Georgia–Alabama League

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The Georgia–Alabama League was a minor league baseball league that operated in its two namesake states. The circuit first operated from 1913 to 1917, was revived from 1928 to 1930, then returned to operation for a final time from 1946 through 1951. The league's existence thus spanned some 39 years, but it only fielded teams in 14 seasons. All versions of the Georgia–Alabama League were Class D leagues, the lowest classification in Organized Ball during their years of operation.

Sixteen cities fielded teams in the league at one time or another—nine from Alabama and seven from Georgia. No city was represented in all three of the league's runs. Out of the 14 seasons that the league played, the Georgia teams won eleven titles while the Alabama cities captured only three. Four Georgia teams won two titles each over the league's three eras: Newnan, Georgia, won the first of their two crowns in 1915, then waited some 34 years to collect the second in 1949; Lindale, Georgia, won in 1929 and 1930; Carrollton, Georgia, picked up two back-to-back titles in 1946 and 1947; and LaGrange, Georgia, took the league's last two championships in 1950 and 1951.

Attendance figures were available for the last run of six years, during which the league drew just shy of 2,000,000 fans to the parks. The turnstile count peaked at about 480,000 in 1947 but by 1951 it had dropped to a little over 175,000, which was insufficient to keep the circuit in operation.

Cities represented, teams & stats 1913–1917[]

1913 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President:

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Gadsden Steel Makers 51 38 .573 0
46 44 .511 5.5 /
Opelika Opelicans 46 45 .505 6
Anniston Moulders 45 45 .500 6.5
42 48 .467 9.5 William "Ducky" Holmes
Talladega Indians 40 50 .444 11.5 Charles Reece

No Playoffs Scheduled

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
George Randall Gadsden BA .410 Opelika W 19
Larry Pezold Gadsden Runs 76 Opelika Pct .792; 19-5
Newnan Hits 121

1914 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President:

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Selma River Rats 60 35 .632 0 /
56 37 .602 3
55 43 .561 6.5 Ed Lafitte
Opelika Pelicans 52 45 .536 9 Kirk Newell / Elmer Steele
Rome Romans 46 50 .479 14.5
Anniston Moulders 41 54 .432 19 /
Talladega Indians 37 55 .402 21 / / Howard Baker / Clarence Garrett
Gadsden Steel Makers# 32 60 .348 26.5 / Lou Jorda /

#Gadsden became a road club August 3.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Newnam BA .332 Rome Hits 117
Rome Runs 76

1915 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President:

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
39 20 .661 0 Henry Mathewson
Talladega Tigers 39 22 .639 1 Clarence Garrett
32 28 .533 7.5 Doc Martin /
Rome Romans 27 31 .466 11.5
Anniston Moulders 22 38 .367 17.5 Elmer Steele
18 38 .327 19.5 Ed Lafitte

The league disbanded July 14.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Don Flynn Newnan BA .358 Jack Nabors Talladega/Newnan W 12
George Cochran Rome Runs 47 Whitey Glazner Anniston SO 101
Don Flynn Newnan Hits 76 Milt Watson Griffin Pct 1.000; 7-0
Don Flynn Newnan HR 15

1916 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President: Dick Jemison

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Rome Romans 43 22 .662 0 Frank Manush
41 26 .612 3 Henry Mathewson
39 29 .574 5.5 / Ed Lafitte
Talladega Tigers 26 38 .406 16.5 Clarence Garrett
Anniston Moulders 23 39 .371 18.5 Bill Reynolds
23 41 .359 19.5 /

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Don Flynn Newnan BA .365 Joseph Wiley Rome W 15
Don Flynn Newnan Runs 52 Robert Watkins Newnan W 15
Ben Shaw Rome Hits 89 LaGrange Pct .857; 12-2

1917 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President: Dick Jemison /

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Anniston Moulders 13 5 .722 0
10 7 .588 2.5 Matty Matthews
Tri-Cities Triplets # 10 8 .556 3 Martin Dudley
9 9 .500 4
Talladega Tigers 6 12 .333 7
5 12 .294 7.5

#Represented Gadsden-Alabama City-Attalla, Alabama.
The league disbanded May 23.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Griffin BA .388 Talladega W 4
Griffin Runs 21 LaGrange SO 39
Griffin Hits 26 Tri-Cities Pct 1.000; 3-0

Cities represented, teams & stats 1928–1930[]

1928 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President:

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Cedartown Sea Cows 55 34 .618 0 / Sherry Smith
Carrollton Frogs 54 34 .614 .5 Paul Fittery
Anniston Nobles 47 42 .528 8 /
Talladega Indians 45 43 .511 9.5 /
Gadsden Eagles 37 49 .430 16.5 Doc Newton / Joe Schepner
26 62 .295 28.5

Playoff: Talladega 2 games, Anniston 1, for the second half title.
Finals: Carrollton 4 games, Talladega 2.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Carrollton BA .392 Paul Fittery Carrollton W 21
Joyner White Carrollton Runs 92 Abe White Carrollton SO 141
Carrollton Hits 152 Paul Fittery Carrollton Pct .913; 21-2
Joyner White Carrollton HR 27 Paul Fittery Carrollton ERA 1.60

1929 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President:

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
60 39 .606 0
Carrollton Champs 56 44 .560 4.5 Paul Fittery
Talladega Indians 49 49 .500 10.5
Gadsden Eagles 49 50 .495 11
Anniston Nobles 44 56 .440 16.5 / Verdo Elmore
Cedartown Sea Cows 40 60 .400 20.5 / Sherry Smith

Playoff: Carrollton 4 games, Lindale 0.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bernard Lewis Talladega BA .420 Gadsden W 17
Cedartown Runs 92 Abe White Carrollton SO 101
Bernard Lewis Talladega Hits 159 Paul Fittery Carrollton Pct .889; 16-2
Cedartown HR 25

1930 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President:

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
63 38 .624 0
Cedartown Braves 60 41 .594 3 Sherry Smith
Anniston Nobles 57 44 .564 6 Paul Fittery / Dixie Walker
Huntsville Springers 35 66 .347 28 / / / Dixie Carroll /
Carrollton Champs# 38 46 .452 NA Carl East / Erskine Thomason
Talladega Indians# 33 51 .393 NA Walter Barbare /

#Carrollton and Talladega disbanded August 14.
Playoff: Cedartown 4 games, Lindale 3, one tie.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Bernard Lewis Lindale BA .422 Paul Fittery Anniston W 16
Cedartown Runs 131 Abe White Lindale SO 143
Bernard Lewis Lindale Hits 175 Sherry Smith Cedartown Pct .875; 14-2
George Kelly Cedartown HR 26 Sherry Smith Cedartown ERA 3.34

Cities represented, teams and statistics: 1946–1951[]

1946 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President:

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Carrollton Hornets 75 55 .577 0
Valley Rebels # 72 58 .554 3
Tallassee Indians 71 59 .546 4 Joe Heving
68 62 .523 7 / Lloyd Brown
59 71 .454 16 / Jack Daniels
Opelika Owls 45 85 .346 30 Jim Hitchcock /

#Represented Valley-Lanett(AL)-West Point(GA)
Playoff: Tallassee 3 games, Carrollton 2; Valley 3 games, Newnan 2;
Finals: Tallassee 3 games, Valley 2.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Carrollton BA .381 Newnan W 20
Jack Daniels Valley/LaGrange Runs 118 Newnan SO 138
Jack Daniels Valley/LaGrange Hits 159 Lloyd Brown Newnan ERA 2.17
Jack Daniels Valley/LaGrange RBI 122 Jack Daniels Valley/LaGrange HR 30

1947 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President: Arthur R. Decatur

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Carrollton Hornets 75 49 .605 0 52,245 Red Roberts
Opelika Owls 76 50 .603 0 65,173
Valley Rebels 75 51 .595 1 79,829 Frank Luce
72 53 .576 3.5 80,600 Joe Abreu /
Tallassee Indians 62 63 .496 13.5 44,693 John Hill
53 68 .438 20.5 66,142 Abe White
46 78 .371 29 55,746 Carl East /
Alexander City Millers 39 86 .312 36.5 34,462 Doug Taitt

Playoff: Valley 3 games, Carrollton 1; Opelika 3 games, Newnan 1;
Finals: Valley 3 games, Opelika 2.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Red Roberts Carrollton BA .385 Paul Brock Newnan W 23
Newnan Runs 122 Paul Brock Newnan SO 220
Vern Morgan Valley Hits 184 Valley ERA 2.15
Ken Guettler Griffin RBI 103 Ken Guettler Griffin HR 25

1948 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President: Arthur R. Decatur

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
Valley Rebels 75 51 .595 0 60,163
Carrollton Hornets 73 53 .579 2 53,000 Red Roberts / Oliver Hill
68 58 .540 7 65,257
Alexander City Millers 63 63 .500 12 44,053 / /
Opelika Owls 62 64 .492 13 59,000 / Jim Ball
55 71 .437 20 63,672 Abe White / Paul Campbell
54 72 .429 21 53,589
Tallassee Indians 54 72 .429 21 34,696 Hugh East /

