Statesboro Pilots
Statesboro Pilots 1952–1955 Statesboro, Georgia | |
Minor league affiliations | |
---|---|
League | Georgia State League (1952–1955) |
Major league affiliations | |
Team | None |
Minor league titles | |
League titles (0) | None |
Wild card berths (1) | 1954 |
Team data | |
Name | Statesboro Pilots (1952–1955) |
Ballpark | Pilots Field (1952–1955) |
The Statesboro Pilots were a minor league baseball team based in Statesboro, Georgia from 1952 to 1955. The Statesboro Pilots played exclusively as members of the Class D level Georgia State League . The Pilots have been the only minor league team hosted in Statesboro, Georgia.
History[]
A semi-pro team called the "Statsboro Pilots" began play in 1947 and played through 1951 as a member of the Ogeechee Baseball League. The team was formed after the Statesboro Athletic Association was established to organize a team for Statesboro. The Statesboro Athletic Association also built a new ballpark for the Pilots at a cost of $30,000, with a seating capacity of 1,500. The "Pilots" moniker was selected due to the ballpark being close to the local airport.[1]
In 1952, the Statesboro Pilots began minor league play as members of the Class D level Georgia State League. The Pilots had records of 39–56 in 1952, 59–77 in 1953, 57–73 in 1954 and 25–40 in 1955. The team drew 32,146 (1952), 38,431 (1953), 18,532 (1954) and 8,750 (1955).The Statesboro franchise folded following the 1955 season. The Georgia State League itself then folded after the 1956 season.[2][3]
On July 19, 1952, at Pilots Field, Joe Louis Reliford of the visiting Fitzgerald Pioneers, age 12, became the youngest person to play in a professional baseball game. Reliford simultaneously broke the racial barrier for the segregated Georgia State League. A photo of Reliford in uniform is housed in the Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown, N.Y.[4][5]
During the game, Reliford, playing outfield for one inning, made a catch over the wall, robbing Pilot player Jim Shuster of a home run to end the game. He was congratulated by Pilot fans, who came on the field and cheered him.[5]
In 1955, the Statesboro Pilots folded during the season. According to reports, an alleged incident during an away game against the Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals on June 26, 1955 led to Statesboro leaving the league. After incidents of spiking reportedly occurred during the game, Hazelhurst ownership allegedly visited the Statesboro clubhouse after the game and a ruckus ensued. As a result, Statesboro demanded police protection before they would play Hazlehurst again. The Georgia State League ruled that the Pilots must play or leave the league. Pilots President McAllister then withdrew the team from the Georgia State League on July 1, 1955.[1][6][7][8]
The ballpark[]
The Statesboro Pilots were noted to have played minor league home games at Pilots Field. The Statesboro Athletic Association reportedly built the ballpark in 1947 for the Pilots at a cost of $30,000, with a seating capacity of 1,500. The use of the "Pilots" moniker was selected due to the ballpark being close to the local airport at the time. Regarding Pilots Field today, according to the Statesboro Herald: "the field, which had wooden stands and wooden box seats, was on the road that runs by the old Georgia State Patrol headquarters, now the Department of Driver Services office, from U.S. Highway 301 North toward Brodie International. The location is still visible as the first clearing on the right past the Driver Services parking lot." The Driver Services facility is located at 19051 US Highway 301 South, Statesboro, Georgia.[3][9][5][1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Bulloch_County_Courthouse%2C_Statesboro%2C_GA%2C_US_%2802%29.jpg/220px-Bulloch_County_Courthouse%2C_Statesboro%2C_GA%2C_US_%2802%29.jpg)
Timeline[]
Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
---|---|---|---|---|
1952–1955 | 4 | Statesboro Pilots | Class D | Georgia State League |
Year–by–year records[]
Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1952 | 59–65 | 5th | Charles Quimby | Did not qualify |
1953 | 49–77 | 5th | Red Thrasher / Jack Hines | Did not qualify |
1954 | 57–73 | 4th | Jack Hines | Lost in 1st round |
1955 | 25–40 | NA | James Sosebee / Gerald Peters | Team withdrew July 1 |
Notable alumni[]
The Statesboro Pilots had no alumni who advanced to Major League Baseball.
- Gene Smith (1953)
- Bobby Walston (1953)
See also[]
Statesboro Pilots players
References[]
- ^ a b c "Statesboro Pilots join the Ogeechee Baseball League". www.statesboroherald.com.
- ^ "Statesboro, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
- ^ a b "Pilots Field in Statesboro, GA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Joe Reliford: The Inning of a Lifetime - Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org.
- ^ a b c "Baseball's youngest pro made here". www.statesboroherald.com.
- ^ "1955 Statesboro Pilots minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1955 Georgia State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1955 Statesboro Pilots Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Statesboro Driver License Office Of Statesboro, Georgia".
- ^ "Statesboro Pilots - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
External Links[]
- Baseball teams established in 1952
- Baseball teams disestablished in 1955
- Defunct Georgia State League teams
- Professional baseball teams in Georgia (U.S. state)
- 1952 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- 1955 disestablishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Defunct minor league baseball teams
- Defunct baseball teams in Georgia
- Bulloch County, Georgia