in 1922: the Amarillo Gassers
Amarillo Gassers
The Amarillo Gassers were a West Texas League and Panhandle-Pecos Valley League baseball team based in Amarillo, Texas, USA. They won the 1922 West Texas League championship under manager Jack Meanor, beating the Clovis Buzzers five games to one. They were on pace to finish first in 1923, however...
, Lubbock Hubbers
Lubbock Hubbers
The Lubbock Hubbers were a minor league baseball team based in Lubbock, Texas, USA that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1956. They played in the West Texas League , Panhandle-Pecos Valley League , West Texas-New Mexico League and Big State League...
, Clovis Buzzers
Clovis Buzzers
The Clovis Buzzers were a West Texas League baseball team based in Clovis, New Mexico, USA that played in 1922. They played their home games at League Park. They were the only non-Texas based team to ever play in the West Texas League...
and Stamford Colonels
Stamford Colonels
The Stamford Colonels were a West Texas League baseball team based in Stamford, Texas, USA that played in 1922. They are the only professional baseball team to ever come out of Stamford....
. No team represented Ballinger, Cisco
Cisco, Texas
Cisco is a city in Eastland County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,851 at the 2000 census.-History:Conrad Hilton started the Hilton Hotel chain with a single hotel bought in Cisco. Hilton came to Cisco to buy a bank, but the bank cost too much; so he purchased the Mobley Hotel in 1919...
or Mineral Wells
Mineral Wells, Texas
Mineral Wells is a city in Palo Pinto and Parker counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 16,946 at the 2000 census. The city is named for mineral springs in the area, which were highly popular in the early 1900s...
. Amarillo won the league championship, beating the Buzzers.
The league ceased play following the 1922 season.
1928-1929
The league began play again in 1928, lasting until 1929. The following teams played in 1928:- San Angelo Red SnappersSan Angelo Red SnappersThe San Angelo Red Snappers were a West Texas League baseball team based in San Angelo, Texas, USA that played in 1928, winning the league championship that year under manager Red Snapp. They became the San Angelo Sheep Herders in 1929....
- Coleman BobcatsColeman BobcatsThe Coleman Bobcats were a West Texas League baseball team based in Coleman, Texas, USA that played from 1928 to 1929. In 1929, they won the league championship under managers Honus Mitze and Jack Hollaway. They are the only professional baseball team to ever come out of Coleman, Texas.Notable...
- Abilene AcesAbilene AcesThe Abilene Aces were a West Texas League baseball team based in Abilene, Texas, USA that played from 1928 to 1929. They reached the league finals in 1928, ultimately losing the playoff. Notable players include Debs Garms and Euel Moore....
- Midland ColtsMidland ColtsThe Midland Colts were a West Texas League baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA that played from 1928 to 1929. They were the first of many professional baseball teams to come out of Midland, Texas.Notable players include Bob Boken and Gene Moore....
- Lubbock Hubbers
- Hamlin Pied Pipers/Big Spring SpringersBig Spring SpringersThe Big Spring Springers were a West Texas League baseball team based in Big Spring, Texas, USA that played during the 1928 season. They began the year as the Hamlin Pied Pipers, based in Hamlin, Texas, however they moved to Big Spring partway through the season....
The Lubbock Hubbers were the only returning team from the 1922 season. The Red Snappers beat the Aces to take the league championship.
New teams for the 1929 season include the San Angelo Sheep Herders
San Angelo Sheep Herders
The San Angelo Sheep Herders were a West Texas League baseball team based in San Angelo, Texas, USA that played in 1929. They were the last team to play in San Angelo until the San Angelo Colts came about in 1948....
and Big Spring Cowboys
Big Spring Cowboys
The Big Springs Cowboys were a West Texas League baseball team based in Big Spring, Texas, USA that played in 1929. Before 1929, they were known as the Big Spring Springers.They were at one point managed by Nick Carter....
. The Ballinger Bearcats returned to the league. Coleman won the league championship.