:Mountain States League (1948–1954)

{{Short description|Baseball league}}

{{About|the league that operated from 1948 to 1954|league that operated from 1911 to 1912|Mountain States League (1911–12)|the league of a similar name that operated from 1937 to 1942|Mountain State League}}

{{Infobox sports league

| title =Mountain States League (1948–1954)

| current_season =

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| formerly =

| sport =Minor League Baseball

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| president =Virgil Q. Wacks (1948–1954)

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| inaugural =1948

| teams =13

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| country =United States of America

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| folded =July 20, 1954

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| most_champs =2
Harlan Smokies
Hazard Bombers

| classification =Class D (1948–1953)
Class C (1954)

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| related_comps =Mountain States League (1911–12)

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}}

The Mountain States League was a Class D and Class C minor league baseball league which operated in the United States from 1948 to 1954. The league was a Class D level league, becoming a Class C league during its final season in 1954. The league disbanded on July 20, 1954. The cities of Harlan, Kentucky, and Morristown, Tennessee, were represented for the full seven–year existence of the circuit.

History

A total of 16 teams competed in the Mountain States League. In 1954, the Morristown Red Sox team disbanded on May 15, and was replaced when the Maryville-Alcoa Twins moved to Morristown on June 19. Both the Morristown Twins and Lexington Colts disbanded on July 7.

Virgil Q. Wacks served as president for the duration of the league.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}

Cities represented

Standings & statistics

1948 Mountain States League - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35761067/1948_mountain_states_league_schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Morristown Red Sox7046.60337,744James Grigg
Oak Ridge Bombers /
Hazard Bombers
6543.6024.022,533Hobe Brummitt
Pennington Gap Miners5954.52214,988Joe Santomauro / Buford Rhea
Newport Canners5859.49612½30,054Michael Balla / Cy Whaley
Harlan Smokies5663.47115½46,187Bill Sisler /
Frank Wilson / Michael Goda
Jenkins Cavaliers3578.31033½23,276Ray Russell /
Jackson Bell / Brent Mays
Oak Ridge moved to Hazard June 10
Playoffs: Morristown 3 games, Newport 2; Hazard 3 games, Pennington Gap 0.
Finals: Morristown 3 games, Hazard 2.

class="wikitable"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Cy WhaleyNewportBA.382Mike ClarkNewportW20
Eduardo DeHoguesMorristownRuns109Dennis ReederOak Ridge/HazardSO196
Eduardo DeHoguesMorristownHits145Dennis ReederOak Ridge/HazardERA2.20
Jacob StirnMorristownRBI101Dennis ReederOak Ridge/HazardPCT.773 17–5
Jacob StirnMorristownHR12
Eduardo DeHoguesMorristownHR12

1949 Mountain States League - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60688590/1949-mountain-states-league-schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Harlan Smokies8341.66949,615George Motto
Morristown Red Sox7252.58111.044,362James Grigg
Middlesboro Athletics6956.55214½25,833Hobe Brummitt /
Ted Russ / James Burns
Jenkins Cavaliers6361.50820.019,654Joe Vitter
Pennington Gap Miners6263.49621½14,820Lew Flick / Burgess Wolfenbarger
Newport Canners5966.47224½14,148Cy Whaley
Big Stone Gap Rebels5570.44028½37,751Rudolph Parsons /
Dale Markert / Fred Marsh
Hazard Bombers3589.28248.023,543Fred Marsh /
George Mitrus / Hobe Brummitt
Playoffs: Harlan 3 games, Middlesboro 1; Morristown 3 games, Jenkins 2.
Finals: Harlan 3 games, Morristown 2.

class="wikitable"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Kelly LunnPennington GapBA.358Frank C. WilsonHarlanW27
Robert GrosePennington GapRuns127Frank C. WilsonHarlanSO176
Kelly LunnPennington GapHits179Frank C. WilsonHarlanERA2.77
Kelly LunnPennington GapRBI126Frank C. WilsonHarlanPCT.771 27–8
Jack HallJenkinsHR18
1950 Mountain States League - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35761234/1950_mountain_states_league_schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Harlan Smokies8144.64841,707Rex Carr
Hazard Bombers7649.6085.055,184Max Macon
Big Stone Gap Rebels7551.59538,878Jack Rothrock
Middlesboro Athletics5967.46822½20,248James Burns
Jenkins Cavaliers5866.46822½13,880Bob Bowman /
Wayne Stewart / Bill Scopetone
Morristown Red Sox5667.45524.030,448Fred Hartman / Pinky Doyle
Newport Canners5174.40830.020,920|Robert Mitchell / Matthew Zidich
Pennington Gap Miners4482.34937½11,164Lew Flick /
Michael Brelich / Vince Pankovits
Playoffs: Harlan 3 games, Big Stone Gap 1; Middlesboro 3 games, Hazard 0.
Finals: Harlan 3 games, Middlesboro 0.

