Texas Association

The Texas Association was a sports league of minor league baseball teams in Texas that operated from 1923 through 1926.[1]: 113  An earlier league, initially known as the Texas-Southern League, used the same name from mid-1896 through 1899.[1]: 108–109, 171  History of the Texas Association during the 1920s follows.

Texas Association
SportBaseball
Founded1923
Ceased1926
No. of teams6
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)		Palestine Pals
(1926)
Most titles
  • Corsicana Oilers (2)
  • Palestine Pals (1)
  • Austin Rangers (1⁄2)
  • Sherman Twins (1⁄2)
For the minor league known as the Texas Association for several seasons prior to 1900, see Texas-Southern League.

History
The league's inaugural schedule, as published in The Austin American on March 25, 1923

The league operated in 1923 with a six-team format. The Austin Rangers, Corsicana Oilers, Marlin Bathers, Mexia Gushers, Sherman Twins,[2] and Waco Indians made up the league that year.[1]: 291  While Mexia had the best win–loss record for the entire season, the league played a split season, with Sherman winning the first half, and Austin winning the second half.[1]: 291  Sherman and Austin played a six-game playoff series, which ended in a tie at three games each.[2][1]: 291 

The Sherman squad did not return for 1924 and was replaced by the Temple Surgeons; all other teams returned.[1]: 295  Corsicana finished in first place during both halves of the split season, thus no playoffs were held.[1]: 295 

For 1925, the Austin Rangers became the Austin Senators, while the Waco club did not return and was replaced by the Terrell Terrors; all other teams returned.[1]: 298  On May 13, Marlin moved to Palestine to become the Palestine Pals. Corsicana again won both halves of a split season.[1]: 298  Minor league legend Smead Jolley played for Corsicana that year,[3] while 12-year major league veteran Boom-Boom Beck suited up for the Marlin/Palestine club.[4]

1926 was the final year of the Texas Association, with all six teams returning from the previous year.[1]: 303  Austin won the first half of the split season and Palestine won the second half.[1]: 303  These two teams played a postseason series, won by Palestine, three games to none.[1]: 303 

No effort was made to bring the league back for 1927.[5] Teams of three cities moved to the newly formed Lone Star League (Palestine, Mexia and Corsicana) while three others ceased operations (Austin, Terrell, and Temple).[1]: 99–100  Teams based in Austin and Temple later played in the Big State League of the late 1940s and early 1950s, while Terrell has yet to field another team.[1]: 99–100 

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles (2007). Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 9781932391176.
  2. "No Pennant to be Awarded in the Texas Association; Sherman Plans to Appeal". Austin American-Statesman. September 24, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved August 25, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "Smead Jolley Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  4. "Boom-Boom Beck Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  5. "New Baseball League Formed". Austin American-Statesman. AP. January 31, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved August 26, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
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