Vidalia Indians

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vidalia Indians
1948–1956
(1948–1950, 1952–1956)
Vidalia, Georgia
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1948–1950, 1952–1956)
LeagueGeorgia State League (1948–1950, 1952–1956)
Major league affiliations
TeamCleveland Indians (1952–1956)
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1952
  • 1954
Wild card berths (2)
  • 1955
  • 1956
Team data
NameVidalia-Lyons Twins (1948–1950)
Vidalia Indians (1952–1956)
BallparkVidalia Municipal Stadium (1948-1950, 1952–1956)

The Vidalia Indians was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Vidalia, Georgia between 1948 and 1956. Vidalia teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Georgia State League. The Vidalia Indians won Georgia State League championships in 1952 and 1954. The team folded, along with the league, following the 1956 season.[1]

The Vidalia Indians were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians from 1952 to 1956.

History[]

Minor league baseball in Vidalia, began in 1948 when the Vidalia-Lyons Twins were formed, with Vidalia sharing the team in partnership with nearby Lyons, Georgia. The Twins played in the newly reformed six–team Class D level Georgia State League from 1948 to 1950. The team was named the "Twins" because of the close proximity of Vidalia and Lyons. The Vidalia-Lyons Twins advanced to the Georgia State League Finals in 1949. The Twins finished the 1948 regular season with a 54–66 record, placing 5th. The 1949 Twins finished in 4th place with a 72–65 record. In 1950, the Twins had a 56–83 record, placing 7th in the final standings.[2][3][4]

After not fielding a team in 1951, the Vidalia Indians rejoined the 1952 Class D Georgia State League as an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.[5]

The Vidalia Indians captured the 1952 Georgia State League championship. Vidalia finished 66–58, placing 3rd in the 1952 regular season under manager Frank "Bull" Hamons, finishing 9.0 games behind the 1st place Eastman Dodgers. After beating the Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals 4 games to 2, the Vidalia Indians defeated the Douglas Trojans 4 games to 2 in the league finals to win the championship. The 1952 season attendance for Vidalia was 37,485, an average of 605 per home game.[6][5][7]

In the 1953 season, the Indians finished last. Placing in 8th place in the eight–the team league, the Indians had a 41–82 record under managers Frank Hamons, Jake Daniel and Don Cross. The Indians finished 42.0 games behind 1st place Baxley-Hazlehurst Red Sox in the regular season standings.[8][9][10]

The Vidalia Indians rebounded from the last place finish and won the 1954 Georgia State League Championship. The Indians finished in 1st place in the regular season, with a 85–44 record under manager James Beavers, 0.5 games ahead of the Douglas Trojans. In the 1954 playoffs, after defeating the Statesboro Pilots 4 games to 2, Vidalia swept the Douglas Trojans 4 games to 0 in the league finals. During their championship season of 1954, the Indians had season attendance of 53,334.[11][12][13]

Vidalia qualified for the playoffs in 1955. The Indians finished the regular season with a 56–54 record, in 4th place, 7.0 games behind the Douglas Trojans, to qualify for the playoffs. The Indians lost in the first round of the playoffs under player/manager Ed Levy. In the playoffs, the Douglas Trojans defeated the Vidalia Indians 3 games to 1. Vidalia was led by pitcher Gary Bell, who finished the season with a 7–5 record and a 3.33 ERA.[14][15]

In their final season, the 1956 Vidalia Indians placed 3rd in the 1956 regular season with a 63–57 record, finishing 14.0 games behind the Douglas Reds, playing under manager Mark Wylie. In the first round of the playoffs, the Douglas Reds beat the Vidalia Indians 3 games to 2. Dick Stigman had a record of 17–9 with a 1.44 ERA. Vidalia had 1956 season attendance of 17,273, an average of 288 per game. The Georgia State League permanently folded operations after the 1956 season.[16][9][17]

Vidalia, Georgia has not hosted another minor league baseball team.[18]

The ballpark[]

The Vidalia Indians and Twins were noted to have played minor league home games at Vidalia Municipal Stadium.[19][20][21]

(2015) Downtown Historic District. National Register of Historic Places. Vidalia, Georgia.

Timeline[]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League Affiliate
1948–1950 3 Vidalia-Lyons Twins Class D Georgia State League None
1952–1956 5 Vidalia Indians Cleveland Indians

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Vidalia Indians players

References[]

  1. ^ "Vidalia, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  2. ^ "1949 Register League Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "Vidalia-Lyons Twins History". toombsnow.com.
  4. ^ "Vidalia-Lyons Twins - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. ^ a b "Vidalia Indians - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. ^ "1952 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "1952 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "1953 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ^ a b "Georgia State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  10. ^ "1953 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ "1954 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1954 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. ^ "1954 Georgia State League (GSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. ^ "1955 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ "1955 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. ^ "1956 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "1956 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. ^ "Vidalia, GA - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  19. ^ "Pro Baseball". toombsnow.com.
  20. ^ "Digitalballparks.com - Cleveland Indians Affiliation Listing". www.digitalballparks.com.
  21. ^ "Municipal Stadium in Vidalia, GA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

External links[]

Baseball Reference Bullpen

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