Laurel Cardinals
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1923–1929)
LeagueCotton States League (1923–1929)
Major league affiliations
TeamSt. Louis Cardinals (1928–1929)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Conference titles (0)None
Team data
NameLaurel Lumberjacks (1923–1927)
Laurel Cardinals (1928–1929)
BallparkKamper Park (1923–1929)

The Laurel Cardinals was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Laurel, Mississippi. From 1923 to 1929, Laurel teams played exclusively as a member of the Cotton States League, hosting home games at Kamper Park. The Laurel Cardinals were minor league affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1928 and 1929, having first played as the Laurel "Lumberjacks."

History

Laurel, Mississippi first hosted minor league baseball in 1923. The Laurel Lumberjacks became members of the eight–team Class D level Cotton States League. The Clarksdale Cubs, Greenville Swamp Angels, Greenwood Indians, Hattiesburg Hubmen, Jackson Red Sox, Meridian Mets and Vicksburg Hill Billies joined Laurel in league play.[1][2]

On April 18, 1923, the Laurel Lumberjacks began league play in their first season of play. On July 24, 1923, the Cotton States League stopped play for the season. With a record of 43–35, Laurel finished in a second-place tie with the Greenwood Indians in the eight–team league. Laurel finished 1.5 games behind the first place Greenville Swamp Angels. They were managed by Charles Hodge and Bill Statham. Player/manager Bill Statham of Laurel led the Cotton States League with 17 wins.[3][4][5][6]

The 1924 season saw The Cotton League return to play as a six–team Class D league. The Laurel Lumberjacks ended the 1924 Cotton States League season schedule with a record of 43–57, placing fifth in the final standings. Managed by Baxter Sparks, Pat Boyd and Ed McDonald, Laurel finished 22.5 games behind the first place Hattiesburg Hubmen.[7][8][5][9]

Led by managers Jake Propst, Jim Moore, Pat Devereaux and Sammy Vick, the 1925 Laurel Lumberjacks placed fifth in the Cotton States League final standings. Laurel had a regular season record of 58–64 and finished 12.0 games behind the first place Meridian Mets in the eight–team league.[10][11][5][12]

The 1926 Laurel Lumberjacks continued play in the Cotton States League. Laurel ended the season with a record of 59–61 to place fifth in the league standings, playing under managers Sammy Vick and Bill Statham. The Lumberjacks finished 16.5 games behind the first place Hattiesburg Pinetoppers in the final Cotton States League final standings.[13][14][5][15] On May 2, 1926, the Gulfport Tarpons defeated Laurel by the score of 8-5. After the game, Laurel player/manager Sammy Vick protested the result on the grounds that Gulfport had too many "class" men. On August 16, 1926 Vick was sold to the New Orleans Pelicans while leading the Cotton States League with a .391 batting average.[16]

With a record of 41–70, the 1927 Laurel Lumberjacks ended the season in last place in the Cotton States League final standings. Playing under managers Frank Matthews and Buck Stapleton, the Laurel Lumberjacks placed eighth in the eight–team league, finishing 29.0 games behind the first place Jackson Red Sox.[17][18][5][19]

The Laurel "Cardinals" continued play in the 1928 Cotton States League, as the franchise became an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Laurel finished the regular season with a 44–78 overall record to place seventh in the league, which had two halves. Managed by John Ganzel and Bobby Schang, Laurel finished 33.0 games behind the first place Jackson Red Sox in the final overall standings.[20][21][5][22]

In their final season of play, continuing Cotton States League membership, the 1929 Laurel Cardinals placed fourth in the eight–team league. Playing under manager Clay Hopper, the Cardinals finished with a 59–63 regular season record. Laurel finished 14.0 games behind the first place Alexandria Reds. The Laurel franchise permanently folded following the 1929 season.[23][24][5][25]

Laurel, Mississippi has not hosted another minor league team.[26]

The ballparks

Laurel minor league teams played home games at Kamper Park.[27] Today, Kamper Park is still in use as a public park with baseball fields and a zoo. Kamper Park is located at 107 South 17th Avenue in Laurel, Mississippi.[28]

(2012) Historic Woolworth Building. National Register of Historic Places. Laurel, Mississippi

Timeline

Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiiateBallpark
1923–19275Laurel LumberjacksClass DCotton States LeagueNoneKamper Park
1928–19292Laurel CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals

Year–by–year record

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
192343–352nd (t)Charles Hodge / Bill StathamLeague disbanded July 24
192443–575thBaxter Sparks /
Pat Boyd / Ed McDonald
Did not qualify
192558–645thJake Propst / Jim Moore /
Pat Devereaux / Sammy Vick
Did not qualify
192659–615thSammy Vick / Bill StathamNo playoffs held
192741–708thFrank Matthews / Buck StapletonDid not qualify
192844–787thJohn Ganzel / Bobby SchangDid not qualify
192959–634thClay HopperDid not qualify

[5]

Notable alumni

See also

Laurel Lumberjacks players
Laurel Cardinals players

References

  1. "1923 Cotton States League (CSL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1923 Cotton States League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1923 Vicksburg Hill Billies Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1923 Laurel Lumberjacks minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  6. "1923 Laurel Lumberjacks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1924 Laurel Lumberjacks minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1924 Cotton States League (CSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1924 Laurel Lumberjacks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1925 Laurel Lumberjacks minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1925 Cotton States League (CSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1925 Laurel Lumberjacks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "1926 Cotton States League (CSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "1926 Laurel Lumberjacks minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "1926 Laurel Lumberjacks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. "Tarps Triumph & Hanshew Returns" (PDF). Diamonds in the Dusk (251).
  17. "1927 Cotton States League (CSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  18. "1927 Laurel Lumberjacks minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. "1927 Laurel Lumberjacks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  20. "1928 Cotton States League (CSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. "Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "1928 Laurel Cardinals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew". www.statscrew.com.
  24. "1929 Cotton States League (CSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. "1929 Laurel Cardinals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. "Laurel, Mississippi Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. "Kamper Park in Laurel, MS minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. "VisitHBURG.org :: Details". www.visithburg.org.
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