Elizabethton Phils
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1937–1942, 1945–1951)
LeagueAppalachian League (1937–1942, 1945–1951)
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1939
  • 1941
First-half titles (1)1937
Second-half titles (2)
  • 1940
  • 1941
Team data
Name
  • Elizabethton Phils (1951)
  • Elizabethton Betsy Local (1949–1950)
  • Elizabethton Betsy Cubs (1945–1948)
  • Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox (1937–1942)
BallparkCherokee Park (1937–1942, 1945–1951)

The Elizabethton Phils were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Class D Appalachian League from 1937 to 1942 and 1945 to 1951. They were located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and played their home games at Cherokee Park.

The team was originally known as the Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox for their affiliation with the Boston Red Sox (1937–1940). They retained the moniker in 1941 when they served as a farm club for the Brooklyn Dodgers and in 1942 with no Major League Baseball affiliate. After two years of inactivity due to World War II, the team was revived as the Elizabethton Betsy Cubs for their affiliation with the Chicago Cubs (1945–1948), the Elizabethton Betsy Local during two years as an independent club (1949–1950), and the Phils in affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies (1951).

Over 13 seasons, Elizabethton compiled an all-time regular season record of 811–702 (.536). The Red Sox qualified for postseason playoffs on nine occasions and won the Appalachian League championship in 1939 and 1941. Their all-time postseason record was 24–24 (.500).

History

Betsy Red Sox (1937–1942)

A man in a white baseball uniform with dark sleeves and a dark cap holds his hands together over his head in his glove
Paul Minner led the 1942 Elizabethton Red Sox with 18 wins and a 1.41 ERA.[1]

The Red Sox became the first professional baseball team to hail from Elizabethton, Tennessee, when they joined the Class D Appalachian League in 1937.[2] The team's moniker was a combination of the city's nickname, "Betsy Town",[3] and that of their Major League Baseball affiliate, the Boston Red Sox.[4] Elizabethton won its opening game on the road, defeating the Johnson City Soldiers, 10–7, on May 21.[5] They played their first home game at Cherokee Park before a crowd of around 1,000 people on May 27, defeating Johnson City, 9–5.[6] They went on to win the first half of the season and finish their inaugural campaign with a league-best 57–45 (.559) record.[7] In the playoffs for the Appalachian League championship, Elizabethton was defeated by the Pennington Gap Lee Bears, 3–2, in the best-of-five series.[7] The 1938 team again paced the league with a first-place 65–36 (.644) record, but were eliminated in the semifinals by the Greeneville Burley Cubs, 2–0.[8]

The 1939 Red Sox finished atop the standings having posted a 71–48 (.597) season.[9] They defeated Greeneville in the semifinals, 2–1, before winning their first Appalachian League championship over the Kingsport Cherokees, 3–1.[9] In 1940, Elizabethton returned to the playoffs with a second-half title and a first-place 84–33 (.718) mark.[10] They beat Kingsport in the opening round, 2–0, but lost the finals to the Johnson City Cardinals, 3–0.[10]

Elizabethon's affiliation with the Boston Red Sox ended after the 1940 season, but they retained the Red Sox nickname after affiliating with the Brooklyn Dodgers for 1941.[11] They repeated with a second-half title and a 73–45 (.619) record, the league's best.[12] After defeating the Newport Canners, 3–2, in the semifinals, the Red Sox won their second AL championship by sweeping Johnson City, 3–0.[12]

The Brooklyn affiliation ended after the 1941 season, and the Red Sox were unaffiliated with a Major League Baseball team in 1942.[13] On June 9, Pat McGlothin pitched a no-hitter against Newport in a 2–0 win at Cherokee Park.[14] They ended the season in second place at 60–47 (.561), 11 games out of first.[15] They best Johnson City, 2–1, in the semifinals, but lost the AL championship to the Bristol Twins, 2–0.[15]

Over six years of competition in the Appalachian League, the Red Sox accumulated a 410–254 (.617) record. The city did not field a team from 1943 to 1944.[2]

Betsy Cubs (1945–1948)

A man in a white baseball uniform with dark pinstripes and a dark cap
Don Elston of the 1948 team went on to be selected as an MLB All-Star in 1959.[16]

The Elizabethton Appalachian League franchise was revived in 1945 as the Elizabethton Betsy Cubs, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.[17] Though they finished last of four teams with a 38–68 (.358) record, every team participated in the postseason playoffs.[18] The Cubs lost to the Bristol Twins, 3–1, in the semifinals.[18] Elizabethton improved to third of eight clubs in 1946 with a 68–57 (.544) mark.[19] They swept Bristol in the semifinals, 3–0, but lost the AL title to the New River Rebels, 4–2, in the finals.[19]

On May 25, 1947, Robert Knaub and Jack Bunger pitched a combined no-hitter against the Kingsport Indians. Kingsport managed to score three runs in the first inning, which were charged to Bunger, who started the game and walked five batters before being relieved by Knaub in the first. Knaub held the Indians hitless until the game was called on account of rain after six innings with the Cubs ahead, 5–3.[20] Elizabethton just missed the playoffs in 1947 (62–64; .492) and 1948 (64–61; .512) with fifth-place finishes.[21][22]

Betsy Local (1949–1950)