Playoff: Valley 3 games, Newnan 1; Carrollton 3 games, Alexander City 2 ;
Finals: Valley 4 games, Carrollton 0.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Griffin BA .357 Opelika W 23
Valley Runs 114 Carrollton W 23
Opelika Hits 174 Carrollton SO 2.33
Griffin RBI 105 Alexander City ERA 2.00
LaGrange HR 14

1949 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President: Arthur R. Decatur

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
74 52 .587 0 56,976
Alexander City Millers 69 57 .548 5 37,373 Red Roberts
Tallassee Cardinals 66 60 .524 8 43,364 / Fred Blackwell
65 61 .516 9 59,952 Claude Cooper
Valley Rebels 62 64 .492 12 52,859 / Vern Morgan /
Opelika Owls 62 64 .492 12 44,885 Jim Ball
Carrollton Hornets 56 70 .444 18 36,029 / William Rucker
50 76 .397 24 47,825 Etchison / York / Sanders / Gibson

Playoff: Newnan 3 games, Tallassee 2; Alexander City 3 games, LaGrange 1 ;
Finals: Alexander City 4 games, Newnan 2.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Joel Chapman Valley BA .351 John McFadden Newnan W 21
Alexander City Runs 108 John McFadden Newnan SO 180
Valley Hits 153 Newnan ERA 2.02
Newnan RBI 108 Newnan HR 28

1950 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President: Arthur R. Decatur

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
73 48 .603 0 53,781 Claude Cooper
Alexander City Millers 73 53 .579 2.5 36,546 Red Roberts
Carrollton Hornets 66 57 .537 8 26,365
62 60 .508 11.5 37,215
Valley Rebels 58 65 .472 16 31,619 Myril Hoag / Jack Daniels
57 64 .471 16 37,167 Abe White /
Opelika Owls 52 72 .419 22.5 36,912 / Bailey /
49 71 .408 23.5 30,482 / John Stowe / Myril Hoag

Playoff: LaGrange 2 games, Carrollton 0; Alexander City 2 games, Newnan 0 ;
Finals: LaGrange 3 games, Alexander City 2.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Carrollton BA .365 Don Bessent LaGrange W 22
Carrollton Runs 149 Don Bessent LaGrange SO 229
Carrollton Hits 168 Don Bessent LaGrange ERA 2.33
Carrollton RBI 151 Carrollton HR 38

1951 Georgia–Alabama League[]

President: Arthur R. Decatur

Team standings W L PCT GB Attend Managers
67 47 .588 0 33,734 Claude Cooper
Valley Rebels 64 52 .552 4 37,515 George Grant
58 57 .504 9.5 41,000 Leon Culberson
58 58 .500 10 24,804 Mike Conte / /
Alexander City Millers # 33 45 .423 NA 19,737 /
Opelika Owls ## 23 44 .343 NA 18,000 / Gene Bailey

##Opelika disbanded July 1; #Alexander City disbanded July 15.

Player statistics[]

Player Team Stat Tot Player Team Stat Tot
Griffin BA .379 LaGrange W 21
Griffin Runs 111 LaGrange SO 120
Rome Hits 171 Joe Pennington Valley ERA 2.45
Rome RBI 135 Rome HR 26

League records 1913–1951[]

Batting
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Jack Daniels Valley/LaGrange G 129 46 Johnny Allen LaGrange G 129 46
Bernard Lewis Lindale BA .422 30 Newnan AB 526 48
Carrollton R 149 50 Lanett H 184 47
Carrollton RBI 151 50 John Stowe Rome 2B 39 51
Gadsden 3B 17 29 Carrollton HR 38 50
Bernard Lewis Lindale EBH 69 30 Carrollton TB 311 50
Cedartown SAC 21 29 Alexander City SB 85 49
Carrollton BB 165 50 LaGrange/Carroll SO 118 48
Pitching
Player Team Stat Tot Yr Player Team Stat Tot Yr
Alexander City GA 51 49 Paul Brock Newnan CG 28 47
Opelika WI 23 48 Paul Brock Newnan WI 23 48
Carrollton WI 23 48 Opelika L 17 49
Talladega/New Pct .933-12-1 15 Paul Fittery Carrollton ERA 1.60 28
Paul Fittery Carrollton Pct .913-21-2 28 Paul Brock Newnan IP 313 47
Alexander City ShO 6 49 Carrollton SO 233 48
Newnam BB 149 48

Sources[]

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition via Baseball-Reference.com under GFDL.

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