LaGrange Troupers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1946–1951)
LeagueGeorgia–Alabama League (1946–1951)
Major league affiliations
TeamNew York Yankees (1948–1951)
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1950
  • 1951
Conference titles (1)1950
Wild card berths (0)None
Team data
NameLaGrange Troupers (1946–1951)
BallparkCallaway Stadium (1946–1951)

The LaGrange Troupers were a minor league baseball team based in LaGrange, Georgia. From 1946 to 1951, the Troupers played as members of the Class D level Georgia–Alabama League, winning the 1950 and 1951 league championships. From 1948 to 1951, LaGrange was a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Troupers hosted home minor league games at Callaway Stadium and were preceded in Georgia–Alabama League play by the 1916 and 1917 LaGrange Grangers.

History

The LaGrange Troupers were preceded in league play by the LaGrange Grangers and LaGrange Terrapins, who played from 1913 to 1917 as members of the Class D level Georgia–Alabama League.[1]The LaGrange team proceeded to play the 1920 and 1921 seasons as members of the Class D level Georgia State League to immediately precede the Troupers.[2][3]

The LaGrange use of the "Troupers" nickname corresponds to the city being the county seat of Troup County.[4]

In 1946, the LaGrange Troupers began play as members of the six–team Class D level Georgia–Alabama League, which reformed, having last played in 1930.[5] The Carrollton Hornets, Newnan Brownies, Opelika Owls, Tallassee Indians and Valley Rebels joined LaGrange in beginning league play on April 25, 1946.[6]

In their first season of play, the Troupers placed fifth in the Georgia–Alabama League regular season standing and did not qualify the four-team playoffs.[7] LaGrange ended the 1946 regular season with a record of 59–71, as William Parker and Jake Daniel served as managers. The Troupers finished 16.0 games behind the first place Carrollton Hornets in the final regular season standings.[8][3][9] Coming to LaGrange from the Valley Rebels team during the season, player/manager Jake Parker led the league with 118 runs, 159 total hits, 122 RBI and 30 home runs.[3]

In 1947, LaGrange Troupers continued play as members of the eight–team Class D level Georgia–Alabama League, as the league expanded from six teams to eight.[5] The Alexander City Millers and Griffin Pimientos joined the league, which began play on April 23, 1947.[10] The Troupers placed seventh in the 1947 Georgia–Alabama League and did not qualify for the playoffs.[11] The Troupers ended the regular season with a record of 46–78, as Carl East and Howard Ermisch served as managers. LaGrange finished 29.0 games behind the first place Carrollton Hornets in the final regular season standings.[12][3][13]

The Troupers became a minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees for the 1948 season. Playing under manager Jim Action, the Troupers were in last place and finished in a seventh place tie in the eight–team Georgia–Alabama League, having the same record as the Tallassee Indians.[14] Griffin ended the regular season with a 54–72 record, finishing 21.0 games behind the first place Valley Rebels, missing the league playoffs.[3][15] Player/manager Fred Campbell led the Georgia–Alabama with 105 RBI and won the league batting title, hitting .357.[3]

The 1949 Troupers continued as a New York Yankees affiliate and qualified for the Alabama–Georgia League playoffs.[16] Playing under manager Carl Cooper, the Troupers ended the regular season with a record of 65–61, finishing 9.0 games behind the first place Newnan Brownies. The fourth place LaGrange Troupers qualified for the league playoffs, where the Alexander City Millers defeated La Grange three games to one.[17][18][3]

Championship seasons

In 1950, the Troupers won the Alabama–Georgia League championship and pennant, playing their third season as a New York Yankees affiliate.[19] With the returning Carl Cooper as manager, LaGrange ended the regular season with a record of 73–48, finishing 2.5 games ahead of the second place Alexander City Millers in the final regular season standings. In the playoffs, La Grange beat the Carrollton Hornets two games to none in the first round. In the Finals, the Troupers won the league championship in defeating the Alexander City Millers three games to two.[20][21][3] Don Bessent of LaGrange led the league with 23 wins, 229 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA.[3]

In their final season of play, the 1951 LaGrange Troupers won their second consecutive Georgia–Alabama League championship as the league condensed to six teams to begin the season.[22] LaGrange ended the season in first place after the Alexander City Millers and Opelika Owls had folded during the season, leaving the league with four teams. With a 67–47 record under the returning Carl Cooper, LaGrange finished 4.0 games ahead of the second place Valley Rebels. No playoffs were held.[3][23] LaGrange pitcher Marvin Chappel led the league with 21 wins and 120 strikeouts.[3]

The Georgia–Alabama League permanently folded following the 1951 season.[3] LaGrange has not hosted another minor league team.[2]

The ballpark

From 1946 to 1951, the LaGrange Troopers teams hosted minor league home games exclusively at Callaway Stadium.[24] Still in use today, the Callaway Stadium site was remodeled in 1958 by funds from the Callaway Foundation for use by the Troup County High School, LaGrange High School football and soccer teams, as well as LaGrange College football. The stadium is located at 801 Dallis Street.[25][26]

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateBallpark
1946–19472LaGrange TroupersClass DGeorgia–Alabama LeagueNoneCallaway Stadium
1948–19513New York Yankees

Year–by–year records

YearRecordFinishManagerAttendPlayoffs/Notes
194859–715thWilliam Parker / Jake DanielNADid not qualify
194746–787thCarl East / Howard Ermisch55,746Did not qualify
194854–727th (tie)Jim Action53.589Did not qualify
194965–614thCarl Cooper59,951Lost in 1st round
195073–481stCarl Cooper53,781Won Pennant
League champions
195167–471stCarl Cooper33,734League champions

[3]

Notable alumni

See also

  • LaGrange Troupers players

References

  1. ↑ "1917 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. 1 2 "La Grange, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  4. ↑ "LaGrange".
  5. 1 2 "Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. ↑ "1946 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ↑ "1946 La Grange Troupers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ "1946 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. ↑ "1946 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ "1947 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ↑ "1947 La Grange Troupers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ↑ "1947 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ↑ "1947 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. ↑ "1948 La Grange Troupers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ↑ "1948 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. ↑ "1949 La Grange Troupers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ↑ "1949 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. ↑ "1949 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. ↑ "1950 La Grange Troupers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. ↑ "1950 La Grange Troupers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. ↑ "1950 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. ↑ "1951 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  23. ↑ "1951 La Grange Troupers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. ↑ "Callaway Stadium in La Grange, GA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. ↑ "Troup County Parks & Recreation". www.trouprec.org.
  26. ↑ "Callaway Stadium - LaGrange, Georgia - StadiumConnection.com". stadiumconnection.com.
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