The Chicago Cubs withdrew from the Appalachian League after 1948, so Elizabethton continued as an unaffiliated team in 1949.[23] Competing as the Elizabethton Betsy Local,[2] the team finished seventh of eight clubs at 40–76 (.345).[24] They missed a contracted two-team playoff championship in 1950, finishing fourth at 72–52 (.581).[25]

Phils (1951)

After two seasons as an independent club, the team affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies for 1951, becoming the Elizabethton Phils.[26] They qualified for the playoffs with a 57–70 (.449) season, but were eliminated in the semifinals by the Kingsport Cherokees, 2–0.[27] The Phils lost their final game before their home crown, 7–1, on September 8.[28] Over their second stretch in the Appalachian League, Elizabethton accumulated a record of 401–448 (.472). Over all 13 seasons, their all-time record was 811–702 (.536).

The city went without a team for 36 years until the Minnesota Twins placed the Elizabethton Twins in the Appalachian League as a Rookie-level affiliate in 1974.[2][29]

Season-by-season results

Season Regular season Postseason MLB affiliate Ref.
Record Win % Finish GB Record Win % Result
1937 57–45 .559 1st — 2–3 .400 Won first half
Lost AL championship vs. Pennington Gap Lee Bears, 3–2		 Boston Red Sox [7]
1938 65–36 .644 1st — 0–2 .000 Lost semifinals vs. Greeneville Burley Cubs, 2–0 Boston Red Sox [8]
1939 71–48 .597 1st — 5–2 .714 Won semifinals vs. Greeneville Burley Cubs, 2–1
Won AL championship vs. Kingsport Cherokees, 3–1		 Boston Red Sox [9]
1940 84–33 .718 1st — 2–3 .400 Won second half
Won first round vs. Kingsport Cherokees, 2–0
Lost AL championship vs. Johnson City Cardinals, 3–0		 Boston Red Sox [10]
1941 73–45 .619 1st — 6–2 .750 Won second half
Won semifinals vs. Newport Canners, 3–2
Won AL championship vs. Johnson City Cardinals, 3–0		 Brooklyn Dodgers [12]
1942 60–47 .561 2nd 11 2–3 .400 Won semifinals vs. Johnson City Cardinals, 2–1
Lost AL championship vs. Bristol Twins, 2–0		 — [15]
1945 38–68 .358 4th 33+1⁄2 2–3 .400 Lost semifinals vs. Bristol Twins, 3–1 Chicago Cubs [18]
1946 68–57 .544 3rd 16 5–4 .556 Won semifinals vs. Bristol Twins, 3–0
Lost AL championship vs. New River Rebels, 4–2		 Chicago Cubs [19]
1947 62–64 .492 5th 19 — — — Chicago Cubs [21]
1948 64–61 .512 5th 21 — — — Chicago Cubs [22]
1949 40–76 .345 7th 45 — — — — [24]
1950 72–52 .581 4th 10 — — — — [25]
1951 57–70 .449 4th 27 0–2 .000 Lost semifinals vs. Kingsport Cherokees, 2–0 Philadelphia Phillies [27]
Totals 811–702 .536 — — 24–24 .500 — — —

Notable players

A man in a white baseball uniform and a dark cap holds his bat, ready to swing
Andy Seminick of the 1948 team went on to be selected as an MLB All-Star in 1949.[30]

Twelve players also played in at least one game in Major League Baseball during their careers. These players and their seasons with Elizabethton were:

References

  1. ↑ "1942 Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Elizabethton, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ Brock, Todd (April 25, 2019). "Jason Witten's Trusted Betsy was Banned by NFL". USA Today. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ "1937 Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Elizabethton Captures Opening Game 10 to 7". Johnson City Chronicle. Johnson City. May 22, 1937. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Sox Treat Fans to 9-5 Victory in Home Game". Elizabethton Star. Elizabethton. May 28, 1937. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 "1937 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "1938 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "1939 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "1940 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ "1941 Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 "1941 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  13. ↑ "1942 Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  14. ↑ Newberry, Mary C. (June 10, 1942). "McGlothlin Hurls Second No-Hit Game in Appy League History to Down Newport Canners 2-0 in First Game of Series". Elizabethton Star. Elizabethton. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 3 "1942 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Don Elston Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  17. ↑ "1945 Elizabethton Betsy Cubs Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 "1945 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  19. 1 2 3 "1946 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Bob Knaub Pitches No-Hitter Against Kingsport Indians". Elizabethton Star. Elizabethton. May 26, 1947. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 "1947 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  22. 1 2 "1948 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  23. ↑ "George Miller Again Heads Baseball Club". Elizabethton Star. Elizabethton. January 23, 1949. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 "1949 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  25. 1 2 "1950 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  26. ↑ "1950 Elizabethton Betsy Phils Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  27. 1 2 "1951 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Cherokees Drop Phils From Appy Play-Off". Elizabethton Star. Elizabethton. September 9, 1951. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "1974 Appalachian League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Andy Seminick Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Bob Borkowski Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Jim Brosnan Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Don Elston Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Lew Flick Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Bert Hodges Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Fred Marsh Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Pat McGlothin Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Paul Minner Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Lou Rochelli Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  40. ↑ "Andy Seminick Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Ray Semproch Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Lee Tate Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
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