The NewtonâÂÂConover Twins were a minor league baseball team based in Newton, North Carolina. The team was operated in partnership with neighboring Conover, North Carolina. NewtonâÂÂConover Twins teams played as members of the North Carolina State League in 1937 and 1938, Tar Heel League in 1939 and 1940 and the Western Carolina League from 1948 to 1951 and again from 1961 to 1963.
The Twins first played home minor league games at Newton-Conover High School Stadium through 1939 and before moving to American Legion Field beginning in 1940. Both ballparks were located in Newton, Carolina and are still in use today.
NewtonâÂÂConover teams played as a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1937 and Milwaukee Braves in 1961.
The professional baseball partnership between Newton, North Carolina and Conover, North Carolina began on January 18, 1937, when the NewtonâÂÂConover "Twins" franchise was accepted into the North Carolina State League. The "Twins" moniker was in reference to the two cities. Twins games were broadcast locally on WNNC radio, with Earl Holder serving as announcer for seven of the teams' seasons.
Minor league baseball play began for Newton and Conover in the 1937 season, when the NewtonâÂÂConover Twins began play as members of the eightâÂÂteam Class D level North Carolina State League. The North Carolina State League had reformed for the 1937 season, with the NewtonâÂÂConover franchise joining the Cooleemee Weavers, Landis Sens, Lexington Indians, Mooresville Moors, Thomasville Chair Makers, Salisbury Bees and Shelby Cardinals in league play.
In their first season of play, the 1937 NewtonâÂÂConover Twins were minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The Twins finished last in the 1937 North Carolina State League standings. Playing under managers Phil Lundeen, Buz Phillips and Ray Lindsey, NewtonâÂÂConover had a final record of 36âÂÂ73 to finish in eighth place. The Twins ended the season 38.0 games behind the first place Mooresville Moors in the final regular season standings. NewtonâÂÂConover did not qualify for the playoffs, which were won by Mooresville.
Continuing North Carolina State League play in 1938, the NewtonâÂÂConover Twins did not qualify for the playoffs. Finishing with a 46âÂÂ66 record, the Twins placed sixth in the regular season standings. Led by managers Rube Wilson, Clarence (Gracie) Allen and Mack Arnette, NewtonâÂÂConover ended the season 29.5 games behind the first place Thomasville Tommies. The Twins did not qualify for the playoffs, in which Thomasville and Mooresville were declared coâÂÂchampions. After the 1938 season, the Twins left the North Carolina State League and moved to a new league.
In 1939, NewtonâÂÂConover continued hosting minor league play, joining a newly formed Class D level league. The Twins became charter members of the sixâÂÂteam Class D level Tar Heel League. The Gastonia Cardinals, Hickory Rebels, Lenoir Indians, Shelby Nationals and Statesville Owls teams joined NewtonâÂÂConover in beginning league play as charter members.
The 1939 NewtonâÂÂConover Twins finished last in their first season of Tar Heel League play. NewtonâÂÂConover placed sixth with a 36âÂÂ69 record. Mack Arnette, Chick Suggs and Red Matheson served as managers as the Twins finished 34.5 games behind the first place Gastonia Cardinals in the final regular season standings. The Twins did not qualify for the playoff won by Gastonia. Pitcher Ralph Fox of the Twins, led the Tar Heel League with 17 wins on the season.
In 1940, the Twins folded before the completion of the Tar Heel League season. On July 19, 1940, the NewtonâÂÂConover Twins and Shelby Nationals folded from the sixâÂÂteam league. The Twins had compiled a 27âÂÂ45 record under managers Charles Hager and Ginger Watts at the time the team folded. The Tar Heel League permanently folded following the 1940 season. Twins pitcher Frank Motley led the Tar Heel League with 174 strikeouts.
In 1948, NewtonâÂÂConover resumed minor league play in another newly formed league. The "Twins" were reformed and joined as charter members of the eightâÂÂteam Class D level Western Carolina League. The Forest City Owls, Hendersonville Skylarks, Lenoir Red Sox, Lincolnton Cardinals, Marion Marauders, Morganton Aggies and Shelby Farmers teams joined the Twins as charter franchises in beginning league play on April 30, 1948.
