Sooner State League

The Sooner State League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the league folded on February 12, 1959. The league franchises were based in Oklahoma and Texas.

Cities represented

• Ada, Oklahoma: Ada Herefords (1947–1954); Ada Cementers (8/3/1954)
• Ardmore, Oklahoma: Ardmore Indians (1947–1952); Ardmore Cardinals (1953–1957)
• Chickasha, Oklahoma: Chickasha Chiefs (1948–1952)
• Duncan, Oklahoma: Duncan Cementers (1947–1948); Duncan Uttmen (1949–1950)
• Gainesville, Texas: Gainesville Owls (1953–1955)
• Greenville, Texas: Greenville Majors (1957)
• Lawton, Oklahoma: Lawton Giants (1947–1951); Lawton Reds (1952–1953); Lawton Braves (1954–1957)
• McAlester, Oklahoma: McAlester Rockets (1947–1956)
• Muskogee, Oklahoma: Muskogee Giants (1955–1957)
• Paris, Texas: Paris Orioles (1955–1957)
• Pauls Valley, Oklahoma: Pauls Valley Raiders (1948–1954)
• Ponca City, Oklahoma: Ponca City Cubs (1955–1957)
• Seminole, Oklahoma: Seminole Oilers (1947–1949); Seminole Ironmen (1950–1951); Seminole Oilers (1954–1957)
• Shawnee, Oklahoma: Shawnee Hawks (1950–1957)
• Sherman, Texas & Denison, Texas: Sherman Twins (1952); Sherman-Denison Twins (1953)

Standings & statistics

1947 to 1952

1947 Sooner State League Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Lawton 2; McAlester 3 games, Ada 2<br /> Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 1.

1948 Sooner State League <br /> 1948 schedule Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 1; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 2<br /> Finals: Seminole 4 games, McAlester 2.

1949 Sooner State League<br /> 1949 schedule Playoffs: Pauls Valley 3 games, Ada 2; Lawton 3 games, Chickasha 0<br /> Finals: Lawton 4 games, Pauls Valley 1.

1950 Sooner State League Duncan moved to Shawnee August 18.<br /> Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Ada 2; McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 0<br /> Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.

1951 Sooner State League Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Pauls Valley 0; McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 0<br /> Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.

1952 Sooner State League Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 1; Pauls Valley 3 games, Chickasha 1<br /> Finals: McAlester 4 games, Pauls Valley 3.

1953 to 1955

1953 Sooner State League Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Ardmore 1; Ada 3 games, Shawnee 1<br /> Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ada 1.

1954 Sooner State League Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Shawnee 2; Lawton 3 games, McAlester 2<br /> Finals: Lawton 4 games, Ardmore 0.

1955 Sooner State League Gainesville moved to Ponca City May 19.<br /> Playoffs: Lawton 3 games, Paris 1; Muskogee 3 games, Shawnee 2<br />Finals: Lawton 4 games, Muskogee 2.

1956 to 1957

1956 Sooner State League<br /> 1956 schedule Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Paris 2; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 1<br /> Finals: Seminole 4 games, Ardmore 3.

1957 Sooner State League<br />1957 schedule Playoffs: Paris 3 games, Shawnee 1; Ardmore 3 games, Muskogee 0<br /> Finals: Ardmore 4 games, Paris 0.

Hall of Fame alumni

• Whitey Herzog, 1949–1950 McAlester Rockets
• Travis Jackson, 1954–1957 Manager Lawton Braves
• Billy Williams, 1956–1957 Ponca City Cubs

References

• McCann, M. (n.d.). Minor League Baseball History. Retrieved April 27, 2007, from https://www.webcitation.org/5knFK7bID?url=http://www.geocities.com/big_bunko/soonerstate4757.htm
• Pierce, Peter G., Baseball in the Cross Timbers: The Story of the Sooner State League (Oklahoma Heritage Association 2009)