Longhorn League

The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from through in the Southwestern United States. In , it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through before changing its name to the Sophomore League. Joe Bauman hit 72 home runs in 1954 to set the minor league record, while playing for the Roswell Rockets.

History

The Longhorn League was a high–offense league that operated from 1947 through 1955. In 1956, it was renamed the Southwestern League. A league with only three teams ever affiliated with major league clubs, all for one year only, the league was home to veteran minor leaguers who were no longer of interest to major league teams. In two of the league's nine seasons, a Longhorn League player posted the top average in the minors – Jim Prince in 1947 and Tom Jordan in 1955. A .400 average or .700 slugging in this league was not uncommon. The league is notable for Joe Bauman setting the all–time minor-league home run record in 1954 with 72 home runs.

Cities represented

• Artesia, New Mexico: Artesia Drillers 1951–1953; Artesia Numexers 1954–1955
• Ballinger, Texas: Ballinger Cats 1947–1950
• Big Spring, Texas: Big Spring Broncs 1947–1950; Big Spring Cosden Cops 1955
• Carlsbad, New Mexico: Carlsbad Potashers 1953–1957
• Del Rio, Texas: Del Rio Cowboys 1948
• Hobbs, New Mexico: Hobbs Sports 1955
• Lamesa, Texas: Lamesa Lobos 1953
• Midland, Texas: Midland Indians 1947, 1949–1950, 1954–1955
• Odessa, Texas: Odessa Oilers 1947–1954; Odessa Eagles1955
• Roswell, New Mexico: Roswell Rockets 1949–1955
• San Angelo, Texas: San Angelo Colts 1948–1955
• Sweetwater, Texas: Sweetwater Sports 1947–1948; Sweetwater Swatters 1949–1951; Sweetwater Braves 1952; Sweetwater Spudders 1954
• Vernon, Texas: Vernon Dusters 1947–1952
• Wichita Falls, Texas: Wichita Falls Spudders 1954
• Winters, Texas and Ballinger, Texas: Winters-Ballinger Eagles 1953

Championship teams

• 1947 – Ballinger Cats
• 1948 – Midland Indians
• 1949 – Big Spring Broncs
• 1950 – Odessa Oilers
• 1951 – Odessa Oilers
• 1952 – Midland Indians
• 1953 – Carlsbad Potashers
• 1954 – Artesia NuMexers
• 1955 – San Angelo Colts

Standings and statistics

1947 Longhorn League schedule Playoffs: Big Springs 4 games, Sweetwater 3; Ballinger 4 games, Midland 3.<br/> Finals: Ballinger 4 games, Big Springs 2.

1948 Longhorn League schedule Playoffs: Veron 4 games, Big Spring 2; Midland 4 games, Odessa 0.<br /> Finals: Midland 4 games, Vernon 3.

1949 Longhorn League schedule Playoffs: Big Spring 4 games, San Angelo 0; Midland 4 games, Vernon 1; Finals: Big Spring 4 games, Midland 0.

1950 Longhorn League schedule Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Vernon 1; Big Spring 4 games, Roswell 0.<br/> Finals: Odessa 4 games, Big Spring 3.

1951 Longhorn League schedule Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, San Angelo 1; Roswell 4 games, Big Spring 2.<br/> Finals: Odessa 4 games, Roswell 2.

1952 Longhorn League schedule Playoffs: Odessa 4 games, Artesia 1; Midland 4 games, Big Spring 0; Finals: Midland 4 games, Odessa 2.

1953 Longhorn League schedule Lamesa/Winters–Ballinger disbanded June 7; Big Spring disbanded July 31.<br/> Playoffs: Carlsbad 4 games, Artesia 3; Midland 4 games, San Angelo 3; Finals: Carlsbad 4 games, Midland 2.

1954 Longhorn League schedule Wichita Falls moved to Sweetwater May 6. Playoffs: Artesia 4 games, Midland 2; Carlsbad 4 games, Roswell 2; Finals: Artesia 4 games, Carlsbad 2.

1955 Longhorn League schedule Playoffs: San Angelo 4 games, Carlsbad 1; Roswell 4 games, Artesia 3.<br/> Finals: San Angelo 4 games, Roswell 0.

League records 1947–1955

Sources

• Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 1993. Language: English. Format: Paperback, 420pp.

References