In their first Western Carolina League season, the 1948 Twins placed second and advanced to the league finals. NewtonâÂÂConover ended the regular season with a 67âÂÂ43 record to finish the regular season in second place. Manager Eddie Yount began a four-season stint with the team as the Twins finished 2.0 games behind the Lincolnton Cardinals. In the playoffs, the Twins defeated the Forest City 4 games to 2. Advancing, NewtonâÂÂConover lost in the Finals 4 games to 3 to Lincolnton. The Twins' player/manager Eddie Yount led the Western Carolina League with both 43 home runs and 140 RBI as teammate Ray Lindsey led the league with 21 wins and 255 strikeouts.
The 1949 NewtonâÂÂConover Twins won the Western Carolina League pennant. The Twins ended the regular season with a record of 72âÂÂ36 to capture first place in the regular season standings, playing under returning manager Eddie Yount. NewtonâÂÂConover finished 4.0 games ahead of second place Lincolnton Cardinals in the regular season standings. The Twins lost in first round of the playoffs to the Rutherford County Owls, 4 games to 2.><
The NewtonâÂÂConover Twins won their second consecutive Western Carolina League pennant in 1950 and advanced to the finals. Playing under returning manager Eddie Yount, the Twins ended the regular season with a 69âÂÂ41 record. Finishing in first place, NewtonâÂÂConover ended the regular season 0.5 games ahead of the second place Lenoir Red Sox in the final standings. In the playoffs, NewtonâÂÂConover defeated the Rutherford County Owls 4 games to 2. The Twins lost in the league Finals to the Lenoir Red Sox, 4 games to 3. Twins pitcher John White led the Western Carolina League with both 21 wins and a 3.05 ERA.
In 1951, the Twins qualified for the Western Carolina League playoffs for the fourth consecutive season under manager Eddie Yount. NewtonâÂÂConover ended the regular season with a 63âÂÂ48 record to finish in fourth place. The Twins finished 8.5 games behind first place Morganton Aggies in the final regular season standings. NewtonâÂÂConover lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champion Shelby Farmers, 4 games to 2. NewtonâÂÂConover folded after the 1951 season, along with the Lenoir Red Sox, as the Western Carolina League reduced to six teams in 1952. The league folded following the 1952 season, before returning to play in 1960.
After an eight-season absence, the 1960 NewtonâÂÂConover Twins returned to minor league play, rejoining the reformed eightâÂÂteam Class D level Western Carolina League. Returning to play the Twins qualified for the playoffs with a fourth-place finish. Playing the 1960 season under manager John Isaac, the Twins ended the regular season with a 47âÂÂ52 record, finishing 23.0 games behind the first place Lexington Indians. NewtonâÂÂConover lost in first round, 2 games to 1 to the Salisbury Braves. Manager John Isaac also was a pitcher for the Twins, leading the Western Carolina League with 177 strikeouts.
The NewtonâÂÂConover Twins became a minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves in 1961. Continuing Western Carolina League play as the league reduced from eight teams to six teams. The NewtonâÂÂConover Twins finished last in the regular season standings, playing under manager Joe Abernethy. The Twins finished in sixth place, ending the season 24.0 games behind the first place Salisbury Braves with a final record of 36âÂÂ58. NewtonâÂÂConover did not qualify for the playoffs, which were won by the Shelby Colonels.
In their final season of minor league play, the 1962 NewtonâÂÂConover Twins placed third in the fourâÂÂteam Western Carolina League, which again reduced teams. The Twins ended the season with a record of 42âÂÂ57 record, finishing 22.5 games behind the champion Statesville Owls. The Twins played under player/manager Henry Nichols, who led the league with 66 RBI. No playoffs were held as Statesville won both halfâÂÂseason titles.
The Western Carolina League evolved into the 1963 Western Carolinas League, without the NewtonâÂÂConover Twins franchise, which permanently folded following the 1962 season. Newton, North Carolina and Conover, North Carolina have not hosted another minor league team.
For their first three seasons of play, from 1937 to 1939, the NewtonâÂÂConover Twins hosted minor league home games at the Newton-Conover High School Stadium. Today, the high school is located at 338 West 15th Street, Newton, North Carolina.
Beginning in 1940, the NewtonâÂÂConover Twins minor league teams played home games at the American Legion Field in Newton. Today, the ballpark is still in use and is home to the Catawba Valley Community College baseball team.