Central Texas League

The Central Texas League was a minor league baseball league that played from 1914 to 1917. The Central Texas League played as a six–team Class D level league and consisted of teams based entirely in Texas. The Central Texas League never completed a full season of play in its duration and was sometimes called the Central Texas Trolley League. The Ennis Tigers played in each season of the league.

Central Texas League

Sport	Minor league baseball, Class D
Founded	1914
Ceased	June 6, 1917
No. of teams	11
Country	United States
Most titles	1 Waxahachie Buffaloes (1914) Ennis Tigers (1915) Temple Governors (1916) Mexia Gassers (1917)

History

The Central Texas League began play as a six–team Class D level minor league in the 1914 season, with all six franchises based in Texas. The first league president was A.M. Frazier. The six charter members of the Central Texas League were the Corsicana Athletics, Ennis Tigers, Hillsboro, Texas, Italy, Texas, Waxahachie Buffaloes and West, Texas. The league was also known informally as the Central Texas Trolley League in its inception.[1][2][3][4][5]

In their first season of league play, Central Texas League games began on May 10, 1914. The league played a split schedule. The second half was shortened, when the league ceased play on July 25, 1914. After the league stopped play the Central Texas League did have a playoff. The Waxahachie Buffaloes won the first half standings (26–15) and West won the shortened second half standings. In the playoff, the Waxahachie Buffaloes won the championship when they defeated West 3 games to 2.[1][2][6]

In 1915, the Central Texas League reformed and the league began play on May 17, 1915 with six members. The six teams in 1915 were the Corsicana A's, Ennis Tigers, Kaufman Kings, Mexia Gassers, Terrell Cubs and Waxahachie Athletics. The 1915 league presidents were Earl C. Brown and Hulen P. Robertson. The league folded on July 24, 1915. The Ennis Tigers won the first half of the schedule. The Mexia Gassers won the second half of the schedule. No playoffs were held and Ennis had the best overall record at 35–26, 3.0 games ahead of the Corsicana A's.[1][7][8][9]

The Central Texas League formed again and began play on April 28, 1916. The six league members in 1916 were the Ennis Tigers, Marlin Marlins, Mexia Gassers, Temple Governors, Terrell Terrors and Waxahachie Athletics. The 1916 league presidents were Earl C. Brown and Jack C. Castellaw. The league disbanded July 16, 1916. At 36–25, the Temple Governors had the best overall record, 1.0 game ahead of the Ennis Tigers, who finished with a 35–26 record.[1][10][11][12][13]

The Central Texas League played its final season in 1917. The league dropped two franchises and began play in 1917 as a four–team league before permanently folding before the season was completed. The Central Texas League began play on May 21, 1917 with the Ennis Tigers, Marlin Marlins, Mexia Gassers and Temple Governors as the four league members. The league president was Earl C. Smith. On June 1, 1917, the Temple Governors franchise, with a 4–4 record moved to become the Corsicana Athletics. On June 6, 1917 the Central Texas League permanently folded. The Mexia Gassers had the best overall record at 8–6 when the league folded. No playoffs were held.[1][14][15][11][16][17]

1914–1917 Central Texas League teams

Team name(s)	City represented	Ballpark	Year(s) active
Corsicana Athletics	Corsicana, Texas	Athletic Park[18]	1914 to 1915, 1917
Ennis Tigers	Ennis, Texas	Unknown[19]	1914 to 1917
Hillsboro	Hillsboro, Texas	Hillsboro City Park[20]	1914
Italy	Italy, Texas	Italy High School*[21]	1914
Kaufman Kings	Kaufman, Texas	Shannon Park*[22]	1915
Marlin Marlins	Marlin, Texas	Marlin City Park[23]	1916 to 1917
Mexia Gassers	Mexia, Texas	Gusher Park[24]	1915 to 1917
Temple Governors	Temple, Texas	Unknown[25]	1916 to 1917
Terrell Cubs 1915 Terrell Terrors 1916	Terrell, Texas	Gill Park[26]	1915 to 1916
Waxahachie Buffaloes 1914 Waxahachie Athletics 1915-1916	Waxahachie, Texas	Jungle Park[27]	1914 to 1916
West	West, Texas	West High School*[28]	1914

1914–1917 Central Texas League standings

1914 standings

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Waxahachie Buffaloes	35	23	.603	0	Luther Burleson/ Dee Poindexter
West	29	26	.527	4.5	Eli Walker
Ennis Tigers	31	28	.525	4.5	Ed Wicker
Italy	29	29	.500	6.0	T.A. Craig
Corsicana Athletics	26	32	.448	9.0	Gus Kennedy
Hillsboro	21	33	.389	12.0	L.C. Eastland

The season ended early on July 25.
Playoff: Waxahachie 3 games, West 2.

1915 standings

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Ennis Tigers	35	26	.574	0	Ed Wicker
Corsicana A's	32	29	.525	3.0	Roy Morton
Terrell Cubs	32	30	.516	3.5	Hank Griffin
Kaufman Kings	30	32	.484	5.5	Dee Poindexter
Mexia Gassers	28	33	.459	7.0	Roy Akin
Waxahachie Athletics	27	34	.443	8.0	Anson Cole

The league disbanded July 24.

1916 standings

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Temple Governors	36	25	.590	0	Paul Trammell
Ennis Tigers	35	26	.574	1.0	Ed Wicker
Mexia Gassers	32	29	.525	4.0	Roy Akin / Grady White
Terrell Terrors	29	32	.475	7.0	Hank Griffin / Lester Pratt / Doc Nance
Waxahachie Athletics	26	35	.426	10.0	Dee Poindexter
Marlin Marlins	25	36	.410	11.0	Bob Tarleton / Bob Countryman / Fielder Murray

The league disbanded July 16.

1917 standings

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Managers
Mexia Gassers	8	6	.571	0	Roy Akin
Ennis Tigers	8	7	.533	0.5	Ed Wicker
Marlin Marlins	7	8	.467	1.5	H. Sinclair / Ray Wakefield
Temple Governors / Corsicana Athletics	6	8	.429	2.0	Charles Roberts

The league disbanded June 6[1]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

• Ross Youngs, (1915) Waxahachie Athletics, Inducted 1972

References

1. "Central Texas League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
2. "1914 Central Texas League (CTL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
3. "1914 Central Texas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
4. "TSHA | Texas League". www.tshaonline.org.
5. Southerl, Edward (June 1, 2007). "Play Ball!". Texoma Living! Online.
6. "Waxahachie Buffaloes - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
7. "1915 Central Texas League (CTL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
8. "1915 Central Texas League (CTL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
9. "1915 Central Texas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
10. "1916 Central Texas League (CTL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
11. "Temple Governors - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
12. "Ennis Tigers - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
13. "1916 Central Texas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
14. "1917 Central Texas League (CTL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
15. "Mexia Gassers - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
16. "Corsicana Athletics - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
17. "1917 Central Texas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
18. "Athletic Park in Corsicana, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
19. "Unknown in Ennis, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
20. "Hillsboro City Park in Hillsboro, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
21. "Unknown in Italy, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
22. "Unknown in Kaufman, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
23. "Marlin City Park in Marlin, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
24. "Gusher Park in Mexia, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
25. "Unknown in Temple, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
26. "Gill Park in Terrell, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
27. "Unknown in Waxahachie, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
28. "Unknown in West, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

External links

Baseball Reference Bullpen