Minor League history: Alabama-Florida League / Alabama State League
Minor League Baseball has a rich history. Through the decades, there have been many (obscure) leagues that came and went. Some stood the test of time, but most folded after several years. This series is about the various minor leagues that came and went. In the first episode I will pay attention to:
The Alabama-Florida League / Alabama State League
After three seasons, the Alabama-Florida League which was founded in 1936, changed it’s name into Alabama State League.
As ASL, the league played until 1951, when the name was changed back into Alabama-Florida League. The league as a whole (Alabama-Florida League and the Alabama State League) had a class D classification. Class D was the predecessor of today’s Rookie League. As you can see in the list of cities represented, it was not uncommon in those days if teams moved to another town during the season. Most of the time financial problems due to lacking attendance were the reason for these moves. In fact not much has changed nowadays. The only difference is that teams do not move during the season.anymore.
The Alabama State League played on for two more years to cease activities because of World War II. First of all baseball was subject to travel restrictions but many if not most players were drafted for the military.
After the war, the Alabama State League resumed to play again, like many other leagues in 1946. The league would continue to play through the 1962 season after which it folded. The league survived the 50s, which was a hard decade for minor league baseball, when TV brought more live Major League Baseball, that made people stay home instead of flocking to the minor league ballparks.
Cities represented:
Alabama-Florida League
– Abbeville, AL: Abbeville Red Sox 1936 (The team disbanded on August 10, 1936)Andalusia, AL: Andalusia Reds 1936.
– Andalusia Bulldogs 1937-1938; Andalusia Rams 1939; Andalusia Arrows 1953;Andalusia-Opp Indians 1954; Andalusia Dodgers 1962 (The Dodgers moved to Ozark on July 10, 1962).
– Columbus, GA: Columbus Foxes 1958
– Crestview, FL: Crestview Braves 1954-1956
– Donalsonville, GA: Donalsonville Indians 1955; Donalsonville Seminoles 1956
– Dothan, AL: Dothan Boll Weevils 1936; Dothan Browns 1937-1939; Dothan Browns 1951-1952; Dothan Rebels 1953- 1954;Dothan Cardinals 1955-1956; Dothan Cardinals 1958-1960; Dothan Phillies 1961-1962.
– Enterprise, AL: Enterprise Browns 1936; Enterprise Boll Weevils 1951-1952 (The Boll Weevils moved to Graceville on July 5, 1952).
– Eufaula, AL: Eufaula Millers 1952-1953
– Evergreen, AL: Evergreen Greenies 1937-1938 (The team moved from Ozark at start of 1937 season’s second half on June 29, 1937).
– Fort Walton Beach, FL: Fort Walton Beach Jets 1953-1962
– Graceville, FL: Graceville Boll Weevils 1952; Graceville Oilers 1953-1958 (The Boll Weevils moved from Enterprise on July 5, 1952).
– Greenville, AL: Greenville Lions 1939
– Headland, AL: Headland Dixie Runners 1951-1952
– Montgomery, AL: Montgomery Rebels 1957-1962
– Ozark, AL: Ozark Cardinals 1936-1937; Ozark Eagles 1951-1952; Ozark Dodgers 1962 (The Cardinals moved to Evergreen at start of 1937 season’s second half on June 29, 1937. The Dodgers moved from Andalusia on July 10, 1962).
– Panama City, FL: Panama City Papermakers 1936; Panama City Pelicans 1937-1939; Panama City Fliers 1951-1961.
– Pensacola, FL: Pensacola Dons 1957-1959; Pensacola Angels 1960; Pensacola Senators 1961-1962.
– Selma, AL: Selma Cloverleafs 1957-1962.
-Tallahassee, FL: Tallahassee Citizens 1951.
– Tallassee, AL: Tallassee Indians 1939.
– Troy, AL: Troy Trojans 1936-1939.
– Union Springs, AL: Union Springs Springers 1936-1937; Union Springs Red Birds 1938.
Alabama State League
– Andalusia, AL: Andalusia Rams 1940-1941, moved from Alabama-Florida League 1939; Andalusia Arrows 1947-1950
– Brewton, AL: Brewton Millers 1940-1941, 1946-1950
– Dothan, AL: Dothan Browns 1940-1941, moved to Georgia-Florida League 1942; Dothan Browns 1946-1950, moved to Alabama-Florida League 1951-1952
– Enterprise, AL: Enterprise Boll Weevils 1947-1950, moved to Alabama-Florida League 1951-1952
– Geneva, AL: Geneva Red Birds 1946-1950
– Greenville, AL: Greenville Lions 1940-1941, 1946-1948, moved from Alabama-Florida League 1939; Greenville Pirates 1949-1950
– Headland, AL: Headland Dixie Runners 1950, moved to Alabama-Florida League 1951-1952
– Ozark, AL: Ozark Eagles 1946-1950, moved to Alabama-Florida League 1951-1952
– Tallassee, AL: Tallassee Indians 1940-1941, moved from Alabama-Florida League 1939
– Troy, AL: Troy (AL) Trojans 1940, moved from Alabama-Florida League 1936-1939; Troy Dodgers 1941; Troy Trojans 1946-1947; Troy Tigers 1948-1949
– Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee Airmen 1941
Champions:
Alabama-Florida League
1936 Andulusia Reds
1937 Andulusia Bulldogs
1938 Troy Trojans
1939 Tallassee Indians
Alabama State League
1940 Dothan Browns
1941 Dothan Browns
1946 Geneva Red Birds
1947 Greenville Lions
1948 Dothan Browns
1949 Andalusia Arrows
1950 Headland Dixie Runners
Alabama-Florida League
1951 Dothan Browns
1952 Ozark Eagles
1953 Dothan Rebels
1954 Graceville Oilers
1955 Panama City Fliers
1956 Donalsonville Seminoles
1957 Graceville Oilers
1958 Dothan Cardinals
1959 Selma Cloverleafs
1960 Pensacola Angels
1961 Selma Cloverleafs
1962 Selma Cloverleafs
Noteworthy players: Virgil Tucks