Lenoir Red Sox

The Lenoir Red Sox was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Lenoir, North Carolina between 1937 and 1951. Lenoir teams played as members of the Carolina League in 1937 and 1938, Tar Heel League in 1939 and 1940, Blue Ridge League in 1946 and 1947 and Western Carolina League from 1948 to 1951.

The 1940 Lenoir Reds were a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The Lenoir Red Sox were an affiliate of the New York Giants from 1949 to 1951.

History[]

1937–1940 Carolina League / Tar Heel League[]

In 1937, the Lenoir Indians began minor league play. Lenoir played as members of the six–team Independent level Carolina League, formally called the Carolina Baseball League. The league was referred to as an "outlaw" league because of the Independent status. Most of the other league members had previously hosted numerous semi–pro teams in the Carolina Textile League, made up of locals and mill workers. The 1937 Indians finished with a record of 42–54 to place 5th under player/manager Baxter Moose, finishing 12.5 games behind the 1st place Kannapolis Towelers. The Carolina League Lenoir franchise is listed in some references as the "Finishers."^[1][2][3][4]

The 1938 Lenoir Indians won the Carolina League Championship. The Indians finished the season in 1st place in the six–team final league standings with a 60–39 record, playing under manager Bobby Hipps. Lenoir finished 4.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Hickory Rebels in the final standings. No playoffs were held. The Carolina League folded following the 1938 season, resuming play in 1945.^[5][6][7][8]

In 1939, the Lenoir Indians continued play, becoming members of the six–team Class D level Tar Heel League. The Indians placed 2nd in the standings and finished the season with 61–46 record, playing under managers Lefty Guise and Clarence Roper. Lenoir finished 10.5 games behind the 1st place Gastonia Cardinals in the final regular season standings. In the playoffs, the Statesville Owls defeated Lenoir 3 games to 0.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Continuing play in the 1940 Tar Heel League, the Lenoir Reds became a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The Lenoir Reds finished with a record of 53–55 to place 4th in the regular season standings, finishing 19.0 games behind the 1st place Statesville Owls. Playing under manager Ray Rice, the Reds advanced to the playoffs, where they lost in 1st round. The Statesville Owls defeated Lenoir 4 games to 2 in the playoff series.^{[13][14][15][12]}

1946–1951 Blue Ridge League / Western Carolina League[]

In 1946, the Lenoir "Red Sox" became charter members of the four–team Class D level Blue Ridge League during the season. The Galax Leafs, Mount Airy Graniteers and Radford Rockets and Salem Friends began 1946 league play, which commenced on May 1, 1946. Salem moved to Lenoir during the season.^[16][17][18]

In their first season of play in the new league, the 1946 Lenoir Red Sox won 1946 Blue Ridge League championship. On June 25, 1946, the charter member Salem Friends franchise relocated to Lenoir with a 20–8 record. After compiling a 51–27 record while based in Lenoir, the Salem/Lenoir team placed 1st in the final league standings, playing under managers Vernon Mackey and Noel Casbier. The Red Sox ended the season with an overall record of 71–35 and finished the season 11.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Mount Airy Graniteers team as no playoffs were held.^[19][20][21]

The 1947 Lenoir Red Sox reached the four–team Blue Ridge League finals. After a regular season record of 43–73, the team placed 4th and last in the standings as the league implemented a new playoff system that involved all four teams. Playing under manager Noel Casbier, Lenoir finished 28.5 games behind the 1st place Galax Leafs. In the playoffs, Lenoir defeated the Mount Airy Graniteers 3 games to 1 to advance. In the Finals, the Galax Leafs won the championship after defeating Lenoir 4 games to 3.^{[19][22][23][24][25]}

The 1948 Lenoir Red Sox became charter members of the eight–team Class D level Western Carolina League. The Forest City Owls, Hendersonville Skylarks, Lincolnton Cardinals, Marion Marauders, Morganton Aggies, Newton-Conover Twins and Shelby Farmers joined Lenoir as charter members.^[26][27]

Beginning Western Carolina League play on April 30, 1948, the Lenoir Red Sox placed 7th in the regular season final standings. With a record of 49–61, playing under managers Jack McLain and Claude Jonnard, Lenoir finished 20.0 games behind the 1st place Lincolnton Cardinals in the Western Carolina League regular season standings. Lenoir did not qualify for the four–team playoffs.^{[28][29][27][30]}

The 1949 Lenoir Red Sox became a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants, an affiliation that would last through the 1951 season. Lenoir placed 5th in the 1949 Western Carolina League regular season standings, missing the playoffs. The Red Sox ended the season with a record of 57–50 under returning manager Claude Jonnard, finishing 14.5 games behind the 1st place Newton-Conover Twins. Pitcher Walter Lentz of Lenoir led the league with a 3.03 ERA.^{[31][32][27][33]}

In 1950, the Lenoir Red Sox won the Western Carolina League Championship. In the regular season, Lenoir placed 2nd with a 67–40 record, managed again by Claude Jonnard. Lenoir finished 0.5 game behind the 1st place Newton-Conover Twins (69–41) in the final regular standings, with .001 separating the teams. In the 1st round of the playoffs, the Lenoir Red Sox defeated the Marion Marauders 4 games to 3 to advance. In the Finals, Lenoir won another seven game series, defeating Newton-Conover 4 games to 3 to win the championship. Robert Featherstone of Lenoir led the Western Carolina League with 27 home runs.^{[34][35][27][36]}

The 1951 Lenoir Red Sox played their final season and placed 7th in the Western Carolina League regular season standings. Lenoir finished with a record of 40–70, managed by Claude Jonnard, Okey Flowers and John Olsen. Lenoir did not qualify for the playoffs in the eight–team Western Carolina League. Rutherford County finished with a regular season record of 62–48 to place 5th in the regular season standings, playing under returning manager Rube Wilson. The Red Sox finished their final season 31.0 games behind the 1st place Morganton Aggies in the final regular season standings. The 1952 Western Carolina League played the season reduced to six teams, after Lenoir folded.^{[37][38][27][39][19]}

Lenoir, North Carolina has not hosted another minor league franchise.^[40]

The ballpark[]

The Lenoir teams were noted to have played minor league home games at Lenoir High School Field. The ballpark was reportedly located behind the high school at 521 West College Avenue, Lenoir, North Carolina. Today, Lenoir High School is closed as a public school, but is still in use as a residential facility and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The building is located at 100 Willow Street SW, Lenoir, North Carolina.^[41][42]

(2016) Former Lenoir High School. National Register of Historic Places. Lenoir, North Carolina

Timeline[]

Year–by–year records[]

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Lenoir Red Sox players
Lenoir Reds players

References[]

External links[]

- Baseball Reference Bullpen