class="wikitable"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Max MaconHazardBA.392Nick BunatoMiddlesboroW22
Joseph ChristianHarlanRuns127Nick BunatoMiddlesboroSO132
Joseph ChristianHarlanHits173Michael HudakBig Stone GapERA2.89
Joe RiolaMorristownRBI130Michael HudakBig Stone GapPCT.875 21–3
Joseph ChristianHarlanHR27
1951 Mountain States League - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60688688/1951-mountain-states-league-schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Hazard Bombers9333.73835,129Max Macon
Morristown Red Sox8639.68822,184James Burns
Harlan Smokies8243.65610½35,657Bones Sanders / John Streza
Middlesboro Athletics5966.47233½19,228Ted Russ / George Kennis
Pennington Gap Miners5471.43238½14,994Vince Pankovits
Norton Braves5372.42439½12,314Bob Bowman /
George Sifft / George Motto
Big Stone Gap Rebels4975.39543.013,737Ham Schulte / Lew Flick
Jenkins Cavaliers24101.19268½12,250James Grigg / Tom McBride
Playoffs: Hazard 3 games, Harlan 0; Morristown 3 games, Middlesboro 0.
Finals: Hazard 3 games, Morristown 0.

class="wikitable"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Orville KittsMorristownBA.424Dan HaylingHazardW24
Max MaconHazardRuns139Johnny PodresHazardSO228
Len FeriancekPennington GapHits216Johnny PodresHazardERA1.67
Max MaconHazardRBI148Johnny PodresHazardPCT.875 21–3
Bill HalsteadPennington GapHR34
1952 Mountain States League - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60688798/1952-mountain-states-league-schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Hazard Bombers8732.73114,600Mervin Dornburg
Harlan Smokies7345.61913½32,579Rex Carr
Morristown Red Sox6158.51326.010,597James Burns
Big Stone Gap Rebels5760.48729.011,161Len Cross
Middlesboro Athletics4772.39540.015,364Leon Culberson /
Red Goff / Joe McManus
Norton Braves3088.25456½10,025George Motto /
Bill Fitchko / Mark Muslin
Playoffs: Morristown 3 games, Hazard 1; Harlan 3 games, Big Stone Gap 2.
Finals: Harlan 3 games, Morristown 0.

class="wikitable"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Orville KittsMorristownBA.372Michael DelPianoHarlanW22
Ken JohnsonHazardRuns146Michael DelPianoHarlanSO144
Len CrossBig Stone GapHits138Rafael CodinachsMiddlesboroERA2.78
Joe McManusMiddlesboroHits138McKinley MosleyHazardPCT1.000 10–0
Len CrossBig Stone GapRBI125Ken JohnsonHazardBB197
Len CrossBig Stone GapHR40
1953 Mountain States League - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35761432/1953_mountain_states_league_schedule/schedule schedule]

class="wikitable"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Maryville-Alcoa Twins7846.62925,000Jim Poole
Knoxville Smokies7055.56036,255Vince Pankovits
Kingsport Cherokees6956.55246,717Muscle Shoals
Morristown Red Sox6462.50815.037,384Napoleon Reyes
Norton Braves6363.50016.021,873Walt Dixon
Big Stone Gap Rebels5570.44023½8,230Kelly Lunn
Harlan Smokies5372.42425½20,630Cliff Melton /
Barry Cox / James Grigg
Middlesboro Athletics4876.38730.012,600Julian Morgan / Ben Pardue
Playoffs: Maryville-Alcoa 3 games, Kingsport 2; Knoxville 3 games, Morristown 1.
Finals: Knoxville 3 games, Maryville-Alcoa 1.

class="wikitable"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Muscle ShoalsKingsportBA.427Jim TugersonKnoxvilleW29
Hugh HamilMaryville-AlcoaRuns165Jim TugersonKnoxvilleSO286
Walt DixonNortonHits197Raymond JohnstonMaryville-AlcoaERA1.90
Willie KirklandMaryville-AlcoaRBI164Ned JiltonKingsportPCT.864 19–3
Walt DixonNortonHR37

1954 Mountain States League - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35761751/1954_mountain_states_league_schedule/ schedule]

class="wikitable"

!Team standings!!W!!L!!PCT!!GB!!Attend!! Managers

Middlesboro Athletics4834.5859,031Walt Dixon
Harlan Smokies3933.5424.010,000Bill Steinecke
Kingsport Cherokees4140.50633,000Muscle Shoals
Oak Ridge Pioneers3543.44911.018,286Bert Niehoff
Morristown Red Sox77.500NANANapoleon Reyes
Lexington Colts3036.455NA4,000Zeke Bonura
Maryville-Alcoa Twins /
Morristown Twins
2936.446NA9,559Tuck McWilliams
Morristown disbanded May 15; Maryville–Alcoa moved to Morristown June 19, then disbanded July 7; Lexington disbanded July 20.
The league disbanded July 20.

class="wikitable"

|+Player statistics

!Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot

Ray AdamsOak RidgeBA.352Norman HughesHarlanW16
Aldo SalventKingsportRuns84Norman HughesHarlanSO85
Ray AdamsOak RidgeHits112Raymond JohnstonOak RidgeERA2.28
Walt DixonMiddlesboroRBI80Don VaughnMaryville–Alcoa/MorristownPCT.917 11–1
Muscle ShoalsKingsportHR18

References

  • {{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?code=MTSS&class=D|title=Mountain States League (D) Encyclopedia and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=March 17, 2015}}
  • Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007.

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{{Professional Baseball}}

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Category:Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States

Category:Baseball leagues in Kentucky

Category:Baseball leagues in Tennessee

Category:Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States

Category:1948 establishments in the United States

Category:1954 disestablishments in the United States

Category:Sports leagues established in 1948

Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 1954

Category:Baseball leagues in Virginia